A Vengeful Ex-Wife

Maria looked back at the hotel. The Tang family was behind the banquet, and she'd bet dollars to donuts they also sent that package.

She took the envelope from the delivery man and signed her name on the digital pad.

As she got in the car, the driver asked softly, "Ms. Song, shall I take you to the hospital?" "No, thanks." Maria tore the envelope open and removed the sheets of paper inside. She looked at the documents and found a lawyer's letter on top.

Her eyes swept to the lower right hand corner where the signature was. The seal was the law offices of HL Group, and it was signed by Joshua Zhou, the leading member of that invincible team. Maria sneered and thumbed through the paperwork. Alina had decided to sue her for attacking Ronald.

They were suing her for five million dollars for Ronald's medical bills. And another five million for emotional distress. She also had to publicly apologize to Ronald, or the Tang family would sue her. After reading it, Maria tore the lawyer's letter into little pieces.

She tossed the fragments into a litter bag and looked out the window. They zipped through the city, and she stared at the lights streaming past. But she wasn't really paying attention to the night scenery-she was lost in thought.

Tang Group had their own team of attorneys, but it was HL Group's team who sent her the letter. It seemed that James thought of Alina as family.

A bitter smile appeared on her lips. When Maria was married to James, he'd never been so protective of her.

As they passed a maternity and baby product retailer, Maria told the driver, "Stop the car, please."

Tires squealing, the Rolls-Royce pulled up in front of the store. Maria got out.

After the Rolls-Royce roared off, the woman walked toward the store and stared up at the sign "Angel Baby."

When she was pregnant with Arthur, she came here all the time to buy toys, clothes, and other things for him, and maternity clothes for herself as her baby bump got larger and larger.

She stared at a showcase, where a tiny bright yellow hat sat on the snow-white carpet, and beside it was a layette in the same color festooned with cartoon dinosaurs. Maria remembered Arthur was given one of those hats the day he was born. He cried loudly, though the hat might not have been the cause. Nonetheless, the whole floor heard him.

As a first-time mom, she had no clue how to calm him down. The maternity nurse suggested the baby might be hungry and should be fed breast milk.

When she first saw Arthur, Maria thought he looked a lot like James. She couldn't see any of herself in him. At that time, she felt a little resentful. She carried him for nine months, and yet he looked like the man she almost never saw.

Though as the days passed, she began to like the idea he resembled James so much. It gave her a warm feeling in her heart.

Having a family and a baby with the man she loved was every woman's dream, wasn't it?

It began to drizzle, but Maria still stood in front of the window, lost in her memories.

She liked rainy days, but hated them too.

She liked the feeling of rain drops, the sound of rain falling on the ground, and the warmth of the quilt on rainy days.

But she didn't like being caught in a downpour. She'd have to wash her hair after that. Nor did she like puddles. The puddles that formed on the ground would get mud on her shoes, her skirt, even pants. Raindrops fell on her exposed arms, but Maria didn't seem to feel anything. She looked at the tiny hat in the showcase and slowly walked forward.

The high-heeled shoes were a little painful, but the pain in her heart was greater. She ignored the feeling.

The Song banquet continued without Maria. James left first, escorted by Alina. Clayton figured those two might need a little alone time, so he didn't follow them out.

Outside the hotel, Alina straightened the man's tie and said gently and considerately, "James, thank you for accompanying me to attend my family gathering." Looking at her, James replied flatly, "That's what I'm supposed to do."

"I won't waste too much of your time. Have a safe drive." Alina waved goodbye.

James nodded and got into the car.

As soon as he left, Alina took out her phone and made a quick call. "Where is she?"

"I don't know. She left in another car."

"Did she sign for the package?"

"Yes, she did. I think she read it." The smile on Alina's face couldn't be more obvious. "I see. Stop following her. Stand by for more orders.

"Yes, Ms. Tang."

In the black Harkim, Lorenzo reported on the progress of their latest project. "Fosun Entertainment took that project away from us, Mr. Xi. Mr. Zheng from HM Group has invited you to a business dinner to talk about Fosun-

"

"Did she get the lawyer's letter?" James interrupted Lorenzo, changing the topic.

Lorenzo was startled at first. After thinking for a while, he finally understood what James meant. "I think so. Ms. Tang hired someone to get it to her."

The lawyer's letter was completed two days ago. Alina waited for a suitable opportunity to send it to Maria.

James said nothing. He wondered if Alina and the Tang family did this maliciously. They invited Maria to attend the family party, recited a litany of Maria's faults in front of everyone, and even Maria's own parents were in on it. After Maria had been completely humiliated, they served her with the lawyer's letter. If things didn't go her way, she might be thrown in prison.

The rain was getting louder and heavier, and James could hear it hitting the car now.

He didn't like rain, so this didn't help his mood any. He loosened his tie, and selected a bottle of red wine from the minibar. He poured himself a glass and gulped it down.

Traffic ran slower than normal because of the rain, so the Harkim traveled more slowly as well.

James' gaze fell on a figure dressed in red, standing on the sidewalk. She was dejected, having lost all her pride. Her long hair was soaked, hanging heavily from her head. She was barefoot, holding her high- heeled shoes in her hands. She had a look of despair.

The Harkim sped up and the lady in red disappeared from view.

Lorenzo knew his boss was in a bad mood, because James never drank alone.

Just now, he had drained a second glass of wine.

Now the car was stuck on the main drag. Lorenzo wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and comforted the man. "Please don't worry, Mr. Xi. I'll turn off on a side street and bypass this mess."

"Hmm." James put a hand to his forehead in exasperation. No one could see his expression.

After turning a corner at the intersection, Lorenzo planned to take a small two-lane road. Almost no one used it.

To his surprise, the road was riddled with potholes. Although it was not as jam-packed with cars like the main street, he could only go about 20 miles an hour.

Soon, the car had to stop at a hill.

The man in the back seat frowned more deeply, looking as if he were profoundly bothered by something. He was about to pour himself another glass of wine. The woman in red fell into his view once more. The rain was coming down in buckets now. In the deluge, Maria pushed a rather full shopping trolley toward the hill, her high-heeled shoes hanging from her little finger.