# Chapter 496: The Slap That Echoed
Hello, incredible readers, it's me again. How have you all been? Today, we step right back into the fiery aftermath of betrayal, anger, and raw emotion. I hope you're ready, because Chapter 496 of "The Untouchable Ex Wife" does not pull its punches. We find Leia simmering with justified fury, Xavier trapped between old loyalties and new convictions, and Shirley weeping crocodile tears while hiding a serpent's heart. Get ready for a chapter that crackles with tension and leaves you breathless.
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The room felt thick with unspoken accusations, every breath laced with venom. Leia stood tall despite the fresh bruises and the fire burning in her chest. She looked at Shirley, who was doing her best impersonation of a wounded dove, and could only laugh coldly. "Is it bad? I find it simple, actually. I want to avenge myself. I want to vent my anger. I want to beat her up, and she gave me permission to. We don't think it's bad, but an outsider like you does, huh?" The words dripped with sarcasm, each syllable a tiny dagger aimed squarely at Shirley's fragile mask.
Shirley trembled. She reached for Xavier with her eyes, begging for a champion. Her voice trembled as she played the role of the rational one. "I know that you're mad, so you're acting out of spite and can't see the consequences, but I'm rational. I won't see you go mad like this..." She was so good at playing the martyr, the saint who only wanted peace.
But Xavier was not so easily moved. His hand found Leia's, and with a gentle tug, he pulled her into his arms. The warmth of his embrace was both a balm and a cage. Leia stiffened, waiting. "Trust me," he murmured near her ear, his voice low and earnest, "you'll regret it if you take revenge on her today." He was trying to protect her, or perhaps himself, or perhaps some fragile peace he still believed in.
Leia pulled back just enough to meet his gaze. The anger in her eyes was molten, mingled with a grief so deep it made Xavier's chest ache. "What's there to regret?" she challenged. "Will I be afraid that she'll take revenge on me? Or are you going to take revenge on me? Do you want to help her slap me?" Each question was a trap, and he felt himself falling.
She leaned in close, so close that her breath ghosted over his ear. "I won't stop you if you want to save the damsel in distress, but please get in line. We'll settle our grudges once I'm done avenging myself." The whisper was a promise — a warning that she would not be swayed, not even by him.
Then, with a strength that came from a place of pure, unfiltered survival, Leia slipped free of Xavier's arms. Before anyone could blink, she was behind Shirley, her hand rising and striking once more. The sharp sound of the slap ricocheted off the walls. Now both of Shirley's cheeks were swollen, her lips split and bleeding. The image of perfect victimhood was cracking.
"Ugh!" Shirley collapsed onto the floor, her hair cascading forward, hiding the hatred that flickered in her eyes. But she wasn't done pretending. She shook violently, making her voice wobble with rehearsed fear. "Ms. Osborne, are you no longer mad? If not, you can keep on slapping me until you are." She was practically handing Leia the permission slip, all while silently praying that Xavier would step in.
Leia shook her head slowly. "It's not that easy. I'm covered in injuries, but I only slapped you twice. Plus, I have yet to humiliate you. That's the important part." The words were cold, deliberate. Leia's mind turned like a film reel, replaying the nightmare that had been carved into her soul.
She remembered those fans, how they shaved her hair with savage glee. She remembered their laughter, their jeers. They called her a homewrecker, a woman who had stolen another woman's man. They had surrounded her, flashing cameras, cursing her, spitting on her name. They had done unspeakable things to her dignity, and the scars still burned. There was no noble philosophy for Leia, no belief that hardship made you stronger. She believed in karma. She believed in the bitter harvest. And if no one else would sow justice, she would plant it herself, right into Shirley's trembling face.
"You... You slapped me. What else do you want?" Shirley whimpered, tears streaming down her battered cheeks. "Do you want to shave my hair and strip me bare? I think you'd better stop now. I'm sure Xavier won't let you do it even if you want to." It was a bold move, a poisoned arrow aimed at Xavier's protective instincts.
With practiced desperation, Shirley crawled over to Xavier and tugged at his trouser leg. Her eyes were pools of liquid sorrow. "Xavier, I know that I was wrong. Hurry up and talk some sense into Ms. Osborne. Tell her that my dignity is strong, and nothing is more important than my dignity. She can beat and scold me, but please don't let her humiliate me. I don't want to bring shame to you..."
For a long moment, Xavier said nothing. He looked down at the woman at his feet, her face swollen, her act flawless. And then, his voice came out like a blade — cold and final. "You should leave."
Shirley's heart plummeted. She had gambled on him, and she had lost. But no, no, she could not leave. If she did, all her suffering would have been for nothing. She needed to see Xavier punish Leia. She needed retribution. So she pinched her own leg, hard, until tears sprang to her eyes. She let out a pained whimper, her voice fragile as glass. "Xavier, my legs are numb. I can't stand up."
And there, in that frozen moment, the battle lines shifted once more. Was she truly helpless, or was she merely buying time to plunge another dagger? Xavier stood above her, his expression unreadable. Leia watched with burning eyes, waiting for his next move. The quiet before the storm was suffocating.
What would Xavier choose? Whose side would he truly take? And how far would Leia go to reclaim her shattered pride?
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**Reader's Impressions & Star Rating:**
What a chapter of raw, atmospheric tension! I absolutely loved Leia's fierce refusal to be a pushover. Her anger is so real, so visceral — you can't help but cheer for her, even as you wonder if she's stepping into a trap. Xavier's ambivalence is frustrating yet heartbreaking; he clearly cares for Leia, but his hesitation feels like a wound. And Shirley? She is absolutely infuriating in her fake fragility, but that makes the drama even more delicious. The power dynamics shifting from moment to moment kept me on the edge of my seat. This chapter deserves all the praise for its emotional depth and sharp dialogue. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 4.8 / 5 Stars.
**Next Chapter Prediction:**
Oh, this is going to blow up spectacularly! With Shirley claiming her legs are numb and refusing to leave, I predict that Xavier will finally be forced to make an impossible choice. Either he will summon someone to carry Shirley out, which will enrage Leia further, or he will let Leia do whatever she wants, which will cause Shirley to drop the act and reveal her true vicious colors. I suspect that Shirley's scheming will escalate — perhaps she has another card hidden up her sleeve, like recording this entire confrontation to twist the narrative later. And Leia? She may decide that physical revenge isn't enough and go after Shirley's secrets, her business, or even her relationship with Xavier. The next chapter could bring betrayals, shocking revelations, or a dramatic public spectacle.
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