Chapter 9: The Price of a Prenup

“No worries, I’ll be living in a small house from now on.”

“What are you talking about? Easton makes billions! Even after three years of marriage, you should be getting at least a billion from the divorce!” Maya was eager to investigate Easton’s assets, fearing he might hide them and leave Ellis with nothing.

“I won’t be getting anything. We signed a prenuptial agreement, so if we divorce, I leave with nothing,” Ellis said, already thinking about how to make a living on her own.

“What!” Maya was shocked. “I knew it! I had a feeling something was up. You didn’t just become Easton’s wife because his mother liked you! Easton had this all planned out from the start, didn’t he? He set it up so he could leave you with nothing after a few years.”

Ellis had indeed become Mrs. Hudson with Sophia’s help. Sophia had only Easton as her son and had always regretted not having a daughter. When she met Ellis, she instantly took a liking to her and treated her with affection as if she were her own.

Maya couldn’t help but scoff. “There’s not a single decent person in the Hudson family! Easton’s mom acted like she was thrilled to have you as a daughter-in-law, but when you were kidnapped and ended up in the hospital, she didn’t even check on you! And don’t get me started on your adoptive mother; she’s selfish…”

Maya stopped herself from going too far.

“Mom and Aunt Emma are on vacation abroad. They don’t know what happened to me,” Ellis said, explaining that she’d kept in touch with them while they were away and had spoken on the phone two days ago. They hadn’t heard about her kidnapping, and she didn’t want to worry them, so she kept it to herself.

The most important thing was that she hadn’t figured out how to tell them about her upcoming divorce with Easton. It was a big deal for both of them, and she wasn’t ready to share it yet.

By the time they returned, the divorce would be finalized, and Ellis hoped she’d have a good way to explain it.

At Hudson Group headquarters…

Jackson had just picked up a document on the first floor and was about to head back to the top floor when he unexpectedly spotted a familiar face he hadn’t seen in days. It was Ellis.

He looked surprised. “Mrs. Hudson, you’re feeling better and out of the hospital?”

“Yes,” Ellis responded with a polite nod.

But Jackson could see that she still looked exhausted and worn out.

Ellis locked eyes with Jackson and instantly knew what he was thinking. She was used to the high life Easton had given her, and now, suddenly transitioning to a simpler, more modest life was challenging. Last night, as she lay on an uncomfortable bed, staring at a small room, she found herself unable to sleep. Tossing and turning, she only managed to get a little rest just before dawn.

Chapter 9: The Price of a Prenup

Jackson asked, “Are you here to see Mr. Easton or returning to work?”

Though they held the same position in the company, Ellis’s role was more superficial. She lacked Jackson’s experience and hadn’t put much effort into the job, and with her title as Easton’s wife, there were always people ready to take on her work. This slowed her professional growth, making her less capable of handling significant tasks. Essentially, the company functions fine without her.

Ellis didn’t respond to his question and stepped silently into the elevator. Her silence was an answer in itself. Jackson didn’t press further and followed her in.

“Is Easton in his office?” Ellis finally spoke as they ascended.

After a moment of thought, Jackson replied, “Mr. Easton is in a meeting with the senior team.”

When they reached their floor, Jackson watched as Ellis headed straight for Easton’s office. Something seemed off. She was far too composed. It was as if the recent kidnapping and the fact that Easton was seeing his former fiancée didn’t affect her at all. Didn’t she have any emotions about this?

Contrary to Jackson’s assumption, Ellis was far from calm. Spread everywhere, along with Maya’s account of her and Victoria’s kidnapping, were malicious rumors. Ellis had tried hard to ignore the talk, but every time she went out, the stares and silent judgments were impossible to miss. People clearly knew what had happened and seemed to relish her misfortune.

In comparison, Jackson’s behavior was almost normal. He didn’t look at her with pity or glee, unlike many others who seemed to be waiting for her to be humiliated and thrown out by Easton.

She looked around the office, and her gaze stopped on the photo on the desk. It was their wedding picture. In it, she beamed with happiness, while Easton’s cold and distant expression stood in stark contrast. The photo, once a cherished memory, now felt like a cruel reminder of her blind devotion.

Their marriage had always been one-sided. Easton hadn’t even wanted to acknowledge her as his girlfriend at first. She was simply a secret lover, allowed in his bed only when he permitted it. Without his consent, she couldn’t even get close to him.

Tired of waiting for Easton to finish his meeting, Ellis decided to submit her resignation through the company’s internal system. She then headed to her office to start packing her things.

22:30 Thu, 6 Mar

Chapter 10: Ellis’ Realization