Ethan walked over and said in a low voice, “Olivia, you’re not seriously thinking about taking the necklace back, are you?
I’ve already promised it to Lucas.
If you go back on your word now, it’ll make me look bad.”
I said coldly, “That was my mother’s keepsake.
Either you return it to me, or I’m calling the police.”
Ethan’s face immediately darkened.
He gave me an irritated look, then turned to the boy. “Lucas, be good. We don’t want her necklace—it belonged to someone dead, it’s bad luck.”
I was shaking with anger.
As soon as Lucas heard it had belonged to someone deceased, he yanked it out of his pocket and threw it to the floor.
Sophie ran over, picked it up with care, and after checking it over, beamed at me. “Mom, it’s not broken.”
Seeing her innocent smile made my throat tighten.
I looked straight at Rachel and her son. “This is my house. I’m asking you both to leave.”
Rachel’s expression faltered, and she looked toward Ethan.
Ethan frowned. “Olivia, is this really necessary? She’s a single mom—where can she go with a kid?
Besides, it’s not like we don’t have room. Why make things so hard on her?”
I said, “This house is mine. She’s leaving today.
Ethan Carter, don’t take me for a fool.
If they don’t go today, we’ll just go straight to filing for divorce.”
At the word divorce, Ethan’s composure cracked.
He glanced uncertainly at Rachel.
Just then, Lucas let out an exaggerated “Ouch!” and plopped down on the floor, clutching his foot and wailing.
Ethan, torn between worry and irritation, said to me, “Olivia, I told you to clean this mess earlier. Now the kid’s hurt because of it.”
The boy was crying loudly, but I didn’t see a single tear.
He kept holding his foot, claiming he’d stepped on something, but there wasn’t even a drop of blood.
Rachel, cradling him, said tearfully, “Ethan, don’t fight over this. We’ll just leave right away.”
She tried to help him up, but the moment she moved, he cried out again.
Without even looking at me, Ethan said to her, “If Lucas is hurt and can’t walk, then just stay here. It’s fine.”
After reassuring Rachel, Ethan turned to me. “Olivia, what’s the harm in letting them stay a day or two? The boy’s injured—do you really have the heart to throw them out?”
He took my arm, steering me toward the bedroom. “You just got out of the hospital, your body’s still weak. Get some rest.”
But when I looked at the bed, the sheets were a tangled mess, and inside them was a woman’s undergarment.
My stomach turned.
Ethan awkwardly pulled the blanket over it, as if to hide the evidence.
I walked straight to the guest room instead—but as soon as I stepped inside, a foul smell hit me.
In the corner were crumpled tissues tossed carelessly on the floor.
It didn’t take much to understand what that meant.
I turned around, took Sophie’s hand, and said, “We’re leaving. This place is filthy.”
Ethan grabbed my arm. “Olivia, it’s not what you think.”
Expressionless, I said, “Ethan Carter, I’m giving you one day to deal with them.
And as for us—we need to have a serious talk.”
I yanked my arm free and walked straight out.
On the way down the stairs, Sophie whispered, “Mom, are you going to get a divorce?”
I was silent for a moment before saying softly, “No. Mom and Dad will always be here for you.”
