Chapter 4

I was supposed to be discharged the next day.

Joshua called not long after he left the hospital. Any trace of gentleness from the past few days was completely absent from his voice.

"Tina's been suspended from university. Did you put someone up to this? She's threatening to kill herself now! If anything happens to her, Elise, don't blame me for showing no mercy."

He hung up before I could say a word.

News about Tina spread like wildfire. Trending posts popped up one after another.

[You all keep calling her a homewrecker, but where's the proof? It looks like Joshua has wanted to divorce Elise for a long time.]

[A woman who isn't afraid to go after what she wants is the real heroine here. Elise is just petty—going after someone that young.]

[Hasn't Elise just been freeloading all this time? She stays home as a housewife. Women like that are useless.]

The entire internet had turned on me.

Then, Joshua, who rarely posted on social media, shared an update of his own.

[My relationship of over 20 years with Elise Jensen ends today. I can't stand a woman who accomplishes nothing.]

Those words threw me straight to the wolves.

I rushed through my discharge paperwork. The second I stepped out of the hospital doors, a crowd of reporters swarmed me. Their cameras flashed so brightly that I could barely open my eyes. They treated me as though I were some unforgivable criminal.

I fought my way through the crowd and barely made it home in one piece.

When I pushed open the front door, I found Joshua sitting on the couch. The news was playing on the tablet in front of him. My pale face filled the screen.

My voice came out frighteningly hoarse. "Did you do all of that?"

He didn't bother denying it. Instead, he slid a new agreement across the table toward me.

"Elise, tell me I'm wrong," he said. "Haven't I been the one supporting you all these years? You had people spread rumors that Tina was a mistress and got her scholarship revoked. I never realized you were capable of this much jealousy."

A bitter laugh escaped me. Every bit of resentment and hurt I'd swallowed over the past few days spilled out all at once.

"So, you went to the media and twisted the truth?" I spat. "Isn't Tina a mistress? We aren't even divorced yet! You know better than anyone why I don't have a career. How do you think your company got to where it is today? I put my life on the line to build it!"

Joshua's expression darkened. Without a moment's hesitation, he struck me across the face, hard enough to leave my ears ringing.

"Nobody asked for your help. You volunteered. I could've built the company just fine without you. And haven't I treated you well all these years? You live in a big house and drive luxury cars. What can you even do? All you know how to do is keep bringing up the past to guilt-trip me into giving you attention."

He scoffed. "Elise, you brought this on yourself! You love playing the martyr, but you're the only one moved by your little performance!"

It was as if he were finally pouring out every complaint he'd kept to himself all these years.

"You really embarrass me," he continued. "Tina is at least young and beautiful. I can take her out without people laughing at me. But you? What can you give me? Look at yourself—gray hair, wrinkles around your eyes, and even the way you dress is so old-fashioned."

My eyes reddened, and the last flicker of hope inside me went out. All my persistence and self-delusion over the past few days felt like a joke.

People often revealed their true feelings when they were at their angriest.

Joshua seemed about to say something else, but I picked up the pen beside me and signed my name on the line.

He opened his mouth, but whatever he wanted to say caught in his throat.

Then, he picked up the divorce agreement and flipped through it. His fingers tightened over my name at the bottom of the page.

"Once the waiting period is over, I'll see you at the courthouse."

I looked at him and said my piece. "Half of your company's equity is mine."

I tossed the pen aside and turned to leave the home I'd lived in for ten years.

I could feel Joshua's gaze fixed on my back, but this time, I wasn't going to look back.