"If you don't want to put in the effort, that's fine. You can pay instead." Bella examined her manicure as if this conversation bored her. "That's how it works with mothers-in-law. You either contribute labor or cash. Pick one."

She spoke with absolute entitlement. Like she was doing me a favor by offering an alternative.

Ian nodded immediately. "Right, Mom. Just pay up. Five thousand dollars a month for nutrition and expenses should be enough."

Their voices carried through the house. Sean and Julian appeared in the doorway with their wives in tow, drawn by the scent of money like sharks to blood.

Olivia shoved past her husband, eyes bright with greed. "I'm planning to get pregnant too! Since you have three sons, you have to be fair. Give me five thousand a month for nutrition as well."

Sarah wasn't far behind. "We're also planning for a baby. As the saying goes, inequality is worse than scarcity. Five thousand a month. Same as everyone else."

I sat there, popping imported cherries into my mouth. Two hundred dollars a box. In my past life, I wouldn't have dared spend money on such luxury—every penny went to these ingrates.

Now, the sweetness of the fruit was enhanced by the bitter comedy unfolding before me.

I watched them like a circus performance. Clowns tripping over each other, scrambling for imaginary money.

Sebastian stood by the door, jaw clenched so tight a vein pulsed in his temple. Finally, he spoke, his voice tight enough to snap. "Your mother's pension is only nine thousand a month. She doesn't have that kind of money to give you."

Olivia waved him off, smug. "Mom used to run a supermarket on top of her job. She made plenty of money." Her eyes glittered. "If she doesn't spend it on her sons, who is she going to spend it on? Taking it to the grave?"

Sebastian's face turned a dangerous shade of crimson. His hands curled into fists at his sides.

It was one thing for parents to give willingly.

It was another thing entirely for children to demand it like a debt owed.

"I've already divorced your mother." Sebastian's voice dropped to a low growl. "Didn't you see I'm packing? I'm getting the hell out of here!"

Dead silence.

They looked at me. Then at Sebastian. Then at the suitcase behind him.

Disbelief painted every face. Old couples didn't actually divorce. This had to be a bluff.

Sarah recovered first, anger flooding her features. "You say you're divorced? How? A divorce means dividing property! We're part of this family. We have a right to know how the assets were split!"

Bella and Olivia flanked her, crossing their arms in unison. Stern. Demanding. Like auditors descending on a fraudulent business.

"Exactly! What kind of divorce is this? Explain it clearly!"

"Divorcing at this age? Aren't you afraid of dying alone?"

Sebastian's face went dark as a thundercloud. "Our business is not your concern. You focus on your own lives." His voice hardened. "The divorce is simple. I'm leaving with nothing. Your mother followed me for a lifetime, and now she wants out. I respect that. And you will not make things difficult for her."

*Leaving with nothing.*

The words detonated like a bomb.

The room exploded into chaos.

"Dad, why are you leaving with nothing?"

"Mom is the one who wants the divorce! If anyone leaves with nothing, it should be her!"

"I don't care about your divorce papers! She's my husband's mother—she's my mother-in-law! She has to support our family!"

"Dad! Mom! What is this? You're just dropping the burden and running away?"

"Have you considered our feelings? We have expenses!"

"I must be cursed! Why are you two going crazy?"

The noise battered against my skull like fists.

My patience snapped.

*SMACK!*

The heavy fruit platter slammed against the coffee table. Glass rattled. Cherries scattered like drops of blood.

Silence.

I rose to my feet, finger shaking as I pointed at the door.

"All of you. Get out!"

My voice cracked through the room like thunder.

"My life belongs to ME! It is not up to a pack of parasites to tell me how to live it!"

I drew a breath. Let it out slowly.

"Today, I'm setting the record straight."

"From now on, I won't meddle in your affairs, and I don't need you meddling in mine!"

Bella Montgomery's chest heaved violently. A mottled flush crept up her face, and the veins in her thick neck bulged like worms beneath the skin. She clutched her stomach, her body folding inward.

"I... my stomach... it hurts so much."

A trembling finger rose, pointing directly at the bridge of my nose. "You won't be happy until you make me so angry I miscarry, will you?"

