Chapter 4

A week later, Edward called.

His voice sounded anxious on the phone when he told me Timothy was sick, asking me to come to Foster Manor.

Timothy was my son, after all. After a moment's thought, I agreed to go.

But before I left, I made sure to tuck the divorce papers into my purse.

When I arrived at Foster Manor, the entire family was gathered in the dining room.

And there, at the round table, sat Timothy, nestled right between Edward and Emily.

From a distance, they looked like a perfect family of three.

After a moment's hesitation, I walked over. "Timothy," I said softly, "what happened? How did you get sick?"

The next second, Timothy flinched and slapped my hand away, his face twisted with disgust.

"Don't touch me!" he yelled.

I froze, staring at his angry face.

I hadn't seen him in so long. He looked just like Edward now, and even that cold rejection in his eyes was identical.

But when he turned to Emily, his expression softened, and he pouted like any other child.

"Emily, hug me!"

Emily immediately scooped him into her lap, stroking his hair soothingly. Then she looked at me with a smug smile. "Timothy's not sick, Jo. Have you been taking so many sleeping pills that you're starting to lose your memory?"

As she spoke, the atmosphere in the room soured. Everyone stared at me as if I were something vile they had found on the bottom of their shoe.

I took a breath, ignoring their glares.

Ever since I'd married into this family, they had treated me like an unwelcome intruder who bewitched Edward to trick him into marrying me.

In the past, for Edward's sake, I swallowed their disdain and their insult.

But today, I was done being their doormat.

After a long silence, I looked directly at Edward, my gaze unwavering.

"You called to say Timothy was sick and told me to come. Did you want me here to watch you three play house? Am I and your family just props in your play with your lover?"

Edward's face went cold. Emily looked rattled.

She opened her mouth to speak, but I cut her off with a look, showing all my pent-up scorn.

"Emily, if you enjoy sleeping with married men, fine. But keep me and Timothy out of your mess. Honestly? It's disgusting."

Emily's eyes immediately welled up with tears.

"Jo, how can you say something like that?" she whimpered.

"What do you want me to say? Should I build a monument to your virtue?" I retorted.

As Emily's tears started streaming down her face, Edward finally snapped. He slammed his fork on the table, his anger boiling over.

"Enough! Who told you Timothy isn't sick? He's had a fever for days. Have you even bothered to check on him once?

"I called you over an hour ago. Look at the clock! Is this how a mother acts?"

I glanced at the time. It hadn't even been an hour. But judging from his tone, you'd think I'd committed murder.

It was rush hour, and I lived across town. This was the fastest I could possibly have gotten here.

I didn't bother explaining. Edward couldn't stand looking at me anymore. He snapped out his order.

"All you ever do is pick fights and get jealous," he yelled. "Having a wife like you is an embarrassment to my family. Get downstairs and wait in the staff quarters until we finish eating."

Edward was the head of the Foster family. His word was law.

No one dared to object.

Everyone just sat there, watching me in silence.

Emily was trying, and failing, to hide a triumphant smirk as she waited to see what I would do.

I scanned the room and gave them all a serene smile before turning to the housekeeper, Mary Lewis.

"Mary, when you have a moment, I'd love to cook a meal for you all."

I didn't want Mary to think I was looking down on them.

I just refused to swallow any more humiliation for Edward.

Once Mary gave me a nod, I looked back at Edward.

"Edward, I regret the day I met you. And I regret marrying you and having your child even more."

I turned to leave, but Edward shot out of his chair and grabbed my arm.

"What do you think you're doing? Did I say you could leave?"

"Have you forgotten already, Edward? I'm divorcing you. From now on, where I go and what I do is none of your damn business!"

Just then, I saw Emily exchange a look with Edward's sister, Jessica Foster. Jessica immediately marched over and shoved me hard.

"If you're going to leave, then get the hell out! You think putting on a crown makes you a queen? Let me tell you something, you rude nobody. Our family never wanted you!"

"That's right," I sneered. "You'd rather have a whore like Emily, the gold-medal homewrecker. Birds of a feather flock together, don't they?"

"Jo!" Edward snapped, trying to shut me up.

My words sent Jessica into a rage. She shrieked and lunged at me again.

But this time, to my utter shock, Edward blocked her. "Shut up!" he yelled. "When did you get a say in what happens between me and Jo?"

I sneered and took two steps forward, staring Jessica down.

"Rude? Me? Fine," I whispered. "I'll show you what real rudeness looks like."