The Heart Left Behind (Cole and Yvonne) novel Chapter 290

"What kind of nonsense are you spouting? Didn't all of this happen because Cole insists on starting some entertainment company for his useless son? He has completely embarrassed the Joplin family." Dad slapped his thigh in frustration.

Mom couldn't help but retort, "You can say all of that, but at least he's doing all of this for his son. That's still better than you. You brought home an illegitimate child…"

Before she could finish, Dad slapped her across the face.

"How dare you say something like that? Who gave you the right to call him an illegitimate son?" Dad fumed.

He was used to Mom just silently enduring everything he did. Her sudden temper caught him completely off guard.

"How dare you hit me? You actually hit me over a child from some unknown woman? Are you even thinking about what you're doing?" Mom shot back.

In all their years of marriage, Dad had only hit her once when he was young and immature.

Tears welled up in Mom's eyes. "Henry, have you forgotten how you had to beg me to accept that child when you brought him home? Now, you actually hit me because of Chris? I'm such a fool. I should've just ignored you back then and divorced you on the spot."

If it hadn't been because Chris was so young back then, there was no way she would have gone along with it for so many years.

"It's been so many years, and I haven't done anything to wrong you before. Fine, let's just get a divorce now. You can just bring that woman back here. Let's show everyone who the actual embarrassment to the family is," Mom said.

What was so wrong about me opening a company for his son? I wasn't cheating or stealing from anyone. Dad, on the other hand, would definitely be ridiculed by everyone if people found out he got divorced at his age.

Dad had actually been shocked by that slap himself. It took him a few seconds to realize what he had done.

For so many years, Mom had suffered in silence with no one to back her up.

Lowering her head, she gripped her handbag tightly.

Finally, for the first time, she mustered up the courage to fight for herself. "I've decided to divorce your son. I don't know how you feel about this, but I've already done my best for your family over the years. Now, I just want to leave this place that has hurt me so much. Considering how decently and responsibly I've lived over the years, surely you have no reason to stop me from leaving."

As she spoke, she revealed the side of the face that Dad had slapped just now. "The fact that I still have to get hit at my age… I just can't live like this anymore."

Her pale skin only served to highlight the redness of the mark. It seemed like there was even some blood.

Grandma frowned as she realized that Mom had already made up her mind.