Aaron's face contorted with rage.

"Jessica, be honest with yourself—have I ever wronged you? We met in college. And over time, we became what everyone called the perfect couple.

"You come from a family with a history of hereditary illness. Our daughter was born with a genetic cancer, but I have never once blamed you for it.

"To save our daughter, I built this foundation. I worked three hundred days straight, sleeping maybe three hours a night, pulling together the best doctors and resources to save her—and thousands of other children just like her.

"We're one step away. Why would you do something so insane? If you really want a divorce, fine—but does it have to be today?"

His earnest, pained words brought tears to the eyes of nearly everyone in the room. Chloe and several of his female colleagues discreetly wiped their eyes, murmuring, "Mr. McKinzie has been through so much… our team pulled all-nighters for weeks…"

My stomach turned, but I met Aaron's gaze with icy resolve.

"Why wait? Today works just fine. Sign it."

Aaron finally snapped. He hurled his wine glass to the floor, where it shattered.

"Jessica! Do you have any respect for me at all?!"

Just then, there was a heavy thud. The parent representative at the front fell to his knees, right onto the broken glass. He bowed repeatedly toward Aaron.

"Mr. McKinzie, please don't be angry, don't argue because of us. We don't want to come between you and your wife. If Mrs. McKinzie won't allow the fundraiser, we'll find another way—we'll sell everything we have—just to save our children!"

Blood stained his knees, but he seemed not to feel it. Their words cut through me like a dull blade, over and over. As a mother, I understood that desperation all too well.

"Jessica, you've gone too far!"

Aaron raised his hand as if to strike me.

Before the blow could fall, a furious roar erupted from behind.

"Jessica! I never thought you could be this kind of person! What did our family do to deserve a daughter-in-law so shameless and heartless?!"

My father-in-law stormed forward, trembling with rage. My mother-in-law followed, her face tight with disapproval.

"Do you have someone else? Forcing a divorce at a time like this—you're trying to ruin my son's reputation and pin the blame on him! I won't let you destroy my son's life! You'd better explain yourself today, or don't even think about walking out of here!"

My father-in-law's voice grew louder, then suddenly he clutched his chest, gasping, his face pale. The room fell into stunned silence.

Aaron rushed to support him, then turned a furious glare on me.

"Are you happy now? Look what you've done to Dad! Even if our marriage is over, haven't my parents been good to you? They've been at the hospital with Mia all these years, running themselves ragged. And this is how you repay them?"

With his parents backing him, Aaron grew even more defiant.

"Let me make this clear, Jessica—if you sabotage this event, I will make sure the rest of your life is a living hell. I just don't get it. Why make a scene like this? Is it because I didn't buy you that 30,000 dollar bag for your birthday? I was saving every penny for our daughter's surgery! How can you not understand that? Are you really jealous of your own child?"

His twisted, ridiculous words chilled me to the bone. But the crowd, easily swayed, buzzed with contempt.

"All this over a handbag? How selfish! Her child is sick and she's worried about a bag. Typical gold-digger—completely hopeless."

"Jessica's the only one winning here. If she gets her way, her daughter will die in the hospital without the surgery, and she can run off free. How convenient for her."

"Her lover must be something else, don't you think? Otherwise, why would she force a divorce in the middle of a charity event? Can't she at least wait till the event is over?"

My eyes swept over the crowd, then returned to the divorce agreement.

"Sign this, and you can be the hero you want to be. I won't stand in your way."

Aaron's face twisted with fury.

"You monster! How can you be so heartless—willing to sacrifice your own daughter?! Don't forget—everything I've done has been for her! When I founded the 'Mia Hope Foundation,' I traveled city to city just to raise money for her treatment."

His voice grew ragged with emotion. When our daughter was first diagnosed, I had cried until I felt hollow. Aaron had held me, comforting me, whispering, "We'll find a way."

That hope was what kept me going. Later, he built the foundation, working day and night to secure the funding that had kept her alive until now.

Seeing my distant expression, a shrewd gleam flashed in his eyes. Suddenly, he lunged forward and snatched the remote from my hand.

"Give it back!"

I threw myself at the remote with everything I had, only to be seized and held back by two large security guards.

My eyes darted to the wall clock. Seeing the position of the minute hand, a faint, knowing smile touched my lips.

My desperate cries were swallowed by the din of the fundraiser.

Aaron's mouth curved into the triumphant smile of a conqueror. "You'll answer for this once the event is over."

