Chapter 1

"Why are you dressed up like that, Elena?!"

Raul spoke coldly from behind her, his face showing no emotion. At thirty, he was handsome enough to attract attention wherever he went, but his looks were always paired with a distant gaze. He never smiled, not even a little.

This was how Elena had felt for the three years she had lived with Raul.

They were bound by a marriage that neither of them had really chosen.

Back then, Raul's grandmother met Elena while she was working at a clothing and accessories store. Elena was always patient and helpful with customers. No one expected the older woman to like Elena so much that she became determined to marry her off to her grandson, Raul Mendez.

"What? Marry that shop girl who looks old-fashioned and provincial? Sure, she's pretty, but... isn't there a more sophisticated woman out there?" Raul had said at the time.

At first, he refused politely, then he became more direct. Still, his grandmother would not change her mind.

In the end, Raul had to marry Elena. This led Raul's mother, Mrs. Victoria Mendez, to get involved.

Mrs. Victoria tried to convince her mother-in-law that Elena was not the right person for Raul.

But Madame Mendez's authority was absolute. She even threatened to cut Raul out of the family inheritance if he refused to marry Elena.

Sadly, Elena only found out about all of this after she had already joined the Mendez family.

She had to put up with Raul's cold and distant attitude. On top of that, her mother-in-law and everyone else looked down on her and made her do all the housework, treating her like a maid.

Their coldness made Elena want to run away, but she couldn't leave the grandmother who loved her and treated her like family. Madame Mendez even taught Elena how to behave like a proper member of the Mendez family.

So Elena faced everything as calmly as she could. She remembered the grandmother's advice to be patient with Raul because, deep down, he was a good person.

And it was true. Raul was never cruel to Elena, even if he was always distant and cold.

Elena had fallen in love with Raul, especially after their first night together.

"Raul..." Elena said softly, a gentle smile on her beautiful face. "Isn't today Mama's birthday?"

"That's right. So what does that have to do with you? And who told you to dress up like this?" Raul said firmly.

Elena gasped. Tonight was Mrs. Victoria's birthday party. As Raul's wife, she seemed to feel it was normal to dress up a little and help Mrs. Victoria welcome the guests.

But Raul seemed upset to see her dressed up, even though she had chosen something simple and modest.

"Raul, I...."

There was a knock at the door.

Elena's words faded as someone knocked on the door. A middle-aged woman entered, dressed in a crisp dark suit.

The woman bowed and summoned Raul to the party room.

Raul turned and left without saying anything else.

"What are you doing here, Elena? The guests are arriving. We'll be busy tonight, so go help in the kitchen!" the head housekeeper said sarcastically, then walked away and left Elena standing there.

But then she stopped and looked Elena up and down. "Hey, Elena! Why are you dressed like this? Do you think anyone will see you as the lady of the house? As Mrs. Raul Mendez?" The head housekeeper shook her head and gave a mocking smile.

"What's wrong with that? I am Raul's legal wife," Elena replied.

"Enough, Elena. Go to the kitchen as usual and serve the guests!" the woman said as she walked away, leaving Elena stunned.

Elena sighed. She walked toward the main room. The atmosphere was getting livelier, and she could hear guests laughing as they arrived.

Most of the guests were Mendez family members or friends of Raul and Mrs. Victoria.

Elena stood and watched the celebration, but no one seemed to notice her at all.

Mrs. Victoria glanced at Elena, then quickly turned to the other guests and ignored her.

"Happy birthday, Mama. I wish you a long life." Elena smiled as she congratulated her mother-in-law, but Mrs. Victoria only gave her a slight nod.

"Serve the guests well, Elena!"

Mrs. Victoria spoke softly, but her words were clear enough for Elena to hear. It was obviously an order.

Once again, Elena was told to serve.

Elena nodded. She turned to go back to the inner room, but then she saw Raul in one corner, talking with a woman who was a distant relative of Mrs. Victoria.

The two of them looked close and comfortable with each other.

Elena was stunned by her husband's behavior. Raul could smile and laugh freely with others, which was so different from how he acted around her. He never smiled at her. When he spoke, it was only when necessary and always in a cold, indifferent tone.

Elena's heart ached.

"Elena, bring these drinks to the guests," the head housekeeper said, handing her a tray. Elena couldn't refuse and took the tray.

Elena slowly handed out the glasses to the guests, but her eyes kept drifting to Raul and the woman with him. When only one glass was left, she turned to go back.

But the woman with Raul suddenly called out, "Server! Give me that glass!"

Elena took a deep breath. She quickly turned to face the beautiful woman, whose flashy makeup and jewelry, and handed her the tray.

"Don't you want a drink, Raul?"

The woman flirted as she took a glass from the tray.

"No, I'm not thirsty. You go ahead and drink. Be careful not to choke because you're nervous looking at me."

Raul answered the woman in front of him with a smile.

The two of them laughed and joked around, ignoring Elena.

Elena clenched her fists when she saw them. She quickly turned away, trying to hold back her aching heart.

The wave of emotion in her chest made Elena lose focus and her balance. She fell.

"Aack!!"

Elena screamed instinctively. But before her body hit the floor, she felt a strong hand catch her.

Elena felt a bit relieved, thinking it was Raul. But she had to hide her disappointment when she heard the voice of the person holding her up.

"Are you alright, Miss?" a man asked with a smile, helping Elena to her feet. "Yes, Sir. I'm fine, thank you."

Elena tried to smile at the man. She glanced at Raul, who was looking at her with a sharp, cold stare.

Whatever that look meant, Elena quickly pulled away and hurried inside. She put the tray down on the table and ran to her room.

She didn't even notice the head housekeeper calling after her. Elena immediately threw herself onto the bed. She couldn't hold back her tears any longer. She cried her heart out.

Her heart ached because all this time she had endured and served her husband with all her heart. She always hoped her sincerity and devotion to Raul and his family would reach him. But it seemed she was wrong.

Creak!

She heard the door open.

Elena was still sobbing, but she heard footsteps coming closer. She recognized them as Raul Mendez's, the man who had been with her for the past three years.

"Why were you there, Elena? That party wasn't for you!"

Elena stayed silent. Raul's words were so sharp that they felt like they stabbed her heart.

How could a husband say such cruel things to his wife?

Really, what was wrong with her coming to wish her mother-in-law a happy birthday?

As questions spun in Elena's head, suddenly she heard Raul's cold voice again. "Elena, there's something I want to tell you."

As he spoke, Raul pulled something out of his coat pocket and handed it to Elena.

"W-what is this, Raul?"

"Let's separate!"