During our camping trip, my mom and I were suddenly engulfed by a wildfire. My husband, Brendan, didn’t hesitate. He plunged into the flames and saved my mom. When I woke up, the first thing I did was ask him for a divorce. Brendan looked utterly bewildered. “Are you really divorcing me just because I saved your mother first?” I remained perfectly calm, nodding decisively. My mom rushed into my hospital room, falling to her knees by my bed. Her eyes were red and swollen, tears streaming down her face as she clutched my hand, pleading desperately. “Cassie, please don’t be mad at Brendan because of me.” “It’s all my fault, every single bit of it. I’ll die if it means you won’t divorce him, okay?” I was unmoved. “Then go ahead and die.” The relatives present immediately started pointing fingers, calling me an ungrateful wretch, a useless burden. Even the nurses passing by looked at me with disgust. Brendan stepped in front of the relatives, then turned to me, his voice cracking with despair. “Cassandra Reynolds, are you even human? That’s your mother!” “Was I wrong to save her?!” I just sneered. “Yes, you were wrong!” ………… When I received the divorce papers, Brendan stormed into my hospital room, his face a thundercloud. “Cassie, there’s a limit to how much you can throw a tantrum!” “Your mom almost burned alive, and now she’s in the hospital, sobbing herself unconscious because of you. She’s still there, you know.” “This is all because you filed for divorce. Don’t you feel any guilt?” I simply gazed at him, my expression perfectly serene, saying nothing. Seeing my silence, Brendan’s brow softened slightly. “I know, as a woman, you might be jealous that I didn’t get to you first, and that’s understandable. But that’s your mother.” “She’s so heartbroken because of you, she’s been on a hunger strike, begging for your forgiveness.” “Go with me now. Apologize properly.” While he spoke, I casually scrolled through my phone. I posted some good news on Ins, celebrating my upcoming single status. After hitting send, I slowly looked up, a faint smile playing on my lips. “What does my mom’s hunger strike have to do with me?” “I’m not a chef. You should look for the reason in the food, not come to me.” Brendan froze, dumbfounded. It took him a long time to recover, finally shaking with rage as he spat, “You’re utterly unreasonable!” With that, Brendan turned and stormed out of the room. Later that day, when I went to check out, I was surrounded by a mob of relatives who had come to visit. They grabbed me, a chorus of angry voices barraging me with accusations. “You really are a heartless, ungrateful viper! Your mom wasted all her love on you!” “You look respectable, but you’re rotten to the core! Your husband must have been cursed from birth to marry a drama queen like you!” “Divorcing over such a minor incident? You’re a total embarrassment!” I listened to their onslaught with cold indifference. Finally, my patience snapped. “Can you move? I need to check out.” Just then, Brendan walked past, holding a payment receipt. Seeing me, he spoke softly, “Cassie, your mom misses you. Why don’t you go see her?” I remained noncommittal. “Just sign the divorce papers already.” Brendan’s eyes immediately reddened at the corners. “The situation was urgent back then, I could only save your mom, who was closest.” “If you’re still holding a grudge, I’m truly sorry, okay?” He then looked at me, full of desperate hope. “I just beg you, please go see your mom. She hasn’t had a drop of water since yesterday.” “Just one glance, even one glance would be enough.” Before I could refuse, my relatives dragged me to my mom’s bedside. Seeing me, a flicker of joy crossed my mom’s eyes, quickly replaced by a cautious vulnerability. She spoke timidly, “Cassie, please don’t be mad at Mom.” “Mom will kneel and apologize to you. Just don’t divorce Brendan.” With that, she struggled out of bed and dropped to her knees in front of me with a thud. She repeatedly bowed her head to the floor, murmuring “I was wrong,” and “I’m sorry” over and over again. I stood there, completely unmoved. Brendan quickly intervened, stopping my mom. “Cassandra Reynolds, do you have any conscience left?!” “Your mom is on her knees, and you’re unaffected? Your mom is bowing to you, and you just accept it? Aren’t you afraid of facing divine retribution?” I slanted a cold glance at my mom. “Did I force her to kneel?” “If