Dear Billionaire, I'm Not Your Wife Anymore! - Chapter 16: Chapter 16
You are reading Dear Billionaire, I'm Not Your Wife Anymore!, Chapter 16: Chapter 16. Read more chapters of Dear Billionaire, I'm Not Your Wife Anymore!.
My heart felt like it was pricked by a needle.
Linda obviously noticed too, lowering her head with a subtle smile curving at the corners of her eyebrows.
I looked away, completely losing my appetite, and said softly to my mother-in-law: "Mom, I'm going to the restroom."
In the restroom, I stood for ten minutes, quietly looking at myself in the mirror, as if trying to see something from that expressionless face. Until I heard Olivia's familiar voice coming from the half-open private room door:
"Linda, eat more, look how thin you are, you need to nourish your body properly."
"Thank you, Auntie, you're so good to me."
"Isn't this what I should do? If you need Braden to take care of anything in the future, just tell him directly, don't be polite with him."
"Braden has already been very good to me."
My fingertips tightened, I took a deep breath, suppressed those mixed emotions, and pushed the door open to go back in.
The room fell silent, no one continued the previous topic.
I didn't say much, just hoped this dinner would end quickly.
Around 8:30, Braden called the server to settle the bill, but the server smiled and pointed to Linda: "This lady has already paid."
Everyone was stunned for a moment, and Olivia couldn't help but softly complain: "Linda, how can we let you treat us?"
"Auntie, I'm usually too busy to visit you all, so treating you to dinner is appropriate." She smiled, elegantly and properly.
"This child..." Olivia's tone seemed reproachful, but her eyes couldn't hide her satisfaction, as if saying: "Look, how thoughtful."
When getting up to leave, Linda was the first to step forward, supporting Grandma: "Grandma, take it slow, let me help you."
I stood to the side watching this scene, saying nothing. Olivia looked at her, then glanced at me. That undisguised favoritism under comparison was written all over her face.
In her eyes, Linda was the "perfect daughter-in-law" in her mind—capable, beautiful, thoughtful, and proper. While I was just a "kept woman" who dragged her son down—boring, quiet, and unambitious.
Linda helped Margaret into the car, then smiled and said goodbye to Olivia: "I hope to see you again next time."
"Good, come eat at home next time." Olivia's tone was enthusiastic.
Braden stood aside holding Mia, instructing the driver: "Drive slowly on the road."
Before the business car started, Linda walked to Mia's side with a smile: "Mia looked so beautiful today! By the way, Auntie has something to eat in her bag, do you want some?"
"Yes!" Mia's eyes lit up at the mention of food.
Linda took out a small bag of hazelnut chocolate and handed it to her. Mia was overjoyed.
My face immediately darkened.
Linda had once given Mia sweets behind my back—I remembered that incident clearly. She knew Mia's constitution wasn't suitable for too much sugar, yet she deliberately used this method to please my daughter, breaking my control over Mia's diet.
"Let's go home." I spoke to Braden, my voice cold.
"Then see you next time, Mia. Can you give Auntie a kiss?" Linda reached out to hug Braden's shoulder and brought her face close.
Mia was holding the chocolate and kissed Linda without hesitation.
I couldn't stand it anymore. I stepped forward directly, took my daughter from Braden's arms, opened the car door and got in.
"Braden, drive slowly on the road." Linda reminded him in a sweet voice.
Braden nodded slightly and got in the car silently.
As the car drove away, I looked out the rear window to see Linda still standing there, wearing a perfect smile on her face, as if seeing off some victorious prize.
I looked down at my daughter in my arms and held her tightly.
"Mommy, you're holding me so tight I can't breathe." Mia whispered.
I paused slightly, loosened my grip, opened the window a crack, and let the cold wind blow in to suppress every burning pore on my body.
"When are we going back to the country?" I asked the man in the front seat calmly.
"In three days."
For the next two days, he tried to spend time with Mia, occasionally returning to his study during the day to handle work. And I felt increasingly oppressed staying in this unfamiliar house.
Three days later, we said goodbye to Grandma and the family. Before leaving, Grandma held my hand: "Charlotte, we'll also return to the country before New Year."
I smiled and nodded, genuinely looking forward to her return.
The 23-hour return journey was exhausting, and I barely managed to carry Mia home. Mary helped her bathe while I took a simple shower. At 10:30, my daughter lay quietly in my arms, and I finally fell into deep sleep.
After resting for two consecutive days, once I recovered, I finally sent Mia to school.
At 9 AM, I sat in the study reviewing materials, my thoughts finally back in place, when a call came in.
"Charlotte, are you free? I'd like to talk with you now." It was Leo Briel, father's student, with excitement in his voice.
Hearing his voice, a certain idea in my heart was completely awakened.
"Senior Leo, let's meet somewhere!"
