Chapter 3

"Henry said something important came up and asked us to come over," said Susan Lowe, Kiara's mother.

"So this is what it was about? Did the two of you get into a fight?"

She stepped forward and hastily tried to convince us to make up. "How could you get physical with your own husband, Kiara? Let go of him!"

Kiara glared at me. She clearly hadn't expected me to call her parents over.

"John, Susan," I said, taking a deep breath. "Kiara's been cheating on me. I want a divorce."

"Don't listen to him! He's lost his mind!" Kiara scoffed.

"Oh, really?" I sneered. "Your lover is hiding in this very house, and you still have the nerve to deny it? You were so desperate to kick me out because you were afraid I'd find him!"

After a pause, I added, "Since you insist that you haven't cheated, why don't we search the house together while your parents are here?"

Kiara's expression gradually stiffened. A few seconds later, she dropped the act altogether.

"Fine! I cheated. So what?" she said mockingly, without a trace of remorse. "You're so dull and boring. Sleeping with you is pure torture. I'd be better off buying a vibrator!"

"Did you really think you could convince my parents to take your side by dragging them over here? Let me make one thing clear. You can either live with the fact that I cheated or get the hell out of my house!" she barked.

"What the hell are you talking about, Kiara?" Susan snapped, raising a hand to smack her daughter.

Then, she turned toward me and said, "Let's not make any rash decisions, Henry. You can't just decide to get a divorce on a whim! Kiara made a foolish mistake in the heat of the moment.

"Women need love and attention! If you hadn't neglected her because of work, she wouldn't have gone looking for someone else. In my opinion, you should just quit your job and get a new one. That way, you'll be able to work while still making sure you can spend more time with her."

I let out a mocking laugh. "Quit my job? Who's going to pay the ten-thousand-dollar mortgage every month then? Should I tell Kiara to ask her lover to cover it?"

Kiara's parents immediately looked displeased. They were pretending to criticize their daughter, but in reality, they were blaming me for what happened.

I wasn't surprised. Kiara was their child, after all.

"John, Susan, I didn't ask you to come here to help us make up," I said firmly.

"I want a divorce. Kiara will leave the marriage with nothing. The house we're living in and all the money we've saved up during the marriage will go to me."

My voice was perfectly calm. The moment I'd confirmed Kiara's infidelity, I'd already decided how to cut her out of my life while securing the best possible outcome for myself.

Kiara scoffed. "You're asking for the moon, Henry! That won't be possible. Dream on!"

She was right—I was indeed asking for a lot. But I'd only dared to make such a demand because I was certain I could get what I wanted.

"Listen, Kiara. If you refuse to sign a divorce agreement, I'll take you to court. Once everyone finds out about your affair, the scandal will spread everywhere. If your school and the school's district office hear about this, do you think you'll still have a job?"

"Why, you—"

Kiara finally began to panic.

I looked her straight in the eye and smiled. "What do you think Natasha Carter will do when she finds out you've been sleeping with her husband?"

The Carters were a powerful family with connections all across town, and anyone who dared to covet Natasha's husband risked paying a terrible price. Kiara had no idea what she had gotten herself into.

Her face gradually paled, and fear crept into her eyes. She knew perfectly well that if I exposed her affair, the consequences would be disastrous.

"We're husband and wife, Henry. Do you really have to be so heartless?" Kiara finally faltered.

"You were the one who betrayed me first," I replied without the slightest hesitation.

"Sign the divorce agreement and walk away with nothing. Then, none of the things you're afraid of will happen."

Looking visibly torn, Kiara fell silent. Meanwhile, I waited patiently for her to make her choice.

A moment later, she suddenly looked up.

"Do you have any proof, Henry?" she asked, her lips curving into a triumphant smile. "Without evidence, no one will believe you. Do you expect my own parents to testify against me?"

I remained unfazed, patiently watching the elevator climb toward our floor.

The doors slid open, and a middle-aged woman stepped out.

"Hello, Henry. Sebastian is at your place, isn't he? I've come to pick him up."