Ray’s gaze turned somber. “This ends now. No one is allowed to bring it up again.”
“Seriously? Ray, am I invisible to you or something?”
Suddenly, the double doors flew open. Shelly strode in, her anger almost crackling in the air.
She glanced at Madeline, noticed the cold sweat on her forehead, and instantly understood. Without a word, she marched straight to Alianna and Jane.
Jane’s voice trembled. “Shelly…”
Shelly slapped her, hard. Then another slap, even sharper.
Alianna and Jane were too shocked to even react. Their cheeks burned, stinging and numb all at once.
Ray barked, voice low and threatening. “Shelly!”
Shelly didn’t hesitate. She turned and slapped Ray, the sound echoing in the sudden hush.
She glared at him, fire in her eyes. “Ray, do you think I’m invisible?”
Her voice shook a little, but her hands were steady as she grabbed his collar. “Didn’t I warn you? If anyone lays a finger on my daughter, I won’t let it go. So why did you still do it? Why?”
Ray tried to keep his composure, but he was unraveling. “I gave her a chance. What else could I do? She takes after you. That stubbornness, always so proud, never willing to apologize, never backing down. Ask her yourself—does she really think she did nothing wrong?”
Shelly’s voice cut through his excuses. “Did you let her explain? Did you ask what really happened? No, you just take their word for everything, like always. Ray, I’m done. We’re done.”
Ray’s eyes narrowed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Shelly held out her hand. Maxwell, who had come with her, silently placed a divorce agreement in her palm.
She smacked the papers against Ray’s chest. “It means exactly what you think it means. Go live your life with that woman and her daughter. I don’t ever want to see you again.”
Ray just stood there. He didn’t take the papers. They fluttered to the floor and spread out between them.
Every line of Shelly’s face was set. She wasn’t backing down.
“Madeline, let’s go,” she said, reaching for her daughter’s cold hand.
Madeline swallowed back her pain and limped to Shelly’s side.
Shelly’s anger faded in a blink, replaced by worry as she studied Madeline’s pale face. “Are you hurt? Did they do something to you?”
Madeline tried to keep it together, but her voice wobbled, and her eyes shone with the threat of tears. “Mom, let’s just leave. I don’t want to stay here.”
Shelly squeezed her daughter’s hand, fiercely protective. “Alright. I’m taking you home.”
Ray’s voice shook with anger. “Shelly, I don’t agree to a divorce. If you push this, don’t blame me for what happens next.”

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