Chapter 2

2

The looks I received from the crowd were filled with pure disgust.

"Living off her money and then blaming her for your cheating? You're sickening."

"He looks so decent, but he's actually rotten to the core."

"Men who cheat deserve to rot!"

The mothers swarmed me like a pack of angry hornets, clawing and scratching at me.

I refused to hit a woman, but there were too many of them to dodge.

Red welts and scratches began to bloom across my exposed skin.

Evelyn, weeping openly, shielded me with her body while holding Maya.

"Stop it! Please! Ethan isn't like this. I know there's been a misunderstanding!"

She didn't even have time to soothe Maya, who was screaming in her arms.

She kept begging everyone to stop, her voice trembling as she defended me.

Then, she turned to me with a look of forced strength.

"Ethan, please say something! Explain yourself!"

"No matter what you're going through, I'll stay by your side."

"If you're unhappy with me, I'll change. Just please, don't leave us."

Her voice broke at the end.

She played the role of the devoted, long-suffering wife perfectly.

To everyone else, I looked like a cold-blooded psychopath.

The women grew even more protective of her, while Clara looked at her with pity and frustration.

"Ethan Hayes," Clara growled.

"This is Maya's school event. For the sake of your daughter, stop this nonsense."

I remained unmoved, my voice cutting through the air like a blade. "I'm not her father, so why should I care?"

"Get out of my way. I'm leaving."

Clara was shaking with rage as she screamed at my retreating back.

"You're a parasitic loser! Without Evelyn, you're nothing!"

"Your clothes, your lab equipment, your research grants―who do you think paid for all of it?"

"Once you're divorced, you'll be starving on the streets!"

They probably expected my pride to snap, but I didn't care.

"If you want to see me starve so badly, tell her to sign the papers."

I walked out of the school gates and checked my phone. My private investigator had sent several new videos and photos.

I tapped on the most recent video.

It was a recording of Evelyn and Maya right before the parent-teacher conference.

Evelyn was lying on the bed, clutching the cotton doll to her chest with a flushed face and glazed eyes.

"Of course Mommy and Daddy will both be at the conference. I'll make sure your Daddy looks very handsome."

Maya pouted. "What if that other man tries to go instead?"

Evelyn frowned slightly. "Then we just won't tell him about it."

Maya cheered and jumped onto the bed, hugging both her mother and the doll.

"Yay! I can't wait to introduce my real Daddy to all my friends!"

I shut the video off, feeling a wave of nausea.

This was more than enough evidence to destroy her in court.