Chapter 1

Elise downed her last shot and turned to Irina, her only friend. Irina raised an eyebrow as Elise grabbed her bag, ready to leave.

“Hey, It’s still early,” Irina complained, glancing at her wristwatch. "Please, stay!"

Elise shook her head, gripping her bag tightly. “I need to go home. Lucas is probably waiting for me.”

A sarcastic laugh escaped Irina's lips. “He doesn’t even care about you. Why are you even staying in this shit marriage of yours?”

The words hit Elise harder than she expected. They stung, not because they were harsh, but because they were true. Three years of marriage to Lucas Adams, and he had shown her nothing but indifference. Irina had witnessed it all.

She swallowed the bitterness rising in her throat and forced herself to meet Irina's gaze. “You know why, Irina. I just... love him.”

Irina let out a sigh, reaching for Elise's hands. “Is this really worth it, Eli?"

Elise chest tightened. She knew her marriage had always been rocky, built on shaky foundations. But even after everything, her love for Lucas hadn’t wavered.

She gave Irina a weak smile, ignoring the knot in her stomach. “I’m going now. Have fun.”

Irina hugged her briefly, worry etched into her features. “Go home safely, okay?”

Elise drove home in silence, trying to brush off Irina's words. At least Lucas still came home. That meant something, didn’t it?

But the moment she stepped into the house, the air felt heavy. Her heart skipped a beat when she spotted Lucas standing on the staircase. He wasn’t alone. Athena McDonnell, his ex and first love, was there with him.

Athena's laughter filled the air as she looked at Lucas. “Well, I have a surprise for you…”

She chuckled, and Luca's expression softened. He chuckled back, his eyes filled with warmth and joy—emotions Elise had never seen him direct at her.

Her hands trembled as she took a step forward, her breath hitching.

No… This can’t be happening.

Athena continued, oblivious to Elise's presence. “I’m pregnant!”

The words struck like a lightning bolt. Pregnant?

Elise froze, her mind reeling. Lucas had always told her he wasn’t ready for children. He’d made her take pills to avoid pregnancy, insisting they weren’t prepared. And now, here he was, celebrating a child with another woman?

Lucas' face lit up with joy as he stepped closer to Athena. “I’m so happy! Thank you, babe!”

Tears threatened to spill, but Elise quickly wiped them away. The anger and betrayal coursing through her were too much to contain. She stormed toward them, her heels clicking loudly against the floor. 

Lucas noticed her at last and stepped in front of Athena protectively, his eyes narrowing.

“Lucas!" Elise's voice broke as she glared at him. “You lied to me again! You said it was over with her!”

His jaw clenched as he grabbed her wrist, his tone cold. “Stop the drama, Eli."

“Drama?” Her voice cracked as she yanked her hand free. “You call this drama? You lied to me! You cheated on me! And you—” She turned her glare to Athena. “You bitch! You're a homewrecker! A mistress!"

“Don’t talk to her like that!” Lucas barked, his voice sharp. “You’re just my wife on paper!”

Elise chest tightened as those words cut deep. “That’s not what you said before, Lucas! How could you do this to me?!"

His expression hardened. “I can do whatever I want. If you don’t like it, I’ll divorce you.”

The word hit like a slap. After all she had done for him—after securing a new investment for his company that very day—this was his answer?

She slapped him hard, the sound echoing in the room. “You bastard!” 

Athena's voice trembled as she stepped closer. “Eli, please don’t hurt Lucas! This is my fault, but we love each other—"

“Shut up, bitch!” Elise snapped, her fury directed at the other woman. "This is a husband and wife's problem that caused by a mistress like you!"

“You have no right talk to her like that!” Lucas roared, his hand suddenly tightening around Elise's neck. Her breath hitched as she struggled to speak.

Even through the pain, she managed to choke out, “So what now? Are you really going to divorce me?” 

Lucas' grip loosened slightly as he sneered. “Don’t try me, Eli. I'm warning you."

