Chapter 4

As I watched Rosalie and Ralph play off each other like that, the last bit of love I'd been clinging to dissipated completely.

"Rosalie, I went to prison for you because I once believed you were worth it. But now I understand that I've wasted my love on the wrong person. From now on, there's nothing more between us."

I spoke each word deliberately. Every single word was wrenched from the deepest depths of my heart.

With that, I turned to leave.

However, Rosalie blocked my path. "Even if you won't stay here, at least eat something before you go. We don't want the neighbors seeing you like this and thinking we mistreated you somehow."

I looked at my own haggard reflection in the mirror. A tumult of emotions churned inside me.

Just then, Ralph came over carrying a bowl of food that looked on the verge of molding.

"I heard people in prison will eat anything. Gretchen hasn't finished cooking yet anyway, so why don't you eat this bowl of food first to tide you over?"

I let out a cold laugh. "Ralph, you really think you're the man of this house now? Don't forget that everything here is mine."

Even though my voice wasn't loud, it instantly silenced the entire living room.

Ralph's smirk froze in place. It hadn't occurred to him that I'd rebuke him like that.

Rosalie's expression turned grim as well. She hurried over and stood in front of Ralph.

"Vernon, what's with the attitude? Ralph was kind enough to bring you food, and you—"

I cut her off, pointing at the bowl of moldy food. "Kind enough? So this is how you repay someone who went to prison for you?"

Rosalie's eyes flickered for a moment, but she quickly regained her cold indifference.

"Given how you look now, you should be grateful that we're even willing to take you in. Yet, you're still being picky?"

Confronted with this utterly indifferent version of Rosalie, I was struck by a terrible thought that sent chills down my spine.

In the end, I voiced the question that had been gnawing at my heart.

"Three years ago, did the two of you conspire together to send me to prison?"

Rosalie panicked for a moment and handed Harper over to Gretchen.

Ralph, however, laughed.

"Vernon, you really think too highly of yourself. If we had conspired, it wouldn't have been just three years. Why don't you take a good look in the mirror?

"The only reason Rosalie married you back then was because she felt indebted to you. I mean, come on—as if an ex-con like you could ever be worthy of Rosalie."

Rosalie gently tugged at Ralph's sleeve, signaling for him to stop. However, her gaze clearly held tacit approval.

I clenched my fists tightly, and my nails dug deep into my palms.

At this moment, Rosalie slowly spoke up. "We should let bygones be bygones. Dwelling on it endlessly is going too far. I hate this kind of petty-mindedness of yours the most!"

I let out a derisive snort. Was she really going to brush off three years of my life as if they meant nothing?

"That's enough. I'll give you some money to eat outside."

As she spoke, she took 100 dollars out of her bag and casually tossed it on the ground. Then, the two of them looked at me with contempt, waiting to see me shamelessly crouch down to pick the money up off the floor.

Ralph sneered from the side. "Don't pretend you're above taking money at a time like this. 100 dollars is enough to feed you for days."

I was in no mood to pay him any more attention. Instead, I simply cast a cold look at Rosalie and said, "Let's get divorced."