I didn't want to wait anymore. The plan to start the laboratory had to be initiated.
Linda obviously noticed too, lowering her head with a subtle smile curving at the corners of her eyebrows.
I looked away, completely losing my appetite, and said softly to my mother-in-law: "Mom, I'm going to the restroom."
In the restroom, I stood for ten minutes, quietly looking at myself in the mirror, as if trying to see something from that expressionless face. Until I heard Olivia's familiar voice coming from the half-open private room door:
"Linda, eat more, look how thin you are, you need to nourish your body properly."
"Thank you, Auntie, you're so good to me."
"Isn't this what I should do? If you need Braden to take care of anything in the future, just tell him directly, don't be polite with him."
"Braden has already been very good to me."
My fingertips tightened, I took a deep breath, suppressed those mixed emotions, and pushed the door open to go back in.
The room fell silent, no one continued the previous topic.
I didn't say much, just hoped this dinner would end quickly.
Around 8:30, Braden called the server to settle the bill, but the server smiled and pointed to Linda: "This lady has already paid."
Everyone was stunned for a moment, and Olivia couldn't help but softly complain: "Linda, how can we let you treat us?"
"Auntie, I'm usually too busy to visit you all, so treating you to dinner is appropriate." She smiled, elegantly and properly.
"This child..." Olivia's tone seemed reproachful, but her eyes couldn't hide her satisfaction, as if saying: "Look, how thoughtful."
When getting up to leave, Linda was the first to step forward, supporting Grandma: "Grandma, take it slow, let me help you."
I stood to the side watching this scene, saying nothing. Olivia looked at her, then glanced at me. That undisguised favoritism under comparison was written all over her face.
In her eyes, Linda was the "perfect daughter-in-law" in her mind—capable, beautiful, thoughtful, and proper. While I was just a "kept woman" who dragged her son down—boring, quiet, and unambitious.
Linda helped Margaret into the car, then smiled and said goodbye to Olivia: "I hope to see you again next time."
"Good, come eat at home next time." Olivia's tone was enthusiastic.
Braden stood aside holding Mia, instructing the driver: "Drive slowly on the road."
Before the business car started, Linda walked to Mia's side with a smile: "Mia looked so beautiful today! By the way, Auntie has something to eat in her bag, do you want some?"
"Yes!" Mia's eyes lit up at the mention of food.
Linda took out a small bag of hazelnut chocolate and handed it to her. Mia was overjoyed.
My face immediately darkened.
Linda had once given Mia sweets behind my back—I remembered that incident clearly. She knew Mia's constitution wasn't suitable for too much sugar, yet she deliberately used this method to please my daughter, breaking my control over Mia's diet.
"Let's go home." I spoke to Braden, my voice cold.
"Then see you next time, Mia. Can you give Auntie a kiss?" Linda reached out to hug Braden's shoulder and brought her face close.
Mia was holding the chocolate and kissed Linda without hesitation.
I couldn't stand it anymore. I stepped forward directly, took my daughter from Braden's arms, opened the car door and got in.
"Braden, drive slowly on the road." Linda reminded him in a sweet voice.
Braden nodded slightly and got in the car silently.
As the car drove away, I looked out the rear window to see Linda still standing there, wearing a perfect smile on her face, as if seeing off some victorious prize.
I looked down at my daughter in my arms and held her tightly.
"Mommy, you're holding me so tight I can't breathe." Mia whispered.
I paused slightly, loosened my grip, opened the window a crack, and let the cold wind blow in to suppress every burning pore on my body.
"When are we going back to the country?" I asked the man in the front seat calmly.
"In three days."
For the next two days, he tried to spend time with Mia, occasionally returning to his study during the day to handle work. And I felt increasingly oppressed staying in this unfamiliar house.
Three days later, we said goodbye to Grandma and the family. Before leaving, Grandma held my hand: "Charlotte, we'll also return to the country before New Year."
I smiled and nodded, genuinely looking forward to her return.
The 23-hour return journey was exhausting, and I barely managed to carry Mia home. Mary helped her bathe while I took a simple shower. At 10:30, my daughter lay quietly in my arms, and I finally fell into deep sleep.
After resting for two consecutive days, once I recovered, I finally sent Mia to school.
At 9 AM, I sat in the study reviewing materials, my thoughts finally back in place, when a call came in.
"Charlotte, are you free? I'd like to talk with you now." It was Leo Briel, father's student, with excitement in his voice.
Hearing his voice, a certain idea in my heart was completely awakened.
"Senior Leo, let's meet somewhere!"
I didn't want to wait anymore. The plan to start the laboratory had to be initiated.
End of Dear Billionaire, I'm Not Your Wife Anymore! Chapter 16. Continue reading Chapter 17 or return to Dear Billionaire, I'm Not Your Wife Anymore! book page.