My Wife Promised Her Junior a Baby, So I Gifted Her a Divorce

I stood up abruptly, kicking the heavy wooden table over with all my strength. Plates shattered, and greasy, colorful soup splashed all over Julian and Olivia. Julian screamed in panic. Olivia’s face turned green with rage. Before she could scream at me, I raised my hand and slapped her hard across the face. Then, I looked at Julian. "I’m done with this trash." "If you want her so badly, you can have her!" "Olivia, we are divorcing!" I articulated every single word, turned around, and walked out. My parents, their faces dark with fury, stood up and followed right behind me. We left behind a chaotic mess and the humiliated Vance family. Olivia was shaking with rage, screaming at my retreating back. "Ethan! How dare you bring up divorce? Do you think I’m afraid of you?!" "Fine! We’ll divorce! Trust me, I will live a much better life without you!" I didn't look back. I led my parents out of that restaurant as fast as possible. I wouldn't spend another second in that toxic environment. After dropping my parents off at their house, I drove back to the suburban home Olivia and I shared to pack my things. But the moment I arrived at the front door, I froze. All my clothes, books, and personal belongings had been tossed out onto the lawn like piles of garbage. Even the digital lock on the door had been changed. I called Olivia. No answer. So I initiated a FaceTime call. It connected. But the face on the screen belonged to Julian. He was wearing my favorite silk robe, lounging on my marriage bed. His collar was draped open, deliberately showing off fresh, red hickeys on his chest. Seeing me, he raised an eyebrow, his eyes dripping with smug provocation. "Olivia and I are busy trying to make a baby. Why are you calling so late?" Before I could speak, he waved his hand. The diamond ring on his finger caught the light, and my pupils dilated. It was my wedding ring. The one I had personally designed and crafted for Olivia—a one-of-a-kind piece. Just a few days ago, Olivia had lied to me, saying she was taking it to the jeweler for a professional cleaning. I never imagined she would give it to Julian. Even the decorative picture frames on the nightstand had been replaced with intimate photos of them. Some showed them kissing, others hugging. Noticing my stare, Julian grinned widely. "Oh, sorry about this, Ethan. Olivia said this house belongs to me now. She said all the old trash needs to be thrown out, so I tossed your things into the yard." I gripped my phone so hard my knuckles turned white. I took a deep breath. "Where is Olivia?" He blinked innocently. "Olivia? She’s in the shower." He sighed dramatically. "You have no idea how clingy she is. She insisted on going for a second round. That’s why... I’m waiting for her." A wave of intense nausea hit my stomach. "Oh, by the way, Olivia said since you were the one who demanded a divorce, you should grab your trash and beat it." "After all, she was the one who bought this house." Before I could reply, Olivia stepped out of the bathroom, coming into the frame. She was wearing a semi-sheer negligee, her neck covered in red marks. Her eyes were hazy and wet. The moment she stepped out, she snuggled directly into Julian’s arms. Julian said mockingly, "Olivia, look, Ethan is watching us." Only then did she notice the screen. Her expression instantly hardened into a mask of pure annoyance. "Since you want a divorce, what are you doing calling in the middle of the night? This place has absolutely nothing to do with you anymore!" The fury in my chest erupted completely. "Olivia, have you lost your mind? I paid for eighty percent of this house! The startup capital for your company came from me selling two of my tech patents! Your very first client was handed to you through my personal network! Just because people call you 'CEO Vance' now, you think you’re a god? What right do you have to kick me out?" Olivia had been put on a pedestal for too long. No one had dared to strip away her fake mask in years. Having her secrets exposed made her face twist in rage. "Ethan, don't flatter yourself! Everything I have today, I built with my own hands! It has nothing to do with you! If it weren't for marrying me, a small-town boy like you would still be rotting in the dirt! For nine years, you and your family have been leeching off my success. Who do you think you are to bark at me?" My heart ached with a sharp, dull pain. Looking at her distorted, angry face, the last shred of my affection died. "Olivia, every single cent my family and I spent in the last nine years was earned by my own sweat! Without me, do you honestly think an empty shell of a woman like you could have ever reached this position?" She gnashed her teeth. "I graduated from an elite university! How dare you call me an empty shell? Do you really think the company can't function without you? Ethan, you are nothing!" "You want to make a scene? Fine! I’ll give you what you want! Tomorrow morning, we sign the divorce papers, and you are officially fired from the company! I’m going to show you that my business runs perfectly fine without you!" "Olivia, since you want to play dirty, don't blame me for showing no mercy." "Get ready to watch your precious company burn." I sneered, preparing to end the call. Olivia bounced on the bed in rage, screaming like a banshee just before the line went dead. "Ethan! Do you think you can survive in this city without me and the company?! I’ve already blacklisted you with every major firm in this region! You won't find a single job! I will make sure you starve on the streets!" I hung up, turned around, and walked away without looking back. I had to leave. If I stayed there a second longer, I would have broken down the door and dragged those two parasites to hell with me.

