Chapter 4I Filed Divorce When He Saved Her First

My words ignited the fury of the crowd once more. They spat at me.

"The whole country wants you dead, you pervert, and you're talking about lawsuits? Who are you trying to scare? You think you can sue all of us?"

"Go ahead! Remember my face! My name is Lee Carter! Sue me too!"

"You bitch! I'm a famous influencer! I'm going to post this video of your ugly face all over the internet!"

I calmly weathered their abuse, then stepped back and closed the door.

Two weeks later, the divorce hearing began. Because the case had become a national sensation, the gallery was packed with people from all walks of life. With my permission, the entire proceeding was being live-streamed.

Craig looked at me with a pained expression. "Charlotte, does it have to be like this? Ten years together... does it all mean nothing? Drop the suit. Come home with me."

His words stirred a flicker of something within me. He was right. It hadn't been easy for us. After college, we both started as interns at the same company. When our relationship was discovered, he willingly gave up his career to become a stay-at-home husband so I could advance mine. My mother had been vehemently opposed to our marriage. "A man with no ambition, what kind of future can he give you?" Even after he knelt outside our family home for three days and three nights, she refused to budge. I had to steal the household registration book to marry him.

When we couldn't conceive, we adopted Anna from an orphanage two years ago, when she was already ten. All my friends envied me. The perfect career, a devoted husband, a well-behaved daughter. My life seemed perfect.

I blinked, shaking myself from the memories. I sighed. "Craig, I'm trying to give you an out. Leave with nothing, and I'll drop everything else."

My mother-in-law, who had always been so supportive of me, shot to her feet. "Charlotte, on what grounds do you demand my son leave with nothing? Even if he doesn't have a job, he's spent years taking care of this family, raising a child, and waiting on you hand and foot! He even washes your underwear! Do you have a conscience?" She turned to her son. "Craig, divorce her! We'll split the assets fifty-fifty."

Craig frowned. "Mom, be quiet. I'm not divorcing Charlotte." He then looked at me, his eyes full of love. "Charlotte, if you think I've done something wrong, just say it. I have nothing to hide. You don't need to protect my reputation."

Anna was sobbing, her tear-filled eyes fixed on me. "Mommy, if this is because of me, just send me back to the orphanage. The two years of love you gave me are more than I ever could have asked for."

A man in the gallery stood up, his face red with anger. "So this is what happens when a man sacrifices his career for a woman? He gets thrown out with nothing? I bet this bitch found someone else and is just looking for an excuse."

"If the court rules in her favor, what man will ever dare to be a stay-at-home husband again?"

The live-stream chat was scrolling at lightning speed.

"Sweetie, don't beg her. She doesn't deserve to be your mother. Come live with me. I'll adopt you."

"That poor child. Of course, she's not her real mother. A real mother would never be so cruel."

I sighed again. "Craig, since you don't want me to spare your feelings... Mr. Davies, please give your file to the judge. I'm confident that once he sees it, he will grant me a fair and just ruling."

All eyes turned to the file in my lawyer's hand. Craig, who had seemed so confident just a moment before, now had a flicker of panic in his eyes.