you truly can’t stand me, then sign the divorce papers.” Brendan glared at me, speechless for a long moment. Just then, my dad, Richard, burst in, slapping me without hesitation. “How could I have such a heartless, vicious daughter?!” “Are you really going to divorce over something so trivial?!” “If you still consider me your father, pack your things and go home now! Stop embarrassing us out here!” I clutched my red, tingling face, my voice sharp. “Then I can pretend I don’t have a father!” “Ungrateful child! Ungrateful child! Are you trying to kill me?!” My dad clutched his chest, pointing a trembling finger at me, his face a mask of grief and fury. My expression remained blank. “No matter what you say, I’m divorcing him!” A few older women among the relatives couldn’t stand it anymore and rushed forward, punching and kicking me. “She’s not human, damn it!” “This inhumane monster disowns her own parents! Today, I’m going to make sure she can’t walk away!” My mom rushed to pull them away, but it was useless. So she knelt in front of them, tears streaming down her face, begging them to let me go. “Don’t hit my daughter, please!” “Hit me instead! I deserve it, it’s all my fault!” Brendan’s eyes were red-rimmed. He spread his arms, shielding me, saying all sorts of kind words on my behalf. “Aunts, please don’t hit Cassie. She’s just confused right now.” “I believe Cassie will come to her senses once she cools down. Please, let her go.” Thanks to my mom and Brendan, the blows stopped. But I felt no gratitude whatsoever. Instead, I pushed him away with disgust. “Sign the divorce papers already.” Brendan froze, then his eyes turned red with anger. “What do you want me to do? Is this small issue really worth divorcing over?” The aunts, who had just been calmed down, were enraged again by my words. They rushed forward, grabbed my hair, and started dragging me out. I gasped in pain but couldn’t break free. I was dragged out of the hospital room like dead weight, attracting curious onlookers. The women dragged me, shouting. “Everyone, come and see! This is Cassandra Reynolds, the most famous PhD from Pacific Crest University, but secretly she’s a total scumbag!” “She’s so ungrateful! Her mom and husband always treated her well, but because her husband chose to save her mom, who was closer during a fire, this heartless wretch is demanding a divorce!” “Everyone, judge for yourselves! Does a woman like this deserve to be called human?!” Hearing this, the onlookers also became furious and started cursing at me. Even a three-year-old, at the urging of an adult, threw trash at me. “Die, you wicked woman!” Amidst the venomous words, in the chaos, someone pushed me, and I passed out. When I woke up, I found that the video of me being dragged had been posted online. Many netizens traced the video back to my private accounts, spewing all sorts of insults and personal attacks. Even worse, they went to my alma mater and workplace, causing trouble, splashing chicken blood and dog blood. My university expelled me overnight, and my company announced they had fired me and would never re-employ me. My former close colleagues were now standing by my bedside. “Cassie, what were you thinking? Divorcing for your own selfish reasons? You’re almost thirty, not some greenhorn fresh out of college, sister!” “Hmph, I think some people are just good at pretending, and now they don’t even bother to pretend anymore.” “Maybe there’s some big secret she’s afraid of, that’s why she’s purposely making a scene to get a divorce?” I merely looked down, fiddling with my fingers, completely unfazed. Seeing this, my colleagues rolled their eyes in exasperation. “Do you really think you’re so special? Your alma mater expelled you!” “I don’t know how a woman like you even survives. In ancient times, such an unfilial daughter would be executed!” Brendan burst in then, physically separating them. He said righteously, “Please don’t treat my wife this way. She used to be good to me.” “Please don’t speak ill of my wife without knowing the facts.” Then, Brendan cautiously turned to me. “Cassie, are you okay?” “I’m sorry, I was paying the bills just now. I promise next time, I’ll be the first person you see when you wake up.” My gaze was icy. “Brendan Sterling, I want a divorce.” Brendan looked at me with sorrowful eyes. “Wife, please don’t say such things.” “Whatever you’re unhappy with, I’ll change it.” “I