Chapter 3

Daniel was probably so shaken by my "confession" that he didn't dare show his face for two whole days.

Only Linda showed up, punctual as ever, every single day.

She didn't come to check on me. She was here to keep an eye on me, like I was some kind of prisoner.

Every visit, she acted all high and mighty, like tossing scraps to a beggar. "Emily, women need to be more magnanimous. Don't obsess over a man's little indiscretions.

"Behave yourself and focus on getting better. You'll still be Mrs. Shaw, the young madam of this family.

"Ava's carrying the Shaw family's blood, after all. Once the baby's born, we'll hand him over for you to raise. It won't be any different from having your own child."

I made sure every single word she spat out was captured loud and clear by the phone hidden under my pillow.

I never argued back. I kept my mouth shut.

To her, my silence meant I was agreeing and surrendering.

On the third day, Daniel finally showed up, holding a stack of papers.

It was an agreement.

"Emily, take a look at this," he said, handing it to me. "I have my lawyer draft it."

I took it.

It was a Marriage Settlement Agreement.

The terms were simple.

[I had to voluntarily give up any legal claims against Ava.]

[I had to accept the child she was carrying and treat him as my own.]

[As compensation, Daniel would transfer the apartment we currently lived in to my name.]

[And he'd throw in 670000 dollars in cash.]

670000 dollars and an apartment.

Trying to buy off my dignity, my face, my whole life.

How generous.

"So, what do you think?" Daniel's voice oozed barely hidden arrogance.

"This apartment, plus 670000 dollars, is more than enough for you to live comfortably for the rest of your life. Emily, I've done everything I could for you."

Linda jumped in, backing him up. "Exactly. Only Daniel would be this kind. Any other man, seeing you like this, would've kicked you out ages ago! Hurry up and sign already."

I slowly flipped through the agreement.

Every clause, every word, felt like a knife stabbing into my heart.

The love I once believed in, in their eyes, had a price tag.

And such a cheap one.

I set the agreement down on the bedside table.

Then I looked up at them.

My gaze landed on Linda first, then slowly shifted to Daniel. "Let's get a divorce."

This was the second time I'd said it.

My tone was even calmer and more resolute than before.

The air froze instantly.

The smug pride on Daniel's face shattered, piece by piece.

Linda, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, jumped up in a flash. "Divorce? Emily, are you insane? Do you still think you're that pampered little princess?"

She pointed at my bandaged face and shrieked, "Look at you now! Who would want you after a divorce? Do you even want to live anymore?"

"Whether I live or die, it's got nothing to do with the Shaw family," I said, enunciating every word.

Daniel's face turned ashen.

He probably never imagined that the woman who always obeyed him would ask for a divorce.

In his eyes, I loved him so much I had no self-respect.

I was supposed to gratefully accept his charity and keep playing the role of his obedient wife.

"Emily, stop making a scene," his voice went cold. "Sign the papers, and this will be over."

"I'm not signing," I said clearly, looking him straight in the eye. "Daniel, I want a divorce. Right now."

"You wish!" Daniel finally snapped. He grabbed the papers from the bedside table and ripped them apart.

The scraps of paper fluttered down like snowflakes.

"Emily, I'm telling you, I'm not divorcing you!" His eyes were bloodshot, his face twisted with rage.

"You want a divorce and to split my assets? Not a chance.

"If you dare make a scene, I have a hundred ways to make sure you leave with nothing. Every dollar you spend now is mine. Your medical bills, your caregiver, all paid by me. Without me, you're nothing."

His threats cut straight to the bone.

But the Emily he was facing now wasn't the same as before.

I looked at his furious face, my heart cold as ice.

I didn't say a word. I just watched him in silence.

Waited for him to finish, to vent it all out.

Then, right in front of him, I picked up my phone from the bed.

Not the one I'd been recording with, but my own.

I dialed a number. "Mr. Lane? It's me, Emily... Yes, I've made up my mind.

"Please file for divorce with the court right now. For the property division, follow the plan we discussed."

I put the call on speaker.

Every word I said rang loud and clear in Daniel and Linda's ears.

Daniel's expression shifted from anger to shock, then to utter disbelief. "Emily, you dare." he lunged at me, trying to snatch my phone.

I was ready for him and pulled the phone away.

I said, enunciating every word. "Daniel, I'm not being reckless. I'm taking back everything that belongs to me. You cheat, you hide assets, you commit bigamy. See you in court."

With that, I hung up.

The hospital room fell into a dead silence.

Daniel stared at me, like he wanted to burn a hole through my face.

He probably couldn't wrap his head around how things had come to this.

The rabbit he thought he had suddenly grew fangs and bit him back. "Fine, very fine," he said, laughing in fury. "Emily, just wait. I want to see what you have to fight me with!"

He threw down his threat and slammed the door as he left.

Linda shot me a venomous glare and stormed out after him.

The door slammed shut with a loud bang.

The world was finally quiet.

I leaned back against the headboard and let out a long breath.

I won the first round.

But this was the beginning.

The divorce cooling-off period was thirty days.

These thirty days were the beginning, the real show was only getting started.