The Slap That Ended Everything

The servants immediately stepped forward, reaching out to grab me. I dodged them and snapped, "Grayson, you have no right to lock me up."

Grayson let out a cold laugh, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You're my wife now. I can discipline you however I see fit."

For a moment, I was stunned. I had thought marrying him would mean a happy life, but on the very first day, he was already using his status as my husband to control and humiliate me.

I refused to let him trample over me. "That's nonsense!" I shouted back. "You're abusing your authority to humiliate me. If you really do it, I'll call the cops right away!"

My words infuriated him. In the next second, his hand struck my face with a force so violent it sent me crashing against the wall. My head spun, my vision blurred, and I slid weakly to the floor.

Blood trickled down my forehead, the sharp sting spreading across my face until it drowned out every ounce of reason. I let out a bitter laugh—but laughing only made me cry harder. No one had ever hit me before. And yet the first man to do it was the one I had once wanted to spend my life with.

I lifted my tear-streaked face, glaring at him with all the pain and disbelief in my heart. I wanted to curse him, but the words caught in my throat. That slap had crushed whatever hope I'd still been holding onto.

As he saw the state I was in, he instinctively reached out to help. I recoiled with a furious shout. "Don't touch me!"

Frustration flickered in his eyes, but only for a second before it vanished. His tone stayed cold and arrogant. "Kayla, I'll give you one more chance. Apologize now."

I wiped the blood from my forehead and stared down at the red smear on my fingers, tasting bitterness on my tongue. "If this were before," I said quietly, "you'd already be taking me to the hospital."

His expression darkened, his face twisting with conflict. "Just apologize, and I'll take you there right away."

I bit my lip and said nothing. He kept staring at me, waiting for me to give in—to be the same woman who would once bow her head at his slightest word, eager to please. But he was disappointed. The love I'd once felt for him had already been strangled to death by his own hands. Everything he did now only pushed me further away.

We stood there in silence, staring each other down. No one wanted to yield. The air grew heavy, and every eye in the room was fixed on us, waiting to see who would break first.

Then Scarlette suddenly swayed on her feet, looking faint as if she might collapse. Grayson rushed to catch her, wrapping his arms around her protectively.

When he saw my silence, his pride couldn't take it anymore. His voice was filled with bitter disappointment.

"Fine," he said. "If you're that stubborn and still want a divorce, then let's divorce."

He carried her out in his arms without looking back.

I caught the triumphant glint in Scarlette's eyes as she glanced over his shoulder—a look she always gave when she thought she'd won.

Huh! Let her have her victory. I was done with this man. In this world, nobody dies from heartbreak.

"Kayla, you two just got married today. Don't be so angry."

"Yeah. Every couple fights. Just talk it out. Don't really get divorced."

"You're lucky to have married Grayson. You've stepped into high society and never have to worry about money again. Don't throw that away—it'd be such a waste."

"Poverty's no joke. Go find him, apologize, and make things right before it's too late."

The guests tried to talk some sense into me, hoping I would yield, but I wouldn't. Not anymore.

In reality, my family background was far better than Grayson's, though we'd always kept a low profile. Hardly anyone knew our real wealth. He was the one who'd married up. And I wasn't about to spend the rest of my life swallowing my pride just to keep a man like him.

I got up, intending to go to the hospital, when a poised, elegantly dressed woman suddenly stepped in front of me, her cold gaze piercing straight through me. "Stop making a scene," she said sharply. "Get a glass of wine and go apologize to every guest now."

Family Divide

I looked at the woman coldly.

She was Grayson's mother, Laura.

She was also the one who had always favored Scarlette and treated me poorly. She knew full well how much I had suffered, yet she had never once spoken a kind word on my behalf. I had respected her before because she was an elder—now I no longer wanted to placate her.

As I turned to walk away, she grabbed my arm, her face hard and vicious. "Don't be absurd—are you really going to divorce my son?"

I shot back, "What do you think? Should I pretend I didn't see them about to sleep together and congratulate them with a banner?"

Laura flushed with surprise at my bold reply and fell momentarily silent.

I pulled my hand free and told her plainly, "I'm done with your son."

Her expression darkened into rage as she pointed and berated me without mercy. "You're so petty. Scarlette is my other son's wife—what's wrong with Grayson taking care of his sister-in-law? Are you going to nitpick everything and slander them?

"Typical of someone from a poor family—no manners and no basic respect or understanding. You've got a cruel streak in you; making a scene and demanding a divorce on your wedding day is only meant to shame our family.

"Anyway, you'll admit you were wrong today. You can't sully my son and daughter-in-law's reputation—if you want a divorce, you'll have to wait until the storm has passed."

I frowned, resolute. "I won't apologize. This marriage is over. If worse comes to worst, I'll take it to court."

"As if! If we don't pay you a cent, what chance does a girl born in a slum like you have of suing our family?" she sneered, every word dripped with contempt. "You're lucky to marry my son. If you insist on divorce, I doubt even your parents would approve."

Upon hearing her bring up my parents, my eyes stung.

They had opposed my marriage to Grayson from the start, but because they couldn't stop me, they reluctantly consented. And to make sure I lived with dignity, they had given me a dowry worth over a hundred million, and I had quietly converted most of it to cash and kept it hidden to avoid envy.

If they learned I wanted a divorce, they would be upset, but they would back me.

I had no intention of arguing further with someone so small-minded, so I turned and ignored her. But she wouldn't let me leave—she rushed to block me again. "Don't make me do this the hard way."

I looked at her coldly. "What, does everyone here intend to beat me up?"

Her expression hardened, and she signaled the servants to grab me. One woman's strength against three of them was futile—I was quickly overpowered and restrained.

Laura strode up, her fury mounting as she raised her hand. "I'll teach a wicked wench like you a lesson!"

Just as her palm was about to descend, a voice from the doorway barked, "Stop! Lay a hand on her, and I'll chop off your hand."

Her arm froze midair, and she stepped back instinctively.

A few bodyguards barreled in, pushing the servants aside and forming a protective circle around me. I saw who had come and, despite everything, couldn't help a rueful smile.

My brother hurried over, sizing me up. When he saw the wound on my forehead, he turned grim and shouted at everyone in a dark, furious voice, "How dare you all bully my sister?!"