Chapter 168
Ella really couldn't take it anymore.
She picked up the coffee in front of her and splashed it directly at Opal.
The coffee was still a bit warm, startling Opal so much that she jumped up , frantically trying to wipe it off.
Ella still didn't feel satisfied. She went around the table, grabbed Opal, and slapped her twice across the face.
"Since you have no shame, wrecking someone else's marriage and thinking it's something to be proud of, I'll teach you some manners today."
Her movements were too fast, and her strikes were harsh.
When the crisp sound of the slaps rang out, Vida, beside them, finally reacted and quickly got up to pull Ella back.
"Ella, people are watching. Given your position, you shouldn't be doing this."
After all, Ella was now the CEO of the Lewis Group. Her every word and action affected the company.
If someone filmed this and posted it online, it would definitely cause problems.
Ella kicked Opal away and warned, "Go back and tell Mason, if he's got the guts, he should come find me himself. If you dare send Vida again for any of this provocative stuff, I'll make sure you regret it."
Opal was covered in coffee stains, looking completely disheveled.
Her cheeks stung from the two slaps, and she felt incredibly wronged and angry.
She wanted to fight back, but there were two of them—she was no match for them at all.
Vida saw that people nearby were already taking photos with their phones, so she pulled Ella to leave.
Before leaving, Ella picked up another coffee and poured it directly on Opal's hundred-thousand-dollar bag, then said to the people taking photos, "This is what happens to a mistress. Shameless thing. Get a good look at what she looks like."
After the two left, the people taking photos of Opal became even more brazen.
Opal, having been splashed with coffee and slapped, was so angry her face twisted. She stood there stamping her feet and shouting at Ella and Vida's backs, "Vida, you just wait. Mason will definitely get revenge for me."
The people around crowded Opal. "Are mistresses really this arrogant these days?"
"You're so shameless."
"You're so young—why not learn something good instead of learning to be a homewrecker?"
Opal was furious. She grabbed her bag and fled in embarrassment.
Ella got in the car with Vida, backed up the recording she had, and headed straight to the company.
Seeing that Vida still looked sad and worried, Ella squeezed her hand and comforted her, "It's okay. I'll go confront Mason later. And you shouldn't stay home anymore—come work with me. I remember you studied design in college. The design department is short-handed, so you can help out there."
Financial independence was the foundation of a woman's dignity.
Once Vida found her value again, men wouldn't be her top priority anymore.
Vida looked at Ella, lacking confidence. "Can I do it?"
Ella smiled and encouraged her. "Of course you can. You've only been a stay-at-home mom for a few years. Getting back into the workforce is not a problem, and besides, I'm here for you."
When she first joined the company, she didn't know anything either.
Over the years, she'd learned quite a bit from Heath and Joshua. Of course, Mason had taught her a lot too.
Gradually, she developed the ability to support her position as CEO.
[As long as people don't give up, keep moving forward, work hard, and stay focused, they can always break through, find their own value, and becoming the best version of themselves.]
Vida thought she really should return to the workforce.
Otherwise, staying home all day with the kids, with nothing to do, her mind would always wander.
And she was always afraid that after Mason left her, she wouldn't know what to do.
With Ella's encouragement, she thought, how would she know she couldn't do it if she didn't try?
The two arrived at the company, and Ella took Vida straight to her office.
Megan approached them and said, "Ms. Garcia, today's schedule includes..."
Ella interrupted her, "Help me arrange for Vida to go to the design department. Have the design director look after her."
Megan understood, glanced at Vida, and quickly made a note of it.
Then she continued her report.
Meanwhile, Vida's phone rang.
It was Mason's number.
Vida felt flustered and quickly handed her phone to Ella.
Ella took it and answered on speakerphone.
On the other end, Mason's angry voice came through. "Vida, you've got some nerve, sending people to investigate me?"
"Let me tell you, even if you go find Opal, I will never touch you again. Give up on that idea."
Hearing this, tears immediately welled up in Vida's eyes.
