While the doctor was bandaging my wound, I finally got a call from my childhood friend, Sue Sylvester.

"I walked around the shop where Cynthia bought her croissants. It was pretty interesting," she reported on the other end.

I immediately felt better and replied, "The court hearing is in seven days. Thanks for all the hard work. I'll triple your fee."

"Hmph, do you think this detective is short of money? After I help you with this, all I ask is that you grant me one wish," Sue said with a laugh.

"Deal," I agreed without hesitation, since I trusted Sue's skills as a famous private investigator.

Seven days would be enough time for me to secure my position on the show.

The news that I was divorcing Cynthia spread fast among friends and family and soon everyone started criticizing me.

[You jerk! My cousin didn't even mind that you're a total hick, but you're making trouble instead. You're truly sick!]

[Divorcing over a box of croissants? Has greed blinded you? Or did you hit your head? Are you worthy of the Scotts' care all these years?]

[Don't let me see you, or I'll definitely punch you!]

[Jerk! Bastard! Shameless! Just die!]

Each word was more ruthless than the last. I just let those people bombard me with insults.

In the end, I ignored them. I spent the night in the small room at my chicken restaurant and got up the next morning to work as usual.

When my employees arrived, they looked at me with clear disdain. I pretended not to notice.

Not long after, Cynthia came with Jackson.

"Honey, how's the wound on your head? Does it still hurt? Jackson and I came to apologize. We even made your favorite crab soup."

She handed me the thermos with concern, then pleaded sweetly, "Hubby, please don't be angry anymore, okay?"

Smack!

I raised my hand and knocked the thermos away. The soup splattered onto the floor instantly.

Cynthia was shocked by this situation and soon began to cry bitterly.

Behind her, Jackson glared and tried to argue with me, but she stopped him.

A few employees began whispering.

"I really don't know what the boss was thinking. Just because his wife bought salted egg croissants, he became so aggressive that he threatened to divorce her."

"Yeah, she kept compromising and trying to please him, but it didn't work. He probably has someone else and is using this as an excuse."

"By the way, that adopted younger brother, Jackson, is great. He stood up for the boss's wife yesterday and even fought the boss."

When the customers heard this, their eyes grew increasingly disgusted. They said they never truly knew me, that I only pretended to be a good man but was actually a jerk.

Even so, I stayed cold and kept urging Cynthia to leave.

To my surprise, Jackson suddenly plopped down and knelt before me. "Neil. Please don't blame Cynthia. I was the one who lost my temper and hit you yesterday. If you want to hit me or punish me today, take it out on me!"

Everyone started giving Jackson thumbs-up. They thought he was kind and responsible, while they saw me as irresponsible and overly petty.

Cynthia clenched her fists, clearly hoping I would end it now and stop making a scene.

I quickly turned away with a disgusted expression, grabbed a bucket of water and dumped it all over Jackson.

All of them were shocked.

Cynthia's beautiful eyes widened in disbelief as she shouted, "Neil! Are you crazy? Jackson already knelt before you and you still treat him like this?"

"He deserves it," I said coldly, with no regret on my face.

Cynthia trembled with rage, stumbled back several steps and nearly fell to the floor.

Jackson wiped his face and was about to say something when his phone rang.

After taking the call, his eyes turned red instantly. He turned to Cynthia and said, "Cynthia, someone reported me. My civil service application has been cancelled."

What?

Cynthia froze in shock. She immediately looked at me, her face filled with fury. "Why didn't I realize before that you were so despicable? How could you secretly report Jackson? Do you know how hard he worked for that exam?"

"It has nothing to do with me," I replied calmly.

Then I gave a small smile. "But honestly, it's a good thing for someone like him to be reported."

"You're still denying it!" Cynthia's voice rose sharply. "Neil! I've had enough! I was wrong about you! Don't you want a divorce? Fine, I'll divorce you!"

"If you dare, let's confront each other on national TV! I'll make sure you walk away with nothing. I'll ruin your reputation so badly that you won't survive in this city!"

After saying those harsh words, she grabbed Jackson's arm and stormed out without looking back.

Customers at the restaurant began to rise.

One of them sneered, "I'm afraid I'll get diarrhea if I eat food made by someone like you."

"Everyone, let's go! Don't let this Jerk make money," another shouted.

One by one, they all left. Some even spat at me as they passed, glaring at me as if I were some disgusting cockroach.

Seeing that, a few of my employees also quit.

The once lively fried chicken restaurant suddenly became cold and empty.

Over the next few days, not a single customer came. Instead, someone even started throwing feces and urine at the shop's entrance.

I've got a bad reputation, too. Even before the show started, my name was already trending in local news.

My parents were so angry that they threatened to cut ties with me. And to make matters worse, my in-laws used their power to create a special TV program to attack me, turning the whole incident into a national hot topic.

Many reporters came to interview me beforehand. I said nothing except that I would appear on the show as scheduled.

When the day of the show finally arrived, the entire studio was packed and millions of people tuned in to the live stream, waiting to see me become a joke.

My parents didn't come, but they sent me an ultimatum. They couldn't bear the shame anymore and demanded that I apologize before the show started, or they would cut me off completely.

"Neil, seven days have passed. Have you come to your senses? Apologize to me and Jackson now and I can pretend none of this ever happened," Cynthia said as she looked at me, frowning.

Meeting her gaze again, I kept a cold expression.

"Neil, this is your last chance. You'd better take it," Jackson also advised me.

My in-laws remained silent, clearly agreeing with them. Still, I didn't accept their offer. Instead, I plopped down and sat across from Cynthia.

My action made the Scott Family's faces turn cold.

However, everyone in the studio praised the Scotts for their incredible kindness. They said Cynthia had suffered enough as a woman married to a lunatic like me.

Soon, the host entered the stage.

Since my father-in-law had personally promoted her, she naturally took Cynthia's side. Without hesitation, she snapped at me aggressively, "Look at how ungrateful you are! Besides buying the wrong croissant flavor, can you provide any more convincing evidence?"

Before I could even answer, she went on, "The answer is definitely no! After all, everyone can see that Cynthia has loved you the same way for ten years!"

"So, you're nothing but a complete scumbag!" she declared.

Obviously, the theme of this program was to criticize me in various ways.

The audience stared at me with mocking eyes—especially Jackson, who wore a faint, smug smile.

I remained calm as I stared intently at the studio door.

As I expected, the next second, Sue Sylvester slowly walked in.

I finally let out a long sigh of relief.

"Convincing evidence, you say? I have plenty." I smiled.