I watched her performance without blinking. "If the child is gone, that is your fate."

"Mom, shut up! Stop talking!" Ian Montgomery roared.

He didn't spare me another glance. In one motion, he scooped up his wife and rushed her to the hospital.

That afternoon, Ian called. I didn't answer.

A barrage of text messages followed—a dense wall of guilt and accusations. I didn't read a single word. If I softened even a fraction, I would be betraying the woman I was in my previous life.

Sebastian James saw the notifications lighting up my phone. Fury flickered across his face at their disrespect, but old habits die hard. His heart softened, and he went to the hospital to check on Bella.

Hours later, a video arrived from Sarah Montgomery.

The scene was Bella's hospital room. The entire family had cornered Sebastian, surrounding him like a pack of hyenas closing in on wounded prey.

Ian's eyes were bloodshot. Tears streamed down his face as he pleaded with his father. "Dad, Nana wants to divorce me now. She wants to abort the child. That's your first grandson. If you and Mom want to divorce, fine—but you can't just walk away from your responsibilities to us!"

Sean Montgomery jumped in, fuming. "It's not just my sister-in-law. My wife wants a divorce now too!"

Julian Montgomery's temper was even more explosive. "Mine too! I've only been married a few days. The ink isn't even dry on the marriage license, and she's already talking about leaving me!"

Sebastian sighed heavily, looking deeply beleaguered. "Your mother wants to divorce me. There is nothing I can do."

Olivia Montgomery's eyes widened in agitation. "How is there nothing you can do? Get the money back! If she won't give it up, sue her!"

Sarah added fuel to the fire. "Dad, I'm not calling you stupid, but think about it. Mom divorcing you so suddenly? She definitely has a lover on the side. She's going to spend all that money on some wild man. She won't spend a dime on her own sons, but she'll shower it on a stranger. If word gets out, where will your dignity be?"

From the hospital bed, Bella's voice came out weak but venomous. "Exactly. Dad, I don't know why you're being such a coward. You used to subsidize each of our families three thousand dollars a month for our mortgages. All that money went to her. Does this mean you won't be able to help us anymore?"

A breath. Then the ultimatum.

"Here's the reality. Either you get Mom's money back and divide it evenly among your three sons—the ones who will actually support you in your old age—or I abort this child and divorce your son."

Ian stepped forward, his voice dropping to a threat. "Dad, the James family money cannot flow into an outsider's hands. If you don't sue to get it back, and Nana divorces me, you lose a son."

Sean and Julian echoed him immediately, wielding their estrangement like a blade.

Ian shoved a legal document into Sebastian's hands. "The lawyer wrote this. He says he's confident we can win the money back. If Mom refuses to pay, you propose remarriage. Just focus on taking care of your eldest grandson."

My husband held the lawsuit, silent and unmoving.

They all took his silence for agreement.

But the moment Sebastian walked through our front door, he looked at me with weary clarity.

"I finally understand why you wanted to divorce me." His voice came out raspy. "Those ungrateful parasites... I don't want them anymore, either."

I took his hand, squeezing his rough palm.

"Then from now on, we live for ourselves."

"The children and grandchildren have their own lives. We won't interfere anymore."

Sebastian nodded. A heavy weight seemed to lift from his shoulders.

The very next day, we sold the house. A former coworker from our old unit bought it for a lump sum, sparing us the hassle of the market. Cash in hand, we packed our bags and left town.

As we boarded the plane, a message from Ian lit up my screen.

*Mom, don't blame me for not giving you a chance. Hurry up and apologize to my wife, remarry Dad, and help us out a bit in the future. Help look after the grandchild, and you can enjoy your later years.*

I deleted the thread without replying.

The next day, he tried again.

*Dad is going to sue you. Now you're abandoned by everyone.*

Ignored.

On the third day, all three sons and their wives showed up at the house looking for Sebastian. Only then did they discover the locks had been changed and a stranger was living there.

They blew up Sebastian's phone. It rang incessantly until he finally answered Julian's call.

"Dad, what is going on! Why did you sell the house? Where are you?"