Charles’ face hardened as he watched Carly pack a suitcase. Doubt twisted into anger. He lunged, yanking her belongings from the bag and scattering them across the room. "Carly, don't leave me! You're my wife!" he snarled.
Carly shoved him back, hard. Despite his boasts of superior strength, Charles stumbled. "Isabella, help me pack," Carly said, her voice firm. Isabella looked worried, but Carly reassured her, "Don't worry."
Charles, enraged by their defiance, struggled wildly. Carly, unable to hold him, grabbed a vase. He grabbed a stool. "Tell her to stop," he ordered, his voice cold.
"In your dreams," Carly sneered.
Charles spotted Ronald. "Ronald, get everything your aunt packed! They can't leave!"
"No way!" Ronald shouted, glaring. "Mom wants a divorce because you beat her! You're not a good dad!"
Charles' eyes blazed. "I'm your father! Get those things! If she leaves, you'll have no mother!"
Ronald, frightened, looked to Carly. "Don't be afraid, Ronald," she said quickly. "I'll take you with me. We'll leave Charles and start over." Ronald, reassured, darted behind Carly, shouting at Charles, "I'm going with Mom!"
Just then, Adrian and his bodyguards burst in. "Isabella? Carly?" Adrian called.
Charles panicked, lunging for Ronald to stop him opening the door. Carly intercepted him, but Charles backhanded her.
Adrian stormed in, seeing the scene unfold. He grabbed Charles, landing a powerful punch. His bodyguards swiftly subdued Charles.
Isabella rushed out, her relief evident at Adrian's arrival. "Adrian, you're here!"
She saw Carly's reddened cheek. "Carly, did he hit you again?" Isabella asked anxiously.
"I'm fine," Carly said, though her cheek stung.
Isabella turned on Charles, delivering a flurry of slaps. "Carly should've left him long ago," she muttered.
Adrian, after the dust settled, asked, "What happened?"
Carly explained everything. Adrian’s gaze fell on the defeated Charles, whose face betrayed a mixture of fear and regret.
"Pack your things. Ignore him," Adrian told Carly and Isabella.
Carly nodded. Leaving felt right. She and Isabella, helped by a relieved Ronald, began packing, the weight of years of abuse finally lifting.