Chapter 3
I glanced at my arm where her nails had broken the skin. My fair complexion would make the marks instantly visible to Hudson.
With his protective nature, I worried what extreme reaction he might have. So I turned to leave.
But James stepped in front of me, blocking my path.
He helped the tearful Harper to her feet and glared at me. “Claire, apologize. Now.”
My whole body tensed as memories flooded back.
Once, I’d accidentally added too much oil to dinner. Harper had burst into tears, claiming I was jealous of her figure and trying to make her gain weight.
Without hesitation, James had forced me to my knees, demanding I apologize to her.
Those vivid memories made my nails dig into my palms.
But things were different now. I refused to be anyone’s punching bag.
I let out a scornful laugh. “In your dreams.”
Seeing Harper wipe away tears, Tyler shouted at me in disappointment:
“You’re so cruel and you never change! I don’t have a mother like you!”
He’d said this many times before.
I’d had a difficult pregnancy with him, which made me especially tender–hearted toward him.
That’s why I’d silently agreed to his rudest demands before.
Yet he still thought he could manipulate me this way now.
Looking at his defiant, smug face, I replied flatly:
“Whatever. You have more than one mom anyway.”
Tyler froze in place.
He opened his mouth nervously, tears welling in his eyes.
Then anger took over. He yanked off the charm necklace he was wearing and threw it into the sea.
He burst into tears. “I don’t want you anymore! You’re a bad woman!”
I felt momentarily disoriented–I’d had that charm blessed for him when he was six.
He’d always complained about wearing it and often left it at home.
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Trash Husband, Billionaire Upgrade: Dumping the Fake for Real Love
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Chapter 3
Now suddenly he was wearing it close to his heart?
Harper hugged him, comforting him tenderly.
“Tyler, I’ll be your mom from now on. That trash doesn’t deserve to be your mother.”
She turned to me, a calculating gleam in her eyes. Her voice turned menacing:
“Claire, you’re not wearing an entry badge. Bought a scalped ticket, did you? I was going to let it slide, but since you’re so shameless, don’t blame me for what happens next.”
She raised her hand to summon security.
I didn’t move an inch. What a joke. This yacht was registered in my name–Hudson’s gift to me. I’d like to see anyone try to touch me.
Suddenly, a hand firmly pushed Harper’s arm down.
James gave me a complicated look, then turned to whisper something to Harper.
She stared at him in disbelief, her face full of resentment.
Finally, she nodded reluctantly.
James’s expression softened as he turned back to speak to me.
But Harper suddenly threw her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his. James hesitated, instinctively glancing at me.
Seeing no reaction in my eyes, his gaze darkened, and he turned to kiss her back forcefully.
Just then, my phone rang.
Before I could answer, James’s eyes lit up with excitement. “You never changed it?”
I paused, about to ask what he meant, then remembered.
This ring song had been “our song” when we were together.
I’d kept it simply because I liked it.
But James clearly misunderstood. His eyes sparkled like he wanted to tell me something.
I just ignored him and answered the call.
Hudson’s magnetic voice came through. “Claire, where are you? The show’s about to start, and we need to make our opening
remarks.”
I smiled involuntarily, responding softly. “Mmm. I’m coming now. Talk later.”
Before my smile could fade, a hand clamped around my wrist.
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Trash Husband, Billionaire Upgrade: Dumping the Fake for Real Love
