Chapter 3

Thank God I made it in time. Kind neighbors had already helped call an ambulance and rushed them to the hospital, narrowly avoiding a complete tragedy.

My mom had broken her leg in a fall, and my dad had passed out from extreme stress and high blood pressure. Not wanting to worry them, I only told them that Mark and I had gotten into a small disagreement.

Yet early the next morning, Mark brought an entire horde of his extended relatives, storming loudly into my parents' hospital room.

"Chloe! You think you can assault my mother and just run away?! You think our family won't stand up for her?!"

With Mia's screeching battle cry, the relatives chimed in, tossing accusations left and right.

"Wasting money like a spoiled brat, and putting hands on your mother-in-law just because she corrected you? Disgusting!"

"Shameless woman! Hitting an elderly lady in broad daylight right in front of the neighbors! Plenty of witnesses saw it!"

"Mark is way too gentle with you! If I had a disrespectful, wasteful wife like that, I would've beaten her black and blue long ago!"

"Chloe, you owe this family an explanation today!"

"..."

My parents were jolted awake by the racket, looking terrified and utterly helpless.

Forcing down my boiling rage, I glared at Mark. "My parents are recovering. Don't cause a scene here. If you have something to say, take it outside."

My mother-in-law let out another piercing shriek.

"No way! I want your parents to see with their own eyes what kind of vile, ungrateful brat they raised!"

She tried to charge toward my parents' beds, but I blocked her with my entire body.

When I spoke, my voice trembled with barely suppressed fury.

"What exactly do you want?"

Mark acted like he had been waiting for that exact question. He pulled out a folded document, slapped it against my chest, and sneered arrogantly.

"You humiliated my mother. You're going to get down on your knees, beg for her forgiveness, and then sign this agreement."

I looked down at the paper, barely able to believe my eyes.

The agreement stated that all of my future income—including my base salary, commissions, and bonuses—must be handed directly over to Mark. If I ever needed money, I would have to submit a formal request for his approval.

Only in that moment did the full, grotesque ugliness of this family truly hit me.

When I first met Mark, he had been endlessly attentive and caring, which was why I had been willing to support his entire freeloading family.

I never imagined they would use a simple nine-dollar manicure as an excuse to completely strip me of my autonomy. They lived off my sweat and blood, and now they wanted to suck the marrow from my bones. Absolute delusion.

I let out a cold, silent scoff. Mark, assuming my silence was a sign of surrender, immediately added another demand.

"Mia is dating a wealthy heir right now. You need to buy her several high-end outfits and fine jewelry so she can keep up appearances."

Mia chimed in smugly, "And you need to buy me a house. I already picked out a luxury villa downtown. It's only ten million dollars—that shouldn't be too hard for you, right?"

"Of course, I won't let you do it for free," Mia said, tossing the words out like scraps to a stray dog. "Once I marry into high society, as long as you take good care of my brother and mom at home, maybe if I'm in a good mood, I'll have my husband give your career a boost."

Staring at this family of parasites still daydreaming about my total submission, my voice turned razor-sharp and cold as ice.

"In your dreams."

"Mark, I'm divorcing you."