Chapter 5

From the school, Laureen and Zendaya headed straight to Zach’s office. Zach’s brows knit together the moment he saw his daughter’s tear-stained face.

"What’s going on, Laureen?"

Laureen guided Zendaya to the sofa and gave her some water before facing Zach. "There was an incident at the academy. Cyan was there, but instead of settling things, she scolded Zendaya even though she wasn't at fault. That’s why she’s crying. It’s a good thing your daughter called me, so I picked her up and brought her here," Laureen explained smoothly.

Zach’s fists tightened as he watched his daughter, whose eyes were swollen from crying.

"Daddy... Aunt Cyan also hurt Aunt Laureen!"

Laureen’s eyes widened as she shook her head in a mock attempt to dismiss it, but Zach’s gaze immediately moved to the faint mark on the woman’s cheek.

"Where is Cyan?" he asked, his voice dropping to a dangerous chill.

Laureen let out a theatrical sigh. "I don't know. My priority was getting Zendaya away from her, Zach. I was afraid of what else she might do."

Zach's jaw tightened in anger. "I’m taking Zendaya home. Come with us. I’ll drop you off at your place."

Laureen offered a secret, triumphant smirk. "Okay. But Zach, please, you have to stay calm when you get back to the mansion. Even if you're angry, Cyan is still a woman. You mustn't hurt her, okay?"

Zach took a deep breath before nodding curtly.

"Promise me, Zach," she urged when he didn't verbally respond.

"Fine. I promise," he said, before leading them out of the office.

Cyan returned to the mansion with a heavy heart. She went straight to the room she shared with Zach—the same room that had once belonged to Zach and Chloe. Once inside, she could no longer hold back the tears. The weight of her situation was crushing her. She was exhausted, reaching a point where she wanted to escape and run away, just as she had ten years ago.

She didn't know how long she sat there, lost in her grief. Eventually, her gaze drifted to the framed photo of Zach and Chloe on the bedside table. She picked it up slowly, studying their faces. They looked truly happy then.

"Why is it so hard to walk in your shoes, Chloe? Is this my punishment for leaving you behind back then?" she whispered to the empty room.

As she reached out to touch her sister’s smiling face, the photo was suddenly ripped from her hands. She looked up to find Zach standing over her, his eyes narrowed to slits.

"Zach," she breathed.

She had been so drowned in emotion that she hadn't even heard him enter.

He glanced at the photo he had snatched before slamming it back onto the bedside table. "I told you never to touch my personal things. Are you so damn stupid that you can't understand simple instructions or you just love defying me to get my attention?" He spat.

Cyan wiped her cheeks and stood up. "I'm sorry," she said quietly, attempting to brush past him, but he grabbed her arm with a punishing grip.

"Where do you think you're going? We aren't finished talking yet!"

She winced at the pressure. "You're hurting me, Zach."

"Of course you will really get hurt today! You caused a scene at Zendaya’s academy!"

Cyan met his gaze, seeing the fire of rage burning in his eyes. "You scolded my daughter in front of everyone? What kind of guardian are you? Is this how your parents raised you?"

She didn't flinch. "I did what was right, Zach. This time, it was Zendaya’s fault. What did you expect me to do? Coddle her while she treats people poorly? And for the record, I didn't 'scold' her. I told her what she needed to hear. All of this is happening because you aren't raising her with any discipline!"

"Stop lying, damn it! You always think you know best! What do you know about raising a child? I’ve been raising my daughter for years with Chloe while you were busy walking almost naked on a runway! Don't you dare lecture me on how to be a parent, Cyan. You're my wife on paper only. You have no rights here!"

Cyan looked at him, feeling a bone-deep weariness. Their arguments were always a broken record. "Why don't you ask your daughter what actually happened?"

Zach let out a sarcastic laugh. "We already spoke, Cyan. You attacked her even though she did nothing. And you weren't satisfied with that—you had to slap and humiliate Laureen in public too?"

Cyan frowned. Hearing those words, it was clear that the two of them had conspired to paint her as the villain. But she wouldn't back down. "She started it. I only defended myself."

Zach’s eyes thinned. How could Laureen hurt her when the woman barely knew how to raise her voice? "Liar! I know Laureen. She isn't violent. She’s done nothing but try to be a mother to Zendaya—something you’ve utterly failed at."

This time, it was Cyan who laughed bitterly. How could she be a mother to a child when they never gave her the chance?

"It seems Laureen hasn't just brainwashed Zendaya. She’s got you too, Zach."

Fury overflowed in Zach’s expression. "Stop trying to taint Laureen’s name, Cyan. No matter what lies you tell me, she is a good woman. And no matter how many times you try to tear her down, I will never look at you the way you want to. I won't love you the way I loved Chloe—and I especially won't love you the way I love Laureen now."

His words hit her like a physical blow, sharper than a sword. For two years, she had done everything to be a good wife and a mother figure, but her worth was never recognized.

She realized then that she had been playing the fool. No matter what she did, Laureen would always be the heroine in their eyes.

Maybe this was her karma for falling in love with her sister’s husband. She was finally facing the truth: no amount of effort would change her status in this house. She might be in love, but she wasn't stupid. Why had she allowed this family to treat her like trash for so long?

"Then let's end this fúcked up relationship, Zach. I want a divorce!”