Chapter 4

Chloe didn't come home that night.

Early the next morning, I was woken by my phone ringing.

Looking at the caller ID, I curled my lips coldly.

"Henry, I'm giving you 10 minutes. Get your ass to the hospital right now!"

The moment the call connected, I heard Chloe's mother Bella's shrill, piercing voice.

Her tone was commanding as always, high and mighty.

Before I could react, Bella hung up. I smiled coldly.

It seemed they were planning a public trial of me.

After a quick wash, I drove to the hospital.

In the hospital room, Adrian lay in bed with his forehead bandaged, looking weak.

Chloe sat by his bedside, her eyes red and swollen like two walnuts.

When he saw me, Chloe's father Mitchell kept a stern face and said nothing.

Bella snorted heavily with a look of disdain.

Adrian's body flinched, and he leaned fearfully toward Chloe.

Chloe patted his back soothingly.

"You wanted to see me?" I looked at Bella expressionlessly.

"You still have the nerve to ask?"

Bella's voice suddenly rose, and she grabbed the cup beside her and hurled it at me.

"Henry, look what you've done! Look what you've done to Adrian!"

"Chloe must have been blind to marry a violent man like you."

"Do you know that Chloe cried all night last night because of the shock?"

Bella was emotional, hurling accusations at me.

Chloe sobbed on cue, as if she'd suffered the greatest injustice.

"Henry, you went too far last night. Adrian is someone we watched grow up, so naturally he and Chloe are close. You were wrong to hit him without asking questions first."

Looking at Mitchell speaking so righteously, I laughed coldly:

"And then?"

"And then?"

Bella bristled like a cat whose tail had been stepped on:

"Of course you apologize."

"You can only get up after Adrian and Chloe forgive you."

Bella's tone was matter-of-fact.

In the past, Chloe's family had often used my love for Chloe to manipulate me.

And over the past five years, I had indeed chosen to swallow my pride again and again for the sake of family harmony.

Bella was certain that this time I would lower my head and admit my mistake as I always had, but this time they would be disappointed.

"Are you finished?"

"If you're finished, it's my turn."

"Chloe, let's get a divorce!"

With that, I slapped the divorce agreement the lawyer had prepared overnight in front of Chloe.

Chloe froze, her sobbing stopped.

Mitchell and Bella were also stunned, not expecting the word "divorce" to come from my mouth.

Everyone stared at me in disbelief.

Only Adrian, after a brief moment of shock, couldn't hide the wild joy in his eyes.

"Henry, don't be ungrateful."

"You only get one chance."

Mitchell's face grew darker, his voice heavy with warning.

"Henry, I already told you last night was a misunderstanding. Why won't you listen?"

Chloe looked at me tearfully, tears falling like broken pearls, looking pitiful and wronged.

Adrian grabbed my hand, his voice choked:

"Henry, it's all my fault, everything is my fault."

"I don't need your apology. Just don't fight with Chloe anymore. If you can't stand me, I'll leave tomorrow, disappear from your sight immediately, and never come back!"

"Chloe really loves you. Don't divorce her. I'm begging you, okay?"

Looking at Adrian, I felt a wave of disgust in my heart.

"Get lost!"

I shook Adrian off forcefully and took two steps back.

"Ah!"

Adrian fell to the ground, crying out in exaggerated pain.

"Henry! Have you lost your mind!"

Chloe helped Adrian up with distress. Seeing Adrian's reddened elbow, she screamed at me furiously.

"You want a divorce, right? Fine, I'll divorce you!"

"It's not like I can't live without you."

With that, she picked up the divorce agreement to sign it.

"Wait."

Bella stopped her.

"Henry, we can divorce, but you have to leave with nothing. And you have to publicly claim that you had an affair during marriage, which led to the breakdown of the relationship."