Chapter 2

The next day, I went to the university to teach as usual.

During lunch break, Professor Miller sighed and went on about the insane housing market.

"Alex, you've got it easy, single, no dependents, no worries." He patted my shoulder. "Not like us family men. The pressure is real."

I smiled, not responding.

In their eyes, I, Alex Reed, came from an ordinary background, had a stable job, and married a beautiful wife whose family had recently gone bankrupt. I was the typical 'nice guy' who took on someone else's baggage.

My phone vibrated. It was a message from Scarlett.

"Saturday night. Dinner at my parents' house."

A commanding tone, cold words.

I replied,"Okay."

The ambush dinner was coming.

On Saturday, I walked through the front door of Richard Hayes's mansion, carrying a couple of expensive bottles of wine.

The mansion, once so quiet and empty, was now bustling with people again.

Richard, my father-in-law, was dressed in a designer suit, beaming with confidence, talking loudly about business with several partners.

When he saw me, the smile on his face faded, replaced by undisguised disdain in his eyes.

"You're here? Find a seat for yourself." He gestured towards the most secluded corner of the living room.

In the main seating area, a young man I didn't recognize was sitting, dressed in head-to-toe designer brands, a Patek Philippe watch glittering on his wrist under the lights.

Scarlett was sitting right beside him, smiling charmingly, deep in conversation.

That was a Scarlett I'd never seen, a Scarlett from another world.

"Alex," Eleanor, my mother-in-law, handed me a glass of water, her tone distant. "This is Eric Sterling. Mr. Sterling's son. He just came back from abroad, young and accomplished."

I nodded, looking at the man named Eric.

He was sizing me up too, his gaze like he was looking at a cheap knock-off.

"Oh, so this is Scarlett's husband? Alex Reed, right?" Eric drew out his words, a faint, mocking smile playing on his lips. "Teaching at the university, are we? Well, that must be... quite the effort."

He said "effort," but his eyes were practically overflowing with contempt.

Scarlett's expression was a little uncomfortable, but she didn't say a word in my defense.

Dinner was served, a lavish spread of delicacies.

Richard sat at the head of the table, full of vigor, raising his glass.

"To all my friends, thank you for sticking by me, Richard, during my most difficult times!" He downed his drink, then his tone shifted, his gaze landing on me.

"Of course, I also want to thank some... people who 'stuck by us' even when our family was struggling."

He deliberately emphasized "stuck by us," drawing a chorus of knowing chuckles from the table.

Eric was even more brazen, speaking up. "Now, Richard, be fair. Some people just want a quiet life, they don't have big ambitions. They're content just sticking to their wives and kids."

"But a woman like Scarlett? Now that the Hayes star is rising again, she deserves to soar. Can't have dead weight holding her back."

They sounded like they'd rehearsed this whole routine.

I remained silent throughout, just quietly eating my food.

My silence, to them, was weakness, incompetence.

Finally, Richard put down his fork, dropping the pretense.

"Alex," he looked down at me. "As you can see, our family is different now. Scarlett is too good for you."

"I'll give you two hundred thousand dollars. Divorce Scarlett, and don't bother her again."