Chapter 482
Adrian and Fiona had assumed they could violently humiliate Lacey to vent their frustrations, then peacefully settle into their luxurious lives as a happy, wealthy trio. They never expected to wake up to a colossal PR nightmare, becoming the biggest scandal Melvion City had ever seen.
The moment the civil registry opened, Ethan marched Lacey straight into the office. He informed the registry officials that the divorce agreement signed the previous night had been executed under extreme duress, presenting the police report as ironclad proof. The divorce was still happening, of course their relationship was damaged beyond repair, and remaining married was out of the question.
However, Ethan drafted an entirely new divorce settlement on Lacey’s behalf, demanding exactly half of all joint marital assets. Only a complete fool would walk away with absolutely nothing after enduring such abuse.
Technically, Adrian and Fiona hadn’t inflicted life-threatening physical injuries on Lacey, and the bodyguards’ assault was officially classified as an attempt. The chaos inside the Mercer mansion that night would likely be brushed off legally as a severe domestic dispute. It sparked a massive media storm, but practically speaking, the worst Adrian and Fiona faced was a brief stint in detention.
Ethan knew it was far smarter to use this leverage to secure half of the Mercer fortune for Lacey. Even if the company was currently an empty shell, it was still worth billions of dollars. With that kind of capital, Lacey’s future would be secure, and Ethan wouldn’t have to worry about her survival.
With the newly drafted papers in hand, Ethan headed to the detention center and slid them across the table to Adrian. “Sign this, and I’ll drop the charges p>
Adrian scanned the updated settlement, his eyes burning with fury. “You rebellious brat! You siphoned off seventy percent of the company’s assets, leaving behind nothing but a shell, and now you want half of what’s left p>
“Since you’re so fond of calling me a rebellious brat, I might as well live up to the title,” Ethan shot back coolly. “And for the record, those assets weren’t siphoned. They were standard business losses. I’d advise you to watch your phrasing.” Adrian ground his teeth, glaring at Ethan so hard his eyes practically bulged out of his skull, yet he couldn’t formulate a single counterargument.
“Just sign it. It’s better for you, better for me, better for everyone,” Ethan leaned in his voice dropping to a low whisper to avoid the security cameras. “Otherwise… you know what Oblivion Drops are, don’t you? Iffdecide to pull that thread you be facing a lot more than a simple misdemeanor detention p>
“I am your father! I raised you, I taught you everything, I handed you the CEO position, and this is how you repay me?” Adrian desperately tried to play the family card.
“True. Before Mara came along, you treated me decently. But the second you kicked Mira out of the house, you stopped being our father. Just the other night in the living room, didn’t you declare that your only wife is Fiona and your only child is Mara? How did you forget your own words so quickly? As for making me CEO, you only cared about my talent. You just wanted me to work myself to the bone as a tool to manage your empire. You never trusted me, and the second I stepped out of line, you were ready to kick me to the curb. We have nothing left to discuss. Sign it, Mr. Mercer p>
Ethan’s lips curled into a mocking smirk, perfectly in control of the
situation. He neatly aligned the divorce papers in front of Adrian and considerately offered him a pen. “Sign it, and you can get right back to enjoying your little family of three p>