### Chapter 5
I went rigid all over, then slowly turned around. "What did you just say?"
When he saw how red my eyes were, Stuart wavered for a moment.
But the moment his gaze caught Ellie's tears, that flicker of doubt curdled into disgust. "I said, apologize to Ellie."
"And to think you used to be a lawyer who chased after justice. Can you even face that ideal of yours anymore?"
"If you won't, then I'll grant your wish. You wanted a divorce, didn't you? I'll make sure you never see Bradley again for the rest of your life!"
My disappointment ran so deep that I laughed, tears spilling over, and I nodded.
"Fine. I agree."
"Good, I'm glad you've come to your senses. Make sure you give Ellie a proper apology."
Ellie's dog had been spooked, and Stuart was too busy escorting her precious dog-son to the vet to notice anything else.
The crematorium called, and in a daze I went to collect the ashes of my mother and Bradley.
Back home, I took the cake out of the fridge and stuck a candle in it.
"Happy birthday to Mommy's good boy. I hope there's no more pain for you in heaven, Bradley."
A gust of wind blew through and the candle went out. Was that my Bradley, coming home with his grandmother?
I curled up on the floor and fell asleep holding the urns.
When the sky turned light, I dragged myself up, went upstairs, and dug out the professional suit I'd kept sealed away for five years.
Stuart was right. A lawyer's duty is to let the light of justice shine over the earth. How could I let him down?
I gathered up everything Stuart had ever bought for me and Bradley, and as night fell, I threw it all into a metal drum and set it on fire.
In the firelight, Stuart's puzzled voice came from behind me.
"What are you burning?"
"Some garbage I should've gotten rid of a long time ago."
He thought nothing of it, reaching out to stroke my swollen face. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have hit you. But you shouldn't have said those things about Ellie in front of the servants, either. Everyone's calling her a mistress now, and it's hurting her business."
I pushed his hand away, my face cold.
"Oh?"
Under the dim light, Stuart studied me.
"I want you to apologize publicly. Say that as a housewife, you saw how successful Ellie had become, got jealous, and lied to smear her."
"The day after tomorrow is the one-year anniversary of her flower shop opening. You'll do it on a livestream that day, drive some traffic to the shop."
In that instant, I was completely done with this man.
I stared at him without a word. He turned his face away, but his tone was strangely firm.
"Ellie's so upset she can't even eat. If not for her, then do it to build up some good fortune for Bradley."
"Just say yes, and I promise I'll be twice as good to you and our son from now on."
This familiar face in front of me. When had it turned so strange, so utterly filthy?
I smiled.
"As you wish."
Stuart, delighted, leaned in to kiss me, but his phone buzzed again and again.
No surprise there. The second he saw Ellie's message, he rushed off in a panic to be with her. For two whole days, he never noticed the house was one person short.
Not long after, Ellie called.
"You little bitch. You think because you gave him a son you can steal him away from me? I crook one finger and he comes scurrying right back."
I let out a scornful laugh.
"That's right. You know I gave him a son, so what does a mistress like you have to fight me with? You're nothing but a dog."
"He just consulted a lawyer, actually. He wants to leave everything he owns to our Bradley. After all, you don't let good water flow to someone else's field."
Ellie flew into a humiliated rage on the spot.
"Don't get cocky. You just wait!"
Sure enough, half an hour later she sent me a video of her and Stuart in the act, gloating.
"I cried a little and he agreed never to wear one again. Once I'm pregnant, you and your little bastard can rot in the streets!"
The corner of my mouth curled up coldly. I tapped the screen and saved the video.
In the blink of an eye, two days passed.
Stuart threw a lavish banquet at a five-star hotel to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Ellie's flower shop. He'd invited a crowd of powerful, well-connected guests to lend their support, and even called in reporters.
Once the guests were seated, Stuart signaled his assistant to start the livestream.
The hotel's big screen lit up, showing my face in a formal suit, made up with care for the first time in ages.
"Today, I solemnly apologize to Miss Ellie Cooley."
Ellie's smile bloomed bright, her whole face flushed with victory.
The next second, I gave my phone a little shake.
"My apologies. After seeing the video of you sleeping with my husband, I threw up everything I'd eaten for breakfast, so I couldn't quite preserve your dignity as a mistress."
"As a way of making amends, I'll help the two of you trend. To my friends in the media here tonight, kindly point your cameras at the big screen."
"Everyone, please enjoy this HD, uncensored footage of the affair, and see exactly how this so-called 'independent woman' climbed her way to fortune by climbing into bed."
