Chapter 3

I had always thought Yvette simply preferred strong flavors, but now that I thought about it, every dish she ordered was just tailored to Eric's taste.

…

Yvette never came home that night.

The next morning, out of habit, I reached for my phone to send her a good morning message.

The moment I unlocked the screen, a trending headline caught my eye.

[Shaw Family Heiress Spends the Night With Her Beloved Husband!]

The accompanying photo showed Yvette and Eric embracing inside a car. James sat beside them, watching Eric with a worried expression.

The internet was buzzing with speculation that the man in the photo was the Shaw family's secret son-in-law.

Back when Yvette and I got married, her company had been on the verge of bankruptcy.

She had told me that the situation was too unstable for a proper wedding. She promised she would give me an unforgettable wedding once the Shaw Group got through the crisis.

Over the years, the Shaw Group had grown stronger and stronger, eventually becoming one of the most influential companies in its industry. As the company prospered, however, Yvette never mentioned that promise again.

Only now did I finally understand why.

From the very beginning, she had never intended to spend her life with me.

Suddenly, voices drifted up from the living room downstairs.

I got out of bed and headed down.

Yvette was sitting beside the sofa, carefully tending to a wound on Eric's arm.

"Does it hurt?" she asked, her voice full of concern. "I can't believe she actually hit you!"

The pain in her eyes was impossible to hide. "Tomorrow, I'll make the Brooks Group pay for this. Their business has been getting worse and worse anyway."

Eric lowered his head, looking pitiful and wronged. "Don't do that, Yvette. I'm still part of the Brooks family. No matter what happens, I don't want things to get ugly."

Yvette reached up and gently touched his face. The way she looked at him was soft and full of affection.

"Then leave her. Come to me." Her voice was almost a whisper. "The Shaw Group is strong enough now. I can give you everything you've ever wanted."

Eric hesitated on purpose, his eyes shimmering with tears. "What about Draven?"

James lifted his head from Eric's arms and spoke in a childish voice. "Don't be scared, Papa! I don't want my dad. I only want you!"

His vulnerable expression only made Yvette's heart ache even more.

"You know how I feel about you..."

I had suspected the truth for a long time. Even so, seeing it with my own eyes still sent a sharp pain through my chest.

Eric's eyes were quick. He spotted me standing at the staircase immediately and switched to a wounded expression. "Draven, did we wake you up?"

A flash of triumph flickered through his eyes before disappearing.

Yvette looked up in panic, her gaze darting nervously away.

"Y-you're awake."

James was still too young to hide what he was thinking. He immediately jumped up.

"Dad, you should leave! Mom and I already talked about it. We want Eric to be my dad!"

Yvette hurriedly explained. "Eric got hurt. Alicia abuses him. He's going to stay with us temporarily."

"Fine," I said.

She froze, clearly not expecting me to agree so easily.

"We'll give Eric our bedroom.

"The bed is bigger. You can stay in the guest room for a few days, and I'll keep you company."

Her tone was completely matter-of-fact, as though she had already decided I would not refuse.

An icy laugh escaped me. "I don't agree."

I could tolerate Eric staying there, but this house was mine. I had bought it before marriage, and the property belonged entirely to me. Why should Eric move into the master bedroom and treat this place like his own home?

Yvette's face immediately darkened.

"Why do you have so little compassion? Your brother is injured after being abused, and you won't even give him the better room?"

"You just said he's my brother," I replied with a mocking smile. "So why are you this worked up about it? Anyone who didn't know better would think you're his wife."

Yvette was instantly speechless.

At that moment, James grabbed a toy from somewhere and hurled it at me.

It struck my cheek. A burning pain spread across my face, and I felt skin break as a thin line of blood appeared.

"Don't bully my Papa!"

Eric immediately added fuel to the fire, putting on a timid act. "It's okay, Yvette. As long as I have a place to stay, that's enough. Draven has never really liked me anyway."

Yvette wrapped her arms around Eric protectively and glared at me in anger. "I never realized you were this petty! You've completely disappointed me!"

I looked at the ridiculous scene unfolding before me and curled my lips into a sharp smile.

"Let's get divorced, Yvette. You can take James with you. I won't fight for custody."