He had caused our son’s death and felt nothing. He even stayed out playing house with his pregnant mistress, yet now he expected my understanding?

Staring at the arrogant pride on his face, I genuinely couldn’t understand how I had loved a man like this for twenty years.

I set the divorce agreement I had prepared on the table.

“Sign it. From now on, you can take care of your little pregnant one without any distractions.”

When I took the initiative to bring up divorce, a flicker of disdain crossed Soren’s face.

“Looks like I’ve spoiled you too much. You’ve forgotten your place. Without me, your whole family would’ve starved.”

Watching his inflated self-importance, I almost burst out laughing.

He truly believed the rise of the Hendricks family had been his doing; I had clung to him like a lifeline.

I didn’t even bother explaining. I simply said with quiet finality, “This marriage is over.”

Seeing how firm I was, Soren grew furious. “What kind of nonsense is this? You know damn well our son would never agree to us getting a divorce.”

“You want to leave? Fine. Let our son come and say it to my face.”

With that, he stormed into the bedroom, slamming the door shut behind him.

In the past, whenever Soren lost his temper, I would always soften and try to calm him down.

But not this time. I signed my name on the divorce agreement without hesitation and walked away with a sense of resolve.

The next morning, I collected my son’s ashes from the funeral home, preparing to return to the Lowell family in Vermont and lay him to rest.

Suddenly, Soren called.

“You can throw your tantrum all you want, but don’t drag my son into it by staying out all night. Today is the 30th anniversary celebration of Hendricks Group. I’m announcing him as my successor. Bring him here. Now.”

I glanced at the urn in my arms and replied quietly, “Alright. I’ll bring him right over.”

I had met Soren back in college.

Back then, he was getting beaten on the rooftop by a pack of arrogant princelings from Vermont’s elite.

Even with blood streaming down his face and his body bruised all over, he gritted his teeth and refused to beg for mercy.

I admired that kind of grit.

So I stepped forward and shot a cold glare at those entitled brats.

The moment our eyes met, their arrogance vanished. They scattered like scared rats as if they’d seen a ghost.

Soren instinctively looked my way.

Through the pain, he struggled to his feet and warned me, “Those guys aren’t people you mess with. You’re a girl. Don’t come back up here. Don’t let them target you.”

Even in that state, he still cared about someone else. I couldn’t help but smile.

“They wouldn’t dare mess with me.”

He gave my plain clothes a once-over and scoffed, “Don’t joke. They’re princelings of the Vermont circle, connected, powerful. You think they’d be scared of a girl like you?”

“I don’t look down on ordinary people. But you don’t need to pretend to be someone you’re not.”

He was so serious that it amused me, so I never bothered to explain further.

Later, I learned he came from a struggling third-rate family, teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. His father had been crushed by debts and driven to suicide.

He had earned his place at Vermont University purely on his merit, determined to restore his family’s shattered name.

Maybe because I’d witnessed too many reckless rich heirs wasting their lives, I was genuinely moved by the quiet strength and fierce resilience he carried within.

We began talking more and more.

As I got to know him better, I discovered how thoughtful and considerate he truly was.

During my period, when pain made me sweat and tremble, he quietly brought me warm cups of brown sugar ginger tea.

When I was down, he worried himself sick, trying every way to lift my spirits.

On days when sudden downpours soaked the streets, he’d drape his jacket over me and carry me safely across the floods.

Gradually, I fell for his sincerity and pure heart.

He would always blush, shyly saying he only wanted to treat me well.

And so, we dated, married, and had a child.

Knowing his strong pride, I quietly supported him from behind the scenes.

With my help, he revived the nearly bankrupt Hendricks Group and became the richest man in the province.

But after his rise, he hardly ever came home.

When I asked him to spend more time with our child, the man who once vowed never to look down on ordinary people now stared at me with disdain and said, “What would a housewife like you know? A man’s job is to make money. I don’t have time to waste on you two. Without me working outside, would you and our son live such a comfortable life?”

His change slowly drained my hope.

Yet, I still felt some gratitude.

He was the one who gave me good genes, allowing me to bear such a bright and remarkable son.

All I ever wanted was to be there for my child, to raise him into a fine young man.

So, I tolerated and compromised on everything.

I never imagined that enduring so much would only lead him to secretly get his secretary pregnant.

And even worse, that betrayal would cause our son’s death.

Our son’s passing severed every tie I had to this family.

It wiped away every trace of love I once held for Soren.

Lost in my thoughts, I carried our son’s urn into the Hendricks Group Tower.

Inside, the business elite and noble families of the provincial capital gathered, all for Hendricks Group’s 30th anniversary celebration.

Soren stood tall among them, dressed in a sharp suit, proud and elegant.

Beside him, Leigh clung to his arm, delicate in a designer dress.

I walked in expressionless, and as I approached, I caught Leigh pouting, speaking with fake sorrow.

“Brother Soren, I’m sorry. It’s all my fault your wife wants a divorce.”

Soren playfully tapped her nose, his voice soft as if afraid to break her fragile spirit.

