Chapter 2: Seven Days

Elena’s POV

I tried to snatch my phone back, but trying to outmaneuver Damon was like trying to move a brick wall. He just held it way over his head, looking down at me with that smug, "come and get it" smirk.

I was scrambling, my body pressed hard against his, basically dangling off him like a human backpack.

Damon didn’t move. He just looked at me, his eyes dark and way too intense. It was that look—the one that told me he wasn't just helping; he wanted to own the situation.

"Damon, give it back!"

My heart dropped. Right in front of my face, his thumb swiped the screen.

The bastard actually answered it.

"Oh, hey, I forgot," Julian’s voice blared through the speaker. "That Cartier diamond set in the safe? My girl liked it, so I gave it to her. You don't mind, right?"

Damon didn't say a word. He just turned the volume up and held the phone right against my ear, his other arm locked around my waist so I couldn't move.

"You catching all this?" he whispered, his breath hot against my neck.

I went numb. Honestly? I’d been trying to figure out how to pawn those gaudy things anyway. If he wanted to give them to his mistress, fine. He just saved me a trip.

Then, a high-pitched whine came through the line:

"Babe, who are you talking to?"

"Nobody, honey. Just my assistant calling about some boring paperwork..."

Damon hung up with a sharp click.

"Are you a saint or just a glutton for punishment, Elena?" he growled. "You’re the wife, and he’s treating you like a background character in his life. How much of this crap are you actually going to take?"

I shoved him away, finally getting some breathing room. But his voice followed me, cold and dead serious:

"I’m giving you seven days, Elena. Seven days to dump him and file the papers. If you don't do it, I’ll blow his world up myself."

The next morning, I woke up to the smell of breakfast. I walked downstairs to find Julian playing "World’s Best Husband," poaching eggs like nothing had happened. Then Candy, his little side-piece, skipped into the kitchen wearing one of my white shirts.

"Make the yolks runny, babe," she purred, hugging him from behind.

"Anything for you, princess," he cooed.

God, it was pathetic. Back when we were broke, Julian used to make me the exact same breakfast. Now, he was just hitting 'repeat' with a younger model.

I didn't say a word. I just filled a giant bowl with ice water, walked over, and dumped the whole thing right over their heads.

Toast went flying. The girl screamed like a siren. Julian jumped back, looking like he’d seen a ghost.

"Are you freaking insane?!" he yelled.

"Make her stand up," I said, my voice dead calm. "I want to look her in the eye."

Julian stepped in front of her, trying to play hero. "This is too much, Elena. You’re scaring her."

"You promised you’d never bring your trash into this house, Julian. I picked out every single piece of furniture in here. Get her out."

He looked rattled. "We were just... stopping by. She was hungry. I thought you were at work."

"I’m not here to scream," I said. "But you brought her here to insult me, so someone has to pay. Either I slap you, or I slap her. Pick one, and we can call it even."

"Elena, don't be ridiculous—"

"I have half your properties in my name, Julian. If I list them for sale today, imagine what that does to your big IPO. 'CEO’s wife dumps everything.' The investors are going to have a field day with that."

Julian’s face shifted. He was doing the math. His ego won. He stepped aside and shoved Candy toward me.

"Babe... just be a sport. I have a huge meeting this afternoon."

SMACK.

The sound echoed off the kitchen walls. A bright red handprint flared up on her cheek. She just stood there, eyes wide, realizing her "prince" had just sold her out to save his stock options.

"Get out. Now," I snapped. "And I’m calling a hazmat team to disinfect the house."

Later that night, I had to deal with the in-laws. The house smelled like expensive perfume and old money. Rose, my mother-in-law, was busy playing bridge with her stuck-up friends.

"Oh, look, the help is here!" she sneered, not even looking up. "If you weren't going to cook, you should've called."

"Do it yourself, Rose. I’m off the clock."

The whole table went silent. Rose’s jaw practically hit the floor.

"Where’s my Wagyu beef? You didn't get it?"

"Nope."

I walked into the next room and sat under the big family portrait. I could hear the vipers hissing through the wall.

"Look at that sour face," Rose scoffed. "She acts like she’s the only woman who’s ever been cheated on."

"Is it true Julian has a little something on the side?" one of her friends whispered.

"Who cares?" Rose laughed, loud enough for me to hear. "What’s she going to do? Leave? She’d be back to eating out of a dumpster in a week. She’s nothing without us. She’ll stay, she’ll serve us, and she’ll shut up because she knows she owes us everything."

I felt like I was going to puke. They’d forgotten that I was the one who saved Julian’s skin when he was a nobody.

I walked back into the room, grabbed the edge of their fancy card table, and flipped the whole damn thing.

Crystal glasses shattered. Cards flew everywhere. It was the best sound I’d heard in seven years.

"Elena! Have you lost your damn mind?!" Rose shrieked.