My Reborn Apocalypse Begins with a Divorce novel Chapter 23

“The moment Zac’s wife learned what had happened, she stormed into the hospital. Maybe it was because she couldn’t have children of her own–when she saw Michael, she lost control.

“Michael, never one to hold his tongue, pointed at her and started cursing.

“Enraged, she lashed out, and in that instant of chaos, she pushed him down the staircase. Michael died on the spot.

“Afterward, Zac’s family tried everything to win forgiveness for his wife and lighten her punishment. They offered half a million in compensation, and Lauren accepted it.

“Still, Zac didn’t come out of this unscathed. His wife divorced him immediately and he got fired from the hospital. Seems his father–in–law has it in for him now. Things won’t be looking good for him from here on out.”

Ray was stunned.

So the Gantt family–no, Lauren–had found a way to get the money after all.

He let out a soft, humorless chuckle. He thought, ‘Fine. Let’s see how this plays out. One by one, I’ll make them pay.‘

“Got it,” he said simply, hanging up.

Then he set the phone aside and returned to his workout.

When he finished, he walked past Keisha, who watched him leave with visible disappointment.

At the Gantt household, Max perked up the moment his sister stepped out of her room to pick up a delivery.

“Lauren, why bother ordering takeout? Just tell me what you want to

clean anyway, and it takes forever.”

“Yeah, let Max run the errand,” their father, Josh, chimed in quickly.

eat and I’ll go get it for you! Takeout’s not

After all, their daughter now had half a million in compensation money. Even after paying off Ray, there’d still be 295,000 dollars left. Max’s future marriage depended on that money.

Lauren didn’t even glance at them. She took the takeout box and disappeared back into her room witi.

word.

“Damn it,” Max muttered, clenching his fists. He’d been swallowing his pride for two days straight, and still, she wouldn’t give him the slightest bit of warmth.

“Watch your mouth–that’s your sister,” Josh scolded, giving him a light smack on the head. “Think about it. We threw her out, cut her off, said she wasn’t part of this family. And now that there’s money involved, we drag her back. Would you be happy?”

He sighed. “Be patient. Butter her up. If you don’t, you’ll be paying for your own wedding.”

Max lowered his head and muttered his reluctant agreement.

Inside her room, Lauren ate in silence, her thoughts swirling, her eyes dark and cold.

Everyone thought Michael’s death was an accident–a moment of madness from Zac’s wife.

Chapter 23

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But that wasn’t the truth.

She was the one who had called Zac’s wife. During that call, she had spat out the most venomous words she could think of, taunting the woman’s infertility, stabbing at her deepest wound.

And she’d shown her son a photo of the woman beforehand, telling him that if he saw her, he should curse her as a barren hag.

It wasn’t an accident. It was a carefully laid trap.

“Zac,” she whispered through clenched teeth, tears rolling down her cheeks. “You betrayed me first.”

After a moment, her expression softened. Then a smile crept across her face.

“Now that Michael’s gone, there’s nothing standing between Ray and me. If I go to him and tell him I’ll give him a child, he’ll take me back.”

Her gaze gleamed.

She murmured. “I’m not giving 40 million up. Never.”