06|He was far bigger than your son.

Celeste pov.

“Keep the change,” I said to the cab driver as I handed him the cash. I wasn’t sure how much I’d given him, but the way his eyes widened as he stared at the bills told me it was a lot.

I took a deep breath and looked up at the house towering before me. This was the place I had called home for the past three years but it had felt more like a prison than a sanctuary.

But, enough was enough.

I was tired of everything, tired of being taken advantage of, tired of pretending things were okay. I didn’t care that Liora had tricked me into signing that prenuptial agreement anymore. I just wanted out of this toxic place. Even if it meant walking away with nothing from the divorce, I didn’t care.

Spilling everything to that reporter had been my final act of revenge against Ethan and Liora for betraying me. Since they were going to be parents, I’d make sure the whole world knew.

I reached for the door and pushed it open, ready to step out of the car, but the driver’s voice stopped me.

“Miss,” he called gently, and though I didn’t turn to look at him, I listened as he spoke.

“I know it’s not my place to say this, but… you seem like a strong woman. Things might not look good now, but in the end, everything will turn out okay.”

The corner of my lips twitched at his words, but I murmured a quiet, “Thank you,” before stepping out of the cab and walking toward the house.

As I drew closer, the sound of raised voices reached my ears. I closed my eyes for a moment, bracing myself for whatever was waiting on the other side. But I wasn’t here to fight— I was here to gather my things and walk away while the divorce was being finalized.

When I opened my eyes, I didn’t hesitate to push the door open and step inside. Almost immediately, my gaze landed on the people who had made my life hell in one way or another.

I swept my eyes across the room, taking in the scene, my mother holding Liora, who had tears streaming down her face, her body trembling as she cried.

“I really didn’t mean for Celeste to find out this way… I never wanted to hurt her, Mother,” she sobbed, and I watched as my mother nodded in understanding, her hand gently rubbing Liora’s back with care.

“Don’t cry, sweetheart. It’s not good for the child. I’m sure your sister will understand that it wasn’t your fault,” she said softly.

“This is why I told you I never liked that girl! How dare she lay her hands on my son and sleep out? Doesn’t she know she’s now a Maddox? How is she so mannerless?” my mother-in-law snapped, slamming her hand on the table in anger.

“Haha, what did I tell you, Mom? Celeste is stupid and doesn’t deserve to marry Brother. I bet she slept with another man last night to get back at him after finding out he got sis Liora pregnant,” Madison, my sister-in-law, snickered, casually inspecting her manicure, legs crossed in a relaxed, indifferent posture.

“W-What?!” my mother-in-law shrieked in shock, but Ethan, who had his back turned to me suddenly spoke.

“Shut up! All of you, keep your mouths shut!” he hissed, and everyone fell silent. He turned to my mother, who looked flustered under his gaze.

“When did she say she was coming?”

My mother blinked, swallowing nervously, but before she could answer, Liora’s eyes flicked to mine and they widened in shock as she stared at me.

“C-Celeste,” she stammered, and immediately, all eyes turned to where I stood by the door.

My gaze locked on Ethan. I stared into the familiar cold eyes of the man I had grown used to, but this time, there was a flicker of rage. His eyes roamed over my body, his jaw clenched, and his fists tightened at his sides as he glared at me. But my expression didn’t change; it remained ice cold.

“Celeste, why did you arrive late?” my mother called out, but before she could say anything more, a mocking voice cut through the air and I didn’t even need to look to know it was Madison.

“Well, well. Look who we have here. The runaway wife has finally returned home. Haha. You look like a mess, sister-in-law. Where were you last night? In someone else’s bed, getting back at my brother?” she asked jokingly, not realizing she’d hit the nail on the head.

My mother-in-law’s eyes narrowed at me, clearly expecting a response. When I gave none, she shot to her feet, pointing a trembling finger in my direction, her face flushing with anger.

“Why can’t you answer?! Where were you last night? Is it true you were out there spending the night with men, you filthy slut?!”

As soon as the words left her mouth, my mother quickly stood up, forcing a nervous smile as she shook her head and stepped forward, trying to calm her down.

“Mrs. Sandra, please… calm down. I’m sure that’s not true. I know my daughter would never do something like that. Let’s just hear her out, please.”

My mother-in-law scoffed at her words.

