"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."