Chapter 3

3

Roxanne offered a pathetic, half-hearted apology.

"Cole, my brother was just being impulsive, but you really messed up this time..."

I let out a cold sneer and didn't even look at her.

"Just make sure you don't regret this."

Roxanne pressed her lips together.

"I won't regret it. I've already done more than enough for you."

I was about to reply when muffled voices drifted through the door behind us.

"Mom, your plan is genius! Not only do we dump this dead weight, but Roxanne can also get a clean split and help me buy a new sports car."

"Hmph, that sickly loser Cole was bound to become a money pit with medical bills anyway. Why should our family support an invalid?"

"Besides, they haven't had a baby in years. It's definitely that broken loser's fault. Getting rid of him lets Roxanne marry a rich man."

Hearing that, the pieces instantly fell into place.

They never truly cared whether the scam call was real or not. They were simply using it as an excuse to kick me to the curb.

What they didn't know was that our inability to conceive had nothing to do with me. It was Roxanne who was infertile.

To protect her dignity, I had kept the medical truth a secret and shouldered all the blame from her family for years.

Now, that very sacrifice had become their reason to despise me.

Good.

That was truly fantastic.

I had originally planned to claim the thirty million, take the whole family on a luxury European vacation, and buy a sprawling mansion for all of us.

Now? They wouldn't see a single cent.

Without another word, I walked with Roxanne straight to the courthouse and finalized the divorce papers cleanly and swiftly.

Once the decree was issued, I made her come with me to update our residential records and remove my name from their household registry.

If we were cutting ties, we were cutting them completely and permanently. I refused to give these ungrateful parasites any chance to crawl back.

When May and Ben heard I was voluntarily removing myself from the family registry, they were thrilled enough to throw a party. They personally delivered the remaining documents to the office.

Watching the final stamp hit the paperwork, a massive weight lifted off my shoulders.

Ben grinned smugly at Roxanne.

"Sis, our family is finally free of that loser! Don't worry, I'll introduce you to tons of wealthy heirs. You'll give Mom and Dad a grandson within a year!"

Roxanne smiled shyly, clearly lost in the fantasy Ben was painting for her.

May glared at me from the corner of her eye, her tone dripping with venom.

"Your brother is right. If that deadbeat hadn't dragged you down, our family would already be living in a luxury villa."

"At least the parasite had the decency to leave quietly. Let's go home before someone gets desperate and changes his mind."

I sat on the bench outside, lit a cigarette, and watched them with a mocking smile.

Regret?

Just make sure you don't choke on your own regrets later.

I stood up, ready to head to the state lottery headquarters, when Roxanne's phone suddenly rang.

"Hello? Yes, I'm May Yates's daughter... Cancer? What did you just say? Who has cancer?"

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