It was Gerald.
His slap landed with full force, knocking me to the ground. My ears rang, my mouth filled with the taste of blood, and my vision went black for several seconds.
"Lorraine! Do you have a death wish?"
He glared down at me, voice cold and venomous, pointing at me as though I were filth.
"How dare you lay a hand on Tiffany? You must be tired of living!"
Tiffany immediately burst into tears, looking fragile and pitiful as she threw herself into his arms.
"Gerald, my face hurts so much... has she gone crazy?"
Gerald held her protectively, whispering comfort into her ear. But when his gaze shifted back to me, his eyes brimmed with murderous hatred.
"Kneel down and kowtow to Tiffany! Apologize! Or don't blame me if I beat you to death today."
Blood dripped from the corner of my mouth as I struggled to breathe. My left cheek burned, already swelling.
But the pain on my face was nothing compared to the agony tearing through my heart.
I looked at the two of them—and then at Miles' cold little body lying on the ground.
My mind flashed back to when his company had just begun to take shape. Gerald had once embraced me with excitement, promising, "Lory, when I succeed, I'll give you the very best in the world."
All lies.
Every word had been a lie.
He had never loved me.
What he loved was my money, my influence, the Olson family's power that could clear the road for him.
Now the Olson family had cast me aside. His company was thriving. His first had returned.
And my son and I had become nothing but obstacles.
So Miles' death meant nothing to him.
Perhaps it even freed him.
"Gerald..." I tried to stand, but my knees buckled, and I crashed heavily back to the ground.
"You'll regret this... You will regret it one day..." I growled through gritted teeth.
He let out a sharp, mocking laugh, as if I had told the funniest joke in the world.
"Regret? Lorraine, look at yourself! Without me, you're nothing. A discarded daughter, abandoned by your own family. You had nothing but a burden—a little bastard dragging you down. And now, even the burden is gone."
His words were laced with venom, each syllable like ice.
"Let's end this cleanly. Since Tiffany is back, let's get a divorce."
The contempt and cruelty in his tone chilled me to the bone.
Tiffany, nestled sweetly against him, played her part with false compassion.
"Gerald, don't be so harsh with Lorraine. She just lost her child—she must be in so much pain. The boy was mischievous, yes, but..."
"But what?" Gerald cut her off, gazing at her with such tenderness it could melt water.
"Tiffany, you're too kind. That little brat was ill-mannered and uneducated. His death was deserved! It's better that he died now than grow up and harm society."
Scoffing, he continued, "I did the world a favor by getting rid of him."
I snapped my head up, staring at him in horror.
He had just called his own son a burden.
Tiffany's lips curved in the faintest trace of triumph as she darted me a smug look, though she quickly hid it, feigning worry again.
"Gerald... stop talking. Lorraine doesn't look right... What if she does something foolish?"
"Her?" Gerald sneered, his voice dripping with disdain.
"She's too vain and greedy to die. The only reason she married me was for money. Now that she's seen the company thriving, she's clinging even harder to life. Tsk. Die? She wouldn't dare."
His shameless lies made me shake with rage.
Back then, he had knelt before me, swearing he loved me for who I was, not for my family name.
Tiffany tilted her head and suddenly gasped, pointing at my pocket in a mock alarm.
"Gerald! Look—her phone lit up! Is she recording us?"
Gerald's expression changed instantly. He lunged forward, shoving me aside as he yanked the phone out of my pocket.
"Give it back!"
My heart lurched. I scrambled up, desperately trying to snatch it from him.
