Chapter 2

Rosella Gosling, my mother-in-law, raised her hand and slapped me hard across the face.

"You shameless bitch!" she snapped. "It's clearly your fault, yet you still dare to slander my son? I'll teach you a lesson today!"

A sharp, burning pain spread across my cheek. My mind went blank from the force of the blow. In all my 27 years of living, no one had ever hit me like that before.

On instinct, I struck back just as hard and said coldly, "Whether it's slander or not, a paternity test between Davis and the child will make everything clear."

The moment I said that with such certainty, a flicker of hesitation crossed Davis' face.

Before he could respond, Sonia immediately burst into tears.

"Mrs. Stark, I don't mind if you insult me," she cried. "But how can you slander Mr. Stark like this? I can vouch for him. He's perfectly strong and healthy. There is absolutely nothing wrong with him!"

Davis immediately regained his confidence.

"You shameless bitch, don't even think about slandering me!" he snapped. "I know my own body very well. There is absolutely nothing wrong with me."

Rosella, who was still seething from the slap I gave her, turned around and shouted at the surrounding relatives, "Someone, restrain this disrespectful woman!"

Outnumbered, I was quickly pinned down by members of the Stark family. Rosella followed up by slapping me again and again, then seized my hair and yanked it hard.

"You've been married to David for seven years," she spat. "You've failed in every way a daughter-in-law should. You can't even give us an heir, and now you dare lay hands on me? You don't deserve to remain in the Stark family!"

Pain exploded across my scalp, but I couldn't move. Through the chaos, I lifted my gaze to Davis. A streak of blood slipped from the corner of my mouth.

"Davis," I rasped. "You once swore you would protect me for life. Is this what your promise has become?"

Davis remained unmoved.

"You attacked my mother and insulted me," he said flatly. "You brought this upon yourself."

At his words, the surrounding relatives became even more emboldened.

"This is exactly what she needed. A woman like her has to be put in her place, or she'll forget who she is," one of them said.

"Davis built his empire from nothing. Which rich man doesn't keep a woman or two outside? She's the only one making a scene out of it."

Amid the chaos, someone kicked me to the ground. A bottle of red wine was opened, and it was poured all over me.

"Let's properly cool her temper down today." They sneered.

One bottle after another was poured over me until I was completely soaked. In moments, I was completely drenched, humiliated beyond recognition.

A smug look flashed across Sonia's eyes as she watched.

"Mrs. Stark, you're the type who refuses a toast only to be forced to take the punishment instead. You've ruined a perfectly good celebration. Was it worth it?"

Davis looked at me with clear disgust.

"After seven years by my side, I thought I'd at least give you some dignity and let you remain Mrs. Stark," he said. "But since you don't know your place, don't blame me for being ruthless."

He then ordered someone to bring over a divorce agreement.

"Sign it," he said coldly. "We'll part on somewhat decent terms."

I stared at the clause that left me with nothing but my name and laughed softly.

"Part on decent terms?" I said. "What do you take my seven years of youth for? Was it all just for nothing?"

Davis lifted his chin arrogantly.

"Isabella, when you married me, you had nothing," he said. "I built everything here from nothing. You've lived in luxury as my wife for seven years, and that alone should be enough. How dare you still covet my assets? You're disgusting and greedy."

Rosella threw a stack of cash at me. "It's my grandchildren's birthday celebration today. I'm giving you 20 thousand dollars as a gesture of goodwill for them. Sign the papers and leave immediately."

Sonia looked at me with a smug smile.

"Mrs. Stark, how ironic! Back when you forced me out of the office, did you ever imagine this would happen to you?"

When I went to Davis' company earlier, I caught Sonia leaning against him in revealing office attire. In a rage, I had her dragged out of the office and publicly dismissed her, banning her from ever being rehired. I never expected Davis had been two-timing me the entire time.

I lifted my gaze and looked at everyone in the banquet hall, engraving every disgusting expression into my memory. Then, I picked up the divorce agreement and signed my name without hesitation.

After signing, I immediately took out my phone and made a call.

"Ian, dear brother," I said coldly. "Davis cheated. I want you to immediately cut off all investment into Stark Corporation."