Chapter 4 Went Down With My Miserable Marriage

Joshua never anticipated the drastic transformation in his usually compliant and manipulable wife.

Adorned in chic, sexy clothing, Leanna had strode from the Koenigsegg across the dusty path with a newfound arrogance, a stark contrast to the domesticated housewife Joshua knew.

"Quit daydreaming!" Joshua snapped, his expression darkening. "Enough, Leanna. Stop playing these games to capture my attention."

His glare was a warning. "Your tricks only make me despise you more."

For the first time, Leanna had found Joshua's self-righteous demeanor amusing.

"Don't bring up personal feelings in a conversation about money. Don't you feel sick?" Leanna smirked at the duo and addressed Joshua sharply, "If you were so devoted to Renee, why didn't you follow her abroad back then? Why did you stay and marry me? Was your love not potent enough?"

Joshua, struck deeply by her words, quickly responded, "You know my grandpa used the Griffiths Group to threaten me. How else could I stand by and watch Renee leave..."

"So, it all boils down to money, doesn't it?" Leanna interrupted him sharply. "Your so-called true love can't compete with being the heir to the Griffiths Group, can it?"

Leanna chuckled mockingly. "Joshua, stop playing the part of the loyal lover!"

Exposed in front of everyone, Joshua's cheeks flamed with embarrassment.

Renee quickly came to his defense with a thoughtful tone. "Leanna, there's no need to work so hard at driving a wedge between Joshua and me. He has his reasons."

Renee then locked eyes with Leanna, her gaze meaningful and provoking. "Leanna, I'm well aware you're trying to sabotage my relationship with Joshua just to get more share of the Griffiths family's assets. Wasn't that your motive for marrying him?"

With these words hanging in the air, Joshua's contempt for Leanna grew, and he scoffed. "I knew it! You're always greedy. A million has already been deposited into your account, and that Audi will soon be in your name. The Griffiths family can easily handle that. We're not some insignificant, petty family like yours..."

"That's mere pocket change!" Leanna retorted sharply, giving little regard for Joshua's reputation by confronting him. "You're a billionaire. Considering our joint marital assets, plus all the cars and houses, I should be claiming at least five hundred million. Who are you trying to fool with that second-hand Audi from your sister?"

Leanna's gaze then cut sharply to Renee, who instinctively recoiled. "If I'm not wrong, that necklace adorning your little sweetheart over there is worth over a million, isn't it?"

Joshua, positioning himself protectively in front of Renee, snapped, "Don't you find your greed repulsive, Leanna? Renee's necklace was a gift from me. She embodies purity and kindness, unlike you, who only have eyes for wealth!"

Leanna shot back with a dismissive nod, "So, you refuse to pay, is that it?"

With those words, she spun around and climbed back into the Koenigsegg.

As everyone looked on, puzzled by her actions, the silence was broken by the thunderous sound of the sports car's engine revving to life, vibrating through the air.

The sleek black supercar surged forward like a swift arrow, barreling up the deserted steps directly toward the stage. "Bam!"

Caught off-guard, Joshua and Renee were showered in a spray of wooden splinters.

Renee let out a sharp scream, while Joshua, fighting back his own panic, yelled at Leanna, "Leanna, if you pull another stunt like this, I won't let it slide..."

Unperturbed, Leanna ignored his threats. She threw the car into reverse, narrowly avoiding a collision with the stage. "Joshua, I'll ask you once more. Are you going to split the assets, or not?" she called out, her voice cutting through the tension.

The engine's roar drained the color from Joshua's face. Crushed between the aggressive car and Leanna's forceful presence, he forgot any thoughts of escape. He had intended to call for security, only to discover they had vanished with the fleeing crowd.

Now, only the three of them remained in this standoff.

Joshua felt Leanna had lost her mind!

Leanna relished the terror etched on Joshua's and Renee's faces, her lips twisting into a satisfied grin.

As the engine's growl intensified, the car, under Joshua's horrified gaze, charged toward the stage once more! "Fine! I agree to the split!"

The car halted mere inches from the stage, its front bumper almost brushing it.

With a forceful kick, Leanna flung open the now battered car door, stepped out with poise, and stood with her arms crossed, facing the trembling duo.

Joshua inhaled deeply, struggling to regain his composure. "But you must wait until next week. It's my grandpa's birthday this weekend. We can't break the news of our divorce just yet."

Fairly speaking, Richard had always shown kindness to Leanna, and she had no desire to sour his birthday celebration.

Leanna shrugged and remarked, "Just make sure you keep your promise today. With so many eyes on us, the heir to Griffiths Group surely wouldn't dare retract his word, right?"

Joshua clenched his teeth in frustration, unable to argue with her words.

Leanna advanced a couple of steps, her gaze sweeping past Renee and fixing on Joshua with a slight click of her tongue. "You know, the car was already a wreck after smashing into the stage the first time. I was merely revving the engine to spook you. It couldn't make another collision."

Joshua's eyes widened in shock.

Leanna's eyebrow arched, a clear hint of sarcasm in her gaze. "Such a fine car wasted on someone like you."

Without another glance their way, Leanna walked out the door.

Joshua stood there, momentarily stunned. The day's events had unfolded too rapidly, leaving him no time to digest them. It was only now, watching Leanna leave, that he began to suspect his seemingly mundane wife of three years might be more than she appeared.

"It's all my fault, Joshua. If you hadn't been trying to protect me, you never would have caved to such absurd demands!" Renee's voice broke as she grasped Joshua's collar, her tears pulling his focus back to her.

Joshua wrapped his arms around Renee, comforting her softly. "This isn't on you. It's that greedy woman's fault. I was caught off guard, and she exploited that."

Renee gazed up at him, her eyes swimming with tears. "What should we do now? You've poured your heart into building the wealth of the Griffiths Group, and she hasn't put in anything. Why does she deserve half?"

Renee then bit her lip. "I'll stand by you regardless, Joshua, but it's unbearable to watch this unfold. And if your mother and sister hear about this, they'll lose it."

Joshua scoffed. "Even though I have agreed, it's not as simple as her just taking it."

Outside the chaotic theater, Leanna dialed Sloane's number. "Can you pick me up at Sanctity Theater?"

On the other end, Sloane sounded puzzled. "I thought you took the Koenigsegg to file for divorce?"

Leanna glanced at her hand, noticing a scratch from the earlier crash. The wound was superficial but spread wide, now starting to bleed, staining her hand. "It went down with my miserable marriage."