Poof! Wife Status, ERASED

Chapter 18: Did You Miss Me?

The crowd was still reeling from the horrifying scene they had just witnessed. The sight of Ethan Vanderbilt clutching his own child—a boy with a ghastly, blue-tinged face—left everyone pale with shock.

Had he lost his mind?

He had nearly strangled his own son to death!

Thanks to the bodyguards' desperate intervention, the child survived, but Ethan was restrained and tied to a stone pillar nearby.

Margaret Vanderbilt's blood pressure spiked in fury.

Ever since Sophia Roberts' death, this household had been nothing but chaos!

First, the Vanderbilt Group faced a crisis. Then Isabella Thompson's biological parents showed up, shamelessly demanding money. When refused, they sprawled on the floor in protest, even storming into the company, calling themselves "in-laws" and turning the Vanderbilts into a laughingstock among their peers.

Then, for reasons no one understood, Ethan sent his own sister, Emily, to suffer in Africa—cutting off her funds and warning Margaret not to help her. When he discovered Margaret secretly sending Emily money, he froze all her accounts!

And then there was Richard, Ethan's father. Not only did he push his illegitimate son into power, but he also brought back his long-lost "white moonlight," forcing Margaret to step aside.

Thankfully, that woman was all looks and no brains—otherwise, Margaret wouldn't even be sitting here now. She'd have been thrown out long ago!

Her only hope had been her precious grandson, the key to reclaiming her position. But now, her own son had tried to kill the boy—all for a dead woman!

Margaret jabbed a finger at Ethan's forehead, her voice a venomous hiss.

"Sophia is dead! Snap out of it! This is the Vanderbilt heir—your ticket back into the company!"

She kept her voice low, ensuring no one else could hear.

But Ethan's expression darkened instantly.

"Sophia isn't dead. She's in America! Let me go to her—she loves me! If I beg on my knees, she'll forgive me!" His voice cracked. "As for this bastard—he's not even mine!"

Isabella, who had just crawled through a broken window, trembled with rage.

She had carried this child for ten months, and he dared to deny him?

Limping forward, she was about to confront him when a familiar face emerged.

Daniel Vanderbilt wheeled out Robert Song—Isabella's adoptive father—and slammed two paternity test results onto the ground.

The documents stated in black and white: Ethan was not the father. Robert Song was.

Turns out, Isabella had seduced Sophia's uncle, convincing him to adopt her. Their illicit affair had never ended.

Isabella's face drained of color. She had played both sides, desperate to secure her place in the Vanderbilt family. She had truly believed the child was Ethan's.

But the truth was undeniable. Panicked, she dropped to her knees before Margaret, scrambling for excuses—only to be kicked away.

"You little whore! I'll kill you!" Margaret shrieked.

The grand first birthday celebration was ruined. Even her "grandson" wasn't a Vanderbilt. Her face twisted in fury.

A brawl erupted on the floor, the scene devolving into chaos. Guests discreetly slipped away.

Meanwhile, the mastermind behind it all quietly retreated, approaching Christopher Holt with a sycophantic smile.

"Mr. Holt," Daniel said smoothly, "my father has agreed. After today, Ethan will be disowned. I've dealt with the person you dislike. Might you consider a partnership with me?"

New to power, Daniel needed to prove himself to Richard—and currying favor with the influential Holt family was the fastest way.

Christopher chuckled, clinking his glass against Daniel's.

"If you want to work with the Holts," he said lightly, "you'll need to show more sincerity."

If Daniel knew Christopher despised Ethan, then Christopher had no issue letting him play the executioner.

Days later, Christopher received the aftermath report.

Richard, who had been vacationing with his mistress, rushed back to divorce Margaret and sever all ties with Ethan.

Isabella was thrown out of the Vanderbilt estate, reduced to begging before resorting to selling her body for survival.

As for Ethan? Diagnosed with severe psychosis, he was committed to an asylum by Richard. Reports said he resisted treatment, enduring repeated electroshock sessions until he lost all sanity. Now, he babbled to anyone who'd listen about his "movie star wife" filming abroad.

Christopher listened to his assistant's report with a cold expression—until his phone buzzed twice. His eyes lit up instantly.

He answered, his first words warm and teasing:

"Did you miss me?"