Chapter 4

Back at the Salvatore villa, Elena walked into a storm. She had barely stepped inside when the heavy thud of the front door slammed shut behind her.

Turning around, she saw Damien. His handsome features were darkened by a violent, simmering anger.

“After I left, did you go back to see Avery again?” His voice was cold as ice.

Elena could already guess Avery had lied to him again, but she felt no guilt. “I did, but—”

“Elena, you keep pushing me!” Damien’s harsh words cut into her heart like shards of glass, spreading an invisible pain through her chest.

She stared blankly at the man approaching her, his deep eyes burning with a chilling coldness.

“Did you tell Avery that you’ll never allow her to set foot in the Salvatore family home?”

Elena’s face drained of color. She had never said such a thing.

She wanted to explain, but before she could, Damien’s fury erupted. He seized her wrist and flung her onto the couch with brutal force.

“No! Damien…” Elena gasped, her body trembling with fear. She had never seen this side of him before—so cold, so violent—and suddenly, terror gripped her for the child she carried.

But Damien gave her no chance to escape. He pinned her down, his touch filled with no mercy, only punishment. Elena felt no love, only the sharp sting of humiliation and pain. She never imagined Damien could despise her this much.

“Listen carefully,” he hissed, every word dripping with venom. “You may carry my name, but don’t think for a second that makes you my wife. You’re nothing but a stain on my life. Stay out of my way—or next time, I won’t be so merciful.”

Her eyes burned with tears she refused to shed. Deep inside, she clung desperately to her secret—the child he must never be allowed to destroy.

As Damien released her roughly and stormed away, Elena whispered through trembling lips, barely audible even to herself:

“For you, my baby… I will endure everything.”

She tried to push herself up from the couch, but her vision swam. Her knees buckled, and before she could steady herself, darkness swallowed her whole. Elena collapsed onto the cold floor.

⸻

When she opened her eyes again, she was back in a hospital bed. The sterile white ceiling swirled above her. She tried to move, but the doctor pressed gently against her shoulder.

“I might have to put you on bed rest, Mrs. Salvatore. You’re being too stubborn. You fainted from exhaustion. You must take care of your body—for your baby’s sake.”

Her eyes widened in alarm. “Does my husband know?”

The doctor shook his head. “No. He left immediately after you were admitted. I didn’t get the chance to tell him.”

“Please…” Elena’s voice shook as she grabbed his sleeve. “You mustn’t tell him. Damien can’t know about this child—not yet.”

The doctor frowned but nodded reluctantly. “Very well. But you must rest.” With that, he left her ward.

Elena lay back down, her mind restless. She had barely closed her eyes when a sharp, mocking voice jolted her awake.

“Well, I thought you were dead. Finally decided to open your eyes?”

Elena turned her head to see Avery standing by her bed, her fox-like eyes filled with pure hatred.

Hatred. Elena couldn’t understand what Avery had to be jealous of.

“Elena, you’re the most cunning woman I’ve ever met—ending up in the hospital like this, just to get Damien’s attention!”

A bitter smile tugged at Elena’s lips. “My marriage with Damien is none of your concern.”

“You fool!” Avery snapped, her veins bulging with rage. “Damien is only your husband on paper!”

Elena tilted her head, smiling coldly. “On paper or in life, I’m still his wife. That’s more than you can say.”

“You—!” Avery’s face twisted with fury. “You shameless witch! Damien belongs to me. He spends every night with me, while you live like a widow!”

Her words cut deep, but before Elena could reply, Avery tossed a document onto her lap.

“This is the divorce agreement Damien asked me to deliver. Sign it quickly—he never wants to see your pathetic face again!”

Elena froze, her eyes glued to the papers. Divorce. The word sliced through her like a blade. She had known this day might come, but not like this. Not so soon. Damien loved Avery—and in this twisted triangle, she was always meant to lose.

As Elena’s face grew pale, Avery laughed triumphantly. “Look at you. Pathetic. Damien told me himself—you’re the most disgusting, shameless woman he’s ever met. Marrying you was the biggest mistake of his life!”

She leaned closer, sneering. “Sign it, and get out of Sea City. Or I’ll have Damien crush you every time I see you.”

But then—Avery froze. Because Elena was laughing.

To Avery’s shock, Elena grabbed the papers, ripped them into pieces, and tossed the shreds into her face.

“Just like you once told Damien—you’ll never step into the Salvatore family as his wife. Think I’ll divorce him willingly? In your dreams.”

“You—what?!” Avery’s shock quickly turned to blind rage. “Elena, you little witch! Are you tired of your miserable life?”

Avery lunged at her, raising her hand to strike. But Elena was faster. With every ounce of her strength, she slapped Avery across the face, the sound echoing in the ward.

“Listen to me, Avery.” Elena’s pale lips curled into a cold smile. “I will never divorce Damien. And I will expose your true face to him. A deceitful woman like you doesn’t deserve him!”

Avery staggered back, stunned. Rage twisted her features as she stormed toward the door.

“Tell Damien,” Elena called after her, her voice sharp and steady, “to bring me the divorce papers himself—if he dares. Next time not sending his errand dog.”