ManyWriters

On the occasion of taking a family photo at our daughter's birthday party, Darling's high school classmate Hendrik leaned over me and kissed my Darling on the corner of her mouth.
I was visibly angry, but Darling mocked me for being petty.
"It's just a normal cheek kiss greeting, why are you so worked up?"
Hendrik also looked at me with disdain, turning to criticize Darling, "Your status isn't what it used to be, huh? Even a live-in son-in-law dares to give you attitude."
My daughter, whom I was holding in my arms, tried to please Hendrik by grabbing his hand, "Uncle, I want you to be my daddy."
The photographer even went ahead and took a happy group photo of the three of them. I clenched my fists and brought up the idea of divorce.
Unexpectedly, Darling immediately pulled out a divorce agreement, "I've been waiting for you to say that. Hurry up and sign it, you're leaving with nothing!"
I calmly signed and dialed my Father-in-law's number, "From now on, anything concerning Ashford Manor has absolutely nothing to do with me!"

Daughter's Birthday, Darling and First Love Take a Family Photo

He gritted his teeth, "No one has ever dared to treat me like this, my entire life."


I shook my head, trying to dodge his attack, but to no avail.


Darling chimed in from the side, adding fuel to the fire, "Do you have any idea how powerful the Winters family is around here?"


"Someone like you isn't even fit to shine Hendrik's shoes!"


I propped myself up, struggling to lift my upper body, "Hendrik."


"Who do you think you are? You dare to speak my father's name?"


Hendrik increased the pressure of his foot, and by now I was in too much pain to even speak.


Not satisfied, Hendrik ordered someone to bring a basin of salt water.


He poured it directly onto my still-bleeding wounds, "Even though you disrespected me, I'm being quite kind to you."


"I'm disinfecting your wounds early, it'll be good for your body later."


As the salt water soaked in, I felt my consciousness gradually becoming hazy.Just as I was on the brink of collapse, darling suddenly whipped out a fountain pen.


"Before we got hitched, you swore up and down you'd never go against me!"


"Or else I could do whatever I wanted with you!"


She crouched down, gripping my face with one hand while scrawling on it with the pen in her other.


"I'm a broke-ass loser, a good-for-nothing."


"Let's write 'sugar baby' right on his forehead."


Darling was gloating, but I felt a bitter irony deep in my heart.


"After all these years of marriage, you seriously think I'm just mooching off you?"


"Who do you think bailed out Ashford Manor all those times it was on the brink of financial ruin?"


"Have you ever wondered why your dad is so... towards me?"


"What else can you do besides conning my father?"


Darling suddenly flew into a rage. "What good are you besides causing me trouble?"


"Every time I hit a snag in business, it's Hendrik who helps me out."


"Why don't you take a good look in the mirror and see what a piece of work you are!"


Hendrik chimed in, picking up where she left off, "What do you expect a useless bum like him to do for you?"


Their mocking laughter echoed in my ears.I slowly pulled out my phone and dialed Father-in-law.


"Melody wants a divorce from me. I've already signed the papers."


"From now on, anything concerning Ashford Manor has absolutely nothing to do with me."


"No matter how difficult things get, don't come asking me for help..."


Before Father-in-law could even speak on the other end, darling snatched my phone away.


She slapped me across the face a few times in a rage. "What kind of nonsense are you trying to feed my dad now!"


The bodyguards had my limbs pinned down tightly as her palm came flying at me again and again.


This continued until our daughter came in and saw the scene, her face twisting in disgust.


"Why is there blood all over the floor? It's so dirty!"


I never imagined these words would come out of my daughter's mouth.


She was glaring at me now as if I were a complete stranger.


Hendrik gently picked up our daughter. "How about we don't look at this anymore, sweetie?"


"You go play for now. Uncle - no, Daddy will take care of everything."The daughter smiled sweetly and nodded her head obediently. Then she cupped Hendrik's face in her hands and planted a big kiss on him.


Chapter 4