Chapter 3

Elise stood in front of the calendar hanging on the wall in her room, her eyes fixed on the date... July 2020. A wave of realization hit her like a ton of bricks—this was no dream. She had actually traveled back to the past.

How it happened, she had no clue, but one thing was certain. She would use this second chance to fix everything. She wasn’t going to be a slave to him anymore.

She had spent too long living in his shadow. No more. She was a successful woman now. She wasn’t anyone’s slave, not now, not ever again.

Today, everything would change. Her marriage, which had been nothing but a trap, was about to take a completely different turn. She vividly recalled the events from one week earlier when Lucas had forced her to leave her grandfather’s company.

That had been her second-worst mistake. The worst? Marrying him in the first place. But now, it wasn’t too late. She had the power to change things.

Her gaze shifted to the closet as she tilted her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. She opened the door and pulled out her luggage, methodically packing her things into five suitcases. There was no time to waste.

Once she finished, she stepped out of her room and paused at the top of the stairs, staring down at the spot where she had once fallen. This was where it all began, and this was where she would start to rewrite her fate.

“M-Ma’am?” one of the maids called out to her, breaking the silence.

She glanced at them, remembering how Lucas would fire them in just two days, leaving her to do all the chores herself. She shook her head, an incredulous smirk forming as she thought about how foolish she had been.

“Get my other suitcases and help me put them in my car.”

The eldest maid took a tentative step forward, concern written across her face. “B-But, ma’am…”

With a reassuring smile, she replied, “Don’t worry. I’m okay.”

The maids helped her with the rest of the luggage, and without another word, she left. She drove to the house her parents had built for her, a bitter laugh escaping her lips as she realized just how blind she had been. She had given up a life of luxury for a man like Lucas.

Once inside, she opened her laptop, sitting down on the couch. The password barely came to her—it had been so long since she’d used it. After some hesitation, she finally logged in and emailed her lawyer for a divorce form. The reply was almost immediate.

Fifteen minutes later, her lawyer arrived, holding the form. Elise filled it out swiftly, glancing up at her lawyer, who looked confused by her sudden decisiveness.

She handed the paper over with a calm smile. “File this petition, Attorney, and send a copy to Lucas' office.”

Her lawyer tilted her head, clearly puzzled. “What happened, Eli?”

Elise shook her head, still smiling. “Nothing. I just want out of this marriage.”

The lawyer’s eyes widened in understanding, but she didn’t question further. “I’ll send it to him as soon as I file this,” her lawyer said, taking the form and gathering her things.

“Thanks, Attorney."

Once the lawyer left, Elise grabbed her phone and texted Lucas. She told him about the divorce petition she was filing. A smirk played on her lips as she imagined his reaction. His pride would never allow him to accept this. His ego was about to take a hit.

The next morning, Elise woke up feeling more alive than she had in years. She showered, then walked to her walk-in closet. Her fingers brushed over the designer dresses Lucas had forced her to leave untouched for years. He had never allowed her to go out, never cared what she wore, not even when he made her walk around his room naked after using her.

The thought disgusted her now.

Her gaze landed on a satin beige dress, perfect in every way. She slipped it on, the fabric hugging her curves just right. The sleeves reached her wrists, covering the scratch Lucas had left on her skin. She stood in front of the mirror, lifting her chin with newfound confidence.

She grabbed her beige pouch and walked out, her stilettos clicking with every step, a sound that made her feel like she was walking toward her future.

At a high-end restaurant, Elise met her lawyer. She had waited all morning for Lucas, but her patience had worn thin. Rage bubbled inside her as she stormed to his office.

Just as she reached the entrance, Lucas' assistant blocked her path.

“Move,” she ordered, her voice low and dangerous.

He shook his head, smirking. “I’m afraid I can’t, ma’am.”

Her eyes narrowed, recognizing the smirk. This guy was as much of a sycophant as his boss. She gritted her teeth and stared him down. He was just another loyal dog.

“Please leave, ma’am,” he continued, his voice dripping with mock politeness. “Mr. Adams doesn’t like to be disturbed.”

Elise raised an eyebrow. “Why? Is he with his mistress?”

The assistant’s smirk deepened. “Yes, ma’am. He strictly told me not to let anyone disturb them. If I were you, ma’am, I’d just leave. You’ll only hurt yourself.”

Elise laughed, the sound cold and mocking. The assistant’s expression faltered, and for the first time, he saw something different in her eyes. She wasn’t the same woman he had once controlled.

Well, she wasn’t going to make the same mistake again.

She studied him from head to toe, her gaze sharp and assessing. “Birds of a feather really do flock together, huh? Do you even know who you're talking to?”

He offered a smile, completely unfazed. “Please leave, ma’am.”

A smirk tugged at her lips. “Are you going to move, or should I tell your wife you’ve been bringing different women to a hotel?”

His eyes widened, and color drained from his face. He stood frozen, unable to speak. She raised an eyebrow, her expression daring him to test her. Slowly, he stepped aside, his eyes now focused on the floor.

She let out a mocking laugh, her gaze unwavering. “If I were you, I’d tell your wife the truth. Good luck, loyal dog.”

Without another word, she reached for the door to Lucas' office. Though he wasn’t there, muffled moans and groans drifted from the private room inside. The bitterness that filled her heart was palpable, but her anger kept her moving, step by determined step.

The door wasn’t fully closed, and she could clearly see what was happening inside. Athena was straddling Lucas, her movements slow and deliberate as he lay beneath her on the bed.

Elise's jaw clenched as she took out her phone. She recorded the scene before her, capturing the act of their betrayal. Athena's career was on the rise, but this video would end that. The public would only see her as a mistress, her potential ruined in an instant.

She pushed the door open, the sound of it creaking announcing her presence. The couple immediately froze. Athena scrambled off Lucas, clutching a sheet to cover her exposed body. Lucas, equally stunned, hurried to cover himself, his eyes locking onto hers as he stood.

“What are you doing here, Eli?” he demanded, his voice filled with anger.

Elise tilted her head, her voice steady and cold. “You’ll show up and meet me on Friday if you don’t want this video all over the internet, Lucas.”

His eyes narrowed. “Are you threatening me?”

She took a single step forward, her gaze never wavering from his. “I’m giving you a choice.”

He scoffed, the arrogance returning to his features. “And you think I’ll choose you over the woman I love?”

A slow, confident smile spread across her face. “I know you’ll choose her, Lucas. So, if you want her career to flourish, you’ll meet me on Friday to sign our divorce paper. If you don’t—” She paused, glancing over at Athena, who glared at her with burning hatred. Elise's smirk widened, cruel and triumphant. “Athena will be the laughing stock in this fucking country.”