She choked up, trying hard to hold back so she wouldn't make a sound.
Ella couldn't stand it and angrily said, "Mason, are you even a man? Having an affair and being so self-righteous about it."
Mason was stunned.
He hadn't expected Ella to answer the phone.
Thinking about what happened with Opal, he got angry too and demanded, "Was it you who went with Vida to find Opal?"
Ella didn't deny it.
"It has nothing to do with Vida. I was the one who asked Opal to meet. You're really devoted, aren't you? When someone dies, you have to find a replacement."
His feelings for Scarlett ran so deep.
But Scarlett was pure evil. Even if there was no evidence about Aiden, and Aurora didn't die, the fact remained that Scarlett kidnapped Rhea and Dorian.
Why did Mason still have to like Scarlett?
This kind of man was beyond help.
Mason had always held a grudge against Ella.
It had never faded over all these years.
Now that Ella brought it up, he didn't hide it either.
"Ella, stay out of my business. If you hadn't been so ruthless back then, my child wouldn't have died, she wouldn't have died, and I wouldn't have married Vida."
"I like Opal now. If you two go looking for trouble with her again, don't blame me for not being nice to you."
Ella was furious and about to curse him out.
Suddenly, Vida took the phone and, gathering her courage, said with grievance, "Mason, let's get divorced!"
She had always thought that as long as she gave enough, did well enough, Mason would eventually see it, feel sorry for her, and focus on her and the child.
But she had been too naive.
If she hadn't heard Mason say those cold, heartless words just now, she would still be hesitating about whether to give him another chance.
But now, she didn't want to drag it out anymore.
She wanted a divorce, to set Mason free, to let him like someone else. She didn't care anymore.
Ella was a bit surprised that Vida, who loved Mason so much, would actually initiate a divorce.
She felt gratified that Vida had taken this brave first step.
On the phone, Mason paused.
He certainly hadn't expected Vida, who was completely dependent on him, to initiate a divorce.
Vida couldn't do anything and couldn't survive on her own.
Mason didn't care at all. "Vida, don't play hard-to-get with me. You know very well that because of the pressure from my parents and the existence of our child, I can't possibly divorce you."
"Just be a good Mrs. Lewis and stay out of my business outside, and you'll still have food and clothes. Otherwise..."
"Mason, I'll talk to Mom and Dad and get them to agree to your divorce."
Ella really couldn't stand it anymore. She took the phone back and said to Mason, "You're the one at fault. You have to leave with nothing."
She hung up directly and pulled Vida over to comfort her. "Don't be afraid, and don't feel reluctant. That kind of scumbag isn't worth a single tear from us."
Vida felt a bit dazed.
She hadn't expected that just a moment ago, she would dare to initiate a divorce.
Thinking of something, she left Ella's embrace and asked, "Did Mason used to have someone he liked who passed away?"
Although she had liked Mason since she was young, she had only heard about him often at school and seen him at some parties.
But she really didn't know much about Mason's past.
Ella didn't hide it and told her the truth.
She told her about Scarlett.
After hearing it, Vida became even more determined to divorce.
So Mason had a first love named Scarlett, who grew up with him, and they even called each other brother and sister.
That person died, so Mason found a woman who looked just like her to cherish.
No wonder Opal was so arrogant—it really was Mason who gave her that confidence.
Vida looked at Ella. "Can you get a lawyer to come and help me draft a divorce agreement?"
Ella agreed and had Megan find a divorce lawyer to come to her office.
That evening, Ella took Vida home with the divorce agreement and notified Mason to come home and sign the divorce papers.
In the living room.
Ella had the maids take the three children to play in the backyard. She presented the divorce agreement to her parents and told them about all of Mason's wrongdoings.
Heath and Rhea listened to the recording and looked at the wronged Vida, feeling both heartbroken and angry.
Heartbroken that Vida was treated this way by Mason.
Angry that Mason was so outrageous, daring to have an affair during marriage.
How could the Lewis family's upbringing produce such an inhuman creature?
