CHAPTER 002

ELENA'S POV

I didn’t need a single cent, not from Adrian. Not from his family. Not from the life I was walking away from. All I needed was an end to the bondage I had trapped myself in. 

When I told him I wanted a divorce, he had scoffed, convinced I was just being dramatic as usual. He didn’t believe I would actually leave. 

And even if I did, he probably assumed I would crawl back the moment I realized what I was giving up. What he failed to understand was simple.

I had never depended on him. Not for money. Not for status. Not for survival. I had built myself long before I ever became Elena Hudson.

And I would rebuild again.

When I returned to the mansion to retrieve the rest of my belongings, I hadn’t expected to hear laughter. But I did.

It drifted from the living room, sharp, amused and familiar. I slowed my steps as I recognized the voices. 

It was Danielle and my mother-in-law. Of course. I stood just outside the door, listening.

“She claims she wants to divorce my son!” my mother-in-law scoffed loudly. “As if that selfish woman would ever walk away from this family’s wealth.”

A soft, practiced sigh followed.

“It’s really unfortunate,” Danielle said gently, her voice dripping with fake sympathy. “If things had turned out differently… I could have been your daughter-in-law instead.”

“Oh, don’t say that, darling,” Jane replied warmly. “Elena and Adrian were never a good match. You and my son? You would have been perfect together.”

Something inside me snapped. I pushed the door open. The laughter died instantly.

Both women froze as I stepped inside, my gaze sweeping across the room I had spent four years trying to make a home.

A bitter smile curved my lips. How ironic. I built this place with my effort, my time, my patience only for them to sit here and enjoy it like I had never mattered.

“Oh,” my mother-in-law said sharply, recovering first. “You’re back.”

Her eyes narrowed.

“Where were you? I told you to be here by 7 a.m. to prepare for today’s gathering. Or did asking for a divorce suddenly make you forget your place?”

I didn’t respond. She continued, her tone turning colder.

“Don’t deceive yourself. Someone like you, who climbed their way up, will never be on our level. Now go into the kitchen and start cooking. If you embarrass me today, you will regret it.”

For a moment, I just stared at her. Every gathering, every single one,  I was the one forced into the kitchen while guests laughed and dined. 

No servants were allowed to help me. It was her way of reminding me that I didn’t belong.

That I never would. Before I could speak, Danielle stood, her expression soft and concerned.

“Auntie, isn’t that a bit too much for Elena to handle alone?” she said sweetly. “Let me help her. I wouldn’t want your guests to think I’m useless in the kitchen.”

My mother-in-law immediately pulled her back down.

“You? Help her?” she scoffed. “Don’t be ridiculous. That’s what she’s for. But you…” her tone softened instantly, “you deserve to be treated like a queen.”

Danielle lowered her gaze modestly. “But I’d feel guilty just sitting here…”

“Don’t,” my mother-in-law said with a smile. “She won’t be here much longer anyway. Once she’s out of our lives, you’ll take her place. After that, she won’t even be allowed to step foot in this house again.”

That was it. I had heard enough. “Are you two done?” I asked, my voice calm but sharp enough to cut.

Both women turned to me. My mother-in-law’s expression hardened immediately. “How dare you interrupt me!” she snapped. “Get into that kitchen right now!”

I didn’t move. Instead, I crossed my arms. “Let me make something clear,” I said. “Your son and I are about to get divorced.”

The words landed heavily in the room. “I don’t owe this family anything anymore. Not my time. Not my effort. Not my respect.”

Danielle’s smile faltered. My mother-in-law let out a cold laugh. “About to?” she repeated mockingly. “Do you really think you can just walk away like that? My son will never allow it.”

I met her gaze without flinching.

“That’s between him and me,” I said. “But one thing is certain, I’m done playing the obedient wife in this house.”

Silence followed. Then I turned and walked past them, heading toward the bedroom. I wasn’t staying here any longer than necessary.

I had just reached the hallway when footsteps sounded behind me. “So you really think this is over?”

I turned. My mother-in-law stood there, blocking my path. I held her gaze. “It will be,” I replied simply.

She scoffed. “You’re more delusional than I thought.”

I stepped past her and pushed the bedroom door open only to freeze. Adrian stood there.

His presence filled the corridor like a storm waiting to break. His jaw was tight, his eyes dark with anger.

But he wasn’t looking at me. His gaze went straight past me to Danielle. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice suddenly soft.

Something inside me twisted. Before I could react, he shoved me aside. Hard. I stumbled, crashing into the edge of a cabinet. 

Pain shot through my side, but I barely felt it.

Not compared to this. Not compared to watching my husband rush to another woman while I stood there like I didn’t exist.

“What’s your problem?” Adrian snapped, turning on me as if I were the one at fault. “What did you do to her?”

A sharp laugh escaped me.

“Me?” I shot back. “You shoved me into a cabinet and you’re asking what I did? Take a good look, your precious Danielle is perfectly fine.”

His expression darkened. Then he pulled out his phone and shoved it toward me. “Explain this.”I glanced at the screen and saw that it was an article.

A brutal one at that.  It exposed Danielle’s past scandals in vivid detail, every mistake, every secret dragged into the light.

I blinked in surprise. I hadn’t done this. But judging from the way Danielle’s face had gone pale, it was all true.

I lifted my gaze slowly. “Every word in that article is accurate, isn’t it?” I said calmly.

Danielle’s lips trembled.

“If even one part is a lie,” I continued, “I’ll walk out of here and throw myself into traffic. But if it’s true then maybe it’s finally time you face the consequences.”

“Adrian…” Danielle whispered, clutching his arm. He immediately pulled her closer, glaring at me.

“You’ve always been vicious,” he said coldly. “If you want to ruin yourself, go ahead. But don’t drag an innocent woman down with you.”

I laughed. “Innocent?” I repeated. “Danielle?”

I shook my head slowly. “You really are blind.”

His patience snapped. “Get out,” he snapped. “If you’re so desperate to self-destruct, do it somewhere else.”

Something inside me settled completely. The last piece of whatever I felt for him was gone. “You’re pathetic, Adrian,” I said quietly. “I wasted four years of my life on you.”

His expression flickered. But I didn’t stop. “I’m done. With your lies. Your arrogance. This entire joke of a marriage.”

I stepped back, meeting his eyes one last time. “Whether you accept it or not, my marriage to you is over. I'll send the divorce papers to you. Sign them quietly and free me from this sham.”