When I regained consciousness, the hospital room was crowded with people.
Sloane stood by my bed with tears in her eyes.
“Brooke, this is all my fault. I had no idea my presence would upset you so much.”
“I’ve already scolded Ryan and Maya, and they’ve promised to apologize.”
“As soon as you’re better, I’ll leave and never come back!”
At these words, Hunter and the twins all shot me venomous looks.
Sloane glared at Hunter, signaling him to leave.
The children hung their heads and muttered a quick “sorry.”
I was about to respond when their faces suddenly twisted into mischievous grins.
Ryan tossed a caterpillar onto my face, cackling, “As if! The only reason we’re apologizing is so Aunt Sloane can marry Daddy!”
“You don’t know the half of it–Daddy is OBSESSED with Aunt Sloane,” Maya chimed in.
“When Aunt Sloane got tired walking, Daddy carried her on his back! When she wanted cake, Daddy searched the entire city to find her favorite!”
“She’s going to be our new mommy soon, so you can just GET LOST!” Ryan finished.
They stuck out their tongues and scampered back to Sloane’s side.
I smashed the caterpillar with my water cup, my heart burning with pain.
Lost in thought, I barely noticed when both sets of parents entered the room.
Hunter’s parents exchanged pleasantries, subtly pressuring me to “be reasonable” and not embarrass the Mitchell family.
My parents nodded along submissively.
Once Hunter’s parents left, my mother slapped me hard across the face.
“Useless piece of work! Eight years of marriage and you couldn’t keep Hunter interested! Sloane just crooks her finger and he comes running. What good are you?”
My mother grew increasingly agitated, grabbing a wooden ruler from the table and striking me with it.
On the fourth blow, I finally snapped and caught her wrist.
“You’ve milked enough benefits from me over the years. Time to stop.”
My mother sneered. “I don’t care what you decide, but remember this…”
“If you dare get divorced, we’ll publicly disown you. The Parker family can’t afford that kind of scandal!”
22:45
My Husband’s Back with His Ex… So I Fake a Scandal & Flee!
37.5%
Chapter 4
Then they storied out, leaving Hunter standing silently in the doorway, watching me.
His warm hand traced my swollen cheek, his voice unnaturally calm.
“Why put yourself through this?”
“With the twins, no matter who’s in my heart, you’ll always be Mrs. Mitchell.”
“No, I’m not,” I whispered, turning away from his touch.
I was just a tool for the Parker family to gain advantages, a breeding machine for the Mitchells.
A housekeeper to outsiders, a burden to my family.
No matter what I did, I could never please anyone.
After thirty years of swallowing my pride, I’d had enough.
I looked directly into Hunter’s eyes and said firmly, “I want a divorce.”
Hunter’s face darkened before settling back into his usual coldness.
As he slammed the door on his way out, I heard him mutter, “Ungrateful.”
Soon after, Sloane moved into the Mitchell house under the pretense of helping with the children.
She took the twins to amusement parks, posed for family portraits with Hunter, and walked with them through sunset–drenched streets.
They did everything I had yearned for but never experienced.
Ryan, who had always been a picky eater, praised Sloane’s microwaved pre–packaged meals.
Hunter, with his obsessive cleanliness, willingly wore wrinkled shirts Sloane had attempted to iron.
They never criticized her. They only said, “Don’t bother with this menial work–Brooke can do it when she returns.”
But what they didn’t know was that I would never return.
The day I was discharged, I booked a one–way ticket to New Zealand.
As I was about to leave, Hunter intercepted me.
“Brooke, I’ve thought it over. I don’t want a divorce.”
“Ryan and Maya are too young–they need you. And the Parker–Mitchell partnership would be affected if news of our divorce got out.”
His reasons for wanting to stay married were numerous–appearances, children, business interests.
But never once–not once–because he loved me.
I refused to remain Hunter’s reluctant second choice.
I refused to be his compromise.
My Unchand’s Rack with His Fv So Fake a Scandal & Flee!
Chapter 4
I wanted my own life.
Facing my determination, Hunter grew irritated.
“Do you realize what price you’ll pay for divorce? The Parker family won’t take back a divorced daughter.”
His cold eyes reflected his certainty that I would back down.
I gave a pale smile. “I don’t care.”
“You, Ryan, Maya, the Parker family–I don’t care about any of it anymore.”
I handed Hunter a piece of paper.
“If you won’t agree to the divorce, I’ll take more drastic measures.”
Hunter scoffed as he took it, but upon reading it, his entire body went rigid.
For a split second, he hesitated, his eyes wide with disbelief and shock.
Finally, he caved: “I’ll have my lawyer bring you the divorce papers.”
“But if you change your mind during this time…”
Before he could finish, I turned and climbed into a waiting taxi.
At the airport, my mother’s calls flooded my phone.
She hysterically demanded, “Brooke, what have you done? Why would Hunter suddenly agree to divorce you?”
“Because of one statement,” I replied simply.
“What statement?”
Chapter 5
