4 Does she really want a divorce?

Since when did Elise start to talk to them in that tone? Elise had never spoken back to them whenever they reprimanded or forced her to do something. So why was she acting different today?

Jessica was sure that Elise was just pretending. After all, Elise was so obsessed and crazy about Kayden. She heard that Kayden refused to eat his medicine and threw his wedding ring into the pool. He even told her that if she could retrieve it, he would obediently eat his medicine. Hence, Elise jumped into the pool and nearly drowned. She managed to retrieve the ring, her dress wet and soggy, her hair clinging to her head and body in an embarrassing manner.

The guests who were present at that time laughed at her, calling her a desperate golddigger and money-hungry slut.

"Actually, Elise doesn't need to apologize to me. She didn't do anything wrong, Amanda," Jessica spoke up. She sounded like she was speaking for Elise.

"Jessica, you're so kind that she takes advantage of you. It's the same with how she took advantage of Naty," Amanda said.

Naty was Kayden's grandma, a respected elder in the Anderson family.

Elise yawned again like she couldn't be bothered with them. She really didn't get a good night's sleep thanks to Kayden and Jessica. She turned and walked off.

"Hey! Where are you going?! Come back here this instant!" Maria yelled. Maria has always been short-tempered and hot-headed. When things don't go her way, she would make a fuss.

But Elise didn't stop. She went back upstairs to fetch her luggage. Then she dragged it out the front door.

James happened to spot her and stopped her, blocking her way.

"What are you doing?" He glared at her suspiciously like she was a thief. His loud voice attracted Amanda, Maria, and Jessica.

"I'm taking my things and leaving."

"Leaving? Who said you could leave? You haven't cooked yet."

She looked at her in-laws. These were the people she tried so hard to please, following their orders and listening to their demands. And this was what she got in return. Their behavior was no different from that of pariahs and gangsters.

"Don't you always want me to leave? I'm fulfilling your wish," Elise snorted.

"Please don't make a hasty decision because of me, Elise," Jessica said, her eyes watery.

"Who said it was because of you? What I said yesterday counts," Elise handed the divorce papers to Amanda. She found them sitting on the trash can this morning. It seemed like Kayden didn't take their marriage seriously. He was the one who demanded a divorce, yet he tossed the papers into the trash can. Did he think of their marriage as a joke?

They had thought that the divorce papers were fake or just a show. They didn't expect that she really signed them. Amanda took it like it was gold. She flipped to the end and saw that she had signed them. A sigh of relief fell from her lips.

If Elise was gone from the position of Mrs. Anderson, then she could find a rich daughter-in-law who was more worthy!

"Now, can I go? I need to go to the courthouse to finalize the divorce."

"Fine. Don't forget to return and cook lunch for us," Amanda harrumphed. They finally let her go because they thought that she was going to the courthouse.

Just as she was about to step out of the door, James blocked her way again.

"If you're going to the courthouse, why do you need to take a luggage with you? Is there something in there?"

"What's wrong with taking a luggage with me, James?" Elise fixed him with an icy gaze.

James was taken aback by the way she looked at him. Usually, she would be trying to soothe or coax him.

"What if you stole something? I'm just being considerate for the family. Open your luggage," he demanded, lifting his chin arrogantly.

Elise wanted more than anything to slap him across the face for being an asshole.

Today would be the last day she did their bidding. Elise bent down and unzipped her luggage. Once it was opened, James and Maria used their shoes to search through her clothes, leaving muddy footprints on them.

Jessica and Amanda watched from the side, snickering and smiling.

Elise watched as her in-laws messed up her luggage, tossing her things about.

"These are all her poor things. Don't touch them. They might be dirty. Ew," Maria waved in front of her nose as if sharing the same air with Elise might infect her.

"Seems like there's nothing that belongs to the Andersons here. You can go," James spoke arrogantly, kicking the open luggage over to Elise.

Elise looked down at the soiled clothing calmly. She zipped up the luggage and walked out of the door. Elise hailed a cab and left.

"That bitch. She's just getting cocky, using the opposite strategy to win my brother's heart," Maria sneered, watching her leave.

"She deserves it. Who told her to influence Grandma and marry into the Anderson family?" James and Maria returned to the dining table.

"Mom, does she really want a divorce? I remember that she was obsessed with Kayden," Maria asked.

"Who knows what games she's playing. We'll play along too. Since she's the one who proposed the divorce, then it'll make things easier. My son will be freed from this bitch soon."

Maria opened the pot only to find that it was filled with raw meat and a little note.

[Have a wonderful breakfast. Bon appétit!]

"Elise Thatcher! You bitch!"

In the cab, Elise smiled to herself. The Andersons should have found the wonderful breakfast she made for them. If they think that she was going to return to cook lunch for them, they can daydream.

Elise tried to call Kayden, but he didn't reply. She looked at all the unread text messages she had sent him and chuckled bitterly.

Yesterday, she already told him to arrive at the courthouse. It felt like he was standing her up, like what he did when they registered their marriage.

Finally, he picked up after the fifth ring. "I'm busy. Don't disturb me," came his cold, grumpy voice.