Chapter 8

“I know I’m late,” Nora said as she walked in, her tone flat and her pace casual. “Truth is, I wasn’t planning to come at all. But there’s something I need to make clear to everyone here.”

The relatives she used to flatter looked visibly uncomfortable. Their expressions turned sharp.

“Nora, what is wrong with you? It’s your mother-in-law’s birthday and you show up late—and empty-handed? Is this how a daughter-in-law behaves?”

Travis’s expression darkened. He said nothing at first, just stared at her coldly. Then came the reprimand.

“I told you to prepare something for Mom. Why did you come without a gift?”

Quinton had lit up the moment he saw Nora, but the warm look quickly vanished when everyone else began scolding her.

He frowned, puffing up his cheeks. “Dad’s right. You’re just being lazy. You didn’t even try to get a gift. That’s really rude. Rude people should apologize!”

Nora didn’t react to their accusations. She spoke slowly, even lazily, “Didn’t I just apologize when I walked in? As for whether I’ve fulfilled my duties as a daughter-in-law—I have a clear conscience. What you think of me is none of my business.”

She had bent over backward for the Luthers in the past, trying to earn their approval. And what did they see her as in the end? A live-in maid.

Well, she was done playing nice.

Her indifference only provoked more outrage.

“Travis, your wife’s gotten pretty sharp-tongued lately.”

“No respect for her elders at all.”

“You know what? Forget it. We don’t need her apology. Not sure we could handle it anyway.”

Travis’s face turned even colder. His voice was sharp, almost commanding.

“Nora, being late to a family gathering like this is already wrong. Apologize—properly.”

Nora didn’t even flinch. “Cut the act, Travis. I told you—I’m not here to celebrate anyone’s birthday. I came to let the family know that Travis and I are getting divorced.”

The room fell into stunned silence.

Someone gasped, “What?! Divorce?!”

Nora stood right in the center of the storm, calm as ever. Her gaze swept across each face—people who, in her last life, had whispered behind her back, calling her a gold-digger from the slums with no class.

They’d said she must’ve schemed her way into the marriage. Some even gossiped that Quinton wasn’t really Travis’s son.

Every word had been cruel, calculated, and vile.

Now that she was leaving, they should be thrilled. Soon enough, the doors of the Luther family would be open to a “more suitable” bride from the high society.

Travis’s father, Calvin, finally spoke, his voice low and serious.

“Travis, is this true?”

Even Susan looked caught off guard. She had never liked Nora and had always thought her unworthy of her son. But a divorce? That wasn’t a small matter.

Especially not now, when Nora had just announced it in front of the entire family, ruining her birthday celebration.

Travis clenched his jaw, anger simmering just beneath the surface.

“It’s not true.”

He turned to Nora with narrowed eyes. “Stop making a scene. Tonight’s Mom’s birthday. Don’t say things that’ll worry them.”

Nora let out a dry laugh. “You know exactly what I’m talking about. And don’t worry—I’ve got proof if you want to escalate this. But trust me, it’ll only get uglier.”

Travis looked genuinely shaken. He couldn’t believe this was the same woman who used to agree with him on everything.

But with his parents watching, he forced himself to keep calm.

“Whatever issues we have, let’s discuss them at home. Right now, you’re still my wife—and you should act like it.”

“You really think that title still means something?” Nora’s voice was icy. “We’re already in the middle of the paperwork. I’m not your wife anymore, and I have no reason to stick around.”

She turned to leave.

Travis leaned in, lowering his voice with a warning edge. “You don’t care about your own reputation, fine. But what about Quinton? If you walk out now, you’ll embarrass him. You really don’t care how that’ll affect him?”

Nora glanced at Quinton—who was clearly eavesdropping. But before she could respond, he suddenly blurted out, “Let her go! If she doesn’t want us, we don’t want her either!”

Then, as if trying to hammer in the final nail, Quinton pointed a chubby finger at her, eyes welling up.

“She doesn’t know how to build Legos or play any of my games. She doesn’t care about me at all! I was sick in the hospital and she never even came to visit me—not once. I called her and she didn’t even pick up. Aunt Lily stayed with me the whole time. I want her. Not that heartless mom!”

The room went silent. No one even breathed.

Nora was used to his coldness by now, but that didn’t mean the words didn’t hurt.

“Fine,” she said, smiling faintly. “Then you better convince your dad to sign those papers.”

She turned to the room with a quick nod. “Sorry for the interruption. I’ll see myself out.”

Her goal was accomplished. No need to stay a second longer.

As she walked away, Quinton’s tears finally slipped down his cheeks. Not wanting anyone to see, he buried his face in Travis’s leg and sobbed.

“Daddy, I don’t want her anymore. Let’s be with Aunt Lily instead. Let her be my new mom. Please?”

Travis’s face turned so dark it was almost unreadable.

“Enough!” Calvin slammed his palm on the table. “Travis, what the hell have you been doing? Why is your son begging to replace his own mother with her sister?!”

“Calm down!” Susan quickly tried to smooth things over. “We don’t know the full story yet.”

She turned to her son. “Travis, say something! What’s going on?”

Travis pried Quinton off his leg and stood up.

“Dad, Mom, I’ve got work to take care of tonight. I’ll bring Quinton back another day to apologize.”

Meanwhile, the woman who just flipped the entire Luther house upside down?

She went home and had the best night of sleep she’d had since her rebirth.

The next morning, she casually opened the news and social media. She fully expected the Luthers to leak something after last night’s drama.

But surprisingly, there was nothing. No hint of her divorce, not even a whisper.

What? Were they planning to hit her with something bigger?

She was mid-sip on her milk when a text popped up.

[Meet me at the café downstairs at Luther Corp in ten minutes.]