“Stop right there.” Olivia’s voice turned sharp. “When did you become so unreasonable?”

“What’s so wrong with me saying a few words to you?”

I stopped and stared at her. “Do you know what day it is today?”

“No day justifies your nonsense.”

Nonsense?

My heart sank to its depths, bitterness welling up. I couldn’t hold my words back any longer.

“It’s our tenth wedding anniversary. I told you in advance I wanted the three of us to have dinner together tonight. I cooked a full meal, even my parents made their own food just so we could celebrate. And yet you invited Marcus over.”

“All because of that?” Olivia frowned. “Marcus said he liked your BBQ ribs. Isn’t that a compliment?”

“What the hell does his opinion matter to me?”

Maybe it was because I had held my temper too long, but my sudden roar startled her. She froze, unable to react.

“You really think you earned everything you have now?” My plan had been to divorce quietly, but the more I spoke, the hotter my fury burned.

I glared coldly at Olivia. “If not for me, you and Lily would have burned to death in that fire. If not for me, your company wouldn’t have made it this far. My patience and tolerance don’t give you the right to walk all over me.”

Olivia’s expression faltered, her tone softening. “Just sit down and eat, okay?”

“I said I’ll see you at the County Court tomorrow.” I turned to leave.

“Brother-in-law, it’s my fault.” Marcus hurried over and grabbed my arm. “Don’t go. If someone should leave, it’s me.”

“Let go.”

I shook him off coldly.

Marcus let himself fall, clutching his hand as if in pain.

Olivia rushed over, eyes full of concern. “Are you alright?”

“It’s just my finger. Nothing serious. Don’t blame him—it was my fault for being clumsy.”

The sight froze my heart.

Back in that fire, with ninety percent of my body burned, I never heard a single “Are you okay?” from Olivia. I never saw that look of concern in her eyes.

Yet now, Marcus deliberately staged a fall, and she looked at him with such care. So she could care—just not about me.

Realizing Olivia preferred this cowardly manipulator over me made me sick. I had actually lost to a man like him.

I shot them a cold glance and walked away.

“Stop.” Olivia’s voice lashed out. “You hurt Marcus and now you think you can just leave?”

“Are you blind?” I snapped back. “Didn’t you see him acting?”

“Marcus isn’t that kind of man. He values his hands more than anything—those hands have produced countless brilliant designs for the company. Only someone with a filthy heart sees filth everywhere.”

Her eyes brimmed with disgust. “Apologize to Marcus.”

“Ugly freak, apologize to Uncle Marcus!” Lily snarled, gripping a fruit knife, staring at me as if I were her worst enemy.

An ungrateful little wolf. I had raised her all these years, but I didn’t want this family anymore—not even my daughter.

Every word with them made me sick. I turned to leave.

I had barely taken two steps when pain shot through my leg. I looked back—Lily’s knife was dripping blood. I glanced down and saw crimson flowing down my leg.

“That’s what you get for not apologizing.” Lily brandished the bloody knife, eyes blazing. “Hurt Uncle Marcus, and I’ll kill you!”

That blade didn’t pierce just my leg. It pierced my heart.

Silently, I turned again, limping away. The pain grew worse. I had to get to a hospital.

Olivia rushed ahead to block the door. “Apologize, or you’re not leaving.”

“Are you even human? I’ve been stabbed!”

“She’s just a child. How much damage could she do? You’re not leaving until you apologize.”

“Ms. Hayes, it’s not his fault,” Marcus cut in smoothly. “I really did fall on my own. He’s hurt—take him to the hospital.”

“No. Tonight, he has to learn who makes the rules in this house.” Olivia’s tone was ice-cold, her stance unyielding.

Then I saw it—the glint of malice in her eyes. She wanted me dead.

In that instant, I understood. “You want me gone for good, don’t you?”

Olivia leaned in, whispering venom into my ear. “The company is about to go public. I can’t afford a divorce. If you die, it’s still better than divorcing you. You brought this on yourself.”

I shoved her away. I had to get out, while I could still walk. This insane woman really would kill me.

“Brother-in-law, I’ve always respected you. I never wanted to break up your family. Yes, I love Olivia, but I’ve never admitted it.”

Marcus stepped in front of me, eyes cold. He’d been waiting for this chance. “I can understand your jealousy, but you can’t hit her. I demand you apologize. If you won’t live with her anymore, then I’ll marry her myself.”

“Get out of my way.” I shoved him aside, but he was ready and swung at me.

Olivia lunged from behind, wrapping her arms around me, while Lily bit into me like a wild pup.

I couldn’t bring myself to strike my own child. With my leg already bleeding, Marcus quickly overpowered me and knocked me to the ground.

Just as despair closed in, the door burst open.

We lived in a suburban townhouse, with our parents on either side. All four elders rushed in.

“What’s going on here? Why are you fighting?”

“Mom…” Olivia sobbed, throwing herself into Grace Hayes’s arms. “Ethan Carter wants a divorce. I asked why, but he refused to say. He’s dead set on leaving me. When I wouldn’t agree, he hit me.”

Smack!

Henry Hayes stormed forward and slapped me hard. “Since she was a child, I’ve never laid a finger on her. And you dare raise your hand to my daughter?”

Before I could speak, my own father, Robert Carter, came up and slapped me as well. “So you’ve grown bold enough to strike a woman? Is this how I raised you?”

My leg throbbed worse, crushed under their blows. I felt weak, but all I wanted was to get to a hospital.

“You’re not going anywhere!” Henry blocked the doorway, glaring at me. “You’re going to explain yourself. If not for Olivia working herself to the bone, feeding and clothing you, you’d have nothing. And now you dare hit her? Are you even a man?”

Grace glared at me too. “Ethan, if you can’t explain, I’ll never forgive you.”

My mother, Margaret Carter, spoke as well. “Son, how could you? A grown man hitting his wife? That’s shameful. Apologize to Olivia right now.”

“I don’t need his apology,” Olivia said sweetly, “as long as he stays with me and doesn’t divorce.”

“You silly girl,” Grace scolded gently, “what’s so good about him that you protect him like this?”

“Three years ago, if not for Ethan, Lily and I would have died. For that alone, he can curse me, hit me, whatever—just not divorce me.”

I froze. I thought she hadn’t known I’d risked my life in that fire to save them. Turns out she always knew. And yet now she used it as a weapon against me.