Mom's Nurse, His Mistress, My Revenge - Chapter 3: Chapter 3

"You can hate me all you want, but I've always treated your mom like family," Brianna babbled, her voice dripping with fake concern. "No matter how mad you are, don't you dare joke about her health like that!"
Noel stormed in, wrapping her in a protective embrace while shooting me a glare that could freeze hell. "Cornelia, Rian cares about your mom. Why do you always have to make everything harder?"
"Cares?" I let out a bitter laugh, my hands trembling as I unlocked my phone. "You call this caring?"
I shoved the screen in his face, playing the damning security footage. Though the camera hadn't caught the scene, her voice rang out crystal clear:
"You useless old hag! Why don't you just drop dead?! Your daughter's just as pathetic as you!"
The video kept rolling, Brianna's voice sharp as a knife. "Eat! Go on, eat! Or I'll beat you senseless!"
In the background, Mom's muffled sobs begged for mercy.
But Brianna only sneered, twisting the knife deeper. "Don't even think about telling anyone—unless you want Noel to despise your daughter even more. Face it, your son-in-law adores me. Who's he gonna believe? A worthless cripple… or me?"
Every word carved into me, rage and despair shaking me to the core.
If I hadn't stumbled on this proof, I'd never have known the hell Mom had endured.
But Noel? He didn't even blink when the video ended. His face darkened, his disappointment aimed straight at me.
"Rian warned me you'd pull something like this," he said coldly. "The second we left for our trip, she said your jealousy would make you accuse her. I didn't believe her then—but now? Cornelia, have you no shame? Faking evidence like this? Where's your decency?"
Behind him, Brianna clung to his arm, peeking over his shoulder to mouth at me: Pathetic old hag.
My vision went red. Before I could stop myself, my hand cracked across her face. "Say that again! I dare you!"
"Cornelia!" Noel shoved between us, shielding her like some knight in tarnished armor. His glare could've turned me to ice. "Haven't you done enough?! You want me to kick you and your mom to the curb?! Apologize to Rian—now!"
"I'm done with your threats!" My voice broke, but I stood my ground. "Noel, I want a divorce."
The room went dead silent. For a heartbeat, he looked like I'd slapped him. "...What did you just say?"
"A divorce," I repeated, steady this time. "From now on, who you're with means nothing to me."
His face twisted from shock to fury. "You're throwing away our marriage over this?!"
This? Mom's suffering was just "this" to him?
Staring at the man I'd loved for three years, I realized—I'd been a fool.
Before I could retort, Brianna burst into crocodile tears, clutching her cheek like I'd stabbed her. "Nellie, it's all my fault! Please don't leave Noel because of me—I don't need an apology! Just… don't abandon him!"
"Rian, stop," Noel murmured, his voice softening for her before hardening again for me. "You think divorce scares me? Fine. Let's see how long you and your mom last without me."
I didn't waste another breath. Grabbing my suitcase, I turned for the door.
Behind me, glass exploded at my feet as Noel roared, "Walk out that door, and don't you dare crawl back! I won't forgive you!"
Brianna's sugary plea chased after me: "Nellie, think about Auntie. You two wouldn't have survived these past years without Noel. Just apologize, and we'll pretend this never happened."
Blood dripped down my leg from a glass shard, but I barely felt it. I just kept walking.
Noel's mocking laugh followed me out. "You've got guts, huh? Go on—leave. But don't expect me to take you back when you come begging. Even if you grovel, I won't give you another chance!"