Chapter 5
“Everything is my fault. I shouldn’t have been afraid of the dark. I ruined your post-wedding reception. Blame me, hate me—it doesn’t matter p>
“I swear, I’ll never call Professor Montgomery again, not even if I die p>
She cried more and more pitifully with every word.
Ethan looked distressed and gently patted her shoulder.
“Don’t take everything on yourself. You’re my student, regardless. Don’t talk about dying p>
Lila had come to apologize, but her gaze never left Ethan.
It was as if she was only putting up with this for him.
Ethan looked at me with a trace of blame in his eyes.
“Chloe, everything’s been explained. Don’t be angry anymore, okay p>
My mom stepped in front of me, blocking me protectively.
“Ethan, what are you doing bringing this girl here p>
“She doesn’t look like she’s here to apologize. She looks like she’s here to challenge my daughter p>
Lila stepped forward quickly, trying to explain.
“Ma’am, you’ve misunderstood. I truly want them to make up. Chloe suddenly setting up that scholarship already embarrassed Professor Montgomery. If she keeps acting so selfish p>
Slap.
My mom’s hand landed across Lila’s face.
Lila staggered and fell into Ethan’s arms.
Ethan’s face turned dark instantly. Glancing at Lila’s quickly reddening cheek, he spoke coldly to my mother.
“I’ve always respected you, but Lila is just a young kid. She doesn’t deserve this. I need you to apologize to her p>
“Innocent? Is this how an innocent girl talks? Is this how an innocent girl shows up at a married man’s house in the middle of the night p>
“What self-respecting girl does something like that p>
My mom was so angry she spoke without thinking.
Ethan let out a cold laugh.
“If you want to put it that way—is Lila indecent for trying to clear up a misunderstanding? Then what about your daughter, getting pregnant before marriage and rushing into a shotgun wedding p>
“Is that how you raised her p>
“Ethan p>
I stared at him in shock. Only then did he realize he’d gone too far, and he looked away.
My mom pointed at him, overcome with fury, struggling to breathe.
I panicked, my voice shaking uncontrollably.
“Ethan, Mom has a heart condition. Call an ambulance p>
But he didn’t move.
I rushed to grab my phone, but he snatched it away first.
“You can call an ambulance if you want. But only after your mom apologizes to Lila p>
I saw the cold resolution in his eyes. A flash of triumph crossed Lila’s face.
I stared at him, as if seeing him for the very first time.
He watched coldly as my mom’s face grew paler, speaking slowly and calmly.
“I think your mother is perfectly healthy. She’s just putting on a show to give you an excuse and make me feel guilty p>
“Chloe, this pity play won’t work on me. Today, your mom will apologize to Lila p>
Just then, my mom’s health watch beeped loudly.
It had detected an abnormally high heart rate and automatically called my emergency contact.
The second I heard my dad’s anxious voice, I shouted, “Dad! Mom’s in trouble! Call the doctor, hurry p>
Within ten minutes, the medical team arrived.
I didn’t breathe easily until my mom’s vital signs stabilized and she was wheeled into the ambulance.
I looked at Ethan, still frozen in place, then lifted my phone and made a call.
“By tomorrow, I want Ethan Montgomery publicly ruined. Pull all investments from the Montgomery family p>
“In one month, I never want to see any of the Montgomerys again p>
admin