“Silly girl. I’m rich, and Melissa loves me like her life depends on it. How could she ever think of divorcing me? She’s just throwing a tantrum. Ignore her.”

His eyes then locked onto me. The warmth in his gaze vanished instantly, replaced by a sharp, biting coldness.

“Melissa, didn’t I tell you today was Hendricks Group’s 30th anniversary celebration, and you had to bring our son?!”

“And yet, here you are all alone.”

The moment I appeared, the elites gathered around began to sneer, their voices dripping with mockery.

“So this is Mrs. Hendricks? She looks like a country bumpkin, completely unpresentable.”

“Just a housewife who stays home with the kids. No wonder she can’t compare to us business elites.”

“No surprise President Hendricks favors Secretary Leigh. Look at her, so shabby, so out of place. She’s no match for him.”

Their cruel laughter made Leigh’s lips curl into a satisfied smile.

In the next breath, she blinked back tears and fixed me with a sorrowful gaze.

“Sister Melissa, it’s my fault for getting pregnant and causing this rift between you and Soren.”

“If you truly hate me, just scold me a little. But please don’t refuse to bring Young Master Hendricks here and don’t dress like you’re mourning a death.”

“You knew today was Hendricks Group’s grand celebration, filled with the elite. Aren’t you deliberately trying to disgrace the family and make Soren look bad?”

Leigh’s fake humility and feigned concern sparked a flicker of approval in Soren’s eyes.

The socialites and elites nearby admired her with subtle nods of approval.

But I met her gaze with icy calm and said it plainly, without a hint of indifference.

“If you like playing the mistress, that’s your own choice.”

“But don’t you dare mention my son. You’re not worthy.”

The banquet hall fell into a stunned silence.

Moments later, Soren’s face darkened like storm clouds. “Melissa, watch your tone!”

“My tone?” I scoffed, voice cold as ice. “You mean the title of Mrs. Hendricks?”

“Well, honestly, I don’t care.”

Soren’s glare sharpened his anger, brewing like thunder. “Not care?”

“If you didn’t care, then why did you secretly siphon my money to prop up your father, letting a nobody flaunt a Rolls-Royce?”

“If you had even a shred of backbone, you wouldn’t sneak around doing dirty favors for your maiden family!”

Because I feared my background might weigh on Soren’s pride, I had once begged my father to keep a low profile.

However, due to a single slip of my father's, Soren now believed that my family lived off his money.

I met Soren’s gaze with a faint, knowing smile and said softly, “Soren, you really underestimated me.”

His mother shot me a sharp, disdainful glance and snapped, “I think you’re the one who’s overestimating yourself!”

“If it weren’t for your lucky marriage into the Hendricks family, how could you have lived as a rich wife all these years?”

“Since you’ve enjoyed the Hendricks family’s blessings, just be a good housewife and stop acting so ungrateful and shameful!”

Upon hearing those words, the rest of the guests couldn’t resist joining in.

“Exactly! That housewife is far too ungrateful. Soren is the richest man in the province, so many women would kill to be in her shoes!”

“If I were Mrs. Hendricks, I wouldn’t even mind my husband bringing other women home. I’d serve them all!”

“When you marry into wealth, you should know your place. Don’t overestimate yourself.”

“As expected, the more useless the woman, the bigger the attitude. Look at her, poor as dirt, no influence, always stirring up trouble!”

Amid the cruel laughter, Soren’s eyes bore into me with disdain.

“I know you’re just jealous of Leigh.”

“But she’s my secretary, from a good family, sharp and capable. Without her steady support, the Hendricks family wouldn’t have grown so fast.”

“And you? All you’ve done is raise a child. And now you can’t even manage that properly. What could you possibly compare to her?”

The claim that the Hendricks family’s success was all thanks to Leigh made me laugh quietly to myself.

If it hadn’t been for me quietly funneling resources into the company and shielding it from ruthless rivals, the Hendricks Group would have been swallowed whole long ago, nothing left but ashes and bones.

Leigh gave a demure smile before turning to Soren and speaking in a soft voice.

“Brother Soren, you once said Melissa was excellent at raising Caius. But it seems he’s clever all because of your remarkable genes.”

“He’s on track to become a top student at the University of Vermont and will someday inherit the Hendricks legacy. Honestly, I worry that Melissa’s temper and nature might have a harmful influence on him...”

At her words, Soren’s brow furrowed, a flicker of irritation crossing his face.

He looked at me, his voice like ice. “Melissa, I was originally going to let you raise Leigh’s child, as thanks for how well you raised Caius.”

“But look at how you've spoiled him. Out all night, ignoring calls today.”

“If you want to be reckless, that’s your choice. But don’t drag down the Hendricks family’s heir. I invited all these business elites today to help him build connections, to pave his way.”

“My son, my son, must be someone admired. Respected.”

As I watched Soren speak with such righteous conviction, like some noble father, a sharp pain twisted in my chest.

I said softly, “Stop pretending to be a good father.”