THE BILLIONAIRE'S VENGEFUL WIFE RETURNS-Chapter 21: I WANT A DIVORCE 1

MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: TWO STEPS FROM HELL, ARCHANGEL.

.

.

Garth’s hand jerked, nearly crumpling the contract. "Excuse me?" she said, her voice sharp.

"I said," Harlow repeated, her tone cold and unwavering, "I want a divorce."

The room fell silent. Everyone unable to speak or say anything.

George choked on his tea, sputtering as he tried to regain his composure. Jane’s eyes darted between Harlow and Garth, wide with disbelief. Never have the Hamilton’s been involved in a chaotic breakfast. How did their wonderful meal turn into something else.

This new madam, she was really something else. A pain in the ass.

Alanis, however, was unbothered. He leaned back in his chair, his posture deceptively relaxed as he smirked.

Harlow’s eyes narrowed as she turned to him. A smirk?

Is that amusement?

What was so funny?

Was he finding everything she did funny?

Her blood boiled...

She wanted to see him beg. She remembered the desperate man who had once fallen to his knees before her father, pleading for his company’s salvation. He had been willing to grovel, to strip himself of pride for the chance to rebuild the Hamilton legacy. That vulnerability had softened her heart then.

But this...

This Alanis was different. He wasn’t pleading. He wasn’t even asking for her understanding. No, he sat there with an air of quiet defiance, as though her declaration was nothing more than an amusing inconvenience.

Her lips tightened. What’s his game?

"How can you say that, Harlow?" Garth finally asked, the saccharine sweetness in her tone poorly masking her alarm.

"I don’t want to be married to Mr. Hamilton anymore," Harlow said firmly, her gaze locked on Alanis. He remained silent, his dark eyes studying her, his smirk faint but maddeningly persistent.

Garth blinked rapidly, scrambling to regain control. "B-But you love Alanis!" she stammered, a hint of desperation creeping into her voice.

Harlow’s gaze snapped to Garth, her voice like ice. "Not anymore. I don’t want to be a part of this family."

Garth’s carefully constructed façade began to crack. Her eyes darted to Alanis, searching for support, but he gave her nothing. Instead, he continued eating, his calm demeanor making the air even tenser.

"What about our family do you not like, Harlow? At least I know we’ve been kind to you. You called me Mother," Garth said, her voice trembling with feigned hurt.

Harlow smiled, sharp, bitter, and filled with mockery. "Yes, I did. Once. Before I learned exactly what kind of people you are."

Memories flashed in her mind of the cruelty she had endured, the way Garth, her children, and even Alanis had stripped her of everything she held dear. They had humiliated her, turned her into a shell of herself, and in the end, taken her life.

Never again.

"That was before I realized how toxic this family is. Honestly, I’d rather marry a street beggar than remain tied to any of you."

Garth gasped, her face reddening with barely contained rage.

"How can you say such things?" she spluttered, her hands trembling.

Harlow’s gaze hardened. "Because it’s true."

"If you want me to stay married to your son so desperately," Harlow said, her voice suddenly calm and cutting, "then you’ll have to prove it. Kiss my feet."

The room froze.

"What?" Lia said, her voice rising in disbelief.

"What is the meaning of this disrespect?" George growled, his fists clenching as he leaned forward. "You think we’ll stoop that low for someone like you?"

Harlow remained unfazed. "Then I’ll take my leave," she said simply, standing as though the conversation were over.

"Wait!" Garth cried, her voice shrill. "Children, calm yourselves." Her tone wavered between panic and forced control. If Harlow tells her father she doesn’t want to barried to Alanis because their family disrespect her, it’ll be over for all of them. Right now, they were all on her mercy. "If kissing my daughter-in-law’s feet is what she needs to stay and sign the agreement, then I’ll do it."

Lia and George stared at her in stunned silence.

Garth’s pride burned like acid in her chest, but she swallowed it, her mind screaming. **I’ll endure this humiliation. Once I have her money, I’ll make her pay for this indignity. She won’t even see it coming.**

As she lowered herself to the floor, her movements stiff with humiliation, Harlow’s voice rang out, stopping her in her tracks.

"Wait."

Garth froze, her face twitching. "What now?"

In her past life, they had humiliated her before all of the servants. In this life...

"Why don’t the rest of you join her?" Harlow said, her smile venomous. Her gaze swept the room. "Lia, George, and where are the servants? Jane, go fetch them. This family wouldn’t be what it is without teamwork, after all."

Jane scrambled to obey, her nervousness palpable as she hurried to gather the household staff.

Lia’s face twisted in outrage. "What? Are you out of your mind?"

"You must be joking," George snapped. "There’s no way I’m—"

"George! Lia!" Garth’s voice cracked like a whip. "Do as she says!"

Their mouths fell open in shock.

"Mother, you can’t be serious!" Lia exclaimed.

"I am." Garth’s voice was strained, but firm. "You know what’s at stake. We need her to sign the agreement. Do as she says."

"This is ridiculous," George muttered, but he didn’t move.

"Fine." Harlow’s voice cut through their protests, sharp and final. She turned toward the door. "I’ll take my leave."

"Please don’t, Harlow!" Garth cried, lunging forward and grabbing Harlow’s legs.

The sight was almost too much. Harlow stared down at her with cold amusement.

Garth’s face burned, but she didn’t let go. "Please," she whispered.

Lia and George exchanged horrified glances, their pride warring with their desperation.

Harlow’s smile widened as Jane returned, the maids trailing behind her. "Well," she said, crossing her arms, "we’re waiting."

Garth’s head snapped up to glare at her children. "Get down here. Now."

Reluctantly, Lia and George knelt, their faces pale with humiliation as the maids watched in stunned silence.

This is only the beginning...