The Rise of Betrayed Husband
Copyright© 2026 by Laxu
Chapter 5: Playing Dumb
Back at the hotel, Ethan rinsed out his mouth in the bathroom, washed his face, and pressed an ice pack to the cheek that had been slapped. When he heard his wife open the door, he came out to meet her.
“Was all that drama really necessary? My dad didn’t even hit you that hard...”
Claire was annoyed at how theatrical he was being—until he lowered the ice pack and she saw the obvious bruise on his cheek. She quickly changed her tune. “Honey, I didn’t realize it was this bad. It must really hurt. Let me take you to the hospital.”
“You know what? Maybe I’m just pathetic, but taking that slap from your dad actually made me feel better. All these years, I may not have been the most devoted son-in-law or given him much to be proud of, but I never brought him much shame either. With that one slap, I don’t owe him anything anymore. I don’t owe the Lowell family a thing.”
Ethan handed her a legal complaint. “Read this. It’s the petition I’m about to file. If you agree to a divorce, I won’t take you to court—and you don’t have to pay a cent.”
“You ... Hale, what’s gotten into you? We had a perfectly good life. Are you only happy when everything’s turned upside down?”
Claire had never imagined Ethan would actually sue her. It caught her off guard and left her deeply hurt.
“A good life? For you, sure. You get to have it all, at home and outside, and I even help you raise the kids. Of course you think it’s good! But what about me? The kids aren’t mine. You lied to me for more than a decade—more than a decade! How many decades does a person even get? Whoever wants a life like this can have it!”
He was so worked up that he wanted to explode and scream, but he forced it down. “Claire, how many times have I told you? Go get a test done. Once you see the result, you’ll understand why I’m acting like this. I’ve given you all these days, and you still haven’t checked. The only conclusion I can draw is that you have a guilty conscience.”
“Ethan, how many times do I have to say it before you believe me? I never betrayed you. Natalie is your daughter.”
“So the results I have are fake? All those accredited labs gave me false results? Do I really have that kind of pull?”
His wife was still stubbornly refusing to budge, and Ethan’s temper finally snapped. He stepped forward, grabbed her by the shoulders, and shook her. “Claire, wake up! Where’s your objectivity? Where’s your common sense? You need to cut your losses! A spineless, good-for-nothing loser like me isn’t good enough for you anymore. Go find Natalie’s real father. You’ve raised his daughter this far—make him pay something for it.”
“Stop shaking me!”
Claire wrenched herself free and glared at him. “Nothing but garbage comes out of your mouth! It’s all ridiculous nonsense! I’m asking you one more time—are you coming home with me or not? Aren’t you going to take care of the two younger girls?”
Damn it, those two aren’t mine either. They’re both bastards you got pregnant with behind my back.
Pain twisted across Ethan’s face, and this time he couldn’t hold it back. “They’re better off with you! I’m worthless. My whole life’s already ruined! Claire, you ruined my entire life! I’m beyond saving. I’m begging you—just agree to the divorce.”
“Fine—go ahead and wallow if that’s what you want!”
Looking at him, hopeless as he was, Claire felt both disappointed and heartbroken. When it was clear he wouldn’t leave with her, she stormed out.
That afternoon, Ethan went straight to the county family court and formally filed for divorce. He submitted his paperwork and was shown to a room to wait. About ten minutes later, Sophie walked in. She was general counsel for his wife’s conglomerate.
One of his wife’s most trusted people.
Of course.
“Mr. Hale, this isn’t a good place to talk. Shall we go somewhere else?”
“Is Claire here?” Ethan asked.
“Ms. Lowell is very busy. She really couldn’t get away, so she asked me to come on her behalf. Ethan, let’s talk first.”
Sophie led him outside to her car.
Ethan didn’t make a scene. “What’s Claire playing at? She can’t dodge this forever. Call her right now and tell her to come finish this divorce.”