Chapter 4

I watched it all with cold indifference, holding Mia tightly in my arms. She was the only warmth in my life.

Xena strutted toward me with her arrogance on full display. James’s company, properties, and savings were now entirely hers and Charlie’s.

My in-laws, desperate to keep their grandson, had left themselves with nothing.

The more carefree Xena’s smile was, the more sarcastic my thoughts became.

“You think you’ve won, don’t you? Don’t rush to celebrate. There’s a long road ahead, and we’ll take it slow,” I silently remarked.

In the end, I called the police and left the funeral amidst a torrent of curses and condemnation.

Back home, I packed up mine and Mia’s belongings.

My brother overseas, Wilfred Ford, called me. “Everything is ready. I’ve booked the tickets. I’ll pick you up when you arrive.”

“Okay,” I replied.

After hanging up, Mia grasped my hand tightly. “Mom, I’ll always stand by your side. You’re not a bad person, you’re the best.”

I playfully tapped her nose, feeling warmth bloom in my heart.

Meanwhile, the online hatred against me grew fiercer by the day.

I had poured everything I had into helping James’s company go public. Now that he was gone, my in-laws showed their true colors. Not only had they hidden his affair from me, but they also paraded his illegitimate child at his funeral just to humiliate me.

They even forced me to sign away my rights to the inheritance.

From that moment on, I severed all ties with James and his family. Yet they continued to exploit my name, using me as a tool for attention and clout.

Xena went so far as to create a livestream account, spewing baseless accusations that I abused my in-laws, insulted my husband, and squandered money.

She quickly gained a huge following, and before long, she started livestreaming product sales, making a fortune.

It seemed like the whole family was thriving, leeching off me and living the high life.

But there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

After Mia and I settled abroad, the uproar back home could no longer reach us.

In fact, I needed the noise.

The more viciously they slandered me, the more attention I gained. And in time, Xena and my in-laws would pay the ultimate price for their greed.

Meanwhile, Mia seemed more motivated in her studies than ever, perhaps to prove herself.

I lounged by the beach, sipping red wine, with my new villa behind me.

The overseas company I had set up was initially managed by Wilfred. Once it was on solid footing, I smoothly took over, and now I smiled at the monthly profits in the seven figures.

As I was about to finish my wine, a call came in. It was a call that I had been expecting.

“You wretched woman! I’ll kill you!!!”

The enraged man on the other end screamed like he was on the verge of a complete breakdown. His fury felt so palpable it was as if he wanted to leap through the phone and tear me apart.

But I just smiled calmly and replied, “Well, isn’t this my dear husband, who’s already been buried? How are you managing to call me from the grave?”

The line went silent.

Then, in the background, I heard a woman’s furious screams, sobs, and the chaotic sounds of a physical fight.