Chapter 280 Threatened
After Gregory left, Stephen downed his drink in one gulp and slumped back on the sofa, lost in thought.
His vision gradually blurred, and a delicate figure appeared before him.
Unconsciously, he reached out his hand, murmuring, "Michelle."
But as soon as he extended his hand, he grasped nothing, and the figure vanished, leaving his palm empty.
His eyes involuntarily grew moist, and his voice choked. "Michelle, how could you be so cruel to leave me like this? I still have so much to say to you."
Just then, his phone rang abruptly, and Stephen impatiently hung up.
However, it wasn't long before the phone rang again.
He picked up the phone, glanced at the caller ID, and answered with a voice so cold it was as if the person on the other end wasn't his wife but an enemy.
"What do you want?" Stephen spoke up.
Elaine felt a pang in her chest, and a surge of anger welled up inside her. "Stephen, where have you gone again? It was bad enough when you didn't come back before, but now you're back and still not home. Anyone would think you were dead!"
Normally, if Stephen heard this, he would have returned quickly.
But perhaps the alcohol had amplified his irritation and loathing for Elaine several times over.
He sneered, "Go back for what? To listen to you complain and bring Olivia back?"
After nearly thirty years of marriage, Stephen knew Elaine all too well.
Elaine's heart was solely with the White family. Ever since her brother passed away, she had been brainwashed by her parents into resolutely bringing Olivia over to care for her, loving her even more than her own daughter.
She spared no resources or money on Olivia, determined to groom her into a socialite.
She even had designs on Gregory.
If Gregory hadn't been so independent and moved out, he might have been teaching Olivia how to manipulate men by now.
Elaine was momentarily stunned, then roared in anger, "Stephen, you're too much! How dare you talk to me like that! I'm warning you, bring Olivia back from the countryside within three days, or else the things I have might get out."
"Elaine, you wouldn't dare!" Stephen sobered up considerably, sitting up abruptly.
Elaine laughed triumphantly. "If you don't comply, just watch if I dare! Stephen, that bitch Michelle is dead, and you still think about her. I won't let you have your way!"
Stephen clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles cracking, and the veins on his forehead bulging with anger. "Elaine, you're asking for it!"
Elaine, however, wasn't afraid in the slightest. Instead, she became even more brazen, threatening, "Now I've changed my mind. Not only do I want you to bring Olivia back, but I also want you to help her marry into a wealthy family."
Gregory was out of the question, but didn't he have two good friends?
She had already looked into the Clark family and found them quite suitable. Although the Clark family's power didn't match the White family's, Henry was young and promising.
The only downside was that Henry was too much of a playboy, constantly involved in scandals.
But that didn't matter. How many children from wealthy families were truly clean?
As long as Olivia bore an heir to a wealthy family, she would have riches and honor. Who would care if the man had affairs?
Stephen's temples throbbed, and he suppressed his anger, shouting, "Enough! This time, I won't help you. Besides, let's find a time to finalize the divorce."
Over the years, he had had enough of Elaine's threats and didn't want to continue any longer.
Elaine had been waiting for Stephen to apologize, but she hadn't expected him to bring up divorce this time.
She stared in shock, finding it hard to believe. "What did you say? Divorce?"
Her voice was sharp and piercing, as if it could burst eardrums.
Stephen held the phone away, frowning in disgust.
Elaine screamed into the phone, "I don't agree! Stephen, you bastard! I've put so much effort into this family over the years, and you dare to mention divorce! Aren't you afraid I'll release the video?"
Stephen replied, "If you have the guts, go ahead. But I warn you, you should know Gregory's methods. If he gets angry, do you think you'd still be alive now?"
After hanging up, Stephen immediately turned off his phone and tossed it aside.
Over the years, he had been suppressing himself for too long.
He didn't marry Elaine out of love; she took advantage of him when he was drunk and had an inappropriate relationship with him.
Originally, he had given Elaine a large sum of money to buy contraceptives, but she took the money and didn't take the pills.
Two months later, she came to him, claiming she was pregnant with his child.
At that time, he was focused on his career and was pressured by Grace to get married, so he had no choice but to marry Elaine.
But later, he met Michelle and was deeply attracted to her, unable to extricate himself.
He knew he was married, so he always behaved properly and never crossed any lines. Moreover, Michelle was already married to David, so he could only keep all his admiration in his heart.
But Elaine found out about it.
Since then, she had been relentlessly causing trouble for Michelle, ruining her reputation in high society, and making her an outcast among wealthy women.
Later on, something happened that made Stephen feel guilty for the rest of his life.
He still couldn't forgive himself.
Elaine, unhappy with his interactions with Michelle, secretly invited Michelle out in his name.
She drugged Michelle's drink and had a man rape her.
Afterward, Elaine said she had recorded the video and threatened to release it if he ever mentioned divorce, ruining Michelle's reputation.
Since then, Elaine had used the video to force him to cut ties with Michelle.
Every time he brought up divorce, Elaine would use the same threat.
At that time, he feared the video would destroy Michelle's reputation, so he endured it.
After Michelle passed away, he transferred all his love for Michelle to Abigail, treating her like his own daughter.
But this behavior displeased Elaine.
He had no choice but to use business trips as an excuse to gradually distance himself from Abigail.
For 20 years, he had had enough of this life.
Meanwhile, Gregory had also found out about the incident.
Henry complained, "Elaine is truly a venomous woman, so ruthless. Just because she was jealous of Michelle and suspected Stephen of having an improper relationship with her, she had someone..."
He paused suddenly. "This timing..."
Halfway through, Henry quickly covered his mouth, not daring to continue.
He feared Gregory would tear his mouth apart.
Gregory gripped his phone tightly, his knuckles and nails turning white, exuding a terrifying aura.
'Elaine, how dare she?'
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