"Don't!"

Clara pushed me aside and hurried to stop Victor, smiling as she said, "You're just in time. Sit down and eat with us."

Her earlier rage was gone—she had become as gentle as water.

Once, that gentleness was mine alone. After she and Victor sat at the table, she glanced at me and said, "You're so thoughtful. You know I love roast goose."

The message was clear: I wasn’t attentive enough, didn’t understand her enough.

But since our marriage,

I’ve been able to guess what clothes and jewelry she wanted in ten seconds.

Which colors she favored and which food she avoided.

More than that, I could instantly tell you which client details she needed.

I knew it all.

And once, she despised roast goose, saying it was too greasy. Now she claimed to love it.

Maybe this is what happens—when you love someone, you also love their dog.

"If you pay attention in life, you’ll see."

Victor smiled and pulled out a bottle of medicinal wine worth a few dozen dollars.

"Uncle, try it. I bought this just for you."

He poured my father-in-law a full glass.

"Delicious!"

"A thousand times better than what I usually drink!"

My father-in-law downed it, praising it non-stop. My fists clenched.

I usually bought him Macallan 30-Year-Old and Louis XIII Cognac, yet he claimed they weren’t as good as this cheap wine.

Then Victor produced a face mask for my mother-in-law.

Despite his exaggerated praise of whitening and moisturizing,

I saw instantly it was a worthless street-stall product.

She must have seen it too, yet she smiled brightly and said, "With a son-in-law like Victor, anyone would be lucky."

It was obvious.

Their words were aimed at me, cutting me down while praising him.

They wanted me to feel small.

I couldn’t hold back any longer. My chest pounded—I flipped the table!

Everyone was stunned.

Clara immediately roared, "Amelia, what’s wrong with you now?"

My in-laws’ faces sank, convinced I was being overbearing. "Yes! I’m having a seizure! I’m having one now! Hahaha..."

I laughed wildly, smashing my new TV and stabbing my new sofa with scissors.

I stormed into the bedroom, dragged out every designer bag I’d bought for Clara, and slashed them open before her eyes.

My in-laws kept their distance, afraid I might strike them.

"Amelia."

"Calm down, we can talk!"

Victor wanted to rush forward, but Clara stopped him.

"Don’t go."

"He’s crazy right now—don’t let him hurt you."

Hearing this, I suddenly felt empty and dropped everything.

"Have you had enough?"

Clara looked at me coolly, drew a long breath, and said, "We’re going to the theater. You clean the living room."

Her tone was commanding. She clearly assumed I’d vented my anger and that was the end of it.

I turned in silence and walked toward the bedroom.

"Clara, why not bring Amelia along?"

Victor rubbed his nose awkwardly. "I don’t know what’s going on, but maybe it’ll calm him."

Despite his innocent look, he was clearly pleased.

"It’s fine. That’s just him—trying to get my attention."

Clara shook her head and smiled. "Besides, what does he know about theater?"

As she said this, her gaze lingered on my back, her eyes wandering.

"That's right. Forget him. Let’s get to the theater before we’re late."

"I heard a famous actor is performing today."

My mother-in-law quickly agreed, as though nothing had happened. The only thing that mattered was watching the play.

"Alright, alright."

Clara finally regained her composure and nodded gently.

They packed up and left. My father-in-law deliberately walked last, shouting, "Amelia, a son-in-law must know his place."

"Remember, without me, you’re nothing, and you can’t even survive in law."

Eight years of relentless hard work.

Always being ordered around.

It never earns true love.

I should have realized this long ago.

No matter how much effort you give to someone who despises you, they’ll still despise you.

Romance exists only in fantasy.

Reality gives nothing but a cruel slap in the face.

Burn the wedding photos.

Rip the family portrait.

I dragged my suitcase out of the house and sent a message to Clara’s rival, Victoria Manning.

[Find me a place to stay, and I’ll join your law firm.]

