Chapter 2

"Bethany, stop it. Everyone is heartbroken over Jeffry, but you can't ruin the lives of so many people just because of a rash decision."

He lowered his voice, leaning closer to me, "I've already deleted the video. Vivian is still young. If she's labeled a murderer, her life was ruined. We've already lost our son. Can you bear to destroy an innocent girl's life too?"

I shook off his hand in disbelief, trembling all over. "Innocent? You said she was innocent? Our son is dead, murdered. And your first reaction is to console the murderer!"

The crowd fell silent for a moment.

Gerald's expression shifted slightly but he quickly regained his composure. "Bethany, you're too emotional. Little lion is usually so gentle. This was just an accident. Maybe our son had something on him that triggered it. You can't ..."

"An accident?" I scoffed, "Then why was the surveillance footage deleted during that time? Why was the cage broken and no one reported it? Why was a substance found on our son's body that could provoke the lion? You know he was usually allergic to perfumes. And why did Vivian just happen to visit the vet shop the night before?"

Vivian's face turned pale in an instant.

"Enough!" Gerald suddenly raised his voice, turning to the onlookers. "My wife has been having mental issues since the incident with our child..."

I interrupted him, "Let's get a divorce. I'll find a way to recover the surveillance footage. See you in court tomorrow."

"Divorce?" Gerald responded as if he'd heard a ridiculous joke. "Bethany, your family isn't what it used to be. Your parents have gone bankrupt and fled abroad. How will you survive without me? If you keep causing trouble, I have countless ways to silence you!"

He said my parents were abroad. He was right, but that was because they had found better business opportunities abroad and were investing in hundreds of factories and farms.

The wealth they had accumulated could support our family for a hundred lifetimes.

Not to mention 108 powerful allies they supported, who were influential in various industries and loved me dearly.

I had already sent them a message, and they would be here soon to help me.

I let out a cold laugh and walked away.

In the car, I called the nominal big boss of the zoo to fire everyone and replace them with competent people.

I had turned a blind eye to Gerald getting his relatives in through the back door, and they all followed the fake boss Gerald blindly.

If they couldn't distinguish between the real and fake boss, there was no need for them to stay.

But I underestimated Gerald's despicability.

...

When I went to the crematorium to collect Jeffry's ashes, the staff handed me a receipt. "Mr. Davis collected them half an hour ago."

I stared at Gerald's signature, my nails digging deep into my palms.

When I stepped into the villa, Vivian was enjoying grapes together with Gerald.

"Give me back Jeffry's ashes." I threw the divorce agreement fiercely at Gerald's face, "Sign it, and I might consider leaving you a way out. Otherwise, I'll expose all your dirty secrets and ruin both of you!"

Gerald's face darkened, and he grabbed my throat forcefully. "Do you really have to divorce me? I've told you it's a misunderstanding. And, we can have another child!"

I struggled violently, the hatred and murderous intent in my eyes almost tangible.

Gerald clenched his fists, contemplated for a few seconds, then let out a cold laugh. "We can get a divorce."

Suddenly, he picked up glasses on the table, smashing them onto the floor one after another, creating a barrier of shattered glass. "I will never agree, unless you crawl through the glass shards to reach me."