Chapter 4

I didn't know how long it had been when the dungeon door finally opened.

Severin stood at the top of the steps, backlit, looking down at me.

"Come out."

I braced myself against the wall and stood up.

Everything in the house seemed different.

The couch was new. White flowers stood on the coffee table. The throw pillows and floor lamps had been replaced. The whole house was now decorated in unfamiliar shades of warm white.

I went up to the master bedroom. On the vanity, the photo of Severin and me had been replaced with a mirror, and the sheets I'd picked out myself were gone.

I'd lived in this room for ten years, but in that moment, I barely recognized it.

An unfamiliar perfume hung in the air, probably a scent Valerie liked.

A dull ache went through my chest, as if someone had torn out a precious memory.

If they were working so hard to erase every trace of me, then I might as well disappear completely.

I let out a quiet breath and opened the closet. I took out my clothes one piece at a time, folded them, and set them at the foot of the bed, then packed up the rest of my things.

Finally, I gathered everything connected to Severin and the twins.

When I was done, I carried it all out to the backyard, found a metal drum, and started dropping things in one by one.

Every gift Severin had ever given me. Every family photo we'd taken together. The sweaters, socks, and scarves I'd knitted for the kids by hand.

I set the pile on fire, and thick smoke rose.

Lucien came running over, took one look, and his face fell. "Those are my clothes!"

Seraphina screamed, "Estella, you're crazy!"

Severin scowled. "I only locked you in the dungeon for a few days, and you deserved it. Is all this really necessary? What are the kids supposed to think when you act like this?"

I ignored him, bent down, and tossed the last of the sweaters into the fire.

"I don't deserve to be your mother."

Severin frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You all love Valerie so much. Let her be the lady of this house."

With that, I turned and went inside.

Before long, someone pounded on my door.

It was Severin. "Estella, open up. Let's talk."

I opened the door and leaned against the frame. "What?"

Severin's brow furrowed. He clearly didn't like my tone.

"Estella, what are you doing?"

"I'm leaving," I said calmly. "There's no place for me here, so I'll go. I won't get in your way anymore."

Severin sighed. "I never wanted to throw you out, Estella. Don't be childish."

He actually believed I was throwing a tantrum.

My anger boiled over, and I cut him off. "But I want to go. I'm leaving, Severin. Do you understand?"

When I kept defying him, Severin finally lost his temper. "Estella, I gave you money and status. I even let you raise my two children. And you can't stand having their biological mother around?"

A bitter laugh escaped me even as tears welled in my eyes.

"Severin, you think I married you for the things you gave me?"

Lucien came charging over. "You're such a fake. If you don't want any of it, then give it all back to my mom!"

Seraphina jabbed a finger in my face. "I've been sick of you for ages. It's your fault my mom couldn't come home!"

"Then let's put everything back the way it's supposed to be."

I slammed the door.

The tears finally spilled over.

"Don't worry. I don't want anything anymore. Not your money, not your status, not your love. None of it."