Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2: Broken Doors and Burning Hearts

Elodie’s POV

I pulled up to the massive mansion gates, my hands gripping the steering wheel so tight my knuckles turned white. This place used to feel like home.. now it just felt like a fancy cage I was finally escaping. 

As much as I wanted to be cold about it, to shrug off Reese like he was nothing, my chest ached like someone had punched a hole right through it. That handsome bastard.. 

I still loved him, damn it. Even after he signed those papers without a fight.. even after he looked at me like I was just another problem on his to-do list. 

I parked the car outside the front steps and sat there for a minute, staring at the big wooden doors as silent tears slipped down my cheeks before I could stop them. 

"Get it together, Elodie," I whispered to myself, wiping them away with the back of my hand. "You survived worse than this prick." 

But the memories kept hitting me... his laugh in our old shitty apartment, the way he'd pull me close after a long day, promising forever. Yeah, forever my ass..!

I took a deep breath and stepped out, my elegant black gownnow feeling wrinkled and heavy. 

My long dark chestnut hair had fallen loose in places and my gray-blue eyes probably looked red from the crying.

Before I could even reach for the door, the door swung open and there stood Helena Bennett, Reese's mother in her dark elegant dress like she owned the whole damn world. Her sharp features twisted into a sneer the second she saw me. 

"Well, well," she said, crossing her arms. "Look who decided to show up crying on my doorstep. What happened, dear? Did reality finally hit that pretty little head of yours?"

I forced a polite smile even though I wanted to scream. I'd never been rude to her before, no matter how much she deserved it. 

"Helena, I'm just here to get a few things. Won't take long."

She laughed in a cold sound that made my skin crawl. 

"Crying already? Pathetic. Did my son finally see you for what you are? A nobody who latched onto him for the money?"

I ignored the jab and stepped past her into the foyer, my graceful steps quiet on the marble. 

"Excuse me. I'll be out of your way soon."

But as I headed upstairs to grab my clothes and some personal items, Helena followed me like a shadow and when I came back down with another bag, she was smiling wide and looking happier than I'd ever seen her. 

"Finally," she said, clapping her hands. "Reese dumped your ass. I knew it would happen. He deserves better than some dancer chasing his fortune."

That did it.. my politeness cracked. I stopped at the bottom of the stairs and turned on her. 

"Dumped me? Oh, honey, I dumped his ass. I served him the divorce papers tonight and he signed them like it was nothing. So wipe that stupid grin off your face. I left him because I got tired of being treated like shit in my own marriage."

Helena's eyes narrowed. 

"You? Leave him? Please. You're nothing without my son. A low-life stripper pretending to be a ballerina. That's all you are... shaking your ass on stage for attention while he built an empire."

"I was never a stripper, you ignorant bitch," I snapped back, my voice getting louder. "I've been a principal ballerina since before I met Reese. I fought my way up with real talent, not by sucking up to rich people like you. And I loved him when he had zero. I stayed through the ramen nights and the failures. What did you do? Just sit back and wait for him to save your sorry life."

She stepped closer, her piercing eyes full of hate. 

"You think you're special? Reese made you. Without him, you'd still be in some rundown studio, spreading your legs for roles. You're a gold-digging whore who trapped him with that fake love. He was better off before you came along, ruining everything."

"Fake love?" I scoffed painfully. "Lady, I gave up everything for that man. You? You're just a controlling witch scared he'll finally see how toxic you are. No wonder he grew so cold. You poisoned him against me from day one."

Helena's face turned red. 

"How dare you speak to me like that, you little..."

Before I could finish grabbing my last bag, her hand flew out and slapped me hard across the face. The sting burned my porcelain skin and I stumbled back, shocked. My cheek throbbed as I touched it, staring at her in disbelief.

Just then, the front door opened and Reese stepped in, his tall frame filling the entrance. 

His sharp black hair was a bit messy from the night and those steel-gray eyes widened as he caught the exact moment of the slap. He looked tired with his broad shoulders slumped a little in his tailored suit.

***

Reese's POV

"What the hell is going on here?" I asked, my voice deep and commanding as I stepped through the front door.

Elodie stood there, her expressive gray-blue eyes wide with shock with one hand touching her reddened cheek where the slap had clearly just landed. 

Even now, after everything, that striking face with her long dark chestnut hair falling loose made something twist in my gut. God, why did seeing her still pull at me like this? I hated how part of me wanted to pull her into my arms and fix whatever mess had exploded here.

Mother immediately switched on the fake tears. Her voice went all shaky and pitiful. 

"Oh, Reese, thank God you're home. This woman stormed in here, yelling terrible things about me. She called me a witch, said I poisoned you and that I was the reason your marriage failed. She even threatened me! After all I've done for this family. Let her leave with nothing! Not even the car!"

Elodie opened her mouth to defend herself but I just sighed, rubbing my temple. I knew damn well she'd never say half that crap but I didn't call Mother out.. typical family bullshit. 

"Mom, calm down. Elodie, you can take the car. It's yours anyway."

Mother wiped her fake tears and shook her head annoyingly. 

"No! That car was bought with your money, son. She doesn't deserve it. Let her walk like the nobody she is."

Elodie glared at her. 

"Fine. Keep your damn car." She dug the keys out of her bag and dropped them right at our feet on the marble floor and they clinked loudly. "I don't need shit from either of you. I survived before Reese and I'll survive after."

I gestured to my security guys standing by the door. 

"Help her with the bags."

Elodie waved them off, dragging her stuff toward the gate herself. 

"Don't touch me. I got this." 

Her arms looked strained from the weight but she kept going with her graceful dancer's figure moving with that quiet determination even as tears shone in her eyes. 

Every step she took away from the house hit me harder than I expected. I watched her leave from the doorway with a sinkhole opening up in my chest like something heavy was pulling me down. 

I felt disgusted with the whole scene... Mother's constant yapping in the background, going on about how she always knew Elodie was trouble. 

"She never loved you, Reese. Only the money. Good riddance."

For my sanity, I needed space from her. Even though I'd just gotten home, I couldn't stand another minute. 

"Mom, enough. I need some air." I excused myself, grabbed the keys to my sleek sports car from the side table and headed to the garage. 

The engine roared to life and I sped out into the dark New York streets with windows down and the cool air hitting my face.

My mind wouldn't shut up.. overthinking everything... the divorce papers, Elodie's angry words at the gala and the slap I had just seen. Why did seeing her hurt like that? I should feel free, right? 

But something felt off, like a big piece was missing. I wasn't paying attention to the road with my steel-gray eyes distant.. then a loud horn blared. 

I snapped back to reality too late..!

I'd veered into the wrong lane and a massive truck was bearing down on me, lights blinding. 

"Shit!" I swore, yanking the wheel but it was too late. 

The crash hit hard with metal screaming and the world suddenly went dark…