Chapter 0003

“Elaine, it’s been a long time. So lovely to see you again,” Emily said, her voice sweet and delightful—to them.

I took a step back, eyes wide, hands trembling. My gaze darted over to Caleb, lounging on the couch with a huge, beaming smile. But when our eyes met, his smile twisted into something evil and cunning.

Then I heard a cough from the side and saw Caleb’s grandfather sitting there. My heart jolted; he’d always supported me, no matter what. As soon as I could talk, I’d tell him everything that happened, and he’d see—

“Elaine!” Grandfather’s staff struck the floor. “After how I treated you, how could you intentionally abort your baby? Worse, you even cheated on Caleb! Is this what you promised me when you married him?”

I stumbled in shock. He’d never raised his voice at me before.

And what was this about aborting my baby? And cheating? I’d never cheated on Caleb, not once.

“Don’t try to tell me it’s a lie! I may have ignored the rumors about you before, because I mistakenly thought you were a good girl. But now there’s proof!”

My legs wobbled as I took a step back, barely able to stand. Proof? What proof could they possibly have? My mind spun, trying to make sense of it.

“I…” I tried to speak, but my throat hurt too much. They’d barely be able to hear me, but I had to try. “Grand… grandfather, I didn’t do any of that.”

Grandfather slammed his staff against the floor again, silencing me. “There are pictures, Elaine!” His eyes narrowed. “And yet you claim innocence? How dare you!” He flung the photos at me.

My mind went blank as I stared at them, my heart pounding in my chest. In the photos, I was on a bed, a masked man above me. But this wasn’t real. It couldn’t be.

“This isn’t me,” I gasped. “None of this happened! I don’t remember any of it!”

“How convenient,” Caleb’s voice cut in. “Of course, you don’t remember. Just like you didn’t remember beating up the maids or pushing Emily down the stairs. Just like you don’t remember stealing from Grandfather to fund your gigolo. You never remember anything, do you, Elaine? For all I know, that child inside you wasn’t even mine.”

I stared at Caleb in disbelief as the room spun. This had to be some kind of cruel joke, some kind of nightmare.

“This has nothing to do with me,” I said in desperation, my voice still weak. But it didn’t matter. I had to fight these false accusations being hurled at me. “I never did any of those things, and you know it, Caleb! Why are you doing this to me?” I turned to Grandfather, hoping he’d understand. “You have to believe me,” I pleaded. “I didn’t do any of those things.” My shoulders trembled as I spoke, and my sore throat screamed for me to rush into the kitchen for water.

“The evidence speaks for itself,” Caleb sneered. “So save your breath. You slept with another man, and playing victim to cover it up only makes it more pathetic.”

Before I could respond, Grandfather drew my attention once again. “Who was it?” he demanded. “An old friend? Some guy you met at the club? You’ve already brought enough disgrace to this family, but cheating on my son? That’s unforgivable.”

“No, no.” I shook my head violently in protest. “I swear I’m telling the truth; this is some kind of mistake. I didn’t—”

“Enough!” Grandfather’s voice boomed, freezing me in place. “You’ve lied enough, Elaine. Caleb was willing to forgive you for everything, but after seeing these pictures, there’s no redemption for you.”

I stumbled back, my legs finally giving out as I crumpled to the floor. My stomach hurt even worse than it had during the miscarriage. I looked up at Caleb, who stared down at me, a grin on his lips. Then I glanced at Emily and inwardly gasped at her dark, calculating gaze.

Of course: her sudden return, the accusations laid out so perfectly, everything. I was being framed so she could take her “rightful place” as Caleb’s wife. This was all a farce, and I was at the center of it.

A sob escaped my lips as I lowered my head, memories playing in my mind like a film reel. From the very beginning, Grandfather was the only one who treated me kindly. Caleb’s mother had always hated me, but I thought if I continued being a good daughter-in-law, she would eventually accept me. I thought everything would get better, and maybe things would change. But it had only gotten worse. And now this.

“So…” I said, “in the end, you chose me to be the villain, the one to blame for everything. I’m the bad one here, right? Ha!” I threw my head back and laughed, not caring about what any of them thought anymore. It was finished. They’d all treated me exactly as they wanted.

“So, what now? What do you want me to do now that you’ve pinned all this on me?” I glanced at Caleb, whose eyes darkened. “Do you want me to kneel for forgiveness? To fall to the ground and lick your feet? To strip again, like you made me do in front of your friends?”

“Elaine!” Caleb yelled, his eyes widening.

“Tell me!” I demanded, staring at him with my red-rimmed eyes burning so intensely it hurt to keep them open. I just wanted to sink into cold water and sleep. Maybe forever.

“Fine. I want a divorce.” Caleb snatched a stack of papers from the chair and flung them at me. “Sign them, and we’re done.”