Chapter 4

"Eleanor Vance! What are you doing!"

He immediately shielded Chloe behind him. Seeing the slap mark on her face, his eyes turned vicious.

"You actually dared to hit her?"

I sneered, "What, you feel bad for her? Then take her and get out of my house."

"Your house?" Ethan looked as if he'd heard the funniest joke. "Eleanor, are you out of your mind? This mansion is registered under my name!"

"Is it?" I zipped up my suitcase, straightening up to face him. "Then you'd better check the purchase contract from back then and see who really paid for it."

Ethan's face changed.

When we bought this house, he had no money at all. I secretly used all my personal savings and investments, unbeknownst to my father, to cover the cost.

Even though it was registered in his name, the transaction records were all there.

"Eleanor, do you really have to make this so ugly?" He gritted his teeth. "Fine, you can leave, but you're not taking anything from this house! You've lived off me all these years; what right do you have to take anything?"

I looked down at the suitcase on the floor. It contained only a few old clothes and my parents' photos.

"Don't worry, I find the trash you bought disgusting."

I pulled my suitcase, walking out without looking back.

As I passed them, I paused and looked at Ethan.

"Ethan, remember what you said today. Starting tomorrow, everything the Vance family gave you, I'm taking it all back, piece by piece."

Stepping out of the mansion, the night wind on my face, I felt a clarity I hadn't felt in years.

Ten years.

I'd spent ten years of my youth to see a man's true colors.

The cost was high, but thankfully, it wasn't too late.

I pulled out my phone and found the hidden list in my contacts.

On the list were three hundred names.

Over fifteen years, I had used my private account to continuously support scholarship recipients.

Many of them had lost touch, many were still toiling at entry-level jobs.

But some had already grown into towering figures.

I dialed the first number on the list.

After two rings, the call was answered. A deep, steady male voice came through.

"Eleanor?"

"Liam." I looked at the flashing neon lights in the distance, my voice calm. "I'm getting divorced."

There was a second of silence on the other end, then the sound of a chair being pushed back.

"Where are you? I'll send someone to pick you up immediately."

"No need. I'll send you my location. Tomorrow morning at ten, bring your people and meet me."

"Got it." Liam didn't ask any unnecessary questions, his response quick and concise.

After hanging up, I hailed a taxi and went to a five-star hotel in the city center.

After a hot shower, I lay on the large bed, staring at the ceiling.

Ethan Hayes, you thought I, Eleanor Vance, was a mere clinging vine that could only depend on you.

But you didn't know that for the past ten years, though I didn't work outside, I planted an entire forest.

Now, it's time for this forest to overshadow you.