“Hear her out? After laying a hand on my son? She nearly hit her pregnant sister too, and you’re still saying she isn’t like that? I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, this girl is evil! I don’t care anymore. I won’t listen to anyone. Since she wants a divorce, then she’s getting one. My son will marry Liora, who can clearly give him a child.”

She glared at me, chin lifted in defiance, as though her words were meant to frighten me, like her son was some prized possession I should be begging to keep.

I wanted to laugh. Just how stupid and desperate did they all think I was? Just because I had always done everything they asked of me, always kept quiet and lowered my head whenever I was berated or emotionally abused, they assumed it was because I loved Ethan too much to leave him.

No. I stayed because I didn’t think his indifference or neglect was worth the energy of a long, drawn-out divorce. But this time, they had gone too far. They had finally pushed me past my limit.

“Please don’t be rash, Mrs. Sandra. Celeste is Ethan’s legal wife. It won’t do Liora any good if this scandal gets out to the public.” She turned to me, her voice softening. “Celeste, come on. Apologize to your mother-in-law and explain where you were last night.”

“Liora again. Am I even your real daughter?” I muttered under my breath, my lips curving into a humorless smile.

“What?” my mother asked in surprise, but I ignored her. Taking a deep breath, I turned to face my mother-in-law with a cold, steady gaze, causing her to stiffen slightly as our eyes met.

“For the first time, I actually agree with you on something, Sandra,” I said, deliberately using her name. Her eyes narrowed in anger.

“I should get a divorce from your son. And yes, Liora, my sister should marry him instead, since she’s carrying his child. I don’t mind. In fact, I’ve already called my lawyer and told her I want a divorce.”

In the blink of an eye, the anger in her eyes turned to shock, mirroring everyone else’s reaction. Even Madison’s amused smirk vanished as she shot up from the couch, while Liora stared at me in disbelief.

For a brief moment, no one said anything. The room fell into complete silence, broken only by the ticking of the clock. The only person who didn’t seem fazed was Ethan, still seated on the couch, watching me in silence.

“W-what did you just say!? You called your lawyer for a divorce? Wow, that’s pretty impressive, sister-in-law. Are you seriously divorcing my cheating brother?” Madison asked with a wide grin, her eyes sparkling like she’d just stumbled on the juiciest gossip possible.

“Yes,” I responded, my cold gaze shifting to Liora, who instantly went still under the weight of it.

“And since apparently I won’t be getting anything from the divorce because I signed a prenuptial agreement, I decided to leave a little tip with a reporter. Something that might cause a bit of a buzz, Ethan Sinclair, the people’s politician, got his wife’s sister, who just happens to be a popular actress, pregnant. Just a little payback.”

“Oh my God!” Madison’s eyes widened, and Liora’s did too, filled with disbelief and fear.

“Are you crazy?!” my mother-in-law screamed, yanking her hand away from my stunned mother and storming up to me, pointing her finger like she always did.

“Did you really tell a reporter about everything? How could you throw your husband under the bus because he slept with another woman?! Don’t you know this could ruin his career?!”

I tilted my head at her words, barely able to hold back a laugh.

Oh, a second ago she was threatening to have her son divorce me, and now he was my husband?

I watched her stare at me like I’d lost my mind as a dry laugh escaped me. I shook my head and waved my hand.

“Oh, of course not, Sandra. It’s just payback. Why would I do that because he cheated on me, when I also cheated on him last night with another man?”

A gasp rippled through the room at my words, and rage flashed in my mother-in-law’s eyes as I took a step toward her.

“Y-you did what?” she stammered.

“You know, I admit I was hurt and sad, and I slept with another man just to get back at that bastard but then that man made me feel things your beloved son never could.” I took another step, easily towering over her.

“He touched me like he wanted me, he kissed me like he craved me, he made me moan his name.” My grin widened as I hummed in satisfaction. “And God, he was really big too, far bigger than your son—”

“You bitch!!” she roared, her hand flying toward my face. My gaze narrowed, but I didn’t move, knowing I could easily dodge, yet I stayed still because I wanted her to touch me like she always had but this time, I’d make sure to slap her back!

This time, I wasn’t going to be on the receiving end anymore. I’d make sure they tasted their own medicine.

However, that slap never came.

I fought the urge to roll my eyes as I took my gaze off my stunned mother-in-law, whose raised hand was held firmly by the fuming man in front of me.

I straightened my back, met his gaze head-on, and without thinking twice, aimed my fist straight at his face.