Chapter 85

Thinking it over, anger surged through me. I shot back, my tone dripping with irritation, "What do you think it means? Of course you're not welcome here. Michael, did you forget how you sided with your mother outside the courthouse? Or how I put your father behind bars? You show up this fast—what kind of game are you playing?"

Seeing a crowd gathering to watch the drama unfold, Michael cleared his throat. "Can we talk inside? With all these people staring, aren't you embarrassed?"

I scoffed. "I'm not the one who did something wrong. What do I have to be embarrassed about?"

Just then, the hospital room door swung open. Clayton stood in the doorway, his expression dark as he glanced coldly at the scene. "Come inside. We'll talk in here."

The moment Michael spotted Clayton, his face lit up with a smile. He brushed past Joanna and me, holding out the gift bag toward Clayton.

"Dad, you still don't look well. That long drive must've worn you out. The hospital's not comfortable—why don't you come stay at my place instead?"

His fawning manner clearly made Clayton uncomfortable. He shook off Michael's hand, his face stony.

"Enough. Cut the act. You promised me you'd take good care of Claire. Is this what you call taking care of her?"

Michael looked guilty, his expression awkward as he pleaded pitifully, "Dad, I know you're all upset with me, but I just lost my head for a moment. I know I was wrong now. Mom, Dad—if you're still angry, you can hit me, do whatever you want. Just please don't let Claire divorce me."

Joanna bristled at his words.

"What, did Claire get sold to your family? After all the disgusting things you've done, you still want her to stay?"

Michael looked deeply displeased by Joanna's challenge. He raised his head to look at her, and suddenly his eyes gleamed with a mocking smile.

One look at that expression and I knew he was up to no good.

Sure enough, the next second he spoke. "Mom and Dad probably don't know this yet, do they? Joanna told me she had feelings for me. She got together with me behind Claire's back. Did she ever mention that to you?"

The room fell silent.

Joanna's face went white. She looked at my parents in a panic, rushing to explain. "Mom, Dad, it's not what you think—"

He pulled out his phone and waved it around, as if deliberately twisting the knife. "I've still got photos on my phone. Joanna, are you trying to deny it now?"

Melissa's expression darkened. She stared at Joanna, breathing hard. "Joanna, is what he's saying true?"

Joanna felt completely cornered, unsure how to explain herself.

All she'd wanted was to get Michael to slip up.

"Mom, it's not what you think."

Michael clicked his tongue, his tone infuriatingly smug. "Joanna, Claire's been so good to you, and you think you can brush this off with a few words? Look at your parents—do you really think they'll believe you?"

Joanna was completely rattled. She looked at our parents, then at me, her mouth opening and closing without sound. Finally, she glared viciously at Michael and snapped, "You're disgusting! It didn't happen the way you're saying it did!"

"Oh? Then how did it happen? I have proof. Do you? Are you saying I was the one trying to seduce you?"

Already flustered, Joanna found herself even more tongue-tied under his attack.

Watching the barely concealed smugness in Michael's eyes, I reached out and pulled Joanna behind me, glaring at him coldly. "Enough. Stop accusing people of things they didn't do. I know what really happened better than you."

I turned to my parents, my voice calm and steady. "Joanna was just trying to get evidence of Michael's cheating. I already talked to her about it."

Michael let out a cold laugh. "That's the story she fed you? And you actually bought it?"

I looked at him with utter disgust. "I'm supposed to believe you instead?"

Michael smirked, that infuriating edge to his expression. He glanced at Joanna, raising an eyebrow. "Do you even know how far things went between her and me?"

Joanna's panic escalated. "Stop making things up! Nothing happened between us. All I did was accept one bag from you."

Michael scoffed. "You're really washing your hands of this, aren't you? Well, they might believe you. But I've got photos on my phone. Photos of you and me."

Joanna couldn't explain herself—this kind of situation was impossible to clarify.

She looked at me, her eyes brimming with tears. "Claire, you have to believe me. There's nothing between us."

"Really? Because you were the one who said you had feelings for me, that you wanted to be with me."

I couldn't hold back anymore. I raised my hand and slapped Michael hard across the face.

He was absolutely shameless. He knew how much young women valued their reputations, yet he was using this to smear a girl fresh out of college.

Michael froze for a moment from the slap, staring at me in surprise. Then he frowned slightly before putting on a helpless smile. "Claire, I know this is hard for you to accept, but it wasn't me. Joanna was the one who came on to me."

I looked at him coldly and scoffed. "You think I'll believe you just because you say so?"

He paused. I continued, "I know Joanna better than you do. Why would I believe you over her? Why would I trust a man who's even lower than trash?"

My words were harsh enough that Michael's expression darkened. "Why would I lie to you?"

I looked at him, my face expressionless. "I know you're trying to stop the divorce. But I'm divorcing you no matter what."

In that moment, I felt profoundly grateful we'd never had children together. Otherwise, this divorce might not have been so straightforward.

Without kids, I could walk away from him without a second thought.

Maybe the fact that we'd been together all this time without getting pregnant was fate giving me a way out.

Michael laughed bitterly, his eyes filled with malice. "Fine. You want to be tough? Go ahead and divorce me. But if you do, I'll post those photos of me and Joanna online. Let's see if you can explain your way out of that."

"Michael, you're disgusting!"

Joanna stamped her foot, her face flushed red with anger.

He shot her a scornful glance. "I'm disgusting? You two aren't disgusting for trying to set me up? Whatever. I've given you your warning. Do what you want."

With that, Michael stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

Joanna sat down heavily in a nearby chair, tears of frustration rolling down her cheeks.

Seeing her state, I moved closer and grabbed her arm, demanding sternly, "Tell me the truth. Nothing happened between you two?"

She stammered, unable to answer. I hardened my expression. "Tell me the truth. Otherwise, no one can help you."

She pressed her lips together, then said in a small voice, "He was really suspicious. He probably thought I was getting close to him on purpose, so he deliberately took some suggestive photos with me. But nothing actually happened between us."

Clayton slapped his thigh in frustration. "Foolish! Absolutely foolish!"

So Michael really did have photos.