Chapter 4

"Caroline," Raymond's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint in them. "Are you prone to throwing fits?"

"This marriage doesn't end just because you say so."

A sharp pain stabbed my heart, and I looked away.

"I'll step aside and let you marry Emily. Isn't that enough?"

"Are you really that generous?"

Raymond pulled out his sleek lighter, flicking it open. The flame reflected in his eyes, making him look even more composed.

He took a drag from his cigarette and glanced back at me, speaking in a detached tone. "Caroline, you love money so much. If you were really willing to give up the wealth and status that comes with being Mrs. Brown, you would have left a long time ago."

"You'll regret it if you keep causing trouble."

The people closest to you always know how to hurt you the most.

Raymond knew exactly what he said would hurt me, yet he said it anyway.

In his eyes, I was always the Caroline who clung to him for money.

I lowered my head, blinking slowly, my pride refusing to show any sadness.

When I looked up, Emily was standing next to Raymond, smiling softly at me.

"Caroline, I really don't want to affect your marriage. But Ethan is Raymond's child; he can't stay out there forever."

"If I had known you'd react so strongly, I wouldn't have brought Ethan back. Caroline, I'm sorry. When I met Raymond, you weren't married to him yet. I'm your sister, and I left the country to liberate you."

"Enough, Emily. Stop pretending. If you really wanted to give up on Raymond, you wouldn't keep showing up in the same city as him. And I'm not your sister. My mom only has one daughter, and that's me."

"You and your mom Clara are both hypocritical and shameless."

The next second, Emily's eyes welled up with tears, as if she had suffered a great injustice. But I saw the fleeting smirk on her lips.

She was provoking me, and I felt a wave of nausea.

Raymond's brow furrowed, his gaze growing colder.

"Why are you saying this?"

"Caroline, stop causing scenes at the office."

He didn't look at me again, bending down to pick up Ethan.

His movements were so gentle and practiced.

If he hadn't held Ethan many times before, how could his actions be so natural?

In that moment, my eyes stung deeply.

In their love story, I was always just an insignificant person.

I didn't want to humiliate myself any further, so I turned and left.

The suffocating feeling followed me all the way downstairs.

I took a cab back to Prestige Estate.

It wasn't until the driver reminded me that I realized I had arrived.

I went upstairs to the bedroom Raymond and I shared.

Looking at the decor I had personally chosen, I couldn't stop the wave of sadness.

I had given all my courage and innocence to love Raymond. Letting go of him was incredibly hard.

But if I didn't leave on my own, I would have to watch him and Emily, the person responsible for my mom Diana lying in a hospital bed, appear before me every day.

Emily had turned the first half of my life into a tragedy, and now she wanted to trample on my dignity.

I loved Raymond, so I was willing to let go of my pride.

But I would never allow Emily to trample on my dignity.

I took out a suitcase and hastily stuffed my belongings into it. When I touched the wedding ring on my finger, I gritted my teeth and took it off.

The suitcase was large, and there were three in total. The housekeeper helped me place them by the door. I called Flora, hoping she could come pick me up.

But it would take her at least half an hour to get here.

I hung up the phone and turned to see a black Cayenne parked right in front of the villa.

The car looked unfamiliar.

Pushing my suitcase, I walked a few steps forward.

When I saw who got out of the car, I started shaking with anger.

"What are you doing here?"

I glared at Ronald, thinking of my mother Diana lying unconscious in a hospital bed, and my heart filled with hatred.

"You think I want to see you?" Ronald sneered.

"Divorce Raymond as soon as possible." He ordered, devoid of any emotion.

My anger flared instantly.

"Why should I listen to you? Wasn't it enough that you forced my mother to divorce and make way for them? Now you want to force me to divorce too?"

Ronald's eyes were filled with endless coldness.

He crossed his arms, looking at me arrogantly.

"Because Emily gave birth to the Brown family's first grandson! If she becomes Mrs. Brown, our family will have a connection to the Browns. Unlike you, I've raised you for twenty-two years, and you haven't done anything for the family."

I gritted my teeth, laughing at his callousness.

"So, after all these years, you don't feel any guilt towards my mom? The Scott family's current status is all thanks to her pre-marital assets."

"She insisted on marrying me back then. Now she's a vegetable, what's the point in saying this? If you don't divorce, don't blame me for being ruthless."

Ronald spoke as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

His demeanor reminded me of the day five years ago when he publicly kicked me out at my wedding.

The deep-seated hatred I had buried in my heart surged again.

"Fine, let's see how you'll be ruthless this time. Will you kick me out again, or refuse to pay my mom's medical bills to force a divorce? Ronald, you're the most disgusting person I've ever met."

I straightened my back, looking at him.

It wasn't my fault. Why should I make way for Emily?

If they wanted me to divorce so badly, I would stay just to spite them.

"You want me to divorce, don't you?"

I smirked, watching Ronald's face darken. "Unfortunately, Raymond said as long as I'm willing to raise Ethan, I'm still the lady of this house."

"Emily's plan is going to fail."

I maliciously curled my lips, deliberately dialing Emily's number in front of him and putting it on speaker.

"Emily, bring Ethan over. Aren't you so noble? You said you just wanted the best for Ethan. I'm fulfilling your wish. Oh, and thank you for giving me a son. Honestly, I was afraid of ruining my figure by having a baby."

With that, I hung up the phone.

Ronald's chest heaved with anger.

"You ungrateful bitch!"

"I'm your daughter! I'm just like you. No need to insult yourself."

I crossed my arms, feeling an unusual sense of satisfaction.

"Ronald, I'm not my mom, and I'm not weak. If you insist on forcing me to divorce, then bring it on."

Ronald's expression changed instantly, like a wolf about to tear a piece of flesh from me.

"You think I can't do anything if you don't divorce? Caroline, I came to you out of consideration for our father-daughter relationship. Don't forget, your mom Diana is still lying in that hospital bed."

"You dare!"

Mentioning Diana, I lost control.

"If you dare touch her, I'll drag all of you to hell with me. I have nothing left to lose, Ronald. Don't forget, I'm your daughter. I can do anything!"