Chapter 6

The spectators, still shaken by the unfolding events, shifted their focus to me, their faces alight with intrigue.

Beneath the harsh illumination, I calmly produced a box made of pearwood that I had prepared beforehand. Its shiny surface caught the light, captivating the onlookers as I presented it to Axel.

"This," I started, my tone composed yet tinged with sentiment, "is an heirloom from my deceased mother. She always claimed it would bring fortune and protection to its possessor."

I took a moment, briefly looking at my son, Rowan.

"I had planned to pass this on to Rowan—after all, he's the child I've nurtured and cherished for eighteen years. Even if he no longer acknowledges me as his mother, in my heart, he will forever be my son."

My statement lingered in the atmosphere as I offered the box to Axel.

"However, I'm now bestowing it upon you. May it bring serenity and joy to your... family."

The crowd responded with astonishment. Axel's eyes grew large in amazement, his face a mixture of surprise and suspicion. He paused momentarily before curiosity prevailed.

He carefully opened the pearwood container. Inside, cushioned by velvet, lay an ancient jade pendant, its complex engravings a testament to its rich history.

The spectators were collectively stunned, struggling to comprehend the scene before them.

"Has Arabella completely lost her mind?!" someone muttered harshly.

"She's gifting her mother's keepsake to them? To that unfaithful pair?"

"She must be deranged! After all their wrongdoings, and she's still blessing them?"

"I feel such pity for her. Betrayed by her spouse, her child isn't even hers, and now she's giving away her most treasured inheritance. It's devastating."

"But this isn't right! She shouldn't allow them to mistreat her like this!"

"Precisely! If I were in her shoes, I'd never forgive them. They'd suffer for every bit of anguish they caused!"

The murmurs of indignation intensified.

Elara, emboldened by what she perceived as my humiliation, applauded mockingly.

"Arabella," she said with a sneer, "I always thought you were just a mindless idiot."

"But today," Elara taunted, "you've truly shown me a different side of yourself. You're not stupid. You're a natural sycophant—the most subservient, gutless individual I've ever encountered!"

My son, standing beside her, glared at me, his revulsion evident on his face.

"I'm grateful you're not my biological mother," he said, his voice laced with contempt. "Otherwise, it would be utterly mortifying."

Axel sighed heavily, his patience visibly depleted.

"Arabella, wedding you was the gravest error of my existence," he said bluntly. "Never claim to know me again. I can't risk being linked to you."

Without another word, he put his arm around Elara and strode off, pulling my son along with them.

As they departed, I remained standing, the hurt from their words cutting deep. But I maintained my composure.

Instead, I found myself at the center of a media frenzy—the trending headlines.

The journalists, still brimming with enthusiasm, broadcast the entire incident in real-time, and within moments, the story spread like wildfire.

Internet users across the nation were already passionately discussing my actions online:

"Has this woman lost her sanity?"

"Honestly, she was duped into raising another's child, settling enormous debts, and ultimately ends up with nothing. Not only does she refrain from anger, but she blesses the very family that deceived her? Is she even human?"

"I can't fathom how spineless and feeble she is. How can she simply accept this and walk away?"

"Why are these preposterous stories trending? It's maddening!"

The internet was ablaze with opinions—some outraged, others compassionate.

Several individuals reached out, proposing to help "promote" my story, promising to assist me in making money through live streaming or capitalizing on my misfortune.

But I declined every proposal, the idea of profiting from my suffering repulsive. Instead, I returned home, seeking solitude.

Upon arrival, the sight that greeted me was one of complete betrayal. Elara and Axel were there, hauling my possessions onto the street.

And there, before my very eyes, my son carelessly tossed my belongings out like rubbish.

As I entered, Axel tilted his head, looking down at me with scorn.

"Arabella," he sneered, "this house is my premarital property. Now that we're divorced, you should take your worthless items and leave!"

"Don't interfere with our 'family reunion.'"

Before everything crumbled, Axel had always been gentle and kind, playing the role of the ideal husband. He never once raised his voice, always thoughtful and considerate. But that was before.

Now, he didn't bother to pretend anymore. The look in his eyes was nothing but disdain and hatred.

Rowan, standing beside him, also cast a cold glance my way.

"You're a disappointment," he muttered, his voice dripping with scorn.

"Get out of here. Don't soil my floor."

Gone was the son I had nurtured for eighteen years. In his place was a stranger, one who no longer concealed his contempt for me.

I didn't argue. I remained silent as I stooped to gather the scattered luggage. Without a word, I turned and walked out.

The days that followed were different. I found myself in a rundown, dilapidated house, living alone, surrounded by nothing but the bare necessities. It was a life of simplicity, far from the chaos of the past.

I no longer had to exhaust myself working from sunrise to sunset. No longer did I have to meticulously care for Rowan or pick up the pieces of the life we once shared.

I woke up when I felt like it, ate when I was hungry, and slept when I was tired. The pace of life was easy, and for the first time in a long while, I felt some sense of tranquility.

But even in this quiet solitude, the whispers followed me.

Every time I went to the market, I could hear the murmurs behind my back.

"Look, that's Arabella. The woman who raised someone else's child, paid off their debts, and helped a bankrupt company become successful."

"I heard her life's in shambles now. Her husband, her son, her house, her company—she's lost it all. Now she's living alone in a tiny, rundown house, barely able to afford two meals a day."

"I don't understand. She's clever enough to turn a failing company into a success. But after everything she's endured, she says nothing. What is she thinking?"