CHAPTER 1

“Get the hell out of my son’s house!” Mrs. Thalassa’s voice cut through the dimly lit room, sharp as a blade, echoing off the walls. The venom in her words struck Elowen like a physical blow, freezing her in place. Three years of marriage, three years of love now shattered with a single command.

Elowen’s heart hammered in her chest as she stood, rooted to the spot. This was her home too, wasn’t it? But in Mrs. Thalassa’s eyes, she was an intruder. Her gaze swept the room, once filled with love and laughter. Now, it felt foreign, hostile. The air buzzed with betrayal.

Her fists clenched at her sides, nails digging into her palms. She had devoted herself to Caspian since childhood, her love wrapping around him like vines. But those vines had turned to shackles, tightening with each passing day, choking the life out of her. His touch once warm and tender now felt cold, like a ghost of what they once shared.

"Why should I leave my husband's house?" Elowen’s voice trembled, weak against the storm that swirled around her.

Mrs. Thalassa stepped closer, her presence suffocating. "Because you’ve failed," she spat, each word a lash. “Three years and not a single child. Meanwhile, another woman is carrying his baby the grandson I’ve been waiting for.”

Elowen’s world collapsed. A child? Another woman? Her breath hitched as she turned to Caspian, searching for anything remorse, guilt, something but his expression remained impassive. He leaned back in his chair, cold and detached, as if the conversation didn’t concern him.

“I never loved you, Elowen.” His voice was flat, devoid of emotion. “I married you for your parents’ wealth. Here.” He tossed a check onto the coffee table between them. “Take this and go. One million dollars. Consider it compensation.”

It felt like the air had been sucked from the room. Elowen stared at the check, her vision blurring as her heart shattered. She had believed in their love, built her life around it, only to realize it was all a lie.

“I want my parents’ property back,” she whispered, her voice breaking.

Mrs. Thalassa’s cruel smile deepened. “You signed everything over to my son, remember? He controls it all now.” Her eyes gleamed with triumph. “You’ve lost, Elowen. I’ve already packed your things. Leave now.”

Elowen stumbled backward, the weight of her words sinking in. Her life, her future it was all gone. She turned, tears streaming down her face, as she fled the house that had once been her sanctuary. The rain outside pelted down in cold sheets, mingling with her tears as she hurried into the night, the echoes of betrayal following her.

Hours later, Elowen sat in a sterile hotel room, her heart heavy, her mind numb. She had loved Caspian, given up everything for him and for what? She lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling as the events of the night replayed in her mind.

The phone buzzed on the bedside table. With trembling fingers, she dialed Seraphina, her only remaining friend. “I told you, Elowen,” Seraphina’s voice was soft but firm. “He wasn’t worth it. Move here. Start over.”

Elowen wiped at her tears, nodding even though Seraphina couldn’t see her. A flicker of something determination sparked in her chest. She wasn’t finished. She couldn’t let them win.

As she sat up, something caught her attention. The room suddenly felt wrong. Too quiet. Too still. She froze, every nerve in her body on edge.

A hand gripped her waist from behind.

Elowen’s heart leaped into her throat as she spun around, eyes wide in terror. “Who the hell are you?” Her voice shook, fear coursing through her veins.

But the figure remained silent, the shadows cloaking their identity. Elowen’s pulse raced, her mind frantically searching for a way out.

And then, the figure moved closer.