Chapter 2

The reporters immediately swarmed Chloe, offering their comfort.

"We thought you were just brave, but we had no idea you were carrying such a heavy emotional burden behind the scenes."

Chloe quickly tried to defend me in front of the cameras.

"My husband used to love me very much. He was just terrified by the attack that day. I'll stay by his side and help him get through this."

Helen walked up, hugging Chloe and wiping her tears.

Helen couldn't help but cry too.

"Back when you two got married so quickly, John and I thought it was too fast. We tried to talk you out of it. But Ethan literally swore to us that he would marry no one else but you in this lifetime."

"When his company was just starting out, you ran around trying to get investors, and you took such good care of us. We've always treated you like our own daughter. Ethan, what kind of sick game are you playing?"

Memories of our past sweetness flashed through my mind like a movie, but now, it felt as dead as a graveyard.

I didn't look at Helen. Instead, I raised my voice so everyone could hear.

"She did all of that voluntarily. I never forced her."

John couldn't take it anymore. He grabbed another water pitcher from the bedside table and threw it directly at my head.

By reflex, I raised my arms to shield my face. But the impact never came.

When I opened my eyes, Chloe had thrown herself out of bed to block the pitcher for me.

She collapsed onto the floor, grabbing the cuff of my jeans.

"Ethan, you promised me we would be together forever. Did none of it mean anything?"

By the time she finished, she was gasping for air. The nurses tried to lift her back onto the bed, but she refused to let go of me.

Throughout the entire scene, I watched her struggle in utter despair, completely unmoved.

More and more bystanders gathered outside the room. These strangers, fueled by self-righteous anger, started shouting at me.

"What a wonderful girl. If I had a wife like her, I'd treat her like a queen."

"How did a piece of trash like him even get a wife? The thug should have stabbed him to death instead."

I turned my head and stared coldly at the man who spoke. "If you like her so much, take her home and make her your wife. Save me the eyesore."

The moment the words left my mouth, a heavy hand slapped me squarely across the face.

The force of the blow sent me crashing hard against the wall.

"Chloe almost died for you, and this is how you treat her? I'll beat you to death myself today!"

It was Chloe's mother, Martha. She raised her hand to strike me again.

I instinctively backed away. Chloe held her mother back, crying.

"Martha, please stop! Ethan is just confused right now. I don't blame him."

Looking at Martha, I no longer held any of the respect I once had.

When Chloe and I first got married, I knew her family wasn't well-off.

Martha had raised her as a single mother, and I had always felt sorry for them.

So, the moment my company made its first million, I bought Martha a massive house in a nice suburb, treating her like my own mother.

The reporters saw the high drama and pushed their cameras right into my face.

Martha snatched a camera from a reporter and shoved it inches from my nose.

"Let the whole world see what a heartless, ungrateful dog looks like! People like him should be struck by lightning!"

Chloe tried her best to pull Martha back, still pleading.

"Martha, don't film him! Ethan's company is in its crucial growth phase. If this gets out, it will ruin the business!"

Everyone sighed in admiration. Even at her lowest, Chloe was still protecting my career.

For her daughter's sake, Martha finally lowered the camera.

"Carry Chloe back to the bed, and I'll pretend this never happened."

I stood frozen for a long moment before speaking slowly.

"As long as she signs the divorce papers, I will do whatever you want."

Just then, a loud commotion erupted at the end of the hallway.

"He dares to abuse our Chloe? Don't let him get away with this!"