Chapter 110: Rose Chooses Divorce

Rose Jackson stared daggers at Darren Lewis, her nails digging deep into her palms. It was clear Darren Lewis intended to drive her youngest son to ruin today, but she'd rather die herself than let anything happen to her child. Divorce it is! The thought crystallized in her mind with startling clarity for the first time. She couldn't spare a thought for how she'd survive afterward—saving her son was all that mattered now.

Before her children, she would always remain their strongest protector.

"Darren Lewis! Fine, we'll divorce. But half the family savings belong to me—I earned it. I'm taking all three boys with me, and from today onward, we sever all ties with the Jackson family." Rose stood tall, her voice ringing with conviction.

Elena gave an approving nod. At least her sister wasn't being foolish—she was finally standing up for what was rightfully hers. Compared with Grace, Rose had far more backbone.

"Bullshit!" Darren exploded, face purpling with rage. "You shameless whore! You think you can take my money and run off with your bastards? I should be charging you child support for all these years! Get out now—take your brats and disappear!" His entire body trembled with fury. The usually docile Rose daring to demand money from him was unthinkable.

Rose's laugh was icy. "Darren Lewis, my conscience is clear. Samuel is your biological son whether you acknowledge it or not. I want my share—I've kept accounts. Your mother took seven hundred eighty-five dollars from me. Give me three hundred ninety now, and I'll leave immediately. Otherwise, we'll take this to the village mayor!"

Darren saw red, his hand twitching with the habitual urge to strike her. A cold snort from Adrian Stone made him stumble back. The soldier wasn't someone to trifle with.

"No lover, huh?" Darren's beady eyes darted to Adrian as he shouted, "Everyone see this? An official seducing a married woman and assaulting me! I'll make sure the whole village knows!" He'd decided to pin this on Adrian, determined to make Elena suffer in silence.

Rose paled, ready to protest, but Elena gripped her arm. "Go ahead, call everyone! Adrian is my fiancé—let the mayor see what happens when you slander a military officer!"

Adrian stepped forward, his gaze glacial. "Sister Elena, summoning the mayor is perfect. The bruises on you are evidence. Current marriage laws consider domestic violence a crime. We won't need to give him a single cent—we can send him to jail instead." He deliberately exaggerated the consequences. For ignorant bullies like Darren, fear worked best.

Darren's face drained of color. "Lies! Since when can't a man discipline his wife? This is family business—even the police won't interfere! I never said anything—don't you dare frame me!" His bravado evaporated instantly as he backtracked.

"Family business?" Elena's lips curled. Suddenly she lunged forward. Haunted by memories of Derek Harlan's beatings in her past life, she'd trained extensively in self-defense. Handling trash like Darren was child's play.

In one fluid motion, she grabbed Darren's arm and flipped him over her shoulder, slamming him onto the ground. Before he could react, her elbow drove into his stomach. As Darren writhed, she rained down punches and kicks.

"You dare hit my sister? You call this family business? Well, a sister-in-law beating her brother-in-law is also family business!" Each word punctuated by another brutal strike. "From now on, I'll beat you every time I see you—let's see who can stop this 'family business'!"

Darren's pig-like squeals drew a crowd of villagers. Rose hastily pulled her sister back. "Elena, stop! He's not worth it!"

Elena delivered one final kick before snarling, "Listen well, Darren Lewis! My sister is divorcing you! She married you without demanding a single dowry, even used her own savings to pay your medical bills and support your family—and this is how you repay her? Ungrateful worm!"

As Darren curled into a whimpering ball on the ground, several villagers already sprinted off to alert the Jackson family.