4
“Mom!”
11:19 AM
<
Faced with this sudden change, Stella turned pale, rushing over to cover my forehead.
Seeing the blood on her hand, her small hands trembled with anger, her little face taut as she looked at Hudson Johnson, “Apologize to Mom!”
Hudson Johnson sneered, his eyes full of indifference, “Apologize? Your mom Avery is the one who should apologize. If anything happens to Scarlett, I won’t forgive her.”
Scarlett Lee’s face was tear–streaked, looking considerate, a fleeting hint of smugness in her eyes, but she said:
“Brother Johnson, don’t say that. I’m sure Sister didn’t mean to push me. Don’t be mad at her because of me…”
“But, Brother, our child…”
Hearing Scarlett Lee’s sobs, Hudson Johnson became even angrier, glaring at me.
I felt his hatred, but my vision was still blurry, my chest tight and breathless.
Stella couldn’t stand my humiliation, knowing the truth, she rushed over and pointed at Scarlett Lee to argue.
“You’re lying, I saw it all. You fell by yourself.”
“Liar, I hate you…”
Before she could finish, I saw Hudson Johnson clench his fist.
My heart tightened, and I used all my strength, my voice hoarse:
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“Hudson Johnson, don’t you dare lay a finger on Stella!”
Visibly, Hudson Johnson’s hand paused, seeing the blood on my forehead, he froze for a moment, his eyes showing hesitation and a hint of
concern.
But soon, he coldly withdrew his gaze, kicking Stella.
“You’re just as vicious and cold–blooded as your mom!”
Watching Stella being kicked, I couldn’t hold back any longer, screaming out.
“Stella!”
When Stella was born, his hands trembled with excitement as he held her, carefully brushing her tiny face with his finger, utterly in love.
I felt a jolt of fear in my chest as I struggled to shout, “Hudson Johnson, if you lay a finger on Stella, you’ll regret it!”
Hudson Johnson’s hand hesitated visibly, and when he noticed the blood on my temple, he froze, a flicker of doubt and pain in his eyes. But soon, his expression turned cold again, and he heartlessly kicked Stella.
“You’re just as vicious and cold–blooded as your mother!”
Seeing Stella being kicked, I couldn’t hold back any longer and screamed out.
“Stella!”
When Stella was born, he held her in his trembling hands, gently caressing her tiny face with his finger, unable to let go. At that time, Hudson Johnson promised that no one would ever harm Stella unless he was dead. Yet, just five years later, he had completely forgotten his vow!
Stella’s small, pained cries pierced my heart like a thousand needles, leaving me breathless with despair and anger.
“Hudson Johnson, she’s your daughter too.”
11:20 AM
Unexpectedly, Hudson Johnson tenderly picked up the fallen Scarlett, casting a disdainful glance at me.
“Avery, unless you kneel and apologize to Scarlett, Stella is nothing more than a stray, not my daughter.”
With that, he left with Scarlett.
I clutched Stella tightly, my nails digging into my flesh.
Hudson Johnson, you’re truly heartless.
Overwhelmed by hatred, my anger surged as I stood up, and everything went black.
I fell into a warm embrace at the sound of a worried voice.
When I woke up, it was
already evening.
I looked at the man in front of me, thinking it was an illusion, and murmured in disbelief, “Mason Carter?”
“It’s me.”
Mason Carter flipped through my medical records, his tone pained and helpless. “Mild concussion.”
“Avery, what have you been through, and what makes Hudson Johnson so special that you sacrifice so much for him?”
His words stunned me, and my thoughts drifted away.
I also wanted to know how I ended up like this.
Seven years of marriage, staying up late with Hudson Johnson for streaming, watching him rise from obscurity to fame.
He once held me tenderly, promising me the world. He even jumped into icy waters to save my life. During his proposal, he swore to never let go of my hand.
But when he achieved fame and fortune, he held Scarlett’s hand, claiming she was just an assistant, though his eyes couldn’t hide his affection.
At some point, our love went off track and never returned. I gradually lost myself, moving from jealousy and sadness to resignation.
“Avery?”
Mason Carter’s voice pulled me back from my thoughts, his face full of worry. “Does your head still hurt?”
I shook my head, about to speak when a message popped up on my phone.
Scarlett sent me a photo.
It showed me being picked up by Mason Carter, but only my full face was visible due to the angle, while Mason Carter’s back was turned.
Scarlett’s message was taunting: “Avery, what do you think Hudson Johnson will do if I show him this photo?”
He’d be furious.”
