The current Dave was just another person wearing the same skin; he was no longer the one who cherished them so much.
"Was Luther naughty and made Daddy angry? Mommy, Luther was wrong, I will change everything. So, Mommy, please don't divorce Daddy, okay?"
Like Dave, he had long, thick eyelashes that framed his large, watery eyes, making them appear misty and evoking pity.
"Divorce? Who said anything about divorce?"
Dave appeared at the door, keenly catching the key words.
"Aren't you just trying to threaten me by saying these things?"
He reacted extremely strongly, grabbing Merlin's wrist fiercely and glaring at her.
"Don't try to play tricks. We're already married. You're not leaving for the rest of your life."
He slammed the door and left, his expression terrifying.
That night, Luther detected that Dave's company had been hacked by a virus again. This time, Merlin raised her hand to stop Luther from cracking the virus, instead preserving the evidence.
"Dave, if you have even a shred of sense, you should see what Lily has done."
Even the IP address showed it was Lily's computer, but faced with irrefutable evidence, Dave was dismissive.
"A three-year-old can do this? Merlin, you should at least come up with a better excuse." The gaze directed at them was cold and distant, unlike anything he'd ever seen before.
Luther was admitted to a private school through a special admission process; surely he must have some extraordinary talent?
Why would he rather believe Luther's lie about sending Joel to an orphanage than believe her and Luther!
"Fine, Dave, you'll regret this."
The sharp words stung him and Dave abruptly stood up, pulling Merlin into his arms.
"Why are you always so cold-hearted, always as hard as a rock? Can't you learn to be gentle and kind like Lily?"
And like Lily, feigning affection, treating him like a fool?
If he wanted to coax someone, he should ask Lily, why was he dragging her along?
"Sorry, I can't learn."
She struggled free, cold as an iceberg, just as Lily, returning home, witnessed it.
Lily pouted, tears welling in her eyes.
"I thought my sister was really going to divorce Dave, making me search the whole city for you to reconcile us. I never expected my sister to say one thing and do another, manipulating us like a fool. Are you happy now?"
"Dave, you also think I'm a used woman from a previous marriage, that's why you despise me, right?"
"Then my sister and I should just die, so we won't get in your way!"
She pretended to bang her head against the wall, but her movements were slow and deliberate, perfectly timed before Dave could strike.
The little girl was quick to react, kneeling down and slapping herself.
"Brother, please don't hit me anymore, okay? I'll never dare to steal your father again. You're right, I'm a bastard, an unwanted wild child, I don't deserve to fight you for him."
"Please, please don't sell me to human traffickers again, okay? I'll go to school obediently for you, I'll bring you money obediently."
Dave's anger erupted.
"Merlin, is this the good son you raised?!"
The greatest sorrow was a broken heart, while the greatest grief was silence.
Perhaps Dave had never changed; he simply stopped pretending.
Merlin stopped explaining, a calm ruthlessness flashing in her eyes.
“Want to be obedient? I'll grant your wish.”
That night, she obediently packed her bags and left, obediently made her son call him uncle and even obediently signed the divorce papers he handed her.
“I’m leaving.”
She had never spoken to him in such a cold tone. Dave gripped the table so tightly his knuckles turned white from the force.
“You always say you’re leaving, but I’ve never seen you actually leave. Try leaving and see if Dave goes after you or comes looking for me.” Lily mocked smugly, while Dave snorted coldly and turned his back on her.
Merlin gave a self-deprecating bitter smile.
She had said she was leaving many times, but this time was different. The Franco Family’s car was already waiting at the door.
It was over.
She walked with light steps, like a gust of wind, disappearing from sight in the blink of an eye.
Dave suddenly shifted restlessly in his chair, even forgetting to chew the apple Lily had put in his mouth.
"I haven't even signed it. Who are you trying to scare with an invalid divorce agreement?"
He tapped his knuckles lightly on the agreement, one tap after another, completely confident and oblivious to the problem with the "guarantee" he had casually signed two days earlier.