Heath was furious. When Mason came home, he had the butler bring a whip and directly ordered Mason.
"Kneel down."
Mason was already in his thirties.
Standing tall in the living room, he actually looked quite imposing.
Looking at Ella and Vida, at the divorce agreement on the table, and at his parents' angry faces, he knew that everyone knew about his mistress.
Mason didn't deny it was his fault and wisely knelt down.
Heath was furious. He walked over and swung the whip at him.
Mason took it without even frowning.
Rhea was heartbroken and disappointed.
"What has Vida done wrong to you? She gave you such a lovely son and manages everything for you."
"Why would you treat her like this? Is this how we raised you?"
Mason knelt there. The pain on his back gradually made him grimace. Unable to bear it anymore, he put his hands on the floor.
His white shirt was quickly stained with blood, looking shockingly red.
But Heath still didn't feel satisfied and kept beating him mercilessly.
Vida couldn't watch anymore and quickly stepped forward to pull Heath back.
"Dad, stop. You'll kill him."
Only then did Heath stop to rest. He glared at Mason and asked, "Do you know you're wrong? Will you break it off with that woman outside and treat Vida well?"
Mason looked up and glared at Ella and Vida, his eyes full of defiant pride.
Then he shifted his gaze to his parents. "You made me marry someone I don't love through an arranged marriage. I followed the path you arranged, and I gave you an heir. What more do you want from me?"
"Do you want to trap me in this loveless marriage prison for the rest of my life until I die miserable? Would that make you happy?"
Hearing these words, Vida couldn't hold back her tears.
So marrying her made him feel so wronged.
So in this marriage, he was so unwilling.
No wonder after they had the baby, he never touched her again.
For three years, he never thought about maintaining their marriage, and he never had any feelings for her.
This kind of marriage was torture for her too.
Vida felt so sad, standing there with tears streaming down her face.
Seeing this, Ella felt heartbroken and hugged her.
Heath and Rhea hadn't expected Mason to say such terrible things.
Heath was so angry his face darkened. He coldly demanded, "You like Scarlett, don't you?"
Mason didn't deny it. "Yes, I like her, but Ella got her killed."
He looked up and glared at Ella, his eyes full of hatred.
"If it weren't for the fact that you're my sister, I definitely wouldn't let you off. You wanted the company and I gave it to you. What more are you dissatisfied with? What right do you have to interfere in my business?"
He had put up with Ella for a long time.
If she pushed him too far, he couldn't guarantee he wouldn't take the company back and send her back where she came from.
"You rebellious son."
Heath couldn't stand hearing him talk to Ella like this. He raised the whip and struck down hard again.
Rhea was even angrier, glaring at Mason. "That Scarlett was evil-hearted. To marry Joshua, she'd stop at nothing. Did she ever have you in her heart? Are you blind?"
"Besides, she kidnapped Dorian and me and hurt me. Can't you see all that? Have dogs eaten your conscience? To like such a vicious woman."
If Scarlett had been grateful, how could they not have treated her well?
But Scarlett, to steal their love, to become the Lewis family's daughter, didn't hesitate to take Ella out and hand her over to human traffickers.
Causing Ella to be lost for over ten years.
How could they tolerate such a bad woman?
Mason's back injuries had him supporting himself on the ground, covered in sweat, barely able to hold on.
Even his voice became weak.
"If you hadn't pushed her to the edge, would she have done that?"
He glared at Ella again. "If you hadn't had someone abort the child in her belly, maybe for the sake of the child, she could have reformed."
"Ella is fine now, living well, but you insisted on pinning the blame on her."
"Ella, how good can your heart be?"
Ella looked at him.
She hadn't expected that this was how Mason had always thought of her.
She really couldn't tolerate Scarlett.
Scarlett's child—she was the one who had it dealt with.
But did Scarlett really not deserve to die?
Ella's face turned cold, her eyes showing no emotion. "If you love her so much, go be with her. In another world, no one will stop you two from being together."