swear, from now on, no matter what happens, you’ll be my priority.” I averted my gaze in disgust. At that moment, Melody Lane, an influencer known as “The Gossip Queen,” aimed her phone screen at me and aggressively challenged me. “Cassandra Reynolds, what are your thoughts on being expelled by your alma mater and your company announcing they’ll never re-employ you?” “Is it true that you’re jealous because Mr. Sterling saved your mother, and that’s why you’re pushing for a divorce?” “There are rumors online that you’re pregnant with your sugar daddy’s child and are deliberately using this incident as a pretext to maintain some semblance of dignity. Is this true?” I nodded indifferently. “I believe justice is in the hearts of the people.” “Yes, you’re right. I am jealous, but I still won’t change my decision.” “No matter what, I will get a divorce.” This live stream once again sent several topics trending. #In A Traffic Accident, Would You Give The Hope Of Life to A Stranger Near by Or A Distant Relative?# Eventually,it evolved into #Perfect Husband And Mother Harassed By Vicious Ungrateful Daughter#. Even when I was discharged, the topic’s popularity only grew. A week later, my divorce lawsuit went to trial. On the day of the public hearing, due to immense public pressure, the court, with my permission, streamed the proceedings live. Brendan stared at me, eyes full of desperate longing. “Cassie, can you really bear to throw away our six years together?” “Didn’t you always say that if we made it past the seven-year itch, we’d truly become each other’s family?” “But now, we’re only a month and eight days away from the seven-year itch. How can you be so heartless and abandon me?” Six years of a relationship wasn’t easy to cut ties with. Especially since, when Brendan and I first got together, I supported his startup through seven failures. He was deep in debt then, and our backgrounds were vastly different. When my dad found out, he absolutely refused to let me be with him. He even confiscated all my identification documents. I threw tantrums, went on a hunger strike, even threatened suicide, but couldn’t change my dad’s mind. “Honey, he’s nearly a million in debt. What kind of life will you have if you marry him?!” Later, I pretended to compromise, then secretly took my documents and escaped with him to another city to work. Only after he had cleared his debts and his company showed significant success did he bring me back to this city. At that time, all our relatives praised my dad for his keen judgment of character. And I became my dad’s pride and joy. I genuinely believed my marriage was a happy one. A loving couple, treating each other with respect. Until… My thoughts snapped back to the present, and I sighed softly. “Brendan, I’m giving you one last chance.” “Agree to divorce empty-handed, and I’ll drop the lawsuit.” Brendan’s eyes reddened in disbelief. “Cassie, we’re almost family. You know I can’t live without you.” “And you’re taking me to court over such a small matter.” He looked at me with deep disappointment. “Cassie, I’ll say it one last time. Come home with me.” “I know you have your tantrums, and I’m happy to indulge you.” “As for the false rumors online, I’ll clear them up for you.” Seeing his stubborn refusal, my frown deepened. “Since you’ve already said we’re almost family,” “Then you should also know that I never fight a battle I’m not prepared for.” With that, I pulled out my briefcase. Brendan had shared a bed with me for years, so he knew me well. Seeing my resolute attitude, he paused, then his expression softened into one of deep affection. “Family shame shouldn’t be aired in public. Whatever divorce drama you want to cause, do it at home.” “Withdraw the lawsuit now, and we’ll go home and talk this through properly.” “Wife, you know how important you are to me. Divorcing me is like forcing me to die, isn’t it?” I was nauseated by his sappy declaration. I took a laptop out of my briefcase. My expression remained unchanged. “Brendan, did you really think that by destroying those paper documents, I wouldn’t have any strong evidence left?” “What?” A flicker of panic crossed Brendan’s eyes. “Wife, I don’t understand what you’re talking about.” “Let’s go home, okay? I’ll listen to whatever you say.” Seeing he was utterly unresponsive, I sneered and decisively unlocked the laptop.
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