Chapter 3

I looked up at Charlie.

"I fainted on the street, but the coachman wasn't willing to give me a ride. Do you know why?" I asked while staring calmly into his eyes. "It was because he was terrified that I would die in his coach."

Panic flickered in Charlie's eyes. However, it didn't take long before his embarrassment morphed into anger.

"You… Stop lying!" he roared. "The doctor said you were in perfect health!"

I couldn't help but feel how absurd the situation was as I took in the fury burning in his eyes.

"I'm not lying. I have cancer. The doctor said I only have three months left."

Charlie inhaled sharply. He stared unblinkingly at me as if he were trying to determine if I was lying to him.

Just then, Savannah cried out while pressing a hand to her stomach.

"My stomach hurts so much, Charlie," she whined. "Is the baby upset because it's hungry?"

Charlie immediately abandoned me and hurried over to Savannah's side. He looked absolutely heartbroken, and his eyes were overflowing with tenderness.

"It's alright, Savannah. I won't let you or the baby go hungry no matter what happens."

A layer of ice had frosted over his eyes when he whirled around.

"I won't forgive you if anything happens to the baby in Savannah's belly!" he snapped. "How dare you lie about having cancer? If you really do have cancer, you should just leave and die somewhere away from here. Don't come back!"

It was as if a hole had been torn in my heart at that moment, allowing the cold winds to billow through it.

I was shaking when I grabbed my ID from the cabinet. I was just about to take my leave when Charlie's mother, Alice Peterson's booming voice, resounded from beyond the door.

"Where's Wendy? Show yourself!"

Alice barged into the room and slapped a divorce agreement on the table.

"Sign this right now, Wendy!" she demanded. "You won't be getting a single penny from our family. A person who's riddled with sickness like you shouldn't get in the way of Charlie and Savannah's future!"

Savannah stood in surprise. She approached Alice and gently said, "There's no need for you to get angry on my behalf, Mrs. Ashford. Wendy and Charlie have been married for three years, after all. My baby and I will be fine…"

However, her words only fanned the flames of Alice's fury even more.

"She couldn't give birth to a single child even though it's been three years! My family isn't a charity center!"

Then she turned to me. "Pack your things and get out of my sight if you know what's good for you!"

Impatience flickered across Charlie's face as he supported Alice.

"Mom's telling you to sign the papers! Don't make things more difficult than they have to be!"

My chest tightened painfully.

It turned out that the Ashfords had already been planning to get rid of me in favor of having the baby in Savannah's belly join the family.

The corners of my lips curled up into a smile as I glared at them.

"Why should I leave without a single penny?" I demanded. "I was by Charlie's side when he was just a regular factory worker before he was promoted to factory director. Half of the technology in the factory is using my patents!

"Also, have you forgotten how you begged me when Charlie's kidney was failing?"

Steely expressions appeared on their faces upon hearing my words.

Overwhelmed by anger, Charlie slapped me hard across the face. His furious shouts echoed in my ears.

"What patents? Your mother died three years ago. We took you in out of the kindness in our hearts. Everything that you've done for us is part of your obligations. I don't care if you disagree. You must sign the divorce papers today!"

His powerful slap caused my head to snap to the side. My forehead collided against the corner of the table.

I pressed a hand against my bleeding forehead and stared at Charlie, who seemed more demon than man. My heart felt utterly hollow.

Since he couldn't win the argument, he was forcing me to sign the divorce agreement, wanting to kick me to the curb without a single penny to my name.

Well, they were the ones who were going to be in deep trouble when the employees of the Internal Revenue Bureau showed up at their doorstep.

"Fine… I'll sign it!"

Charlie looked at me strangely when I agreed without much hesitation.

I clutched the military merit medal in my pocket. I then grabbed the pen and signed the divorce agreement.

Blood flowed down my forehead and dripped onto the dotted line, reminiscent of a flower blooming in despair.

"From today on, I will have nothing to do with the Ashford family!" I exclaimed.

I grabbed my suitcase and stormed out of the house without sparing a single glance at them.