Chapter 20

“Ugh, watch it, you!” Francine hissed as she rubbed her forehead, trying to ease the pain. Once she realized that it was Renee who knocked into her, her anger flared up.

“Why are you here?!”

“I knew my little Fan would rub off your bad luck!”

Renee chuckled coldly. “I’m sorry, please just endure me for another twenty days, okay?”

‘What do you mean?” Francine lifted her gaze, her tone hostile. “It’s not like you’ll be flying off after twenty days.”

‘Well, I can’t, but…” Renee shone her a frosty yet polite smile. “But we’ll be legally divorced once twenty days are up.”

“Even if your son were to grovel in front of me, I’ve sworn to never get involved with the Hunt family anymore. I figured that would be the best for both of us.”

“You… you…” Francine was left in a state of shock.

‘What the hell happened? She used to be so obedient back then. She would let me do and say whatever I wanted! Why does it feel like she’s a completely different person now?1 i “How dare you speak to me that way?!”

“Why would I not dare to?” Renee replied as she was used to Francine’s behavior.

Back then, she would endure her solely because she was Stefan’s mother and her mother-in-law.

Their inevitable separation meant that she simply had no reason to endure her harsh language now. i “I’m just mirroring your attitude towards me. If you’d like me to respect you, earn it.”

‘Why you little…!” Francine lifted her hand and was ready to slap her across the face.

Out of nowhere, Stefan appeared to have gotten out of bed, grabbing Francine’s arm. “Mom, stop this.”

Only then did Francine notice the blood stains on her precious son’s bandages. It looked serious, which brought tears to her eyes.

“Fan, did you get into a fight? You have hemophobia, don’t you? How could you be so reckless? Are you trying to give me a heart attack?” 1 “Your brother just left us not long ago! How could I possibly live on if something were to happen to you?” 1 Stefan was assailed by dizziness again, and this time, he felt even more nauseous than before.

Supporting his own head, he narrowed his eyes painfully. “Mom, please be quiet for now.” i As Renee was listening at the side, she instinctively clenched her fists.

She then thought to herself. ‘I really didn’t expect him to have hemophobia. When did he even get this fear? Why haven’t I heard about this before?1 “Are you alright, son? Should I call for a doctor?” Francine began to panic.” Okay okay, I’ll stop talking.

Let me get you back to bed.”

“You’re going to divorce this good-for-nothing anyway, I can’t be bothered to argue with her!” 1 Stefan then went back to lie down, he didn’t have the luxury to relax at all.

Francine continued her nagging as she tucked him in with a blanket.” You’re pretty reckless too, you know? Why would you even put yourself in danger for this woman? Do you see her worrying about you when you’ve done so much for her? When you’re literally in pain? Did she even thank you for your help?” 2 Tve finally realized that the Everhearts are just a bunch of ungrateful leeches! Her parents scammed so many investors, they deserve to die for their sins!”

“And you know how much we’ve helped her throughout the years! Look at how she’s treating us now!

It’s good that you’re divorcing her soon, what a disrespectful girl!

Initially, Renee still felt somewhat grateful towards the Hunt family, but Francine’s words immediately snapped her back to reality, as if she had actually been slapped.

‘She’s saying I’m ungrateful?’

‘If I really was a leech, how was H Group unaffected when the economy collapsed three years ago?’

‘If I really was ungrateful, why did the hacker association leave H Group out of their nationwide cyber attack?’ 1 She could think of many more examples of her protecting the Hunts in secret, she merely didn’t bother to take credit for everything. 2 ‘Whatever, this family’s not worth my time and energy!’

Renee turned to Stefan emotionlessly. “I’ve already sent the amended copy of our divorce papers to your office. Sign them if you have no objections.”

Stefan furrowed his eyebrows, thinking. ‘Why does that sound so familiar? Didn’t I say those exact same words a while back?’

‘This woman sure is quick to turn on me. How could she say all that without any hesitation?’

‘And why do I suddenly feel so… disappointed?’

The man wanted to question Renee further, but she had already left the room.