Chapter 2 Divorce Him

Olivia watched the blood slowly flow out of the bag and pool around it on the white tiled floor. Her face instantly turned pale, and genuine fear flashed in her eyes.

All things considered, she truly had an urgent need of the blood. Without it, she might fall into critical condition.

Ashton was appalled by what he was witnessing, but much more than the shock, he felt rage.

"Melanie! What the hell are you doing?" He instinctively pulled back his arm to slap Melanie, but the cold smile on her face made his hand freeze in midair.

"Are you sure you want to do that?" she challenged in a mocking voice.

"All I need is a few more bruises, and I can finally show the world just what a monster you are. They would know how the admirable young master of the Willis family willingly put his wife's life in danger for the sake of another woman."

A muscle ticked in Ashton's jaw as he stared at the woman in front of him. Although Melanie's face was a little pale, it was full of determination. And it was something he had never seen before.

Was this still the docile Melanie who had always obeyed every word he said?

After a while, Ashton slowly lowered his hand.

Melanie noted the shift in his demeanor and smirked. "Now, instead of wasting both our time, why don't you go and check on your precious Olivia? She would die without the blood, right?"

Taking that as her cue, Olivia called out weakly from behind, "Ashton..."

Sure enough, Ashton immediately whirled around, his once blank face now full of concern as he rushed over to Olivia.

Melanie seized the opportunity and left the place before she suffocated from the sickening scene.

She held her head high all the way, but her bravado deflated as soon as she stepped out of the hospital. Her knees buckled, and her body felt weak.

Mustering what little strength she had left, she took out her phone and made a call. "I need help..."

Melanie didn't get to finish her words. Everything went black.

When she opened her eyes again, she found herself in a warm and well-lit room.

Her best friend, Kristine Dale, was sitting at her bedside.

The moment Kristine realized that Melanie was awake, she lunged forward and took the latter into a tight embrace.

"You finally woke up!" Kristine cried in relief. "Do you have any idea how worried I was? How did you get to such an awful state? Does Ashton even take care of you? I swear, that bastard doesn't deserve you for his wife!"

Kristine proceeded to badmouth Ashton endlessly. Melanie listened in silence, though a pang of sorrow came over her.

Because of that man, she had missed out on so much and even neglected the things she used to love.

Taking a deep breath, Melanie told Kristine everything that had happened at the hospital.

When she finished, Kristine jumped to her feet in outrage. She was understandably furious, and vented her anger by punching the mattress. "Damn that Ashton! He is the scum of the earth! What did you ever see in that guy, anyway? Are you seriously going to spend the rest of your life with that asshole?"

Melanie felt a rush of warmth from her friend's concern.

She braced herself and said with much resolve, "I don't love him anymore. I am going to divorce Ashton."

Kristine was momentarily taken aback, but her eyes soon twinkled with joy. "I'm telling you, you should have done this a long time ago! But no matter, I'm just glad you've finally seen reason. You're an amazing woman, Melanie. That bastard isn't worthy of you."

Kristine had barely finished speaking when Melanie's phone rang.

She glanced at the caller ID and saw Stacey's name. Melanie didn't even hesitate and tossed the phone back on the side table. Stacey continued to call a few times more, but Melanie never answered.

It was only when Ashton's name flashed on her screen that Melanie finally picked up the call.

"Where are you?" he demanded as soon as the call connected. "Why didn't you return home last night? Get over here right this instant!"

Even as he ranted at her, Melanie could vaguely hear Stacey's shrill voice in the background, spouting a litany of complaints.

Melanie's lips curled into a cold, humorless smile. "I'm coming," she replied calmly.

She would go back home, all right, but she wouldn't be his wife for long.

Melanie hung up before Ashton could say another word. She felt an inexplicable sense of power and satisfaction over that simple action.

She had already repaid everything she ever owed him. From now on, she wouldn't give up anything more for Ashton.

Meanwhile, at that same moment, the atmosphere at the Willis residence was heavy with tension.

Stacey's face was red as she embellished her grievances to her mother, Jenifer Willis.

"You wouldn't believe the audacity of that bitch, Mom! Melanie caused a whole scene at the hospital, yelling at everyone and throwing things around. She even broke the blood bag that Olivia needed for her transfusion! What a vile person. Then after all that mess, she just ran out and disappeared. She didn't come home at all last night, and ignored all my calls! That bitch is completely out of control!"

Jenifer's brows were knitted tightly. She had always thought Melanie unworthy of her beloved son, what with her lack of a respectable background. She constantly found fault in her daughter-in-law as it was, and after listening to Stacey, her view of Melanie only worsened further.

"Ashton, your wife is getting more and more unruly! As expected of a low-born woman. You can bring her to a mansion and dress her with luxurious trappings, but you could never be rid of her uncouth nature. You need to discipline her more properly. She can't just run around and do whatever she wants."

Ashton kept silent as his emotions slowly descended into turmoil.

He couldn't forget Melanie's expression when she threatened him back at the hospital.

When his mother and sister finally quieted down, he said, "I'll talk to her when she gets back."

Shortly after, they heard the front door open. Melanie was here.

She looked utterly composed as she walked through the foyer.

"Melanie!" Ashton called out, stepping forward to meet her.

But Melanie didn't even glance his way. She continued forward, walking past him and up the stairs.

"Melanie! Stop right there!" Ashton thundered, his fury rising as she disappeared in the corner of the stairs' landing.

Melanie went straight to her room and started packing her things. She didn't have much, so it didn't take her that long.

Stacey and Jenifer stalked her to the door of her room, berating her as she packed.

"Have you lost your mind, Melanie?" Jenifer screeched. "How dare you ignore your husband!"

Melanie cast a cold glance at the older woman and smirked. "Aren't you always griping about how much you want me to leave? Well, I'm granting your wish, so get out of my way."

Her words prompted Stacey to look at her small suitcase. "So you're leaving? How do we know you didn't swipe something from our home? I don't care if you leave, but you're not entitled to anything that belongs to the Willis family! I need to check your luggage and make sure you didn't steal anything!"

Stacey was already making a grab for the luggage. It was yet another attempt to humiliate Melanie.

Something flashed in Melanie's eyes. Without warning, she raised her hand and slapped Stacey across the face with a resounding smack.