Papa! That Bad Man Hit My Mom!

rriage license day for a "marriage of convenience" with another woman. He

cond child. The first person I saw was Bennett, now

humiliated me, mocking my simple dress and calling the

tomped on my hand, and shattered my bracelet. Bennett

p bleeding, I saw the man I once loved f

n, holding our son. And my little boy pointed a finger stra

pte

d dreamed of for seven years. My hand trembled, but it wasn't from excitement. It was from the

cleared her throat. She had probably seen this

ng under the fluorescent lights, her smile a cruel slash across her face. And then I saw him. B

practiced charm already in place. Jade leaned in, whispering so

oo smooth. Like he was talking to a child, or a stranger. He didn't bli

riage license. My heart felt like

" My voice was a thin, reedy

, darling. Bennett's so dedicated. He has to secure a critical busine

s. "It's a temporary arrangement. A marriage of con

en years, our shared dreams, red

words were a physical pai

remorse. Just a cold calculation. "It's for the firm,

uly thought his "offer" to take me back

oked away, embarrassed. The security guard at the door s

forting him through his failures. Seven years of pouring my heart into us, into him. I

was a month-long mar

a quiet, definitive break. The Addison who loved Bennett, who

oice surprisingly

hing in his eyes. "Addison, don'

his. "She's always been a bi

st looked at me, waiting for

adows of power, willing to sacrifice anything, anyone,

fyingly powerful, reclusive tech billionaire my parents had been trying

d glance. The city that held so many memories, so

Three years that res

I was

et. My stomach fluttered, not with nerves, but with the gent

ress that draped perfectly over my growing belly, and my hair was pulled back in a loose, effortless bun. My only jewelry was the custom-made diamond bracelet

wd parted around me, a natural deference to the quiet confidence I now exuded. I found the sig

ett

to solidify around me. Bennett, ho

rowd, a forced smile on his face. He looked... older. More str

e. The one I had saved for, for months, to buy him as a graduati

didn't recognize me, not truly. He was looking for a "Mrs. Levy," someone grande

rist. A flicker of something, curiosity perhaps, cro

disbelief and condescension in

ust watched him, a c

. "Lost your way? Or are you here to greet someone yourself

miliar mockery. He still thought I was

rying a little too hard, aren't we? Looks like a cheap

, to confirm his judgment. I pulled my

to stop with this pathetic act. If you're struggling, I could maybe... put in a word for you. A junior assi

looked at him. The man who had once been my entire world

its craftsmanship unparalleled. Its worth could probably buy Bennett's entire firm. But he wouldn't kn

the silent type, huh? Well, no wonder you're still... like

tually wondered about you sometimes. Thought you might come crawling

the same. And I was no longer

ap, of course. She swept towards him, clinging to his ar

ing into a triumphant smirk. "Oh, look what the cat

ere Jade's usual sycophants, always ready to echo her disdain. One of the

ed, loud enough for everyone t

u really shouldn't try to wear such things if they'

ssive. Inside, a cold

is side, smirked. "She thinks she's important.

likely she's looking for a handout, or a job. Bennett, darling, remember that little offe

s barely showing, but Jade's cruel offer was a d

e parody of ambition and cruelty. Bennett, with his puffed chest and empty eye

ent in their judgment. And s

s exorbitant cost. The "fake" bracelet was a unique masterpiece, its value surpassing anything they could ever

ust looked at them, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing on my lips. They were so busy being cruel, so wrapped

orward. "Oh, Addison, it's been so long! Bennett, you really should be nicer. She o

lways had a soft spot for you. If things are really that bad, we can always discuss a... more stable arran

votion, scraped against the raw edge of my control. He was still

ul truth was, I no longer cared enough to eve

's practically running Aurelis Capital now. And Jade is so wonderful, always supporting him. You really should t

're going to try to impress people, you need better clothes.

knife, "she spent all her money on that gaudy fake

y thought they were cutting me down, exposing my suppose

s was a new collection, exclusive, not yet publicly released. The bracelet, a tok

. She had been replaced by a woman who knew her worth. A woman who was

s second child. My children were princes, their father a king. These people, t

isting his lips. "Perhaps you're still upset about three years ago? You know, the marriage of convenience? It was for business, Addison. Purely business." He chuckled, as if sharing a

ed back to his. The faint smile vanish

s casually dismissing. He had no idea what kind of woman he was humiliating. And most painfully, he had no i

s, but a deep, throbbing ache. It was my bracelet. He had

g to impress anyone, Addison?" he sneered,

id, my voice l

rder. "Come on, let's jus

e airport floor, glittering like fallen stars. My breath hitched. Not f

he cold fire in me erupted i