Chapter 6

Elara’s POV

When I returned to the mansion, the first thing I saw was Karl. He was seated in the living room, reviewing documents on his tablet.

For a moment, I stood there. According to everyone, I had spent three years loving this man.

Three years waiting for him. Three years of hoping for things he never intended to give me.

Now all I felt was confusion. What exactly had I seen in him?

Karl looked up.

“Where were you?” he demanded

“Out,” I answered curtly.

His eyes narrowed. “Out where?”

I walked past him. “Outside.”

His jaw tightened. “Elara.”

I stopped, gritting my teeth. “What?”

For a moment, he looked almost irritated by how calm I sounded. Then his gaze landed on the envelope in my hand.

“What’s that?” he asked.

“Documents,” I walked over and placed the stack on the coffee table, “That needs your signature.”

Karl barely glanced at them. He picked up a pen and signed the last page.

Then the second and third pages were signed without reading a single word or asking any questions.

“Next time you need money, just ask for it.”

He tossed the pen onto the table.

“You don’t have to pretend it’s anything else. We both know that’s why you married into this family.”

My fingers tightened slightly around the papers. Three years of marriage and all it took to end it was three signatures. I quietly slid the documents back into the envelope.

Karl had already returned to his tablet completely unaware that he had just signed his own divorce papers.

“Anything else?” he asked.

I stared at him for a second then I shook my head.

“No.”

I turned and walked away.

—

A few hours later, I came downstairs after changing clothes. Voices drifted from the dining room.

One belonged to Lilith and the other belonged to Karl. The moment I entered, Lilith smiled.

“Perfect timing,” she smirked.

Karl looked up at me before saying gruffly, “Prepare dinner.”

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

“Dinner,” he repeated, his tone flat, “We’re entertaining guests tonight.”

I stared at him. “You want me to cook?”

“Yes.”

“No,” I said.

Karl frowned. “No?”

“No,” I repeated.

Lilith looked surprised but she quickly masked it.

“Elara, don’t be childish,” she said.

I pulled out a chair and sat down. “I’m not being childish.”

“Then stop making things difficult,” Lilith stressed.

I shrugged. “Or what?”

The room fell silent as Karl’s expression darkened.

“You’ve been acting strangely since the accident,” he commented.

“Maybe I hit my head hard enough to develop standards,” I snapped.

Lilith nearly choked. Karl stared at me but I stared right back. For once, I wasn’t the first one to look away.

The atmosphere became increasingly tense. Finally, Lilith sighed dramatically.

“I don’t understand why you’re making such a big deal out of this.”

I looked at her. “Then let me simplify it for you. I’m not your maid.”

A flicker of anger crossed her face. “You certainly don’t behave like the lady of this house.”

I laughed. The irony was almost painful.

“Interesting. If you wanna be the lady of the house so badly then by all means slave away and cook the meals. I don't care.”

Lilith’s face instantly darkened.

“Elara!” Karl’s voice boomed with anger.

“What do you want?” I snapped.

“Apologize to Lilith. I told you that she's my guest. You have no right to speak to her in that manner."

I scoffed, “I don't care what she is to you, Karl. I'm not apologizing.”

Karl slowly stood. The expression on his face turned colder.

“Dinner. Now,” he snarled.

I stood too.

“No,” I retorted.

His eyes hardened. For the first time since returning from the hospital, genuine anger flashed across his face.

“You seem to have forgotten who you’re talking to.”

I met his gaze, “And you seem to have forgotten that I’m your wife not your maid.”

The words slipped out before I could stop them not because I loved him but because I was suddenly tired.

Tired of everyone pretending I was the outsider while his ex-girlfriend sat comfortably in my place.

Lilith immediately stepped forward. “How dare you speak to him like that?”

I turned toward her. “Why are you acting like his wife?”

Karl grabbed my wrist. “Enough.”

Pain shot through my arm as I tried to pull free.

“Let me go!” I snapped.

“Apologize,” he ordered.

“No!” I shot at him.

“This is your last chance, Elara, don't test me,” he said.

“Go to hell!” The words landed like a slap.

Lilith gasped and Karl’s expression became terrifying.

I yanked my arm backward. At the same time, he released me and my balance disappeared.

The edge of the glass coffee table hit my leg. The table tipped over then shattered, and the sound exploded through the room.

Sharp pain shot through my palm as I crashed onto the broken glass.

A gasp escaped my lips. Blood immediately appeared bright red against the marble floor.

Lilith’s voice rang out. “Oh my God.”

I looked down to see that several glass shards were embedded in my hand. Blood dripped steadily onto the floor.

Karl took a step forward. His expression was unreadable.

“Elara—”

Heavy footsteps suddenly echoed from the entrance as a cane struck the floor and a furious voice shattered the silence.

“Take your hands off her.”

The entire room froze.

Karl’s face changed instantly. Lilith’s wine glass slipped from her fingers and shattered on the floor.

Slowly, I turned toward the doorway to see an elderly man standing there. His face was thunderous and his eyes burned with fury.

For the first time since I’d returned to this house, Karl looked nervous.