The next morning, I drafted the divorce agreement and went straight to the company headquarters to find Olivia. But the moment I reached the lobby, two security guards blocked my path. I frowned. "I’m the Executive Vice President of this company..." The guard mocked, cutting me off, "What Vice President? An official notice was sent out this morning. You’ve been terminated!" "Furthermore, CEO Vance personally ordered that Ethan and dogs are not allowed inside." I clenched my fists, a burning sensation of anger rising in my chest. Just then, Julian and Olivia walked out of the elevator together. Julian spoke in a high-pitched, sarcastic tone. "Oh, look who it is. Former VP Ethan. Why are you standing outside?" Before I could answer, he gasped, feigning shock, "Oh, I forgot! You’ve been fired by Olivia. You’re literally nobody now." The security guards laughed along servilely. Olivia stood beside him, her lips curled in a disdainful smirk. I took a deep, heavy breath, ignored Julian entirely, and locked my eyes on her. "I’m here to finalize the divorce." A glint of greed flashed in Julian’s eyes. Olivia sneered and slid a document out of her designer bag, handing it to me. "I’ve already had my lawyers draft the paperwork. Sign it." I took it, and my brow furrowed as I skimmed the terms. "You expect me to leave with absolutely nothing?" According to the agreement, Olivia wasn't leaving me a single dime. How did she have the audacity? Olivia sneered, "What else did you expect?" Julian crossed his arms. "Isn't that obvious? This is Vance Group. Everything you used, wore, and drove belonged to Olivia’s wealth. What right do you have to take her money?" "Honestly, if you want to keep whatever dignity you have left, just sign it." Seeing me hesitate, Olivia mocked, "I knew you couldn't bear to let go of this luxurious lifestyle. Why act so tough last night? Ethan, if you apologize right now, agree to split my pregnancy costs, and schedule your vasectomy, I might consider letting you keep your job. Otherwise..." "No need. I’ll sign." I cut her off sharply. I pulled out my pen and rapidly signed my name on the dotted line. Olivia’s expression hardened, clearly not expecting me to be so decisive. "Ethan, you actually..." "Olivia!" Before she could finish her sentence, Julian grabbed her hand. "Everything he has on him was paid for by you. Look at that custom-tailored suit he’s wearing, and that sports car he drove here. They cost a fortune! Those are your assets. You can't let him leave with them!" I snapped my gaze to her. Olivia was taken aback for a second, but then a look of cruel satisfaction washed over her face. "Julian is right. The car and your clothes were bought with my money. Since you’re leaving with nothing, you don't get to take them." "However, if you get down on your knees, beg Julian and me for forgiveness, and sign the commitment letter Julian drafted, I’ll give you one last chance." "Otherwise, don't blame me for leaving you out on the street in your underwear." My heart grew completely cold. "Fine." I let out a harsh laugh. Ignoring the mocking whispers and stares of the employees gathering in the lobby, I took off my designer blazer, unbuttoned my shirt, stepped out of my trousers, and kicked off my leather shoes. I threw my car keys directly at Olivia’s face. "Are you satisfied now? I bought the underwear and the undershirt myself. I don't need to strip those off for you, do I?" The keys struck Olivia’s face, leaving a red mark before clattering to the floor. She froze, completely stunned. I didn't give her another glance. With a straight back and head held high, I walked out of the building in my plain undershirt and boxers, completely ignoring the whispering crowd. Behind me, Olivia was shaking with sheer embarrassment and rage. "Ethan! You want to play this game with me?! Fine! You’ll regret this!" For nine long years, I was always the one to cave in. I was the one who coddled her. She couldn't understand why, this time, I refused to bow my head. I ignored her completely, hailed a taxi under the shocked stares of onlookers, and left. Since she wanted to play dirty, I was going to ruin her. Using the last of my cash, I took the cab to my parents' house. My parents and my sister, Chloe, who had married a few years ago, were all gathered in the living room. The atmosphere was incredibly tense. Seeing me walk in wearing nothing but my underwear, my mother’s eyes instantly turned red. "Ethan... what happened? Did Olivia do this to you?" My father immediately grabbed me and pushed me toward the guest room. "Go, put on some dry clothes before you catch a cold." Before I could say anything, Chloe let out an annoyed, loud sigh. "Ethan, seriously? Why did you have to pick a fight with Olivia? Are you not satisfied until you drag this entire family into the mud with you?" "Chloe! Shut your mouth!" my mother warned her sharply. But Chloe only grew more agitated, jumping up from the sofa. "Am I wrong? Why are you protecting him? If it weren't for his stupid ego, would our lives be falling apart right now?" My mother’s face paled as she tried to stop her. I realized something was terribly wrong. "What happened? Tell me."

