Chapter 3

After leaving the mansion, Claire went straight back to her condo.

That night, she was scrolling through social media when Jovie's latest post popped up.

In the photo, Jovie wore a white wedding dress. The necklace around her neck and the diamond ring on her finger caught the light. Elliot stood behind her with an arm around her waist, the two of them looking every bit like a happy couple.

Caption: [Life is short. I only want half of yours.]

In less than three minutes, the post had already racked up hundreds of congratulations.

The old Claire would've completely lost it.

This time, she simply tapped Like and kept scrolling.

A dull ache spread through Claire's stomach. She grabbed the painkillers from her nightstand, swallowed two, and pulled the covers over her head.

If she slept, maybe it wouldn't hurt.

Then, sometime after midnight, someone kicked in her condo door.

The crash ripped Claire awake, her heart slamming against her ribs.

Before she could move, someone dragged her out of bed.

Elliot stood over her, furious. One look at his face told her he hadn't come to talk.

"Did you bribe a maid to throw acid on Jovie?

"No wonder you handed over the necklace so easily. I thought you'd finally learned your lesson. Turns out you were planning revenge the whole time.

"If I hadn't shielded her, she would've gotten more than burns on her arm. Have you completely lost it?"

Her wrist throbbed where he'd grabbed her. Claire frowned and jerked free.

"What acid? I never told anyone to do that.

"Besides, I already signed the divorce papers. Why would I go after her now?"

Elliot let out a cold, mocking laugh. His eyes were filled with contempt.

"We're getting divorced, but you're still not over me. Otherwise, why'd you fall so easily for my eighteen-year-old self?

"The maid already identified you. What's left to deny?"

The distrust in his eyes cut deeper than anything else.

After ten years together, he had never once chosen to believe her.

Claire swallowed the bitterness rising in her throat.

"I already told you the truth. Believe whatever you want. If I wanted to go after her, I'd do it in the open. I wouldn't pull something this low."

She reached for her phone to call the police.

Before she could, two bodyguards grabbed her and forced her down.

Claire went still.

A chill crept up her spine.

"What are you doing?"

Elliot's voice was ice-cold.

"Bring it in."

The second the words left his mouth, another bodyguard walked in carrying a large basin filled with liquid.

Claire's heart dropped.

A chill shot through her body.

"Elliot, have you lost your—"

She never finished.

The bodyguard hoisted the basin and dumped everything over her.

Claire screamed.

The instant the liquid hit her skin, it turned bright red. Blinding pain ripped through her body, burning from head to toe.

Curled on the floor, she writhed in agony.

Elliot looked down at her without a hint of emotion.

"So now you know what pain feels like? The acid you had thrown on Jovie was a hundred times worse than this.

"Ready to admit you were wrong?"

Claire shook uncontrollably.

Even her tears stung as they rolled over her burning skin.

Still, she clenched her jaw.

"I told you...

"I didn't do it..."

Once, even a tiny cut on Claire's finger had sent Elliot into a panic.

Now, for Jovie, he'd ordered acid poured over her without a second thought.

All to force an apology.

The man in front of her felt like a stranger.

"Still won't admit it?" Rage burned in Elliot's eyes. "Do it again. Keep going until she confesses."

The bodyguards stepped forward.

Another basin of cold, sharp-smelling diluted acid crashed over her.

Claire fought against them.

Then a strong metallic taste flooded her mouth.

Her body had already reached its limit.

She swayed—

And collapsed.

The last thing she heard was Elliot's panicked shout.

"Claire!"

When Claire opened her eyes, she was in a hospital room.

She coughed weakly. She felt like she'd barely survived.

Before she could get her bearings, Elliot's voice came from above her.

"Claire... why are you so weak?"