THE SON-IN-LAW THEY LEFT TO DIE

CHAPTER 5

Johnson’s heart pounded heavily inside his chest as he stared at the divorce papers in Bethany’s hands.

His fingers trembled slightly.

Then slowly, he lifted his head and looked at Bethany with disbelief written all over his face.

“You are joking… right?” he asked incredulously

Bethany’s expression remained completely cold.

“Joking?” she laughed callously.

She folded her arms and sighed impatiently. “I am only doing what I should have done a long time ago.”

Bethany continued coldly.

“The only reason I even agreed to marry you in the first place was because of my grandfather.”

Bethany’s grandfather was the only person in the Clifford family who had ever treated him kindly.

Johnson had once saved the old man from arm robbers and in gratitude, he had arranged for Bethany to marry Johnson despite the family’s objections.

“But now,” Bethany continued carelessly, “my grandfather is dead.”

Her eyes slowly drifted toward George lovingly.

“And now I can finally marry the man I actually want.”

George smirked proudly. Then he stepped forward and wrapped his arm possessively around Bethany’s waist.

Bethany did not resist him at all. Instead, she leaned slightly against him.

George looked directly at Johnson mockingly.

“You heard her,” he said arrogantly. “Go ahead, sign the divorce papers, and get out of here, loser.”

Johnson felt his chest tighten painfully.

His eyes returned slowly to the divorce papers.

For a few seconds, he remained silent.

Then finally, he spoke quietly. “I will sign the divorce papers… But only if Bethany agrees to two requests.”

The moment those words left his mouth, Mrs. Clifford immediately exploded angrily.

“I knew it!” she snapped furiously.

She pointed accusingly at Johnson.

“How shameless can you possibly be?”

Her voice echoed loudly through the hall.

“You lived off my daughter for three whole years, and now you still have the nerve to demand divorce settlement money?”

Johnson frowned immediately.

But Mrs. Clifford did not stop.

“Well let me make this very clear to you,” she barked. “You are getting absolutely nothing!”

George chuckled proudly.

“Mother-in-law, calm down,” he said confidently.

The way he called her mother-in-law made Johnson’s chest ache again.

George adjusted his expensive suit proudly. “I know men like him very well,” he said mockingly.

Then he slowly pulled out a checkbook from inside his suit pocket. He opened it arrogantly before looking at Johnson.

“Go ahead,” George said proudly. “Name your price.”

Several guests immediately nodded among themselves.

“Of course he wants money.”

“What else would someone like him want?”

“He probably planned this from the start.”

But to everyone’s surprise, Johnson spoke calmly.

“I do not need your money.”

George’s smirk faded slightly.

“…What?”

Even Bethany frowned.

“If it is not money,” she asked impatiently, “then what exactly do you want?”

Johnson slowly lifted his eyes toward her. “I only want answers to two questions.”

Bethany blinked once.

“That is all?” she asked.

Johnson nodded slowly.

Bethany sighed impatiently and waved her hand dismissively.

“Fine,” she said coldly. “Be quick about it. I still need to get back to my wedding.”

Those words stabbed into Johnson’s heart again. But he ignored the pain and finally asked softly, “If this is truly how you felt about me all along… then why did you pay for my surgery?”

The moment the question left his mouth, Bethany suddenly burst into laughter.

“Me?” she said while pointing at herself. “I did not pay for your surgery.”

Johnson frowned slightly.

“What?” His face filled with confusion instantly. “But… if you did not pay…”

His voice became shaky. “Then who did?”

Bethany rolled her eyes carelessly.

“How am I supposed to know?” she replied coldly.

Then her expression darkened slightly.

“In fact, if I ever find the person who paid for your surgery, they would become my number one enemy.”

Johnson felt his breathing stop

Bethany’s next words hit even harder.

“Because personally…”

She looked directly into his eyes without mercy.

“I wanted you to die there in that hospital so I could finally get rid of you once and for all.”

Johnson’s mind became blank for several seconds. Was this actually the same Bethany that he thought he knew?

Bethany was the reason why he ended up in the hospital to begin with. How could she say something so mean about him?

The guests stared at him with mixed reactions. Some pitied him. Some mocked him silently.

But Johnson barely noticed any of them. He could only stare at Bethany in disbelief.

Then finally, he asked the second question.

“If that is truly how you felt…” he whispered painfully, “then why were you crying so much at the hospital after the accident?”

Bethany stared at him for a moment.

Then suddenly laughed again. This time even louder than before.

She wiped the corner of her eye dramatically. “How dumb can you actually be?” she mocked.

Johnson’s fists tightened slowly.

Bethany shook her head with amusement.

“What did you think those tears meant?” she asked coldly.

Then she leaned closer slightly, “Well I will tell you. They were tears of joy. The joy of finally getting rid of you forever”

Johnson’s eyes widened painfully. He felt like something inside him had completely broken.

Everything he believed in. Everything he endured for three years. Everything he sacrificed. All of it suddenly became meaningless.

His eyes slowly became red with emotions.

He stared silently at the woman he had called his wife for three whole years.

But now… she looked like a complete stranger.

Without saying another word, Johnson slowly collected the pen from the lawyer.

Then with trembling hands— he signed the divorce papers.

Scratch!

The sound of the pen across the paper felt like the final destruction of his heart.

When he finished, he slowly handed the papers back to Bethany.

Then he looked at her one final time.  His voice was calm now. Almost emotionless.

“I hope you are happy with your new marriage.”

Bethany said nothing.

Johnson turned around slowly and began walking away.

No one stopped him.

As he walked toward the giant doors of the hall, he could hear people speaking behind him.

But Johnson ignored everything.

The moment he stepped outside the hall, he suddenly heard the priest’s loud voice echo from inside.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife!”

The entire hall erupted into loud cheers and applause instantly.

Johnson did not stop. None of it concerned him anymore.

Whatever Bethany did with her life now was none of his business. As far as the divorce is concerned, they were now nothing more than strangers.

Outside the event center, the cold evening breeze blew against his face.

Johnson walked slowly down the road alone. His body still hurt badly from the surgery. But the pain in his chest hurt far more.

Now that the divorce was finalized, he knew there was no place left for him in the Clifford mansion.

Not that he wanted to return there anyway.

Johnson lowered his head and continued walking slowly.

But after barely taking a dozen steps—

SCREEECH!

Several expensive black cars suddenly drove toward him before stopping directly in front of him.

Johnson frowned immediately.

The car doors opened almost at the same time.

A group of men in black suits quickly stepped out respectfully.

Then one of them hurried toward the back door of the middle car and opened it carefully.

A man in his late sixties slowly stepped out. He wore an expensive dark suit and held a polished walking cane.

The old man’s sharp eyes immediately landed on Johnson.

Then to Johnson’s complete shock, the old man bowed respectfully.

“Young Master,” he said solemnly.