The Ex-Wife They Begged To Keep - Chapter 12: Chapter 12

"Daddy." Leon came running over.
The anger on Victor's face froze the moment he saw his son. He crouched down and scooped Leon into his arms. "Leon, what are you doing here?"
"Grandpa asked me to come keep him company at Powell Manor," Leon said.
Leon had overheard the fight between Victor and Serena. But instead of showing any concern for her, he looked up at Victor and asked excitedly, "Daddy, if you divorce Mommy, does that mean you can marry Ellie now?"
At that, the color drained from Serena's face. She thought, 'The son I've poured all my love into, actually said that.
'So to him, I mean even less than the other woman who ruined our family. I was wrong. So, so wrong. Everything I've done for him means nothing at all.'
"You're right, Leon. I'll be able to marry Ellie very soon," Victor replied, as if he hadn't noticed the look on Serena's face, deliberately echoing Leon's words.
Leon instantly lit up, clinging to Victor's leg with joy.
Serena slowly crouched down so she was at eye level with Leon. "Leon, is that really what you want? Then let Eliza be your mom."
Leon's face turned bright red with anger as he shouted, "You're just a wretch. You never let me play with Ellie, and you're always so mean to me. Ellie's way better than you."
Serena swayed, her gaze falling helplessly to the ground. She had given Leon all the love she had and sacrificed everything for him—she would even give up her own life if it came to that.
She didn't understand why the people she loved so deeply treated her with such coldness. She thought, 'Does none of my sacrifice matter at all?'
"Do whatever you want," Serena said.
Victor, standing nearby, watched it all unfold. Just to twist the knife, he muttered coldly, "You're such a good boy, Leon. I'll divorce her right away and kick her out of our house."
"Yay, Daddy. Yay, Ellie." Leon's little face lit up with excitement as he clapped and cheered.
Serena took one last look at Victor and Leon. Without saying a word, she turned and walked away.
"Ellie, are you feeling any better?" Victor walked in carrying a gift basket and some supplements.
"Much better. Thanks for coming," Eliza said, reaching out to take the gift basket from him.
"Ellie, look. My dad bought me this." Leon held up a toy car, beaming as he showed it off to her.
"Wow, what a cool car. You're such a good boy, Leon." Eliza gently patted his head, then looked up at Victor. "Vic, I'm really fine. I just needed a little rest."
Victor replied, "Good to hear. Serena is getting more and more out of control. She actually slapped me yesterday."
"What? Vic, are you okay?" Eliza asked in shock.
"I'm fine, Ellie. Don't worry about me."
"Vic, don't be mad. Maybe Mrs. Powell just lost her temper for a second."
"Lost her temper? She did it on purpose. She's jealous of you."
Eliza felt a surge of satisfaction, but kept her face calm. Instead, she looked at Victor with feigned concern and gently took his hand. "Vic, if Seri really loved you, would she have hit you?"
Victor spoke, "My dad yelled at me yesterday because of the failed deal, and Serena had the nerve to say someone drugged her."
"It's all my fault. If I hadn't gotten sick all of a sudden, you wouldn't have had to leave. The deal fell apart because of me. But is Mrs. Powell okay? She wasn't hurt, was she?"
"How could it be your fault, Ellie? You're so kind. Serena's just jealous. She ruined the deal on purpose and came up with an excuse."
"I'm just glad that Seri's not hurt. Vic, I really don't think she meant to do that."
Eliza's smile faltered for a moment, her expression stiff. She had thought this would be enough to destroy Serena, but Marco had failed miserably.
Eliza thought, 'He couldn't even handle that? What a useless piece of trash.' Though she cursed Marco inwardly, she still smiled sweetly on the outside.
Serena dragged her heavy suitcase step by step through the hotel entrance.
After the scene Victor had made at her apartment a few days ago, there was no way she could stay there. Luckily, she would be heading to Glonia in just a couple of days. For now, a hotel would have to do.
Just as Serena finished checking in, her phone screen lit up. She answered the call.
The person on the other end of the line spoke, "Seri, it's me."
Serena blinked in surprise. "Kristy? What made you call me all of a sudden?"
"Hey, Seri, how have you been? Ever since you married Victor, it's like you vanished off the face of the earth," said Kristy Carlos.
Serena gave a wry smile, thinking, 'Yeah. Ever since I got married, my life has been all about the family. Friends, hobbies, even myself—they all slowly faded away.'
"Kristy, I'm getting a divorce," Serena remarked.
There was a pause on the other end, followed by Kristy's stunned voice. "Divorce? Seri, are you serious? Did Victor treat you that badly?"
Serena took a deep breath, and tears spilled down her cheeks. She had put up with so much over the years.
Now that her friend showed concern, Serena couldn't hold it in anymore. All the grievances and heartache she had bottled up for the past few years came pouring out.
Kristy fell silent for a long while. She had always known Serena married Victor because she had no choice. Kristy had known Victor didn't love her, but she never imagined Serena had suffered this much.
Kristy clenched her fists, itching to march up to Victor and punch him square in the face. She thought, 'That bastard. How could he treat Seri like this?'
"Seri, don't be sad. I'm here, okay? No matter what happens, I've got your back," Kristy comforted her.
"Thank you, Kristy. I'll be okay. I'll get back on my feet," Serena said, wiping away her tears and trying to calm down.
She thought, 'That's right. I still have friends. I still have dreams. My life shouldn't be defined by a failed marriage.'
Kristy replied, "That's the Serena I know. Whether it's getting divorced or starting over, I'm with you all the way."
"Okay." After hanging up, Serena started organizing her suitcase.
Just then, someone knocked on the door. Serena got up to answer it, but froze the moment she saw who was standing outside.
"Eliza? What are you doing here?" Serena's voice carried a hint of caution.
Eliza frowned slightly without replying. Instead, she walked straight into the room and then turned around with a look of remorse. "Mrs. Powell, I'm sorry. If you're divorcing Vic because of me, then I owe you an apology."
Serena had seen through her act long ago. Eliza's fake remorse was nothing but a performance for Victor's sake.
"Cut it out, Eliza. What are you really after?" Serena demanded.
Eliza spoke, "Mrs. Powell, I know you must resent me, but Vic truly loves you. He just—"
Serena scoffed, "Just what? Just so bewitched by you he can't think straight? Eliza, drop the act. Don't think I don't know exactly what kind of person you are."
She then turned around and pointed to the door, making it clear she wanted Eliza gone without the slightest courtesy. "You're not welcome here. Get out."
Eliza's expression shifted, but she quickly recovered her pitiful look. "Seri, I know you're still mad at me."
"Out," Serena cut in sharply, her tone filled with irritation.
Eliza bit her lip, tears instantly welling up in her eyes. But in the end, she said nothing more and quietly walked out.