Chapter 3
"Edward," I said quietly. "Let's get a divorce."
The room went dead silent.
Zara and Chloe had frozen on the bottom step of the staircase. Emily, hovering by the kitchen doorway, was so stunned that she forgot to cry. And Edward stared at me like I had just spoken a different language entirely.
After a moment, he let out a disbelieving laugh, the kind of laugh that said he thought I was bluffing.
"Divorce?" he scoffed. "Nora, is this really the best you came up with after a whole night of scheming? This is just another one of your little games to get my attention."
He bent down until his face was inches from mine, condescension dripping from his every pore, and patted my cheek like I was a child throwing a tantrum.
He hissed, "Cut the act. Without me, you can't even afford to eat. Your deadbeat gambling-addict father and your sick mother both drain you dry. Walk away from this family, and you'll be living on the streets.
"I'll give you one chance. Apologize to Emily right now. Then go to the kitchen and make a proper breakfast. Do that, and I'll pretend this little performance never happened."
He was so arrogantly certain that he had me cornered.
What he didn't know was that my so-called deadbeat father had been sent to prison three years ago, courtesy of a little "accident" the system arranged. The moment the system released me, it handed over the cure to heal my mother.
I swatted his hand away from my face and grabbed a tissue to wipe the spot where his fingers had touched me.
"Edward," I snapped. "Do you not understand my words? I said we're getting a divorce. My lawyer will send you the papers. And as for right now..."
I rose to my feet and took one slow, sweeping look around the living room. I had poured seven years of my life into this house.
"This property is in my name. It's my premarital asset," I demanded. "Now get out. All of you. And take your precious Emily with you."
Edward refused to believe the house was actually mine.
Of course he did. In his mind, I was nothing but a parasite clinging to his wealth, a girl from the wrong side of town with no family, no connections, and no backbone.
But the truth doesn't care whether you believe it or not. Seven years ago, the Grant family had been hemorrhaging money, bankruptcy knocking at the door.
Edward's grandfather, desperate and superstitious, decided what they needed was a lucky marriage, a bride who could change the family's fortune. And there I was, the perfect sacrificial lamb.
As compensation for chaining me to their golden boy, they put this villa in my name. Back then, the property wasn't worth much. Nobody thought twice about it.
The system had called it my starter pack.
Edward had clearly forgotten it ever happened.
"You've completely lost it, Nora," he growled.
He glared at me, grumbling, "My father bought this house. It has nothing to do with you. You want to kick us out? If anyone's leaving, it's you."
After being dazed, Zara quickly charged forward with the intention of physically pushing me.
"You ungrateful little snake! Trying to steal our property? Take a good look in the mirror! Get out! Get out of this house right now!" she spat.
I sidestepped nimbly, and she lunged at empty air, lost her balance, and cracked her forehead against the corner of the dining table. The howling that followed was almost impressive.
The whole scene was chaos.
Just then, the doorbell rang.