"Nothing... nothing happened..." My mother forced a weak smile and tried to push me into the bedroom. My father was also trying to hold Chloe back. But Chloe broke free, crying out, "Dad, Mom, how long are you going to keep this from him?" "Both of you were fired from the university today! I was let go from my marketing firm this morning, and my daughter, Lily, was expelled from her private daycare! Ethan caused all of this! Why does he get to be shielded from the truth?" I froze. "What?" Chloe’s eyes were bloodshot, her shoulders shaking violently as she wept. Despite my parents' protests, the ugly truth came out. My parents weren't the uneducated country folk Olivia claimed they were. They were respected professors who had worked hard to secure their positions at a prestigious local university. But this morning, both of them were abruptly dismissed from their tenure under the guise of "restructuring." Chloe was fired without cause. Even my little niece, Lily, was kicked out of her daycare. The director had called Chloe, cryptically warning her that they had offended someone with immense corporate power in the city. In this region, the only person who hated me enough and possessed that level of corporate influence was Olivia. "Ethan, please, I beg you, stop fighting her!" Chloe sobbed, her voice breaking. "Just go back to Olivia, apologize, and agree to whatever she wants!" Clearly, she had heard about the surrogacy from my parents. My father couldn't take it anymore. "Chloe! If you say another word, you are no longer a part of this family!" "Your brother is the victim here! How can you stand there and kick him while he’s down?" Chloe was on the verge of a breakdown. "What am I supposed to do?! I worked so hard for that promotion! Lily finally got into the best daycare! Now everything is gone! I have a mortgage, a car payment, and Lily’s future to think about..." My throat felt incredibly tight, like I was suffocating. Taking a deep breath, I pulled out my phone and called my old business contacts, hoping to find a way out. I couldn't let my family suffer for my divorce. But every single person who picked up my call sounded terrified, as if I were a plague. "Ethan, I’m sorry. Olivia made it very clear. Anyone who helps you is an enemy of the Vance Group. We can't risk our business." An contact at the university also whispered, "Ethan, someone filed an anonymous complaint accusing your parents of academic misconduct and ethical violations. The board had no choice." I finally understood. Olivia was trying to strangle me and my family financially, leaving us with absolutely no air to breathe. She was utterly ruthless. Before I could process the anger, my phone rang. It was Olivia. The moment I answered, her mocking laughter echoed through the speaker. "How does it feel to taste the consequences of crossing me?" "Do you finally see how insignificant you are, Ethan? Without me, you are absolutely nothing!" "But without you, I am still the powerful CEO of Vance Group! Oh, and in case you didn't know, we just secured a twenty-million-dollar government tech contract!" I knew exactly which contract she was talking about. It was a project I had spent six months pitching, working myself to the bone and drinking myself to a bleeding ulcer to secure. The signing was supposed to happen this week. My hard work had been handed over to her on a silver platter. And she was using it to rub salt in my wounds. I hung up the phone without a word. In the living room, Chloe’s quiet whimpering grew more painful to hear. I knew I had to act. "Don't worry," I said calmly. "By tomorrow, I will resolve everything." I went to the bedroom, put on a simple t-shirt and jeans, and walked out of the house. My steps were steady, and my posture was straight. I had to let them know that the sky wasn't falling. While waiting for an Uber on the sidewalk, I dialed a number. "Audrey, let’s meet. I’m ready to sell you those tech patents." Olivia thought leaving me with no assets would ruin me. But she forgot one crucial thing: the core patents for the green energy project her company was developing were registered under my personal name, not the company's. Since I was no longer a part of Vance Group, I could sell those patents to whomever I pleased. Since she wanted to push me into a corner, I was going to tear her empire down. Olivia, Julian—it was time to pay the price.