Chapter 4 · He Tasted His Own Medicine

Ethan instantly clammed up, but then he just scowled and refused to back down.

He retorted, "The antivenom's not officially released yet. What, you think we'd risk it on outsiders? Of course, we had to try it on our own staff first.

"And what makes you so sure that the snake is from our lab? You've got zero evidence, and you're tossing accusations around for no reason. What do you even get out of hurting Sophie? If something actually goes wrong, it's the whole lab at risk, and me most of all.

"Look, I know you're having a hard time after your sister died. I can understand why you're acting this way.

"Sophie's considerate. She's willing to offer you 100K as compensation for your sister. I'll throw in another 200K. Just drop the lawsuit.

"For a little brat like your sister, 300K is more than generous. Don't push your luck," Ethan said, unyielding.

He sounded absolutely convinced it was fair, putting a price tag on human life like it was the most normal thing in the world.

I fixed my gaze on Ethan, keeping quiet.

If Ethan knew the one who died was actually his own beloved sister, would he still claim 300K was "more than generous"?

I wasn't responding, and Ethan's frown deepened.

"Are you even listening? I'm doing this for the lab—and for me. Come on, you're my wife; you should know how this stuff works," Ethan said.

"Anyway, I've already drafted the settlement and given it to the cops. Take the money and let's just call it even. If you keep dragging this out, don't make me get nasty," Ethan finished, his voice hard.

The way Ethan was coming at me made me suddenly laugh out loud.

"What's so funny? Have you lost it?" Ethan asked.

"Fine," I said. "300K it is. Just send it to my account now."

Seeing me finally relent, Ethan let out a sigh of relief, but his eyes still carried that unmistakable look of contempt.

It was like he was saying, "Knew it. She'd sacrifice her pride for some cash."

Moments later, my phone buzzed—the money transfer notification popped up right away.

"You want me to let her off the hook? All right." I met Ethan's eyes, calm and unflinching. "Divorce me."

Ethan froze for a moment, as if he hadn't really processed my words. Then his face turned ashen, rage pulsing beneath the surface.

"Julia, are you out of your mind? Why do you want a divorce?" Ethan demanded, his voice rising.

I let out a cold laugh.

"You chose some lab junior over family members. How could I ever stay married to you after that? You're already the lab's key player, so you don't need me to pull strings for you anymore, do you?" I said.

My words made Ethan's face go from pale to furious in a heartbeat, anger and embarrassment battling behind his eyes.

Back when he graduated, he was just some broke nobody. It was me who pulled the right strings to get him into this company. Without my help, he'd still be stuck at the bottom.

"So your sister died. What's the big deal about losing some dead weight?" Ethan spat, his tone ice-cold.

"If your sister hadn't messed with that snake, she wouldn't have gotten bitten. She totally brought it on herself—serves her right," Ethan scoffed.

I forced down the fury burning inside me, my voice turning cold and hard. "So you're not divorcing me? Fine. Then I'll just call the police right now. I won't let this snake thing slide. I'm seeing it through, no matter what."

For a moment, Ethan just clenched his teeth, fuming, before finally snapping out his answer in a rough tone. "Fine. Divorce it is. Like hell I'm scared of you.

"You caved for a few hundred grand. Don't go acting like you're some saint," Ethan sneered, contempt dripping from every word.

He kept muttering curses and grumbling to himself.

I checked the time. Divorce Court was still open.

"Come on, let's get this over with. We'll get the paperwork done now," I said, my voice cool and determined.

I'd actually had the divorce papers ready for a while.

Honestly, even if Emily hadn't been caught up in this mess, I probably wouldn't have lasted much longer with Ethan anyway.

*****

After leaving the Divorce Court, I went ahead and opened the car door on my own.

"I sent the body to your lab, just like you asked. Come on, I'll take you there, and I want to see her one last time myself," I said.

Ethan let out a mocking laugh. "That's more like it. Fine, I'll let you see how your sister's still 'useful' even after she's gone."

Chapter 4

Ethan instantly clammed up, but then he just scowled and refused to back down.

He retorted, "The antivenom's not officially released yet. What, you think we'd risk it on outsiders? Of course, we had to try it on our own staff first.

"Look, I know you're having a hard time after your sister died. I can understand why you're acting this way.

"Sophie's considerate. She's willing to offer you 100K as compensation for your sister. I'll throw in another 200K. Just drop the lawsuit.

"For a little brat like your sister, 300K is more than generous. Don't push your luck," Ethan said, unyielding.

He sounded absolutely convinced it was fair, putting a price tag on human life like it was the most normal thing in the world.

I fixed my gaze on Ethan, keeping quiet.

If Ethan knew the one who died was actually his own beloved sister, would he still claim 300K was "more than generous"?

I wasn't responding, and Ethan's frown deepened.

"Are you even listening? I'm doing this for the lab—and for me. Come on, you're my wife; you should know how this stuff works," Ethan said.

The way Ethan was coming at me made me suddenly laugh out loud.

"What's so funny? Have you lost it?" Ethan asked.

"Fine," I said. "300K it is. Just send it to my account now."

Seeing me finally relent, Ethan let out a sigh of relief, but his eyes still carried that unmistakable look of contempt.

It was like he was saying, "Knew it. She'd sacrifice her pride for some cash."

Moments later, my phone buzzed—the money transfer notification popped up right away.

"You want me to let her off the hook? All right." I met Ethan's eyes, calm and unflinching. "Divorce me."

Ethan froze for a moment, as if he hadn't really processed my words. Then his face turned ashen, rage pulsing beneath the surface.

"Julia, are you out of your mind? Why do you want a divorce?" Ethan demanded, his voice rising.

I let out a cold laugh.

My words made Ethan's face go from pale to furious in a heartbeat, anger and embarrassment battling behind his eyes.

Back when he graduated, he was just some broke nobody. It was me who pulled the right strings to get him into this company. Without my help, he'd still be stuck at the bottom.

"So your sister died. What's the big deal about losing some dead weight?" Ethan spat, his tone ice-cold.

"If your sister hadn't messed with that snake, she wouldn't have gotten bitten. She totally brought it on herself—serves her right," Ethan scoffed.

For a moment, Ethan just clenched his teeth, fuming, before finally snapping out his answer in a rough tone. "Fine. Divorce it is. Like hell I'm scared of you.

"You caved for a few hundred grand. Don't go acting like you're some saint," Ethan sneered, contempt dripping from every word.

He kept muttering curses and grumbling to himself.

I checked the time. Divorce Court was still open.

"Come on, let's get this over with. We'll get the paperwork done now," I said, my voice cool and determined.

I'd actually had the divorce papers ready for a while.

Honestly, even if Emily hadn't been caught up in this mess, I probably wouldn't have lasted much longer with Ethan anyway.

*****

After leaving the Divorce Court, I went ahead and opened the car door on my own.

"I sent the body to your lab, just like you asked. Come on, I'll take you there, and I want to see her one last time myself," I said.

Ethan let out a mocking laugh. "That's more like it. Fine, I'll let you see how your sister's still 'useful' even after she's gone."