Chapter 6

Everyone was stunned, including Margaret.

I looked at their expressions and continued, "I'm leaving with nothing, but only if all assets under Justin's name, including cars, houses, stocks, and funds, get transferred to me, free and clear.

"All of those were bought with my money and our joint property after we got married. I'm only taking back what's rightfully mine."

Richard snapped, "You call that walking away with nothing? You're trying to make Justin lose everything."

"Yes," I admitted frankly. "I want him to have nothing."

I turned to Vivian. "Second, you and the baby you're carrying are never allowed to set foot in this city again. And you need to hand over every dollar you took from Justin. My lawyer will comb through every cent."

My gaze swept over everyone. "Third, everyone here today should sign a non-disclosure agreement. If there is any gossip about my baby or me, I'll hand over all the recordings and evidence I have to the police and the media.

"Think about what that'll do to Johnson Group's stock price and the Johnson family's reputation. The consequences are yours to bear."

Every one of my terms was ruthless, leaving no room for negotiation.

Richard was shaking all over with rage. He pointed a finger at me. "Y-You bitch."

I met his gaze without a hint of fear. "You forced me to do this."

Right then, Justin, who had been slumped on the floor, suddenly sprang up like he'd gone crazy.

Instead of coming for me, he lunged at Margaret. "It's all your fault. You bitch."

Justin's eyes were bloodshot, and his face was twisted with rage. "You've controlled every part of my life since I was a kid. My money. My future. It's all because of you. You ruined me."

He grabbed Margaret by the throat and violently slammed her to the floor.

The accident happened in a split second. No one expected Justin to attack his mother.

Margaret was shoved to the floor, her head cracking hard against the sharp corner of the coffee table. Blood started pouring out instantly.

"Madam," a servant said.

"Mom," Justin called out.

The living room erupted into chaos.

The bodyguards swarmed in, wrestling Justin to the ground as he thrashed like a madman.

Richard, terrified, rushed to Margaret's side. "Margaret, are you okay? Call an ambulance right away."

I stood there, watching this family disaster unfold, my heart frozen solid.

Justin completely lost it. He not only ruined my family but also destroyed everything for himself.

The ambulance arrived quickly. Margaret was placed on a stretcher and taken to the hospital.

Before she left, her eyes, full of hatred, were fixed on Justin, who was pinned to the floor by the bodyguards. That glare looked like she wanted to rip him apart right then and there.

Richard followed the ambulance.

In the huge living room, there were only me, Justin, who was restrained by the bodyguards, and Vivian, who was dumbfounded with fear.

I turned to the head bodyguard. "Lock them both in the basement. No one sees them unless I say so."

"Yes, Madam," he replied.

The bodyguards dragged the screaming Justin and the sobbing Vivian away. Finally, the world was quiet.

*****

The next day, I visited Margaret in the hospital's VIP ward.

Her head was wrapped in layers of gauze, her face was ghostly pale, but her eyes were unusually clear and cold.

Richard sat beside her, looking like he'd aged ten years in a single night.

When she saw me, Margaret tried to sit up.

I went over and stopped her from getting up. "Margaret, focus on getting better."

She grabbed my hand; her grip was shockingly strong. "Nina, I agree to everything you asked for yesterday. "No, I'll take care of it for you."

Margaret looked at me, stressing every word. "Justin, that bastard, is no longer my son. He won't get a single cent from the Johnson family's money. I'll make Justin and that bitch Vivian leave this city and never come back."

I knew that Justin's shove had severed the last thread of their mother-son bond.

That was for the best.