The city’s two most famous firms are Snow’s and Manning’s.

They constantly fight for clients, even alternating the Bar Association presidency.

Victoria replied immediately.

[No problem! Congrats to Attorney Hart for escaping her bootlicking life. Here’s a bonus picture!]

She sent me a sultry photo in a short skirt and black stockings as a celebration.

I smiled wryly and muttered, "This woman is chasing me again."

Of course, I joined Victoria’s firm.

Mainly to prove myself.

Everyone thinks Clara runs her firm, but no one knows how much effort I poured it behind the scenes.

I wonder if Snow’s Law Firm will stay dominant after I leave—or if I’ll rise to the top and shake the world.

At ten that evening, Clara’s parents and Victor came home, chatting and laughing. But when they saw the living room still wrecked, they froze.

"You’re rebelling!"

"Amelia, get out here!"

My father-in-law’s face darkened. Finding me gone, he snapped, "Almost thirty, and you run away like a child. Shameful!"

Clara noticed the torn family photo in the trash. Her lips tightened, fists clenched.

"Clara."

"Is Amelia mad because of me?"

Victor feigned innocence.

"It has nothing to do with you. It’s Amelia’s fault."

Clara smiled, reassuring him, then entered the bathroom and called me.

"Why run around when you haven’t cleaned the house?"

Her first words almost made me laugh.

While eating barbecue with Victoria, I replied, "That’s your home, not mine."

"You…"

Clara paused, then softened her tone. "Can you stop making a fuss? My dad’s furious. If you continue, he’ll fire you and block you from the entire industry."

"I’ll submit my resignation tomorrow morning."

I hung up and clinked glasses with Victoria.

"A toast to the moonlight."

"A toast to the past!"

The next morning.

As soon as I entered Snow’s Law Firm, I ran into Victor.

"I heard you’re resigning?"

Victor curled his lips into a smug grin. "What a pity! I was only trying to show off our affection in front of you."

"Last night at the theater, Clara leaned on my shoulder. She smelled incredible…"

Slap!

I struck his face hard, coldly saying, "You’re proud knowing you’re the third party? Didn’t your parents teach you shame?"

Victor hadn’t expected me to fight back. He froze for a few seconds, then lunged at me with a vicious glare.

We grappled.

At first, he was no match, but then a sharp pain struck the back of my head.

I turned and saw Clara.

She was holding a flower pot.

Behind me, my in-laws looked disappointed. Victor seized the chance to stand and complain, "Clara, Uncle, Auntie, I’m sorry. I’ve caused you trouble again and tarnished the firm’s reputation."

"Obviously, you wanted to explain to Amelia, but he went berserk."

My father-in-law waved dismissively, then glared coldly at me. "Having a son-in-law like you is shameful to the Snow family."

My mother-in-law, dropping the good-cop act, snapped, "Your true colors have been clear these past few days! I should never have let you marry my daughter!"

Clara clenched her fists, furious. "Amelia! Victor meant well—why strike him? Do you think I wouldn’t dare divorce you?"

Watching their blatant favoritism,

I pressed the bleeding wound on my head, rose unsteadily, and said, "Bring the divorce papers! I’ll sign them now!"

"Unrepentant!"

Clara gritted her teeth and ordered a lawyer, "Grant him his wish. Prepare a divorce agreement."

Divorce agreements follow templates.

The lawyer drafted one quickly. Clara held it coldly. "Amelia, I’ll give you one last chance…"

Before she could finish, I snatched the document. Ignoring her shocked look, I signed my name, then pressed my bloodied fingerprint down.

My father-in-law scoffed, lifted his phone, and recorded a voice message to the lawyers’ group: "From today, Amelia is no longer my son-in-law."

"Anyone in this profession who dares hire him opposes me!"

Just as he gloated, a luxury car stopped at the door.

Victoria stepped out and retorted icily, "And what if they oppose you?"

"From today, Amelia is head of my Manning Law Firm."