Chapter 4

My tears just wouldn't stop. They fell in big, messy drops, and I couldn't hold them back anymore. But it was only a moment. I wiped away my tears and sent the video to my lawyer.

I sent: [Here comes another borderline clip.]

He replied instantly. [Got it, Ms. Lane.]

[How's the data collection on Eric's company going?]

[We're almost there. The whole team's working overtime. Rest assured, Ms. Lane, we'll fight to get you everything you deserve.]

I clenched my phone tightly in my hand.

[You know I don't just want my rights back. I want Eric Shaw to lose everything and end up behind bars.]

My lawyer replied instantly. [Understood, Ms. Lane. I'll do everything I can.]

After getting his reply, I didn't message him back. Instead, I walked over to my dad's altar.

"Dad, I'm sorry. This is all my fault. But don't worry. I'll make sure the ones who killed you have nowhere to rest in peace," I said.

*****

It was only in the past couple of days that I found out.

My dad had known about Eric's affair for half a year.

And it was all because of Lily.

My dad was a retired professor. After my mom died of cancer when I was ten, he never remarried. He raised me all by himself, playing both mom and dad.

All these years, his biggest wish was for me to be happy.

But Lily didn't just send my dad videos of me and Eric fighting. She even sent him clips of Eric nitpicking and looking down on me.

She even tried to convince my dad to persuade me to divorce Eric.

It was because Lily went to see him that my dad had a heart attack and ended up in the hospital three months ago.

And this time was no different.

Eric and I had a huge fight at my dad's birthday party and stormed off. While we were gone, Lily quietly slipped over to see my dad.

She told him he was ruining her relationship, and said she was pregnant and about to give birth to Eric's child.

She claimed that an old woman like me, who couldn't have kids, would be thrown out and divorced anyway, even if I stubbornly refused to let go.

That night, after we got home, my dad fainted again, all because he was so worried about me.

I found these recordings on my dad's phone while I was sorting through his belongings.

Hearing Lily's harsh, relentless tone, I couldn't even imagine how much pain my dad must have felt listening to those words.

But for the past six months, he never let on that anything was wrong. Every day, he'd call me, telling me to eat well and take care of myself.

My chest felt so tight I could barely breathe. Lily's so desperate to take my place? Fine, let her. She can hurry up and marry a broke criminal drowning in debt.

My chest ached with a dull, throbbing pain. The days flew by in a blur.

Finally, the day of my dad's funeral arrived. I cried so hard my whole body shook, and I even fainted right there at the cemetery. They had to take me to the hospital.

When I woke up, the nanny helped me back home.

But when I stepped into the house Eric and I had shared for seven years, the whole place was unrecognizable.

Not a single wedding photo was left.

My old clothes had been carelessly packed up and tossed into a corner of the living room.

As soon as I walked in, Lily came out, acting like she owned the place.

"Sorry, I went ahead and packed up your things without asking.

"But you seemed pretty busy lately, so I didn't want to interrupt," she said, barely bothering to hide her smugness.

Just as Lily finished talking, Eric appeared from the room.

Seeing me and Lily face to face, he quickly pulled Lily behind him.

"Hey, don't be upset. It was my idea for Lily to do this.

"Lily and I's old place is getting renovated. Since we're getting divorced anyway, you'd have to move out eventually, so this just happened a bit sooner.

"Weren't you out traveling? Did it help at all? Are you feeling any better?" he said, sounding casual.

I let out a mocking laugh at Eric's words.

So that was what Lily told him—I was off traveling.

Well, of course. Eric had muted my updates on social media half a year ago, all because Lily asked him to. No wonder he didn't even know my dad passed away.

The only ones who could've possibly told Eric about my dad's death were his assistant, plus a handful of his friends and family.

But Lily made sure his assistant kept quiet. Even getting Eric on the phone myself was nearly impossible.

His friends and family? Not a chance.

My chest twisted with pain, but the hatred boiling inside me was even stronger.

I calmly met Eric's eyes.

"Don't waste your time trying to test me. Tomorrow, I'll go with you to the courthouse and get the divorce paperwork done," I said.

After that, I turned to the nanny, keeping my voice steady as I told her what to do, "Lana, could you call a moving company for me later? I need someone to help move my stuff."

Without sparing them another glance, I turned and walked out of the villa.

But to my surprise, Eric texted me in the middle of the night.

[Sorry. I was so harsh this afternoon. I just didn't want to upset Lily. Don't worry. I'll make sure you get a bigger share in the divorce.]

I didn't reply. I just walked over to the window and lit a cigarette, feeling strangely calm.

Bigger share? I don't need it. All I want is to see Eric lose everything and have nowhere left to go.