After Divorce I Married a Tycoon-Chapter 91: Domestic Violence

Claire Mercer’s attitude was unyielding.

Not only would she refuse to delete the post and offer an explanation,

she also demanded they willingly sign the adoption termination agreement.

And they couldn’t make any conditions.

If they tried, she would sue to terminate the adoption in court.

Judith Caldwell was furious enough to have a stroke.

But the current situation was extremely unfavorable for them.

The Mercer family’s company, already in a precarious state, saw its stock plummet overnight.

Many business partners cited the Mercer family’s negative press as a reason to terminate their contracts.

Furthermore, according to their agreements, whichever party generated negative press detrimental to the partnership was liable for compensation.

As a result, the Mercer family now had to compensate some of their partners for their losses.

Not only that,

but investors they had worked so hard to attract saw the couple’s scandal spreading all over town. With their reputation in tatters, they naturally pulled their funding.

Given the Mercer Group’s current situation, any investment would be like throwing good money after bad—gone for good.

Business people are shrewd; they could see the writing on the wall.

Left with no choice, Julian Mercer and Oscar Mercer had to try and secure loans to ensure their projects could launch properly.

But after visiting several banks, not a single one would grant them a loan.

And so, the Mercer Group’s partners fled, investors withdrew, and their capital chain snapped...

For a time, the Mercer family, much like the Sinclair family, was plunged into utter chaos.

The Sinclair family was faring slightly better, though.

After all, they were the wealthiest family in Rhonia, with extensive connections and ample funds.

While the online turmoil had caused them significant impact and losses,

they were resilient enough to weather this storm.

In contrast, the Mercer Group, which had already been struggling, was now on the brink of collapse.

Operations had ground to a halt, and they were even saddled with debt.

Julian Mercer and his wife didn’t even have the mental energy to worry about how Scarlett Jewel was faring with the Sinclair family.

They could barely fend for themselves.

How could they possibly spare a thought for a daughter they felt little affection for?

Judith Caldwell was like a chicken with its head cut off, pacing frantically around the room all day.

The sight of her drove Julian Mercer mad with irritation.

He remembered how she had stubbornly ignored all advice, single-handedly pushing the Mercer family back into the eye of the storm.

He had been tempted to strangle her several times.

"I worked my fingers to the bone to protect the Mercer family’s business, and now, because of your stupidity..."

"The family is going bankrupt, and it’s all thanks to you."

"You’re a jinx, a walking disaster."

Julian Mercer’s fists fell on Judith Caldwell like rain.

His eyes were crimson with rage, his features contorting with violence.

Judith tried to dodge, but he yanked her back.

"You dare to dodge?" Julian roared like a furious lion.

"How dare you try to hide?"

His fists landed on Judith again, harder and more viciously this time.

Her face, which she had spent a fortune maintaining, was now bruised, swollen, and utterly unrecognizable.

Judith Caldwell knelt before Julian Mercer, clutching her head and sobbing for mercy.

Only when Julian had finally vented his anger did he stop.

Watching his furious retreat, Judith Caldwell collapsed onto the floor.

Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed, gasping for breath.

"What do we do now?"

She was a complete wreck—her hair was a mess, her clothes were in disarray, and her face and hands were covered in purple and blue bruises.

Her expression was filled with terror, and she looked more than just a little haggard.

For the past two days, because of the trouble she had caused, Julian had been hostile toward her.

He had hit her several times, and not only did she not dare to complain, she could only quietly endure it.

Just like now, even though her body ached all over,

she could only let Julian take out his anger on her, punching and kicking as he pleased.

Seeing his mother being beaten, Oscar Mercer didn’t dare to step in and stop it.

He knew his father had a violent streak when he was angry.

Trying to reason with or stop him would only provoke his rage further.

Only after his father had finally vented his fury did he dare to go and help his mother up.

"Oscar, what are we going to do..."

"Is the Mercer family really finished for good?"

"Looks like it."

Oscar Mercer’s face was cold as he pulled out a few tissues and handed them to her.

He also blamed Judith in his heart.

If she hadn’t ignored everyone’s advice and insisted on slandering Claire Mercer online,

Claire wouldn’t have been pushed into exposing everything.

She laid out all the witnesses and evidence for the public to see, leaving the Mercer family with no room to argue.

He was being furiously berated by netizens as a "vampire," and the comments on his social media accounts were too horrible to look at.

Before this, not many outsiders knew about these things; Claire had never publicized them.

Now that the scandal was everywhere, the "vampire" label was permanently branded on him.

Yesterday, he had swallowed his pride and asked his buddies for help.

But the looks they gave him were filled with contempt.

A few of the guys he used to be pretty close with taunted him directly.

"We’re only just finding out today that your adopted sister actually gave you all those blood transfusions."

"But from what we know, you never treated her with a shred of decency."

"Why should I help someone as heartless, disloyal, and ungrateful as you?"

"No wonder the Mercer family’s been declining year after year. With the way you people treat others, you’re lucky you’re only going bankrupt now."

"Don’t contact us anymore. We don’t stoop to associating with vampires."

"And remember, we’re not cutting ties because your family is in trouble. We’re cutting ties because we’re ashamed of the person you are."

"..."

Oscar Mercer was so thoroughly berated he couldn’t say a word in his own defense.

Now, he was too ashamed to even go out and socialize.

He couldn’t stand the strange looks people gave him.

He felt utterly humiliated.

Oscar Mercer sat on the sofa, smoking with a frown on his face.

He listened impassively as his mother cried her eyes out, snot and tears everywhere.

She lamented how hard her life had been over the years.

She bemoaned Julian Mercer’s heartlessness, how he just blamed her for everything and took no responsibility.

Just as she was crying hysterically, Scarlett Jewel returned.

She was startled to see Judith Caldwell wailing, her face bruised and swollen.

"Mom, what happened to you?"

"Your dad hit me."

Judith Caldwell sniffled.

Thinking of the grievances she had suffered over the past two days, she couldn’t stop fresh tears from falling.

"How could Dad hit you?"

Scarlett Jewel hurried to the first-aid kit to get some iodine to disinfect Judith’s wounds.

Then she got some ice from the freezer to make a cold compress for her.

Seeing her daughter being so thoughtful and concerned...

...Judith Caldwell finally felt a little better.

Her emotions gradually stabilized.

"Scarlett, why are you back?"

"I can’t just live at the Sinclair residence without any official standing, can I?" Scarlett said.

"Besides, things aren’t exactly peaceful at the Sinclair home right now."

"The old madam had a stroke, and the Sinclair family is starting to fight amongst themselves. I don’t want to get dragged into it."

"Then what’s the plan?" Judith asked, a little panicked. "Are you still going to marry Gavin Sinclair?"