The crowd, thinking the commotion had finally ended, collectively sighed in relief. Yet the glances they cast my way were still heavy with scorn.

Aaron raised a commanding hand. "Everyone, back to your positions! We have ten minutes. All teams, final checks—I want zero errors!"

Instantly, the hall hummed back to life. Guests resumed their polite conversations, staff moved with brisk efficiency, and soft background music swelled once more.

Then, a panicked shout pierced the air.

"We've got a problem! A major malfunction!"

A technician leapt up from his station, face pale. "The system—the main system has crashed!"

"What do you mean, crashed?!" Aaron's smile vanished. He grabbed the man by his collar. "I paid your company hundreds of thousands! Explain!"

"It wasn't us! Administrative control was seized by a third party!" the engineer stammered, trembling. "We're locked out. The launch sequence is frozen."

Aaron's eyes snapped to me, recalling the smirk I'd worn when I was restrained. The pieces clicked together. His gaze sharpened, turning venomous.

"Jessica! You did this! You set all this up just to force a divorce? Are you that desperate? Ask everyone here—who would back your insane plan?"

I lifted my chin, sweeping my gaze across the room. Their eyes burned with anger, staring at me as if I were a monster beyond redemption.

I squared my shoulders, meeting their collective hostility without a flicker of fear.

"I support Jessica's decision!"

A clear, firm voice cut through the tension, commanding instant silence.

Everyone froze, heads turning to find the speaker.

"I agree Jessica should get the divorce. Sign the papers. Now."

It was my mother-in-law.

She stepped forward through the parted crowd, her voice steady and unwavering. "Forcing two incompatible people to stay in a marriage helps no one. It's time to end this cleanly. And after the divorce, all marital assets will go to Jessica."

Her words exploded in the silence. The room was utterly stunned; jaws dropped in shock.

"Mom?!" Aaron stared at his own mother, his face a mask of pure disbelief. "Have you lost your mind? Why are you taking her side?!"

The sharp crack of her palm striking his cheek echoed in the quiet hall. Her voice was cold with fury.

"Do you still not understand what is really going on here?"

Aaron was completely stunned by the slap. He pressed a hand to his cheek, staring at his mother with a deep frown, his voice trembling.

"Mom, what is this? Do you have any idea what you're doing? You're my mother—why are you taking her side?"

He had assumed his parents were his unwavering allies. He never imagined his own mother would stand against him.

She felt like a stranger. He couldn't comprehend her motives.

His mother met his gaze squarely. "I may be old, but my mind is clear. This marriage ends today. Now sign the papers."

The spectators were utterly bewildered, struggling to process the sudden turn.

"The family's split right down the middle… the mother-in-law is backing the wife against her own son?"

"This reversal is too sudden. Did we miss a crucial detail?"

"Did Jessica buy her off? Or does she have some dirt on her mother-in-law?"

Whispers swirled through the crowd, but no one could piece together the truth.

Aaron wheeled on me. "Jessica, what did you do to my mother? What kind of poison did you feed her?"

I held his gaze and thrust the divorce agreement toward him. "Sign this, and I'll tell you everything immediately."

"I won't sign! If you don't explain right now, you can forget about a signature today!" Aaron had lost all reason.

"You have ten minutes to decide." I pointed to the wall clock. The relentless sweep of the second hand seemed to hammer directly on Aaron's nerves.

He shed his final pretense. In a flash, he lunged and clamped his hand around my throat. "Talk now, or you'll die here!"

"Mr. McKinzie, stop! You have your whole future ahead—she's not worth it!" Chloe rushed forward to pull him back, but he shoved her aside violently, sending her stumbling to the floor.

The crowd stood frozen. No one had expected a charity gala to descend into violent chaos.

His grip was like a vise. No matter how I struggled, I couldn't pry his fingers loose.

Pain shot through my throat. Each breath grew harder, my vision began to blur and darken at the edges.

"Are you going to talk or not?!" Aaron snarled, his face a mask of fury.

With the last of my strength, I forced out the words, "You… sign… first… then… I'll… tell…"

The onlookers were more shocked—and more confused—than ever. No one could understand why I was willing to die for this divorce.

Moments ago, Aaron had even agreed to go to the courthouse with me afterward. Yet I still refused to speak. They wondered if I was trying to get myself killed.

My mother-in-law panicked and rushed forward to help me. But we were just two women, no match for Aaron's enraged strength.

Just as the darkness began to swallow me, I caught my mother-in-law's eye and muttered, "Please… take… care… of… Mia."