Chapter 2

Alice was not concerned and brushed them off, “He’s not going to run off. Even if I kicked him out, he'd kneel on the ground crying and begging me not to leave him.

“Besides, he needs me to keep that sick father of his alive.”

I staggered backward until I felt the presence of someone standing behind me.

“Brother, you're back.”

When I turned around and noticed it was Gregory, the look in my eyes darkened as I glared at him. "I don’t have a brother."

When I walked toward the side door, Gregory suddenly cried out.

“Ah!”

The conversation in the living room was cut off immediately.

…

Alice was the first to approach with her hands in her pockets. When she saw Gregory lying on the floor, she shot me a long, considered look. “Did you push him?”

Gregory quickly explained, “No, it wasn't him who pushed me, I was just careless and fell.”

Then, he started to sob. “Alice, my stomach hurts…”

Alice clicked her tongue as she helped him up, then shot me a look and commanded sharply, “Come.”

After she helped Gregory back to the villa, she made a point of lifting his clothes to inspect if he was hurt. It was as if his well-being was the most important thing in the world.

Meanwhile, the girls exchanged glances before excusing themselves.

When I walked past them to enter the room, they whistled and gave me looks as if they were expecting drama.

Although Alice had always been promiscuous, her friends had never flaunted their attitude in front of me before.

They were no fools. Even they could tell Alice’s feelings for Gregory were different. He was nothing like the other ninety-nine men she had slept with.

This was why I found myself being treated just like her band of cheap lovers. They teased me without a care in the world.

When I realized this, I felt a faint ache in my heart that had long gone numb.

Alice did not speak. All she did was eye me indifferently before ordering, “Oliver, apologize.”

I bit my lip so hard that I could taste something metallic in my mouth.

“I did not push him.”

Alice sneered cruelly, “Oliver, Gregory is not like the other men. He's my business partner and the heir to Barton Corporation. I am pregnant with his child.

“I will not tolerate anyone hurting my child’s father. Not even you.

“You have to pay for this. That’s the only way you will learn from this.”

I tried to make a run, but Alice grabbed me.

She pressed my head against the table.

Alice snarled in my ear, “Listen up, Oliver. If you ever try to hurt Gregory again, it’ll be your dad on the guillotine.”

Tears welled up in my eyes before streaming down my cheeks. I suddenly recalled scenes of her protecting me from the other men she had slept with in the past.

Then, she handed me the divorce papers.

“Sign it. I can’t have my child being born a bastard.”

Our marriage had completely lost its significance.

I took the agreement, then decisively signed my name on it.

Upon noting my lack of hesitation, Alice frowned slightly and scoffed. “Since you are no longer my husband, have the decency to move to the maids’ room. Also, you can take care of your father’s medical expenses yourself from now on.”

I forced a smile. Upon remembering my father’s last words, I remarked faintly, “It’s fine.”

That was when the sound of someone throwing up interrupted us.

My heart dropped. I rushed into the room only to find the bedsheets my father had bought for me covered in vomit.

Gregory staggered to his feet while turning to me apologetically, "Sorry about that. I had a little too much to drink at the reception with Alice tonight and couldn’t hold back."

Then, he produced ten dollars from his wallet. “The bedsheet looks pretty old, this should be more than enough.”

Smack!