The Billionaire Wife They Looked Down On

Maxwell forbade me from attending Ethan's parent-teacher conference.

He said coldly, You've worked as a mortuary makeup artist for so long, you reek of death. Ethan needs a respectable mother.

After the conference ended, my son brought Maxwell's first love, Sophia Clarke, home with him.

Miss Clarke, I really wish you were my mom.

When he saw me, Ethan's face hardened.

"Why are you here? My parent-teacher conference is already over."

I twisted the strap of my purse, only managing to squeeze out: "Why don't you want your mom..."

Ethan frowned. "Because you're really embarrassing. You always smell weird..."

My heart went cold in that instant.

Looking at the identical disgust on father and son's faces, exhaustion finally washed over me.

My son shoved me. "Leave! I don't want you in my house!"

I looked at his contemptuous eyes, feeling a sharp pain in my chest.

A tear fell as I said softly, "Fine. I'll leave your house."

I thought, it's time to return to my own home.

Maxwell didn't know that the daughter of the Sinclair family who'd once helped his company go public with a single word---that was me.

Ethan suddenly scoffed. "Don't think I don't know what you're doing---playing hard to get!"

"You obviously want to go to the conference, but you're pretending you don't care to force us to let you go."

My movement toward the door froze, my heart stinging from his words.

I gripped the purse strap tightly, my voice hoarse. "Who taught you that?"

Ethan hid behind Sophia, sticking his tongue out at me. "Bleh! I called you out, didn't I!"

But when he looked up, he froze.

My face showed none of the hurt I'd previously displayed when hearing such words, none of the anger at being mocked by my own son.

Only the calm of someone assessing whether something was worth taking with them.

Ethan felt a bit guilty, his grip on Sophia's fingers tightening. "You... just tell me if I'm right or not!"

Maxwell sighed, taking the purse from my hands and closing the door behind him. "That's enough. Why argue with your own son?"

"Stop playing these little games from now on. You're getting older---doing this just makes people think you're low-class."

"You spend all day at the mortuary dealing with corpses. You don't understand high society matters. I'm protecting you."

"Look, whether it's me, Ethan, or even Sophia---we're all working hard for the Maxwell family's future. And you? You're resorting to these underhanded tricks."

Listening to him, I felt increasingly exhausted. I suddenly realized the high heels on my feet were too tight.

I'd worn them specifically for Ethan's parent-teacher conference. I couldn't find the right size, so I'd forced my feet into them.

Just like this family. Looking at the identical disgust on father and son's faces, I suddenly realized I could no longer squeeze myself in.

I changed out of the heels and casually tossed them in the trash.

And this family I couldn't squeeze into---I would leave it too.

Silence spread between us. Sophia smiled, trying to smooth things over. "Summer, you should be more understanding of Maxwell. With such a wonderful husband, what are you even upset about?"

She continued, "Maxwell, don't be so angry either. Summer isn't a bad person. At least she doesn't take money to send to her family, right?"

Maxwell laughed derisively. "She doesn't want to send money to her family? She doesn't have a family to send it to!"

My heart clenched painfully. When I first got together with Maxwell, I'd told him I wasn't in contact with my family to hide my identity.

He'd held me and comforted me: "It's okay, Summer. We'll have our own family."

Back then, he was so earnest, so sincere.

But now, he was using it as a weapon to hurt me.

I looked up at him sharply, my voice cold. "Maxwell, do you know what you're saying?"

Maxwell said harshly, "Aren't I right? Your parents are dead. Without me, you'd have nowhere to go!"

Even though I no longer cared, the more beautiful the past had been, the sharper the blade piercing my heart now.

My voice was hoarse. "Is that really what you think?"

Maxwell tossed me a bank card. "Fine, it's about money, isn't it? I'm giving you money. There's five thousand in this card. Are you satisfied now?"

The card hit my forehead, leaving a bloody scratch. I said coldly, "Maxwell, you think five thousand is some grand favor?"

