Robin's face darkened instantly, and he scolded sternly, "Kane!"

But before he could even begin to scold him, Kane's eyes had already turned red with tears.

"She's lying! Dad, I listened to you! I wasn't even trying to drive her away anymore!

"If you don't believe me, then have her get a gastric lavage. That'll prove who's telling the truth!"

Robin hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement. Elena was forcibly taken to undergo the procedure. What no one knew was that Kane had secretly added chili extract to the gastric lavage solution.

The burning sensation tore through her throat and into her stomach like fire. Elena curled into a ball from the pain, cold sweat soaking through her hospital gown.

She vomited over and over until even bile came up, but the searing agony in her stomach didn't stop. After a while, the nurse returned with the test report and gave them the results.

"There were no traces of itching powder or any similar substances."

The moment those words were spoken, Robin's face fell with disappointment.

He looked at her coldly before saying, "Elena, you've truly become nothing but a liar. Your sister was so gentle and kind. Why couldn't you learn even a fraction of that?"

Kane quickly chimed in beside him. "Exactly! She's nothing like my real mom. All she does is make up stories to slander me!"

Furious, Robin turned and left with Kane, throwing back a single sentence, "You take care of yourself."

Elena lay weakly on the bed, feeling the corners of her eyes becoming slightly damp. Several days after that, she finally recovered her health. The first thing she did after being discharged was visit her mother at the care facility.

"Mom, I'll be able to leave the Marsh family in just two more days. Let's leave this place together and start a new life somewhere else."

Her mother, Willow Peterson, let out a long, weary sigh. "Elena, you've suffered so much these past years. I'm the one who's failed you.

"I'll follow your lead. I'll go with you wherever you want to go. From now on, it's just going to be the two of us. The Larson and the Marsh families will have nothing to do with us anymore!"

Hearing that, Elena couldn't hold it in any longer. Her eyes turned red, and she choked back a sob as she nodded. When she returned home later, she found that Constance was there too.

Sitting in the living room, Constance smiled sweetly as she explained, "Kaney won an award in his piano competition, so he invited me over to celebrate with you guys. I hope you don't mind, Ms. Larson."

"Not at all."

After all, she was about to leave. She wouldn't be the hostess here any longer. Robin, Constance, and Kane laughed and chatted happily, just like a real family at the dinner table.

Meanwhile, Elena was treated like a maid. Kane kept ordering her to peel the shrimp and crack the crab. By the end of the meal, her fingertips were sliced open by the crab shells, blood staining the tips of her fingers.

Even so, no one spared her a second glance.

Robin took Constance and Kane to watch the fireworks after dinner.

Brilliant bursts lit up the night sky. Robin held Constance around the waist as Kane nestled beside them. Together, they looked like the perfect picture of happiness.

Elena stood off in the distance. She quietly turned to leave, but Kane suddenly ran over and lit a firework before throwing it straight at her. It immediately exploded at her feet, sparks flying up and burning a hole right through the leg of her pants.

"Did you see how happy Dad and Constance are?" Kane sneered at Elena.

"Neither of us likes you! You killed my mom! You're not even good enough to be a maid!

"I won't let you live peacefully if you still won't leave and insist on clinging to us! The only person I want taking care of me, aside from my mom, is Constance!"

With that, he hurled fireworks at her one after another. They burst against her clothes, scorching hole after hole through the fabric.

Since she was trying to shield her face, her arms were struck instead. She got severely burned, and her skin was peeling back from the blistering pain.

"You don't have to force me out!" she shouted. "I'll be leaving very soon!"

Kane paused, somewhat startled. He was just about to speak again when Robin walked over. "What's going on here?"

Kane instantly changed his expression, eyes brimming with false innocence as he said, "Dad, I just wanted to play fireworks with Elena, but she was so clumsy, she kept hurting herself!"

Constance rushed to check on Kane, only relaxing once she confirmed he was unharmed.

"Ms. Larson, you're an adult. Hurting yourself is one thing, but make sure Kaney doesn't get hurt!"

Robin frowned. "Be more careful next time. Kaney can't afford to get hurt."

Elena didn't try to explain. She simply turned and left. She then went to the hospital alone, registered herself, and had the burns treated in silence.

After resting there overnight, she received a call from the state court the next morning.

"Ms. Larson, the divorce certificate you requested is ready for pickup."

Hearing that, she felt nothing but pure relief. Finally, it was all coming to an end.

She went to the state court and received the divorce certificate. The clerk asked, "What about the husband's copy?"

Elena dialed Robin's number, but she could hear Kane and Constance laughing and playing together on the other end of the line.

She stayed silent for a moment, then said softly, "The six-year term is up, Robin. I'm leaving. Come to the state court to collect your copy of the divorce certificate."

Robin gave a cold laugh. "Still acting, are you? You say you're leaving all the time, but you never actually do.

"Alright, I know you're just mad about what happened these past few days. Whatever it is that you want, tell my assistant. I'm busy right now, so stop bothering me."

With that, Robin hung up. Elena let out a quiet sigh and turned to the clerk.

"He doesn't have time to come. Just leave his copy here. This is his contact number, so please inform him to pick it up when he's available."

With that, she handed over the second certificate, then stepped out of the state court building. As she breathed in the air of freedom, she knew she never wanted to return to that house. Not even her luggage mattered anymore.

So, she called a cab and went to the care facility. After picking up her mother, they both headed straight to the airport. Her face was filled with relief the moment she boarded the plane.

…

Five hours later, outside the entrance of an amusement park, Robin got into the car, ready to take his son home.

Kane pouted and asked, "Dad, why don't you just divorce Elena already? Wouldn't it be the same if Constance took care of me?"

Robin frowned slightly. "No. It has to be her. She's the one who's supposed to take care of you. And she'd never agree to a divorce. Don't give her a hard time anymore."

Kane was clearly unhappy and was about to protest again when Robin's phone rang. He answered, and a voice came through. It was one of the staff from the state court.

"Mr. Marsh, your divorce has been finalized. Your ex-wife left your certificate with us. When would you be available to come pick it up?"