Chapter 5

Anthony continued, speaking with urgency. "Mom says she wants to pick you up and bring you home, Maddie, so let us know when you're available, and we'll drive over to pick you up."

I stated flatly, "You don't have to bother. I'm busy."

Anthony finally grasped that he had been in the wrong after the call ended. He repeatedly visited our home several times with Leah to offer gifts and apologize, but I refused to come out to see them.

It wasn't until a month later, after I had recovered, that I stood at the gate of the courtyard of the Johnson residence, dragging a suitcase behind me.

Emily mocked me the moment she spotted me. "Oh, look, it's the good daughter-in-law of the Johnson family. You refused to climb down from your high horse and kept up your attitude for a month, and yet here you are, returning to the Johnson family.

She projected her voice to ensure that the neighbors could hear her, and sure enough, someone in the neighboring yard peeked over to watch.

Anthony bolted out of the house with a look of surprise and delight. "Why didn't you give me a heads-up that you were coming back? I would have come to get you, Maddie."

Emily rolled her eyes at Anthony's reaction. "Why bother picking her up? It's not as if Madison doesn't know the way home. I was right about her, Anthony. If you give her the cold shoulder for a few days, she'll come crawling back to us."

Leah rushed out of the house and chided her. "That's enough, Emily! It's good that Madison is back! She's even pregnant with my grandson!"

I dodged Leah when she reached out to take my hand. "You shouldn't bother with any of that since I'm not here for that. I returned this time to file for a divorce."

I handed the divorce agreement to Anthony, who looked as if he had been hollowed out, his complexion turning deathly pale. "M-Maddie…"

Leah held my hand tightly and asked anxiously, "What are you talking about, Madison? How could you bring up a divorce when you're already pregnant with Anthony's baby?

"I know we were in the wrong about what happened before, but let's talk this out as a family. There's no need to force the situation to this point."

She held on so hard that her fingernails nearly bit into my flesh.

Emily scoffed. "You can't fall for her act, Mom. Madison is just putting on a show to make us feel sorry for her."

She then took two steps forward and continued, "She's been living off us for five years since she married into the Johnson family. She has to return all the money we've spent on her, along with the wedding gifts and jewelry Anthony gave her back then—not a single cent short!"

Leah frantically tugged on Emily's sleeve. "Just keep your mouth shut, will you?"

Emily brushed off Leah's hand, getting more worked up as she asked, "Why should I hold my tongue?

"You're only using divorce as a threat because you're pregnant, aren't you, Madison? You're free to get a divorce, but the baby must be left behind; after all, that's the Johnson family's flesh and blood. You think you can just take the baby away, huh? You're not taking it anywhere!"

I smiled faintly and said, "You've got a point."

Emily clearly hadn't expected that response. She hesitated for a split second before eyeing me with suspicion. "W-What are you getting at?"

I didn't respond to her question. I rolled the suitcase over to the three of them instead, saying, "Your family's belongings—everything—is in here."

Emily's eyes brightened immediately. She quickly took the suitcase and said, "You at least have some sense—"

Emily's voice came to a sudden halt the moment the suitcase's zipper was pulled open.