The girl shouted at Tania in anger, shaking her head in denial.
"No, you're lying! Get out of here, you bad woman!"
She pushed Tania in agitation. Tania quickly grabbed the table for support.
In response, she struck the girl on the arm.
"Are you crazy?!"
The girl turned to Chryston with grievance, tears threatening to fall from her eyes. Ava immediately pulled her daughter into her arms, gently patting her back while glaring at Tania with hatred.
Seeing the girl on the verge of tears, Chryston snapped,
"What are you doing, Tania? The child is about to cry!"
Tania turned to him coldly.
"Didn't you say she isn't your child? Why do you care if she cries?"
"I…" Chryston stammered.
Tania stretched out her hand toward the bodyguard behind her. He immediately placed a file in her hand, which she dropped onto the table.
"Sign it."
Chryston looked down. It was a divorce agreement.
He pushed it away.
"Never. I won't sign it."
If he signed, his company would lose its major investor. He couldn't let that happen.
He suddenly knelt before her.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. Please forgive me. I love you."
Ava's chest rose with anger. A spineless man—kneeling before another woman.
Tania remained unmoved.
"You have five seconds to sign it. Or I'll tell the other investors to withdraw their funds."
"What?!" Chryston exclaimed in disbelief.
"Five… four…"
"Sign it quickly!" Ava urged anxiously. "If she pulls the other investors out, the company will collapse. You'll go bankrupt. Our child won't have a good life!"
Chryston hesitated. He didn't believe Tania would really go that far.
"Three… two… one."
Tania picked up her phone.
"Hello, Mr. Praise—"
Mr. Praise—their second-largest investor.
Chryston panicked.
"I'll sign it!"
Tania ended the call and watched as he signed the divorce papers.
The light in her eyes dimmed, but she picked up the file and turned to leave.
Then Chryston shouted,
"Who cares if you divorce me? Take your money and leave, you barren woman!"
Tania stopped.
She turned back, seeing Ava's smug expression and Chryston's unapologetic face.
Then she walked away.
Chryston slumped into his chair, closing his eyes in despair.
"I'm in trouble…"
Ava rushed to his side, comforting him.
"There's no need to feel dejected. You'll get half of her property. You can use it to support the company."
Chryston's eyes snapped open.
"You're right…"
A smile spread across his lips.
Ava smiled too, hugging him as their daughter joined in.
"I'm so happy you divorced her. Now we can finally be together—with our daughter."
Chryston hugged them back. On the surface, everything seemed perfect.
But deep down… an uneasy feeling lingered.
The moment Tania entered the car, she slammed her head against the steering wheel, tears streaming down her face.
How could he do this to her?
Back at Luciano's mansion, the next morning—
Luciano sat calmly at the dining table, eating.
Aunty Smith and Butler Neil stood nearby, puzzled why Estrella hadn't come down yet.
When Butler Neil had asked Luciano about her, he gave no response.
They didn't need to be told—there had been a fight.
Then Estrella appeared, descending the stairs.
"Good morning, Estrella," Aunty Smith said warmly.
"Good morning, young mistress," Butler Neil added with a slight bow.
Estrella nodded in response.
They expected her to sit at the table.
Instead, she walked past it without even glancing at Luciano.
"Aren't you eating?" Aunty Smith asked.
"Mm," Estrella murmured.
"I'll pack something for you then," Aunty Smith offered.
"No need."
"You can't skip breakfast at home and still go out without food," Aunty Smith insisted, hurrying to the kitchen.
Butler Neil frowned. This wasn't right. Allowing them to act this way wouldn't help their marriage.
"Young mistress, don't you think it's wrong for the young master to eat alone?" he said.
Estrella stopped and turned to him.
"And who are you to teach me right from wrong?"
Butler Neil was taken aback. He had always thought she was gentle.
Luciano, who had been silent all along, finally spoke.
"Let her go."
Butler Neil had no choice but to step aside.
Just then, Aunty Smith returned.
"Where is Estrella?"
"She left," Butler Neil replied.
"Why?"
Luciano stood up and walked out without a word.
"I only told the young mistress that—" Butler Neil began, but Aunty Smith cut him off.
"So you escalated the situation. What is your problem? All you do is disrupt other people's happiness!"
Butler Neil frowned, anger rising.
"And what about you? All you do is shout and blame others! I did it because of the Chairman!"
Those words hit Aunty Smith hard.
Because of the Chairman… again?
Her eyes grew misty, tears threatening to fall.
Without another word, she turned and walked away.
Butler Neil stood there, stunned.
"What did I say to make her cry…?"