Chapter 7 I Want a Divorce

"Why doesn't he just die? Why doesn't he die?" Addison said.

Just after returning to the Smith family's villa, before the front door was even closed, Addison, who had been suppressing her anger all evening, erupted.

She pointed at James, who hadn't entered the door, and yelled, "Get that waste out of here, out of the Smith family."

"Get as far away as possible."

James publicly exposes the painting as fake, not only severely slapping Christopher's face but also putting her, the main character, in an awkward position.

Even a freeloader could see the fake that she and Charles couldn't. Wasn't that worse than being useless?

Addison couldn't tell everyone that she deliberately favored Christopher.

Of course, what really enraged her was the ginseng fruit.

It was worth million dollars.

A life-extending treasure.

Such a precious item and James had eaten it all by himself.

Keep in mind it was supposed to be for her and Charles.

This made Addison's heart bleed.

It was like having a -million-dollar lottery ticket washed away by the washing machine.

She was embarrassed, angry, and frustrated.

But she wouldn't blame the Clark couple. She would only hate the rebellious James.

Addison screamed at James, "Get out. Did you hear?"

"The Smith family doesn't need an ungrateful person like you."

Charles looked helpless, wanting to say something, but ultimately remained silent.

James didn't enter the house, not wanting to pollute the noise.

After obtaining the Life Gem, James unconsciously became confident and composed.

"Ms. Smith, what did I do wrong?" he asked.

James, no longer the coward of the past, spoke with ease. "The painting wasn't given by me; it was given by Christopher. If you want to scold someone, scold him for giving a fake."

"Also, that ginseng fruit, you were the ones who called it trash."

He calmly faced Addison's piercing gaze and said, "No matter how uncomfortable you are, you can't blame me."

"Do you think I'm brainless, unable to see the painting is fake and the ginseng fruit is real?"

"I saw through it all at a glance."

Addison shouted, "But in that situation, could I prove Christopher wrong?"

"You can't contradict himself so that you prove me wrong?" James said.

He showed a hint of mockery. "And to reverse right and wrong, it's very unfair to me."

Mary couldn't help frowning, feeling that James was different from before.

" What kind of face does a live-in son-in-law have?" Addison asked.

She grew even angrier, saying, "Is your face comparable to Christopher's?"

"How can a househusband who only does chores compare with Christopher?"

"Christopher donates tens of thousands of dollars to the Smith family every year, and you've spent tens of thousands of the Smith family's dollars. How can you compare?"

"I showed you up. It's an honor for you. You are truly an ungrateful individual."

She pointed at James and yelled, "Honor, do you understand?"

In Addison's view, James should endure all oppression and injustice, and any resistance was a great transgression.

James smiled faintly and didn't speak further, just looked at Mary, hoping she would say a few words of fairness.

James wasn't afraid of Addison tearing her face off, but he hoped at this moment he wasn't alone.

He wanted to know that he had a wife.

Mary coldly met his gaze, showing impatience. "Enough. It's late at night; stop arguing."

"James, apologize to mom."

"No matter what, Mom is an elder, and you're wrong for making her angry."

In the end, Mary stood on her mother's side and said, "Hurry up and make amends to Mom."

Charles echoed, "James, apologize."

Addison pointed outside and ordered, "I don't want his apology. I want him to get lost."

James stepped forward, speaking softly, "Ms. Smith, I want to divorce Mary."

"Good..."

Addison subconsciously answered, "Then divorce..."

Halfway through her sentence, she was jolted.

"What did you say?" she asked.

James repeated, "I want to divorce Mary."

Divorce?

The house fell silent.

Addison and the others stared at James, dumbfounded.

No one expected James to say such a thing.

According to Addison and the others' expectations, James should have knelt, cried, and begged for forgiveness.

After all, James was useless, couldn't find a job, and depended on the Smith family's pocket money to treat Michelle's illness.

Instead, he wanted to divorce Mary.

This statement not only shocked Addison and the others but also left them feeling blocked.

Mary was also stunned, saying, "Do you want to divorce me?"

James spoke calmly, "Let's part on good terms."

"To the Smith family, my value to bring good luck has been exhausted. Staying here will only be a nuisance."

"Mary, let's go to court and get divorced."

Mary's attitude just now made him lose the last bit of illusion.

She never really saw him as a husband; it was all wishful thinking on his part.

In his mind, the image of their first encounter eighteen years ago appeared again.

But people changed; the straightforward girl from back then was long gone.

"Divorce?" Addison asked.

She also came back to her senses, laughing out of extreme anger.

"A freeloader dares to talk about divorce? Do you really think you're something?" she asked.

For months, she had more than once wanted Mary to divorce James, but each time, it was unsuccessful due to various accidents.

Addison had been wishing for James to roll out of the Smith family sooner.

But now, she didn't feel that way.

Because it was James who initiated it.

Not only did Mary lose face, but she and the Smith family felt humiliated.

Addison pointed at James and angrily said, "What right do you have to talk about divorce?"

"Without the Smith family, you, this waste, would starve to death in two days out there."

James's gaze was serene. He said, "Let's divorce. I don't want to be involved with the Smith family."

Don't want anything to do with the Smith family?

Addison laughed out of extreme anger and said, "Okay, divorce, you can divorce."

"Do you forget the fifty thousand dollars?"

"This year, you lived in the Smith family's house. You owe us a huge favor."

Her voice suddenly rose. "If you want to divorce, fine, but first pay back this debt."

James spoke calmly, "How should I pay it back?"

"The SH Corporation owes my Chunfeng Clinic 400,000 dollars in loans."

Addison sneered , "If you're so capable and brave, go get that money back for me tomorrow."

"Get it back, and I'll let Mary divorce you right away."

She pushed James to the brink.

"Otherwise, whether you move bricks, sell blood, become a male escort oretc, pay back this debt to the Smith family," she added.

Mary's pretty face changed. "Mom..."

"Shut up!" Addison said.

She interrupted Mary, staring at James and coldly demanding, "Any problems?"

James nodded. "No problem."

Then, he silently walked through the hall, went upstairs, and entered Mary's bedroom where was a suite, with a small living room leading to an inner room.

Mary lived in the inner room, while James slept on the sofa in the living room.

For a year, James was separated from Mary by a wall but never entered the inner room, let alone had any physical intimacy.

Addison would sometimes mock him as a watchdog.

Countless times, James longed to sleep in the big bed in the inner room.

But over the year, James became increasingly clear that it was an unattainable fantasy.

Tonight, more than ever, James knew it was time to let go...

Just as James sat down on the sofa, Mary pushed open the door and came in, saying furiously, "James, who are you? What right do you have to disdain me?"

She asked unceremoniously, "Why do you want a divorce?"

James deliberately provoked her. "Why keep a crazy woman around if not for holiday celebrations?"

"Crazy woman?"

Mary laughed in anger. "Then what are you?"

"Can't find a job or do housework, and you still need a crazy woman to give you money to treat your mother. You're simply worse than a crazy woman."

Her disdain for James grew. He was not only weak and incompetent but also arrogant.

James smiled indifferently and said, "Since I'm a waste, let's divorce sooner and part on good terms."

Mary was furious, saying, "You have no right to talk about divorce. Only I can divorce you."

"Do you think you can get back 400,000 dollars? James, don't overestimate yourself."

She sneered and said, "The debt from SH Corporation, a waste like you, couldn't get it back even in a hundred years..."

After speaking, Mary stormed out and slammed the door.

She would never believe that James could recover 400,000 dollars in debt.

But she had an indescribable feeling.

Because when she looked into James's eyes just now, she saw deep confidence.