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Chapter 4

Author: Jellyfish
Under mounting pressure, Ethan's company released an official statement.

Ethan Tanner had been suspended from all duties pending an investigation, while Sophie Shaw had been asked to resign.

Internet sleuths uncovered irregularities in the hiring process that had landed Sophie her position.

Others found clues suggesting that Ethan had abused his authority to accept kickbacks.

This time, they had hit Ethan where it hurt most.

On the night before New Year's Eve, the distant sound of fireworks echoed outside.

I had sent my son to stay with my mother and was sitting alone in the living room when Ethan came home reeking of alcohol.

"Claire Lane, are you done?

"Will you only be satisfied when you've completely destroyed me? Huh?"

He charged over and flipped the coffee table.

Cups, the fruit bowl, and the remote control crashed to the floor, scattering broken pieces everywhere.

He had subjected me to the silent treatment before, but he rarely became physically violent.

This time, he lunged at me, wrapped his hands around my throat, and pinned me against the sofa.

"Give me your phone! Tell me the password to your account!

"I'm deleting those videos and posting a clarification!"

Panic surged through me as I struggled to breathe.

I raised one hand and pointed toward the corner of the living room.

"We're still... livestreaming... Ethan..."

I forced the words through clenched teeth.

Ethan's hands instantly went rigid.

He followed my finger.

A black camera was aimed directly at the sofa, its red light blinking.

He released me with a start and stumbled several steps backward.

"You... You're livestreaming this?"

He frantically straightened his clothes and covered his face.

Gasping for air, I clutched my throat and sat up.

"Tens of thousands of people witnessed your disgusting behavior just now, Ethan."

Ethan stared at the camera, his face deathly pale.

He rushed over and ripped it down.

Then he snatched my phone and smashed it against the floor.

"Let's see what you use to post another video tomorrow!"

He ground his shoe against the shattered phone.

"Tomorrow is New Year's Eve. We're having dinner at Grandpa's house. You will get down on your knees and apologize to me in front of the entire family.

"If you refuse to go or say anything you shouldn't..."

He leaned closer. "Then this marriage is over. I get our son, and you walk away with nothing. You know I have plenty of ways to make sure you never see him again."

With that, he slammed the door and left.

The room fell deathly silent.

I took out my voice recorder, saved the recording, and backed it up.

Then I reached between the sofa cushions and pulled out a spare phone.

I transferred my SIM card to it and opened my drafts.

My fourth video was already edited and waiting there.

Along with one final ace up my sleeve.

Tomorrow was New Year's Eve.

They wanted me on my knees?

Fine.

I would put on one hell of an apology for the entire Tanner family.

The question was whether they could handle it.

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  • 15 Days of Court-Ordered Apologies Until My Ex-Husband Begged Me to Stop   Chapter 8

    Fifteen days into the new year, it was finally the last day of my court-ordered apologies.Everyone online was waiting for the grand finale.My inbox had exploded. Every one of those ninety-nine-plus notifications was someone demanding an update.Some people had even started betting on whether I would go soft and back down or keep fanning the flames until everything was razed to the ground.At eight that evening, I turned my ring light up as high as it would go.I took off the pilled pajamas I had worn for three years and put on a mustard-yellow sweater.Ethan had always hated seeing me in yellow. He said it washed me out and made my skin look sallow and sickly.Back then, I had been foolish enough to seek his approval. Everything in my closet was gray, white, or blue.Now, I looked at myself in the mirror and liked what I saw.I applied some lipstick and pressed my lips together.I looked radiant.My son sat on the carpet holding a little light-up horse he had just made.His eyes curv

  • 15 Days of Court-Ordered Apologies Until My Ex-Husband Begged Me to Stop   Chapter 7

    Five days into the new year, while everyone else was focused on fresh starts and getting ahead, I headed to the last place anyone wanted to be, the county jail.I was there to rid myself of a deadbeat.The steel door swung open with a clang, and I saw Ethan through the glass.His hair had been shaved into a close buzz cut. His jail uniform hung loosely from his body, his eyes were sunken, and his face was covered in stubble.The moment he saw me, his eyes lit up. He lunged toward the glass."Honey! Honey, you finally came!"I know I was wrong. I really do!"Tears and snot streamed down his face."I've had time to think in here. No fling could ever compare to my wife. I don't know what came over me."Please help me, Claire. You're an auditor. You understand this stuff. If you write a letter asking the judge for leniency and help me replace the missing money, I could get a lighter sentence. I might even get probation!"Once I'm out, we can renew our vows. I'll be at your every whim. We c

