The Ninety-Ninth Wife Chapter 2

Julian didn't even look at the divorce papers. He threw them across the room.

"Lola, have you lost your mind? I said I wouldn't divorce you."

"I know you don't want to go, but if you don't, the company goes under! Do you want everything I've built to be destroyed because of you?"

I marveled at his audacity.

The moral blackmail was impressive.

He made it sound like my refusal was a deliberate act of sabotage against his career.

Did he think I was as easily manipulated as before?

Reborn, I had already formulated a plan to deal with Silas.

Seeing my silence, Julian's face darkened.

"Lola, let me be honest. The baby in Chloe's belly is mine."

"As long as you save the company... I can make you the child's legal mother in the future."

"No need," I interrupted, kicking the papers on the floor.

"I have no interest in being a stepmother, and I certainly don't want a bastard calling me Mom."

"Lola!"

Ignoring his shouting, I walked upstairs.

Seeing me calmly packing, Mrs. Potts teared up again.

"Madam, are you really going to Silas? I don't understand. When his parents died, you stayed by his side through the darkest times. Does years of devotion mean nothing compared to a gold-digger who came running back after failing abroad?"

"He swore he'd only love you. How did that woman bewitch him?"

I shook my head. "Don't call me Madam anymore. I have nothing to do with this family."

Mrs. Potts wiped her tears. "But Madam, going to Silas... you'll be skinned alive..."

My hand paused.

Even she thought it was a death sentence.

Before I could speak, a glass of cold water splashed into my face.

"Oops, so sorry, Mrs. Sterling. My hand slipped."

It was Chloe.

Holding an empty glass, apologizing with a smirk on her face.

"By the way, you shouldn't pack too much. Silas has everything. After all, you're not the first woman he's taken..."

Mrs. Potts trembled with rage. "You are too much!"

"Mrs. Potts, leave it."

Chloe thought I was too scared to fight back. Her provocation escalated.

Her gaze landed mockingly on my stomach.

"I heard Silas has... unique tastes. Women who go there come back insane. Who knows how long you'll last..."

"Even if you make it back, that little bastard inside you probably won't!"

I wiped the water from my hair and slapped Chloe hard across the face, shoving her out of my room.

"Save your worry. I didn't plan on keeping it anyway."

As I turned, Chloe grabbed my arm.

"Lola, guess what Julian will do if I fall down these stairs?"

She whispered venomously in my ear, then threw herself backward.

"Ah! Help!"

Julian turned pale and rushed to catch her.

"Chloe! Are you okay?"

Chloe feigned kindness. "I'm fine... Julian, don't blame Mrs. Sterling. She's just jealous I'm carrying your child..."

Her words fueled Julian's hatred.

He stormed over and slapped me. Hard.

"Lola, you disgust me!"

"You treat her like this, and she still defends you. You're not worth a strand of her hair!"

"You deserve to be used by that old man! I hope he kills you!"

With each vicious word, he ordered the bodyguards to lock me in the basement.

"No water until I say so!"

Mrs. Potts knelt, begging. "Sir, you can't! She has severe claustrophobia! She's terrified of the dark! She'll die..."

Julian ignored her.

Chloe, clutching her head, whispered poisonously, "Mrs. Potts, you work for the Sterlings. Why do you always side with Lola?"

"What did she give you to make you protect her like a daughter?"

Mrs. Potts was furious.

She tried to lunge at Chloe but was restrained by guards.

She cried outside the basement door all night.

Until the next evening, when Silas's men came for me.