6

Chapter 6

Early the next morning, I met with my lawyer friend and handed him the evidence I had compiled overnight. Chat records between Ethan and Amelia, travel photos, even credit card bills... everything was detailed and comprehensive.

Michael flipped through the documents, his expression growing darker. "Tara, you did well."

He paused, his tone firm: "You were a lawyer once too, so you understand that adultery itself isn't grounds for property division. But if one party squanders marital assets on an affair during the marriage—like buying luxury goods, paying for trips, renting apartments—that constitutes Marital Waste. The court will require him to compensate you during property division."

I clenched my hands tightly. My heart felt cold. The bills Michael had pulled showed that the amounts Ethan had spent on Amelia were staggering—Hermès bags, Cartier bracelets, Chanel haute couture dresses... The total was enough to buy another house.

I stared at that long list of luxury items, my heart feeling crushed repeatedly. All these years, I had scrimped and saved for the family, wearing the same clothes for three or four years, while he carelessly squandered money on his mistress.

I said quietly: "I want him to cough up every penny."

Michael looked up, his gaze determined: "Don't worry. The law will be on your side."

A few days later, it was Bella's birthday. This was something we had agreed on in advance, something she had been looking forward to for so long. I didn't want to disappoint her.

I texted Ethan:

——【I hope you can come for Bella's birthday. After that day, we'll file for divorce.】

He quickly replied with "okay."

I thought that even if it was just pretending, he would at least give our daughter a decent birthday.

But I underestimated him.

That afternoon, the house was decorated warmly and festively. Balloons floated in mid-air, and a pink cake sat on the dining table. Bella wore a princess dress and a little crown, excitedly waiting for her father.

The doorbell rang. Bella excitedly ran to open the door.

However, Ethan wasn't the only one at the door. Amelia stood beside him, a triumphant smile on her lips, holding an exquisitely wrapped gift.

I froze in place, my chest turning cold.

Bella blinked in confusion and asked: "Daddy, who is she?"

Amelia slowly crouched down, her voice gentle but every word laced with provocation: "Sweetheart, I'm your daddy's girlfriend. And your future—stepmother."

My breath caught. My heart exploded with pain.

Ethan frowned but didn't stop her, only saying softly: "Amelia, don't—"

She suddenly raised her hand to her belly, her eyes flickering as she deliberately raised her voice: "Tara, you should congratulate us. I'm pregnant. Soon, Ethan and I will get married. Bella will have a new little brother or sister too. Aren't you happy? You'll be a big sister!"

Her voice was filled with uncontrollable smugness.

BOOM—

It felt like the entire world exploded in my ears.

Bella's little face froze, tears welling up in her eyes. Rage surged in my chest like a tidal wave.

Before she could finish speaking, SLAP—I struck her hard across the face!

The living room fell into sudden silence. Everyone was stunned.