  • 15 Days of Court-Ordered Apologies Until My Ex-Husband Begged Me to Stop   Chapter 6

    The words "that old bat" kept playing on a loop in the video.My mother-in-law let out a howl.She grabbed a small plate from the table and hurled it at Sophie's face."You homewrecker! You put him up to all this!"You're not even part of this family yet, and you're already after my retirement savings? I'll kill you, you little bitch! And Ethan, how dare you drug Claire?""Ah!"Sophie's petite frame was no match for a woman who had spent years fighting other shoppers over clearance items.She screamed as my mother-in-law yanked at her hair, leaving her scalp raw and several bloody scratches across her face."You crazy old hag! Let go of me!"Ethan's eyes were bloodshot as he charged at me."Claire Lane! I'll kill you!"He reached for my throat."You ruined me, you bitch! Give me the remote!"Just as his fingers were about to reach my face, a dark figure shot in from the side.Bang!Ethan was sent flying and crashed into the wooden chair behind him, knocking it over.He lay on the floor

  • 15 Days of Court-Ordered Apologies Until My Ex-Husband Begged Me to Stop   Chapter 5

    On New Year's Eve, the Tanner family home was decked out in lights and festive decorations.Their extended family filled three entire tables.Ethan arrived with Sophie, introduced her as his special assistant, and claimed she had come to deliver New Year gifts.The elders simply went along with it. No one mentioned what had happened online, as though ignoring the awkwardness would somehow make it mine alone.Ethan's grandfather, the unquestioned patriarch of the family, sat at the head of the table.He tapped his cane against the floor, and the entire room fell silent."Claire, you've suffered this past year."You've caused enough commotion online. It's time to let the matter rest. The important thing is to keep this family together. Regardless of who was right or wrong, life must go on."His sharp gaze settled on me."Raise a glass to everyone later, and we'll put this whole matter behind us. Do it for Ethan's sake, as well as mine."Sophie sat beside Ethan with a smug expression.My

  • 15 Days of Court-Ordered Apologies Until My Ex-Husband Begged Me to Stop   Chapter 4

    Under mounting pressure, Ethan's company released an official statement.Ethan Tanner had been suspended from all duties pending an investigation, while Sophie Shaw had been asked to resign.Internet sleuths uncovered irregularities in the hiring process that had landed Sophie her position.Others found clues suggesting that Ethan had abused his authority to accept kickbacks.This time, they had hit Ethan where it hurt most.On the night before New Year's Eve, the distant sound of fireworks echoed outside.I had sent my son to stay with my mother and was sitting alone in the living room when Ethan came home reeking of alcohol."Claire Lane, are you done?"Will you only be satisfied when you've completely destroyed me? Huh?"He charged over and flipped the coffee table.Cups, the fruit bowl, and the remote control crashed to the floor, scattering broken pieces everywhere.He had subjected me to the silent treatment before, but he rarely became physically violent.This time, he lunged at

  • 15 Days of Court-Ordered Apologies Until My Ex-Husband Begged Me to Stop   Chapter 3

    Two days before New Year's Eve, my mother-in-law showed up.She was the kind of old woman who had to win every argument, no matter how trivial.Carrying a bag of wilted vegetable scraps left over from a supermarket clearance sale, she stood outside my door and began wailing."What did I do to deserve this? My son married a jinx who doesn't respect her in-laws or care about her husband's reputation! She won't be satisfied until she's torn this family apart!"Everyone, come and see! This daughter-in-law of mine is trying to drive us to our deaths!"It was the evening rush hour, and neighbors were constantly coming and going.Quite a few stopped to stare and whisper.I opened the door, looking both surprised and aggrieved."Mom, what brings you here? Come inside. It's cold out."I didn't argue with her and simply invited her in. That only encouraged her.She marched inside, dropped heavily onto the sofa, and tossed the bag of wilted vegetables onto the coffee table."Claire Lane, delete

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