Divorced My Scum Husband, Married His Evil brother

Dorothea waited until the elevator door closed before she dropped onto the floor.

"That's it..." she muttered. "I've lost my only chance to have a family. I'm just a bitter old woman that nobody wants, and I cannot change that anymore."

Dorothea knew this was her punishment, but she still couldn't help to weep over the spilled milk.

She wished she could turn back the time and treat her sons right, especially Vernon. She hurt that boy to the point that his hatred flowed in his blood.

She wanted to blame Vaughn for making her like this, but she couldn't.

Because it was her fault that she used Vernon as a scapegoat for all her hatred for her bastard late husband.

"If only I could be a bigger person like Chloe, none of this would happen...." Dorothea felt her heartache keep getting more excruciating with each passing second. Her tears dropped on the elevator floor.

She wiped her tears. Though she was feeling a little faint right now, she would never pass out here, or her second son would hate her more and brand her as an attention-seeking, manipulative, dying bitch for passing out in his elevator. She had enough derogatory nicknames already.

Ding!

Dorothea got up and stood straight as she exited the elevator. She walked to the receptionist named Anna, whose face was so pale and acted nervously. Vernon probably yelled at everyone before he came up to the eleventh floor, and this receptionist was one of the victim of his wrath.

Dorothea stood in front of the receptionist counter and looked down at Anna. They stared at each other for a while until Dorothea raised her brow arrogantly, "Why are you standing like an idiot? Call a taxi for me."

***

Chloe and Vernon stared at the elevator descending to the ground floor in silence, but their expression differed.

Chloe had a defeated face, full of grief and disappointment.

While Vernon had a face full of satisfaction. He was satisfied that the old bitch was finally out of Chloe's life.

Now he had to take extra measures, so this kind of thing wouldn't happen again.

'Maybe I have to limit her phone as well, making sure she wouldn't contact anyone that's not good for us,' Vernon considered.

He knew he might sound like a controlling bastard-- or maybe he was right now.

But to him, Chloe and Mackie's safety was his priority. He didn't want them to get hurt, and he had to protect them from any possible harm.

Vernon bowed his head to look at Chloe, who was still staring emptily at the elevator. His gaze darkened for a second before pulling her wrist as he headed to the VIP elevator, "Let's go. We need to go up to the penthouse. Mackie is waiting."

Chloe resisted for a second, and Vernon noticed it.

Vernon stopped on his track. He turned around and frowned, "What now?" he stared at Chloe, who stared back at him. There wasn't much emotion on her face except for sadness, and that was normal. She'd move on from this problem eventually.

"You don't need to hold my hand," Chloe said as she tried to pull her hand.

Vernon's brows creased even deeper, "What's wrong with me holding your hand? Are you still upset because of what just happened?"

...

Vernon sighed, "Look, I am not in the mood to coax you right now. I'm glad you're not cheating on me because if you did, I would--" Vernon paused and decided not to continue that topic because he'd sound like a total psycho.

He had to admit his head was messed up, but it was because this whole thing turned him into a madman, just the thought of Chloe being embraced with another man was enough to drive him insane.

"Anyway, I will forgive you for this," Vernon said. "It's not your fault that you're being manipulated. That dying bitch has the skill to ruin people's lives."

"Don't call him a dying bitch...." Chloe murmured. "She's not that mean...."

...

"Dorothea truly wants to help us. She wants to disturb Vincent's charity works, because she's the one that has full control over it. As long as she can disturb Vincent just a little bit, that'd be beneficial for you, right?"

"That's just her trick! She wants you to believe her, but she will never do that!" Vernon's voice started rising. "Damn it, Chloe, wake up! She's not a good person!"

"... You're filled with hatred, Vernon...." Chloe said.

Vernon gritted his teeth and yanked Chloe's hand instead. Chloe winced in pain as she tried to match Vernon's long steps to the VIP elevator.

Vernon yanked Chloe inside the elevator, pulling her like a rag doll as they went up to the penthouse.

Meanwhile, Chloe tried her best not to whimper or beg him to release her hand to show that she wasn't going to back down.

Chloe knew Vernon hated his mother so much, and he was justified to do so.

She thought she could completely side with Vernon once he found out about Dorothea's presence.

But the way Vernon treated his mother so harshly and how he refused to take a second opinion from Chloe made her realize how stubborn Vernon could be.

Now, she started wondering if Vernon was truly a good man she fell in love with, or was he just the second Vincent?

Because Vincent was also gentle to her at first but turned violent once they married.

Vernon unlocked the penthouse door and was greeted by Mackie, "Welcome back Mommy--" Mackie's jaw dropped when she saw her Mommy come home with Uncle, and both of them were not smiling at her.

"Ah, um, welcome back, Uncle," Mackie greeted awkwardly.

"Hm, go back to your room, Mackie. I want to speak with your Mom," Vernon said straight to the point. His mood wasn't the best right now, even a seven-year-old noticed that easily.

Mackie looked at her Mommy, wondering if her Mommy would be alright.

Chloe sighed and nodded, "Go to your room, dear. Mommy wants to talk with Uncle for now. Don't worry about me."

"Um... are you sure, Mommy?"

"Yes," Chloe glanced at Vernon with a bitter look. "Mommy will be alright."