4. Divorce served cold...

ELOWEN

The atmosphere in the room became tense. All gazes shifted between me and Adrian, the man who had crushed my soul and walked over my dignity, now appearing serious, and filled with barely contained anger, as if I still belonged to him.

“Wife, you say?” The corner of my lips curled into a sarcastic smirk. “That’s rich.” 

He paused, his burning gaze fell on me, frowning. 

My head tilted slightly as my smirk deepened, “Since when did you remember you had one?” Each word drips with mockery. 

Hushed murmurs spread through the gathered crowd, collecting the juicy drama; their shock was very obvious. 

Adrian’s jaw clenched, sharpness flickered across his gaze, locking on mine with a heat that wasn’t entirely fury. It was something else… It was an insult to his posh dignity, something he never had before.

“Elowen,” his voice was a low growl. “This is enough, we’ll talk outside.”

Oh! Warning in the air! Funny, as if it's gonna work. 

I arched my brow. “Oh! How surprising? You're willing to ruin your date night with your sweetheart?” My words fell like iced water on his face. “Come on, Adrian, your sweetheart will be very upset.” 

The crowd gasped aloud; no one had ever imagined Adrian Hale would be insulted in such a manner in public. 

Even Richard, who was still clutching his bleeding head, gave a bitter laugh.

“That’s why one shouldn't give so much freedom to their wives. Seems the loyal wife finally grew her little claws,” Richard spat, his words trembling with humiliation.

“No wonder Adrian—” He didn’t finish, and Adrian’s fist abruptly landed squarely against his jaw with a bone-cracking thud.

Gasps tore through the room as Richard fell flat on his face. 

“Keep your mouth shut, you dog shit.” Adrian hollered. 

As tension thundered within the hall, I, on the other hand, remained very calm. Adrian Hale was seemingly protecting me here, but—in reality, he was not. He was just boiling due to his own crushed dignity. 

His burning gaze snapped at me, his chest heaving, his tie hanging loose, his eyes locked on mine with a rawness I hadn’t seen in years… “You. Outside. Now.” He gritted his teeth, commanding me like a king. 

Well, a pathetic, puny king. 

I didn’t flinch, nor did I move. I only chuckled as though he had made a joke. “You don’t get to order me, Adrian Hale. Not anymore. Remember? I resigned this morning.” 

The way his name rolled off my tongue —the deliberate mockery, his face twisted with fury. His nostrils flared, his fists tightened, “You’re still my wife. Now, out Elowen.” His grumbling voice sliced through the hush of the VIP lounge. 

Although my heart throbbed, a bitter sneer plastered against my lips at his mention. “Oh, I forgot to inform you, Mr. Hale, we're already divorced.” 

I dropped the bomb I carried the entire day like a thorn in my chest, and it felt too good to be true. 

And once again, dead silence embraced the entire lounge. 

Adrian’s face dropped. His eyes widened in shock, “Wha-t did you just say?” His voice shook with disbelief. 

My lips only curled coldly, “You heard it correctly, Mr. Hale. We're already divorced, and—you've signed the papers yourself.” 

“Impossible!” His whisper echoed in the quietness. “Stop kidding!” 

“Kidding? Oh, I don’t play games like you, Hale.” 

“Stop fooling around!” He spat. “I never signed any divorce agreement!” 

“You sure?” I raised a brow, “Remember those papers in the morning?—When you were busy coaxing your sweetheart?” I gave him a knowing smirk. 

“You’re out of your damn mind!” He shot up, fury blazing as the realisation coiled within his fat brain. 

He grabbed my arm, and pain immediately hissed through my veins. “Do you even know what you’re saying?!”

“Yes,” I hissed, yanking my arm free from his clutch. “I’m finally done playing your shadow wife. And besides, isn't it better now? You can just make your sweetheart your wife.” 

“You've lost your mind! And I know how to keep it on track!” And suddenly, he grabbed my arm again, almost throwing me against the wall as he tried to pin me, and that's it—my patience broke. 

My hand raised and landed on his cheek, resonating the sound in the lounge. 

People flinched, and shocking gasps rippled through the onlookers. 

And Adrian? He stood as though he had been naked before the public. He stared at me in a daze. 

I didn’t care though, I only turned around, ready to leave, when—

“You think walking away makes you strong?” His cold tone rang behind, pausing me. “You’ve built your life with me only...”

I turned around, only to meet his cruellest look. Slowly he walked toward me, “You have been known as Mrs Hale only. No one even knows your true name. Once you're stripped out of my title, do you think the world will appreciate you?” His rips raised, “They will never do so. You will only be known as Adrian Hale's divorced wife. It will take you only a few days to realise how your world has crumbled, and then—” he leaned toward my ear, “—you will only have one option, crawl back to me and kiss my feet. You're nothing without me.” 

My breath heaved, my eyes burned in rage and humiliation. Yet, the corner of my lips twitched, “Really, shall see.” I muttered, and my hand touched his shoulders softly. “And before that—” I raised my right knee in the blink of an eye, my knee connected to his groin with a definite crack. 

Air knocked out of him, as he staggered back, falling on the floor. 

“And this is the first gift of our divorce night, Adrian Hale, as well as a warning. Never dare to cross my path ever again.” 

Then, I spun on my heels and stormed out of the cursed place. My heart pounding, knees trembling—but not with fear, with the taste of freedom and newly found self respect...

I was unaware of my destination until the sounds of the club diminished, and I found myself on the open terrace. The night air was cold, yet it had a satisfaction in it. 

Standing there, I let out a shaky breath, staring at the city lights below as if I were seeing them for the first time…

“The hit was harder than I expected. Didn't realise that Hale's woman would have such guts.”—A sudden word came from behind. Deep, low and smooth as the ocean, wrapped in a dark amusement. 

Startled, and slightly annoyed, I turned around to hoosh him off, but—the moment my eyes caught those golden-green eyes, I froze…

Alexander Veyrek—the man whom everyone feared and wanted to be with, standing right before me...