My gaze fell on the purse in Sophia's hands.

Maxwell had bought it to "thank" her for attending Ethan's conference.

The spending requirement to even purchase it was a million dollars.

Yet I, his lawfully wedded wife, was only worth five thousand.

I couldn't help remembering when Maxwell and I first got married, how he'd sworn to me countless times: "Summer, when I make money, I'll spend it all on you! I'll never spend a penny on another woman!"

Now, it seemed only I remembered.

I took a deep breath and reached for my purse again.

There was no point in saying anything more.

Leaving like this might be my best choice.

Maxwell's face darkened as he snatched the bag away. "What are you doing?"

"I'm leaving."

Maxwell's temple throbbed. He threatened me: "Summer Sinclair, if you walk out that door, this family won't take you back!"

"I couldn't ask for anything better."

I pushed the door open and walked out.

But the moment I opened the door, the pollen filling the courtyard made me cough violently.

The yard was full of roses, and I was allergic to pollen. A suffocating sensation overwhelmed me.

My hands trembled as I reached into my bag for my allergy medication, but Ethan suddenly snatched my bag away.

"Give me... the medicine!"

I gasped for air, but my lungs felt like they couldn't take any in.

My vision blackened as I collapsed on the ground, feeling like my throat was being strangled.

Sophia's face still wore that gentle, innocent smile. "Sorry, Summer. I just mentioned I liked roses. I didn't expect Maxwell to actually prepare them for me."

I coughed violently, barely able to speak.

Ethan took out my allergy medication. I reached for it with trembling hands, but he stepped back. "You have to apologize to Miss Clarke, Dad, and me first. Then I'll give it to you!"

I looked at him in disbelief. I'd always thought that even if this child favored Sophia, at least I'd taught him basic morality.

But now I realized---perhaps the inherited defects of father and son could never be eliminated through education.

A tear slid down my face. I couldn't help but want to laugh bitterly.

To give birth to Ethan, I'd received three rounds of medication to prevent miscarriage, and even had my uterus removed due to a difficult delivery...

I once thought it was all worth it. But now I saw---it wasn't.

At this point, I suddenly felt all arguments had lost their meaning.

"I'm... sorry..."

My nails dug into my palms, but I felt no pain---only relief.

Let this apology be a period, ending everything.

After I struggled to say it, Ethan handed me the medicine. The next moment, he ran to Sophia's side as if seeking praise. "Miss Clarke, Im a big boy! I protected you!"

I watched his proud expression, my thoughts drifting back to last year's Mother's Day when he gave me flowers and I had an allergic reaction too.

Back then, Maxwell anxiously took me to the hospital, and Ethan stayed by my side, tears dropping onto my arm. "Mom, I'm sorry... From now on, Ethan will be your knight and protect you. I'll never let you see a single flower again!"

But now, looking at the roses blooming in the garden outside, I understood---this family had long ceased to be my family.

In this family of three, there had been no place for me for a long time.

I got up to leave, but Maxwell grabbed me and pulled me back inside.

"Don't run off. You haven't made Ethan's evening calming soup yet. Make his stomach medicine first, then you can go."

I looked at the medicine soaking in cold water, slightly dazed.

Ethan was a premature baby. For his health, I gave him tonics every day.

This calming soup was extremely labor-intensive. It had to be stirred every ten minutes, simmered for four hours total---twenty-four stirs.

The previous housekeeper quit because it was too troublesome. After that, I did everything myself.

Sophia said insincerely, "Summer, let me help you."

But Ethan and Maxwell pulled her back from both sides. "Miss Clarke, don't go. It's really hard to make. I don't want you to suffer."

"Sophia, your hands aren't meant for this kind of work. You and she aren't the same kind of person."

Sophia gave me a playful smile. "Well, I guess I can't help then. Sorry to trouble you, Summer."