I know Hudson Johnson well; he might have some love for me, but mostly he’s annoyed by me. He’d think I staged it to make him jealous.
Sure enough, half an hour later, Hudson Johnson called,
His voice dripped with disdain, and I could picture his mocking smile.
“Avery, do you think staging a few photos will make me jealous?”
“Ridiculous.”
11:20 AM
<
“Unless someone is blind, who would want someone like you? Even if you’re acting, at least make it believable.”
He snorted, barely hiding his disgust.
“I’m telling you, your tricks only make me hate you more!”
I listened calmly to his words, then replied coolly:
“Who said it was staged?”
“If you don’t believe me, come see who’s really with me.”
I sent him the address and smirked at his dismissive reply, “Fine.”
Hudson Johnson, I chose you over Mason Carter before. This time, I’m choosing again!
Hudson Johnson arrived quickly.
The doorbell rang urgently, disturbing Stella. Mason Carter nudged me, “You take care of Stella, I’ll handle him.”
However, I shook my head.
Some things, I had to tell Hudson Johnson myself.
I opened the door to find Hudson Johnson looking slightly flustered. He pushed his way in, scanning the room quickly.
Seeing no one else, he relaxed a bit, breathing easier.
“Avery, where’s the man you mentioned?”
He turned confidently, but when he saw the blood–stained bandage on my forehead, his face changed instantly.
“Avery…
His face flushed with a hint of regret, eyes showing a sliver of concern.
“I’m sorry, Avery. I lost control in the heat of the moment.”
Without waiting, he pulled me into his arms, fingers trembling as he touched my temple.
“Wife, just apologize to Scarlett, and I’ll forgive you for trying to provoke me with fake photos, alright?”
“Let’s not be angry, okay?”
There was a trace of guilt in his voice.
But it only made me feel deeper ridicule.
What made Hudson Johnson so confident that after all this humiliation, I’d bow to his peace offering?
What made him think I’d never leave him?
I chuckled lightly and asked calmly, “Hudson Johnson, w
said that photo was fake?”
Hudson Johnson froze for a moment, as if mocking my lack of self–awareness. “Avery, you love me so much; how could you ever find someone else…”
Before he could finish, Stella’s room door opened.
Stella hugged Mason Carter’s neck, resting her head affectionately on his shoulder.
Hudson Johnson panicked.
His expression changed dramatically, like facing a dire threat. “Mason Carter, why are you here?!”
I walked over to Mason Carter, linking my arm with his, and added, “Because he carried me back.”
Hudson Johnson recalled the man’s figure in the photo and froze.
Seeing Stella and me standing with Mason Carter, Hudson Johnson’s face dropped, and he was at a loss.
When I was with Mason Carter, he was just an unknown junior beside me. We had a fallout when Mason Carter went abroad, and Hudson Johnson started pursuing me during that time.
Even after so long, mutual friends would privately discuss how Hudson Johnson took advantage of the situation, like picking up scraps.
So how could he not resent Mason Carter?
I didn’t give Hudson Johnson time to think, saying plainly, “Hudson Johnson, do you believe me now?”
“If you’ve seen enough, go back to Scarlett and stop bothering us.”
“Oh, right.” I pointed to the divorce agreement I’d printed in advance. “Sign it before you leave. Scarlett is waiting for a title.”
Hudson Johnson’s knuckles turned white as he clenched his fists, a hint of panic in his eyes.
I glanced at him briefly, then looked away calmly, taking Stella from Mason Carter’s arms.
This move seemed to brighten Hudson Johnson’s eyes.
He held Stella’s small hand, his voice gentle and coaxing.
“Stella, can you help daddy convince mommy? Let her come home with us.”
Stella answered decisively.
“No.”
She clung to Mason Carter’s leg tightly.
“You have other kids; I have a new dad.”
Mason Carter raised an eyebrow, giving me a teasing look.
My ears turned slightly red.
It was one thing to say in private, but how could Stella say it right in front of Mason Carter?
She was really selling me out.
Mason Carter didn’t make Stella wait long. He picked her up again and looked at Hudson Johnson with cold eyes.
“Hudson Johnson, do you know what it was like when I first met Avery?”
“I left the country, but I didn’t die. Since you dared to treat her this way, be prepared to lose her forever.”
Hudson Johnson’s face changed slightly, instinctively looking to me for help.
In the past, I couldn’t bear to see him suffer any grievance and would stand up for him.
But now with my arms crossed I said coldly “Why are you looking at me? Huaichuan didn’t say anything wrong”
11:20 AM
