The bodyguards exchanged glances and closed in as they prepared to rush me.

At that critical moment, an enraged male voice came from outside the courtyard.

“Stop!”

Martin had returned.

He strode in wearing a sharp suit and exuding authority. A team of people followed him, and the harsh woman who had insulted me over the phone was at the back.

The instant Martin saw me, he froze and spoke in disbelief.

“Jessica? You’re alive?!”

“If I weren’t, how could I be here watching you let someone mistreat my children?” I let out a cold laugh.

The courtyard erupted in shock.

“What? Jessica? Isn’t that Mr. Gray’s late wife?”

“She’s been dead for seven years!”

“My God. She came back and saw her children being abused? Then, Miss Jenny must be…”

“Does it matter if she’s back? She vanished for seven years. Who knows if she ran off with another man? Miss Jenny is the one Mr. Gray truly cherishes.”

The two children beside me stood frozen.

“M-Mom?” John’s voice trembled with disbelief.

“You’re Mom!” Katy’s voice broke as she threw herself into my arms.

“Mom, you’re alive… Why did you take so long to come back? John and I missed you so much… Dad burned all your photos, and they wouldn’t let me see what you looked like. The rocking horse you left for John and your little study were smashed… John said you made me a beautiful princess room, but they tore it down and gave it to the dogs. I never even slept there once…”

My nose stung, and I held them tightly on either side. I allowed them to pour all their grievances into my arms.

Before I could comfort them further, the secretary’s sweet, pretentious voice cut through.

“Mr. Gray, I know this is a touching reunion for you and Madam Gray after so long. But those dogs were your birthday gift to Miss Jenny. They were beaten, so Miss Jenny must be heartbroken.”

She was definitely in cahoots with Jenny.

Hearing this, Jenny immediately put on a pitiful act and pretended to wipe away tears.

“Martin, I didn’t want things to turn out this way. The dogs only wanted to play with the children. I didn’t expect your wife to rush in and nearly beat them to death. I panicked… It’s my fault. If I had realized that she was your wife, I would’ve never…”

Martin’s expression eased slightly.

“Don’t blame yourself for everything. This wasn’t your—”

“Wasn’t her fault?” I interjected and almost laughed at Jenny’s shameless twisting of the truth.

“She set the dogs on the children and ordered the bodyguards to attack. Then, she shouted about feeding me to the dogs. That’s not her fault?”

I glared at Martin as his expression darkened.

“Aside from her dogs hurting people today, I also expect a reasonable explanation for why this house has a new owner. I left it to the children.”

“I have nothing to explain to you,” Martin said coldly.

“Years ago, I got into a car accident, and Jenny saved my life. The villa was my compensation to her. As for the children, I’ll give them something else.”

I snorted. “Such as?”

He froze mid-sentence, and anger flashed across his face. It was clear that he had never given them anything.

“Jessica, don’t push your luck,” he said with a frown. “Apologize to Jenny, and I’ll still acknowledge you as the lady of the Gray family. We can keep living together. Otherwise, you won’t even be able to afford the treatment for those dogs.”

Jenny and the secretary beside her smiled with smug contempt.

I took a deep breath, and the last shred of hope I had dissipated. Looking Martin in the eyes, I firmly said, “Apologize? Never. But this marriage ends today.”