So what kind of person am I? So I deserve to suffer like this?

The suppressed emotions finally erupted like a volcano. I grabbed the pot of medicine and dumped it into the sink. Water splashed everywhere as panic flashed in Maxwell's eyes.

Sophia dramatically gasped. "Oh my! Summer, what are you doing? Those medicine are expensive!"

But when she raised her hand, the watch on her wrist caught my attention.

It was my and Maxwell's token of love.

It was also my parents' token of love.

I rushed forward to grab the watch. The room's air conditioning was on full blast, but I suddenly felt hot all over.

"Give it back!"

Maxwell pulled Sophia protectively behind him. "What are you making a fuss about now? It's just a watch. Sophia has helped the Maxwell family so much. Can't she wear it?"

I stared at him intently. "Is it just a watch?"

"I told you---that was my parents' token of love. My father had it specially designed. It's worth over a hundred million."

"When he gave it to me, he said I could only give it to my husband!"

"Maxwell, tell me---is this just a watch?"

I stared into his eyes, wanting to see even a trace, even the slightest bit of remorse. But I found none---only disgust and impatience.

Sophia suddenly laughed. "Hahaha, sorry... Summer, I really couldn't hold it in."

"You're a mortuary makeup artist, and your family could afford a watch worth over a hundred million? Sorry, hahaha, that's hilarious."

Maxwell's face flushed with anger. "How long are you going to keep this up? You're just a makeup artist who works on corpses at a mortuary. No matter what you say, you're still at the bottom of society!"

Ethan made a face at me too. "Mom's lying, shame on Mom!"

Overwhelming humiliation crashed down on me. To marry Maxwell, I'd transformed from a pampered heiress who'd never lifted a finger into their servant, enduring hardships I'd never experienced in my first twenty-five years.

But now I finally realized---continuing here had no meaning.

My devotion meant nothing to them.

Sophia laughed as she removed the watch and handed it to me. "Okay, Summer, no need to be so dramatic. I'll give it back to you."

But when I reached to take it, she suddenly let go. The watch fell into the drain.

"Oops, Summer, I'm so sorry."

"Tell you what, I'll give you fifty---no, a hundred dollars. You can buy a new one."

Maxwell sneered. "Why give her that much? She calls cheap knockoffs worth a hundred million. If you really give her a hundred bucks, she'll probably claim she bought one of the world's top ten luxury watches."

Perhaps because my anger had reached its peak, I actually calmed down instead.

I gripped the edge of the sink, staring at the drain for three seconds. The sound of water was soft, but it felt like something had completely shattered.

My hands trembled, but I didn't cry.

I finally understood---there was no point in continuing this entanglement.

But before I could speak, Maxwell checked his watch. "I don't have time for your drama tonight. I have an evening gala to attend with family. Sophia, Ethan, and I are leaving. You stay home and clean up."

With that, the three of them left.

I leaned against the sink, taking several deep breaths before barely steadying my emotions.

I pulled out my phone and dialed a number I hadn't called in ten years.

"Sebastian, I want to withdraw all investments from Maxwell Corporation immediately."

Sebastian was the Sinclair family's CFO, and also my childhood fianc.

Sebastian and I grew up together. He'd witnessed every milestone of my life before age twenty-five---until I met Maxwell at twenty-five and lost my mind, breaking with my family to become his servant.

After I left, Sebastian didn't marry and have children as his parents arranged. Instead, he kept waiting for me.

Every year he wrote me a letter: "My life stopped the moment you left."

"Summer... you're finally willing to contact me..." The usually calm and composed man's voice was choked with emotion.

"Save the catching up for later." I cut him off coldly, my eyes sharp as knives.

"Within twenty-four hours, I want to hear that Maxwell Corporation has gone bankrupt."

Silence on the other end for a second, then Sebastian's low, pleased laughter came through.

"As you wish, my fiance."

