Chapter 4
I calmly looked away. “A divorce lawyer.”
His brows furrowed, but then a thought seemed to hit him. He grabbed my chin and leaned in, his voice dripping with a lazy smirk near my ear.
“Elise, you’ve been by my side for nearly thirty years. Where could you possibly go after leaving me?”
“I may have neglected you a little lately. You got jealous, and I get it. Tomorrow, I’ll accompany you to bury your mother.”
His tone was so gracious it almost made me laugh.
“But you fed her ashes to a dog. Did you forget?”
His fingers slid to the back of my neck, caressing lightly. “We’ll put up a gravestone for your memories. Consider it my birthday gift to you.”
His warm breath froze me in place.
“Spare me your fake kindness, Archer.”
“I don’t need it. I hope you, your son, and Cassidy live a long and happy life together.”
My sarcasm seemed to hit a nerve. He grabbed my hand and kissed me forcefully.
Then Cassidy’s wailing cut through the air.
“Elise, killing my Sunshine wasn’t enough? Do you want me to bury your mother with her, too? Will that satisfy you?”
Archer turned, his gaze landing on Cassidy, who was cradling her dead beagle, tears streaking down her face.
On reflex, he shoved me away, pulling Cassidy into his arms.
I gritted my teeth. "Cassidy, you threw the dog out the window yourself!"
"Enough!" Archer roared, already certain that I was the one at fault.
"Kneel and apologize to Cassidy!"
I stepped back, disbelief spreading across my face. "Never! I want a divorce, you bastard!"
His eyes flared with rage, igniting like wildfire. "Divorce? Then watch me screw someone else right in front of you!"
Ignoring my resistance, he tied my hands with vines and pinned Cassidy against the tree.
His hands reached under her skirt, tearing off her lace panties, then he undid his belt, ramming into her with force.
Bastard.
I squeezed my eyes shut, but Cassidy’s moans still sliced through the air. The obscene, sticky sounds reached my ears as I screamed and struggled.
"No, no! Archer, I hate you!"
His thrusts grew more brutal, Cassidy’s gasps growing louder.
"Archer, take it easy. Didn’t Elise satisfy you?" Cassidy’s smug gaze met mine, her eyes gleaming with triumph.
I hung there helplessly, whispering, "Let me go… please..."
Archer’s bloodshot eyes locked on me, filled with rage. "What are you? Without my favor, you’re nothing, a servant’s daughter, a bitch who licks my boots!"
"You wanted status and money, didn’t you? Don’t forget, you drugged me eight years ago to seduce me!"
Eight years ago, at a party, I found Archer drugged by someone at the pool.
I tried to get him to a doctor, but as soon as I dragged him inside, he pushed me against the wall. His hot breath closed in, and I looked at the boy I’d loved for so long and didn’t resist.
I never imagined that one night would lead to Dorian. Under his grandfather’s pressure, Archer had no choice but to marry me.
His hateful voice echoed in my ears.
"You thought having my child would elevate you? That I’d treat you well? What right do you have to leave me now?!"
But I stood my ground.
"Archer, I don’t love you anymore."
His eyes turned bloodshot. "You don’t get to decide that. The one I love now is Cassidy."
His movements grew even more savage, making Cassidy cry out for him to stop.
I don’t know how long it went on, but finally, Archer finished.
He didn’t look satisfied, only dark and brooding, glaring at me.
"Divorce? Dream on."
He untied me and carried Cassidy away, her unconscious form in his arms.
I collapsed in despair.
From the tree, a small figure slid down.
"You lowlife, you drugged my dad to seduce him!"
I looked up at Dorian’s flushed, furious face, stunned.
"Yes, if I hadn’t seduced him, how would you even exist?"
Dorian stomped his feet and shouted, "I want Daddy with Cassidy! She’s nothing like you, a gold-digger! She buys me toys and candy!"
He pointed a toy gun at me.
"I don’t want a cripple for a mom who doesn’t love me! I don’t want my classmates to laugh at me!"
The rubber bullet hit my forehead, but it was my heart that bled.
Dorian had always been frail. For him, I had given up the chance to run the family business with Nolan.
I had taken care of him day and night, even traveled to Spain to pray, crawling up a church on my knees until my forehead bled, just to wish for his health and safety.
Now, every rainy day, my knees ached unbearably, and I limped as I walked.
I had hoped he’d grow up humble and kind, not a spoiled heir. So, I had been strict with him.
But blood ties meant nothing compared to a few sweet words from another woman and some toys.
Even my ruined knees became a source of shame to him.
Fine. If you want to burn your grandmother’s ashes, then I won’t want you as my son anymore.
As Dorian watched, I turned toward the front gate, only to be stopped by the strict, towering security.