A bitter laugh escaped her lips. “You can’t do it, Lucas. You can’t even leave me.”

His smirk turned cruel. “You’re wrong. I can. And I will. Because I never loved you... I will never love you."

Elise's lips trembled as tears streamed down her face. His words cut her deeply, leaving her breathless.

“I didn’t even try,” Lucas spat, his voice cold and venomous. “I just used you, and you’re so fucking stupid and gullible to believe me, Eli."

Her knees felt weak, but his next words delivered the final blow.

“I don’t need you anymore. Watch me leave you—painfully.”

With disgust etched into his features, Lucas shoved her aside, his eyes devoid of any warmth or remorse.

Her heart sank completely, shattering into pieces too small to gather. The tears stopped abruptly, replaced by a surge of anger. The truth she had been too blind to see hit her with brutal clarity—three years of her life, wasted on a lie. She was a fool for believing him.

Irina's voice echoed in her mind. "It’s not worth it, Eli. You’re just hurting yourself."

Wiping her tears, she straightened her back, her expression hardening. “So—you’re really determined to divorce?”

“Yes.” His tone was firm, devoid of hesitation.

A bitter smile curled on her lips. “Well then,” she said, her voice laced with mockery. “I’ll contact my lawyer to prepare it. Along with the disinvestment.”

Lucas' head snapped toward her, his eyes narrowing. “What do you mean by disinvestment?”

She sneered, her gaze piercing through him. “Why should I continue to support your company after the divorce?”

“Please don’t do that, Eli!” Athena's voice trembled, her tone pleading. “Without that money, Lucas' business will—”

“Oh, shut the fuck up, you dirty bitch!” Elise hissed, cutting Athena off mid-sentence.

“Eli!” Lucas roared, stepping forward as Athena shrank behind him.

But Elise wasn’t done. She turned her sharp gaze back to Athena, who looked as if she might burst into tears. "Two-faced snake," she thought bitterly.

Athena stammered, “I-I just want to—”

“I don’t need your damn explanation,” Elise interrupted, her voice ice-cold.

Athena dissolved into sobs, covering her face with her hands. Elise almost laughed at the pathetic sight, but her fury reignited when her eyes landed on the jewel ring glittering on Athena's finger.

"That’s mine!"

Her blood boiled. That ring was no ordinary trinket. It was a wedding souvenir from her late grandfather, custom-made by a world-renowned jeweler. One of a kind. Precious. Irreplaceable.

“You shameless thief!” Elise yelled, storming toward Athena.

Her heart pounded as rage consumed her. She couldn’t let this woman taint her grandfather’s memory. Not after everything she had sacrificed.

“Eli, i warned you!”

Before she could grab Athena, Lucas' hand shot out, yanking her arm. His slap came fast and hard, sending her stumbling. Her heel caught the edge of the stair, and she tumbled down, pain shooting through her body with every step.

She landed on the cold tile floor, her head striking something sharp. A sickening crack echoed in her ears.

Athena's scream pierced the air, but Elise couldn’t focus. Dizziness blurred her vision, and the back of her head throbbed as something warm and wet trickled down her neck.

Her body refused to move. She lay there, helpless, as darkness crept closer.

Through her fading vision, she caught a glimpse of Lucas. He was holding Athena, his arms wrapped protectively around her as he murmured soft reassurances. He didn’t even glance her way.

The betrayal crushed her more than the fall. "He never loved me... He never cared... How could I have been so blind?"

Her parents’ faces flashed in her mind, followed by the warm, loving smile of her grandfather. Tears streamed down her cheeks as regret consumed her.

"Grandpa, I’m sorry. I was wrong. Dead wrong." She thought of all she had sacrificed. The wealth, the pride, the dreams she’d abandoned for Lucas. For a man who never deserved her love.

"If I had another chance... I’d do it differently. I’d reclaim my pride. I’d never let him fool me again... I'd never marry him... I'd never let him enter my life..."

But as the world around her dimmed, she wondered if it was too late.