Chapter 3

I grabbed Sophie and marched straight into the top-tier supercar showroom.

"Which one catches your eye? Take your pick; anything goes." I said.

I pointed at the ice-blue sports car in the center of the showroom and beckoned Sophie over with a grand gesture, like I owned the place.

Sophie's eyes went wide. "Lily, are you going to buy me a sports car?"

"I'm not giving it to you. It's under my name, but you can drive it whenever you want." I grinned.

I handed the black card to the salesperson with a swagger. "Paying in full. I want the car today, and all the paperwork done before I leave."

Two hours later, another two point two million dollars was swiped from my card.

With the jewelry I'd bought earlier, I'd already spent a total of 1three point four million dollars.

I wiped the sweat from my forehead and slumped into the plush leather seat of the sports car, grinning at my phone.

That should finally calm him down.

Three point three million dollars. That's enough for a normal person to live for several lifetimes.

Sure enough, Edward's message popped up again: [A sports car? I thought you couldn't drive a manual.]

I huffed and typed back: [Can't I buy it and let it sit in the garage collecting dust? What's it to you?]

Edward: [Fine. Keep going.]

I froze. He wanted me to go on.

What does he mean by that?

Before I could process it, my phone suddenly rang. The caller ID showed it was my husband's mother, Mrs. Shaw.

My heart clenched.

Ever since we got married six months ago, Mrs. Shaw had never been satisfied with me.

She looked down on the Grant Family's decline and thought I brought nothing to the Shaw Family. Whenever we met, she never missed a chance to make a snide remark.

I swiped to answer, forcing myself to sound polite. "Claire."

Mrs. Shaw's sharp, stern voice cut through the phone. "Lily. What on earth are you doing?

"The finance department got a bank alert. Edward's secondary card was used to spend over three point three million dollars in such a short time. Was that you?"

I cringed. "Claire, it was me, but Edward told me to do it"

Mrs. Shaw barked, her voice sharp enough to cut me off. "Ridiculous. Lily, do you think because you married into the Shaw Family, you're suddenly some high-society lady?

"Over three point three million dollars. Before your family went bankrupt, you couldn't spend that much in a year.

"You're a nobody from a ruined family, so petty and short-sighted—if word gets out, how are we supposed to hold our heads up?"

Every word was like a poisoned needle, stabbing straight into my heart.

Back when I was with the Grant Family, my parents treated me like nothing more than a cash machine for my brother.

And now, after marrying into the Shaw Family, I'm the family embarrassment they'd rather hide away.

My knuckles turned white as I gripped the phone, the veins standing out on the back of my hand.

"Claire, Edward gave me the card and told me to spend it. If you've got a problem, maybe you should talk to your son about it," I said.

I tried to keep my voice steady.

"You dare talk back to me? Get back to the family homestead tonight. I want to see where you get the nerve to talk to me like that." Mrs. Shaw snapped.

She hung up with a sharp click.

I stared at the darkening screen and let out a long, shaky breath.

Sophie looked at me, worry written all over her face. "Lily, are you okay? Maybe we should return the car."

"Return it? No way I'm returning it." I shot back.

My gaze turned icy as I shoved the black card deep into my pocket, gripping it tight. "She thinks I'm not good enough for Edward. She thinks I'm some shallow nobody.

"Fine, tonight I'll show her what being truly unworthy looks like."

My marriage to Edward was always a transactional deal.

He wanted a wife to keep the gold-diggers at bay, and I needed a shelter so my family wouldn't go under for good.

We both got what we wanted, so why should I have to swallow this humiliation?

If push comes to shove, I'll end this marriage. We'll settle it with a divorce agreement, and I'm cashing out, taking the money and walking away for good.

I grabbed my phone, opened Edward's chat, and fired off a message with zero hesitation: [Heading to the family homestead tonight. Bring the divorce papers. I'll sign them.]

Once I sent it, I shut my phone off without a second thought and grabbed Sophie by the arm, marching straight into the hotpot place next door.

"Hey, waiter. Double everything in the meal." I shouted.

No point fighting on an empty stomach.