Chapter 3

Sean's face fell. He reached out to grab my arm.

"Lynn, stop throwing a tantrum."

His tone carried that familiar, condescending patience.

"You're the only wife I'll ever have."

"I was wrong about the deed. I'll buy you an even bigger house, I promise."

Hannah chimed in from behind him, sounding utterly wronged.

"Lynn, you should count your blessings."

"Sean really loves you. Otherwise, we wouldn't have waited this long to have a baby."

"Don't worry, I won't try to take him away from you."

Sean shot her a sympathetic, reassuring look.

A wave of nausea hit me. I jerked my arm out of his grip.

"Don't touch me!"

"You make me sick."

"Who are you calling sick?"

A sharp, grating voice cut through the air.

I turned to see my mother-in-law, Barbara, stepping out of a black sedan, her face thunderous.

My mom hurried over to greet her.

"Barbara, what are you doing here?"

Hannah whispered:

"I texted her earlier saying I missed her. I didn't think she'd actually come."

Barbara's scowl instantly melted into a warm smile. She walked over and stroked Hannah's hair.

"The baby is safe and sound at my place, sleeping like an angel."

Watching their cozy little family dynamic, my chest tightened until I couldn't breathe.

"So... you knew all along?"

Barbara scoffed, glaring at me with utter contempt.

"How else do you think Eleanor pulled off faking her death so flawlessly?"

She sighed, glancing at my mom.

"I really feel sorry for you, Eleanor, having a daughter like this."

"Aggressive and bossy. Instead of staying home and taking care of her husband, she's out in court every day parading around for attention."

When Barbara turned back to me, her eyes were like ice.

"You can forget about a divorce."

"The Miller family has a reputation to uphold. We won't be made a laughingstock."

Sean frowned slightly.

"Mom, that's enough."

I shook with fury, digging my nails into my palms until they bled.

"I'm divorcing him whether you like it or not."

"You think you have a say?"

Barbara whipped out her phone and quickly typed a message.

Seconds later, my phone buzzed in my purse.

A notification popped up—I had been terminated from my law firm, effective immediately.

"Let's see how arrogant you are now," Barbara smirked, tilting her chin up.

Beside her, Sean looked away, cowardly refusing to meet my eyes.

He knew being a lawyer was my life's purpose.

Even after everything collapsed five years ago, even when my mental health was in shambles, I never once thought about leaving the firm.

And now, he stood right there, watching his mother destroy the one thing I cared about most.

Without a single word of protest.

Barbara pulled a compact mirror from her purse and shoved it in my face.

"Look at yourself."

In the small glass, I saw a woman with tangled, snowy-white hair and a hollow, exhausted face.

For a second, I didn't even recognize myself.

"You're withered and washed up. You don't deserve my son."

"He's the only one willing to tolerate you. Who else would ever want you looking like this?"

Staring at my reflection, a wave of disorientation washed over me.

Where did the sharp, brilliant attorney who once dominated the courtroom go?

"If we can't settle this amicably, I'll see you in court."

I slapped the mirror away, my voice eerily calm.

I knew the excuses and insults behind me were just traps meant to drag me back into this toxic marriage.

I didn't care anymore. I turned on my heel and walked away.

I pulled out my phone and dialed a number I hadn't touched in years.

"Sam. After that high-profile case five years ago, you told me you owed me a favor."

I took a shaky breath.

"Does that offer still stand?"