Chapter 3

Wesley led Anais to Pearl and announced excitedly, "Mom, Annie's back." Pearl frowned at Anais. "You're married. Why did you return?" Anais' lips trembled as tears immediately welled up in her eyes. "Mrs. Valentine, I was wrong before. I'm so sorry." Wesley's heart ached at her words, and he immediately pulled her into his arms. "Mom, Annie's divorced now. Her husband was an abusive monster! "What happened is in the past. I've moved on, and you should stop being hard on Annie too." Even though Pearl knew how much her son cared for Anais, being publicly contradicted like this embarrassed her. She then turned and walked away in displeasure. Meanwhile, Wesley and Anais then turned their attention to Mabel. Without any explanation or apology, Wesley spoke casually, "Annie just returned and has nowhere to stay. Go home and prepare a room for her." His usual commanding tone left Mabel momentarily stunned. "Ms. Boyer will be staying in our home?" Wesley raised an eyebrow. "Of course. Where else would she go?" Alora burst out laughing beside them. "Did you just call it 'our home'? Don't tell me you actually think you're the lady of the Valentine household?" Amid the mocking laughter, Mabel felt utterly desolate. Three years ago, Wesley had sunk into depression after his accident, drowning himself in alcohol day after day. When his house caught fire unexpectedly, it was Mabel who rushed into the flames and carried him out with all her strength. She spent a month in the hospital after being struck by falling debris. When she woke up, Wesley was by her bedside, proposing to her. He bought this new house as their marital home, promising it would be their future together. Now, the moment Anais returned, she would be moving into that very home. As Mabel remained silent, Anais looked at Wesley with a wounded expression. "Wes, does Ms. Myers not want me staying with you? Maybe I should just go to a hotel. I don't want to upset her." "Absolutely not! Hotels are dangerous with all sorts of people coming and going," Wesley declared firmly before turning a stern gaze to Mabel. "Mabes, Annie's only staying temporarily. Don't be petty." Suddenly, Mabel smiled. "You're right. I shouldn't be petty. I'll go prepare the room, so you guys should enjoy the party." Mabel turned away resolutely and fled the banquet hall filled with mockery and scorn. She told herself it was just a house. Why should she care? It would eventually belong to Anais, anyway. Returning to the empty marital home, Mabel cleared out her sunny bedroom—the one she'd occupied for three years. She'd always lived frugally, and Wesley had never been generous with gifts, so all her belongings barely filled one suitcase. Perhaps it was for the better. Now she could leave this place unburdened. As she finished packing, her phone buzzed. Someone had posted a video on social media where Wesley and Anais were standing by the champagne tower, drinking arm-in-arm. Their lingering gazes and intimate smiles made them look like the perfect couple. In the background, voices egged them on by chanting, "Kiss! Kiss!" Mabel couldn't bear to watch further and closed the video. Soon, Wesley arrived home with Anais, both reeking of alcohol. He seemed pleased to see Mabel had voluntarily given up her bedroom. After Anais had gone upstairs to shower, Wesley unexpectedly sat beside Mabel and reached to pat her head. "Mabes, I knew you'd understand." Mabel stepped back, avoiding his touch. Wesley's hand hung awkwardly in mid-air, his expression darkening as he said, "Come on, I told you Annie's only staying temporarily." "It's fine. Ms. Boyer can stay as long as she needs," said Mabel as she handed Wesley a stack of documents. "The hospital needs medical supplies. Could Valentine Corp donate them?" Wesley took the papers with a knowing smirk. "You drive a hard bargain." Mabel remained silent, watching nervously as he flipped through. Interpreting this as her price for accepting Anais, Wesley signed the papers without reading them thoroughly. Hence, he naturally missed the divorce papers hidden at the bottom and signed away. Back in her room, Mabel didn't know whether to laugh or cry as she stared at Wesley's signature on the divorce agreement. The tears came for three years of devotion that would never bear fruit, yet the laughter rose at finally being free to start anew.