Page 2 of The philandering husband eloped with the orphaned girl

My clarification was cut short.

Novia suddenly interrupted me, shaking Michael's arm as she purred, "Michael, I can give you children! My illness is long gone. I can have as many as you want."

Michael affectionately pinched her nose, smiling. "You've just recovered, sweetheart. I can't bear for you to go through that right now. You just need to be my little princess."

Then, he turned to me, looking utterly disdainful.

"Elma Pollitt, for the past five years, Novia has suffered so much abroad, endured so much pain. And you? All you know is to compete with her, throwing tantrums all day, not even a single word of comfort. Someone as cold and heartless as you truly doesn't deserve her kindness."

I rolled my eyes at his words, completely speechless.

For the past five years, my email had been flooded with photos and videos Novia sent from all over the world.

In those pictures, she looked rosy-cheeked and full of life. Where was the sick patient?

I had no interest in saying more. I picked up the garbage tongs beside me and waved them in front of him.

This gesture instantly scared Novia, and she started crying.

Michael looked me up and down, pinching his nose and frowning as he took a step back.

"Look at you now, a complete mess! You reek of garbage. What's the difference between you and a homeless person? So you pretended to be dignified for five years? In the end, you still came crawling back to me, didn't you?"

"Don't think bringing a child here will make me take you back or start over. We ended things the moment you impulsively blocked me."

My daughter in my arms was startled by his tone and burst into tears.

Michael's expression softened slightly, and he reached out to her. "Shh, don't cry, sweetie. Daddy will take you home. Don't stay with this crazy woman."

What he got in return was Nina's even more heartbroken scream: "I don't want you to hug me! You're not fit to be my daddy! You're a meanie who bullies Mommy! I hate you the most!"

Publicly humiliated, Michael's face instantly darkened. He glared at me and said coldly, "Is this how you raise her? She has no manners whatsoever! I lived with you for five years, no wonder you're full of flaws! My family won't acknowledge such an ill-mannered child. Don't show your face to me again until you've sorted yourself out."

No one can tolerate someone speaking ill of their child like that.

I clenched my fists and spoke coldly, "You're wrong. This isn't your daughter. She has nothing to do with you."

Michael froze for a moment.

Then he scoffed, completely uncaring. "Elma Pollitt, always so quick with your words, aren't you? I hate that fake innocent act of yours. It's disgusting."

"Still pretending at a time like this? If you don't get down on your knees and beg me, then just get lost and spare me the sight of you!"

With that, he pulled a few bills from his pocket and slapped them against my face. "Look at how poor you two look. Take this and buy yourselves some decent clothes. Don't go around embarrassing yourselves."

Then, he put his arm around Novia and walked away.

I looked down at my old, orange work uniform and couldn't help but curse his ancestors in my mind.

Michael, of course, had no idea that the T-shirt I was wearing underneath was a limited-edition design by world-renowned designer Krena, priced at a staggering one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

My daughter's cartoon jacket was also a high-end luxury brand.

As for me, I had remarried four years ago and had another child. How could I ever go back to the past?

My special ringtone rang. I collected myself and answered. A gentle, deep voice came from the other end: "My dearest wife, you must be tired from your business trip. I've arranged the lounge for you. Take the baby in and get some good rest."

"I really want to see you right now. I'll come over right after my meeting this afternoon."

My usually reserved husband was actually whining like a big kid, and my heart warmed.

After hanging up, I led my daughter to the lounge door. From inside, I heard faint, intimate sounds of heavy breathing

Pushing the door open, I saw Michael and Novia entangled on the sofa, in a very intimate embrace.

I quickly covered my daughter's eyes and ears.

Michael angrily picked up a nearby water glass and threw it at me.

"Get out! Who let you in? Is this a place for a beggar like you?!"

The glass hit my forehead, and the pain made my vision swim.

Before I could even recover,

Several project managers rushed in, politely apologizing to Michael.

"We're truly sorry, Mr. Dryden. We were negligent. We'll take her out immediately."

Furious, I shook off the person holding me and shouted, "This is *my* lounge! What right do you have to kick me out?"

The scene fell into a sudden silence.

Then, a few people started laughing.

Seeing they didn't believe me, I was about to pull out my phone to prove myself.

But Michael rushed over, snatched my phone, and violently smashed it on the floor. The screen shattered into several pieces.

Before I could speak,

He sneered coldly, "Have you been dreaming for too long? Is your mind not clear? This lounge is exclusively for Richard Bill, one of the wealthiest men in the country. Even I can only sit here to discuss business. Who do you think you are, spouting such nonsense?"

"You've gone this far to seduce me. You really have no shame."

A few stout middle-aged men eyed me with strange looks.

"Mr. Dryden, who is this woman?"

Michael chuckled coldly, casually saying, "Don't know her. But looking at her, she's probably selling herself, isn't she?"

Novia leaned against him, giggling, her fingers tracing circles on his chest. "Michael, you're so mean to my sister."

After hearing Michael ruthlessly humiliate me,

The project managers' faces immediately twisted with disgust. A barrage of nasty comments followed.

"This kind of woman actually dares to come here and seduce Mr. Dryden, and with a child! She has no shame. Be careful not to catch anything."

"With your pathetic appearance, you can't do anything else. You might as well go beg for food."

"We've seen plenty of women like you. They're full of tricks, willing to do anything for money. If Mr. Dryden doesn't want her, you can give her to me to play with. I haven't seen a piece of trash like this in ages."

I kept my daughter tightly hugged, not letting her hear those vulgar words.

"Don't go too far! There's a child here!"

But it still scared Nina. The little girl cried out.

Michael seemed to think it had gone a bit too far. His face darkened, and he roared, "Who told you to talk like that? Are you looking to die?!"

The men exchanged glances and quickly shut up.

I ignored him, focusing on comforting my daughter in my arms.

Just as I finally managed to calm her down,

I looked up and saw Michael staring at me thoughtfully, a hint of complexity in his eyes.

He seemed about to say something, but Novia spoke first, putting on a generous and gentle facade:

"Sister Elma, it must have been hard for you raising a child alone all these years. My body is still recovering, and I just happen to need a nanny. Why don't you come and take care of me? I'll pay you two thousand five hundred a month. It's much better than picking up trash outside."

As soon as she finished speaking, Michael pulled her close and kissed her deeply on the lips.

"Novia, you're so considerate. You really break my heart."

Novia blushed and buried her head in his chest.

Watching them being so sickeningly sweet, I felt goosebumps all over my body. Suppressing my disgust, I refused:

"Thank you for your kind offer, but I really like my current job."

With that, I ignored Michael's grim face, hugged my daughter, and walked straight out.

These two lunatics. If I can't deal with them, I can at least avoid them, right?

Behind me, I heard the sound of things smashing, mixed with Michael's furious roar:

"Elma Pollitt, are you really that useless? You're still a complete failure, aren't you? And you still think you can remarry me? No way!"

I slammed the door shut.