"I'll personally fly over with the finance team tomorrow. I guarantee that within twenty-four hours, everyone will regret this."

I hung up and looked at myself in the mirror---the woman who'd compromised herself for love for ten years.

It was all over.

Maxwell, it's time for you to return to the slums.

At eight PM, I arrived at the Maxwell family gala, wanting to see Ethan one last time.

After all, he was the child I'd carried for ten months.

But just as I reached the entrance, a children's crayon drawing caught my eye.

It showed my portrait and a dog, with a big red "X" drawn over them.

"Summer Sinclair and dogs not allowed!"

Maxwell's assistant looked embarrassed, stammering at me: "I'm sorry, ma'am. This must be your son's idea of a joke. I'll have someone remove this sign right away."

I watched Ethan and Sophia arm in arm at the gala. My grip on the purse strap made tiny sounds, my knuckles white from excessive force.

I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out.

Finally, I just shook my head. "No need."

I took one last look at that sign. From now on, my heart would also forbid any member of the Maxwell family from entering.

"Tell them to enjoy their last taste of high society."

Then, without any lingering attachment, I turned and walked away.

A video call suddenly came through on my phone. I answered---it was Sophia.

In the frame, she stood between Ethan and Maxwell, protected by father and son.

Maxwell looked at her affectionately. "Today, I want to introduce to everyone the Maxwell family's most respectable lady, my 'Chief Diplomatic Officer,' Miss Sophia Clarke!"

The good-natured joke triggered thunderous applause from the crowd below. All three faces were full of happiness.

But their smiles pierced my eyes like needles. My stomach cramped. I instinctively pressed my lower abdomen---where the C-section scar remained.

A sharp pain brought me fully awake. I no longer held any expectations for them.

The driver opened the Rolls-Royce door for me. "Miss Sinclair, welcome home."

Sebastian looked at me, smiling gently. "Fiance, welcome home."

I got in the car, saying coldly, "To Maxwell Corporation headquarters."

At the gala, amid the clinking of glasses, Maxwell seemed distracted. He kept looking toward the entrance but never saw that familiar figure.

Finally, he couldn't hold back anymore and walked to the entrance to look around.

But when he saw the sign Ethan had drawn, he froze.

Ethan stuck his tongue out at him. "I was just joking with Mom..."

Sophia smoothed things over. "Kids playing around. Summer wouldn't take it seriously."

For the first time, Maxwell didn't respond to Sophia. He coldly asked his assistant, "Did my wife come here?"

"Yes... then after seeing this sign, she left..."

Immense unease enveloped Maxwell. Given Summer Sinclair's personality, he could accept her making a huge scene.

But this kind of calm placidity made him feel like a bigger storm was brewing.

He glared at Ethan. "Who gave you permission to disrespect your mother!"

But Ethan said aggrieved, "I learned it from you!"

"How could I..." Maxwell's words stopped abruptly. He suddenly remembered his recent attitude toward Summer Sinclair...

When did I start treating you with such contempt?

Sophia watched Maxwell's daze, bit her lip, and took his arm. "Maxwell, stop thinking about it. We need to get back to the guests."

But Maxwell's unease only grew. He knew my personality better than anyone---how strong-willed I was. This dead calm reaction made him afraid to think deeper.

He grabbed his assistant, demanding coldly, "Where did my wife go?"

"She got into a Rolls-Royce and went to headquarters..."

Ethan, seeing his father's abnormal reaction, asked quietly, "Dad... did I really... make Mom angry..."

Maxwell didn't dare think further. He grabbed Ethan and drove quickly to headquarters, leaving even Sophia behind.

After running thirteen red lights, he finally reached headquarters.

But when he opened the door, he saw the room full of auditors. I stood side by side with a dignified elderly man.

He was my father, head of the Sinclair family.

"Summer..."

Maxwell's heart pounded. My father sneered. "Perfect timing, Mr. Maxwell. Bankruptcy liquidation requires your signature."