Chapter 2 : A Wife He Never Loved

Elena had learned something important during her three years of marriage to Adrian Vale.

Silence could hurt more than shouting.

A shouted insult ended when the person stopped speaking.

Silence stayed.

It followed you into bed.

It sat beside you at breakfast.

It waited in the car while you stared out the window and wondered what you had done wrong.

And tonight, Adrian's silence followed Elena into the Vale family dining room.

She sat at the far end of the table, her hands folded neatly in her lap.

Adrian sat opposite her.

He hadn't said a word since they arrived.

Neither had his mother.

That was almost worse.

Dinner had been arranged to celebrate Adrian's latest acquisition, another company absorbed into Vale International.

Champagne filled the glasses.

Crystal plates reflected the chandelier above them.

Everyone looked pleased.

Everyone except Elena.

She had barely touched her food.

Adrian's mother, Margaret Vale, finally lifted her glass.

"To Adrian."

The family raised their glasses.

"To Adrian."

Elena lifted hers too.

Margaret's eyes settled on her.

"Of course, we should also congratulate Elena."

Elena looked up.

Margaret smiled.

"After all, marrying the right man is an achievement too."

A few people laughed.

Elena forced a smile.

"Thank you."

Margaret tilted her head.

"Although some women don't need much business experience to become part of a wealthy family."

The laughter stopped.

Adrian's younger cousin lowered his eyes.

Elena felt heat crawl up her neck.

She knew exactly what Margaret meant.

She had heard versions of it since the day she married Adrian.

Gold digger.

Social climber.

Lucky girl.

The woman who married into money.

She had endured it because she believed Adrian would eventually defend her.

He never had.

Margaret took a sip of champagne.

"I suppose Elena has done very well for herself."

Elena placed her fork down.

"I've never taken anything from this family."

"Really?"

Margaret's eyebrows rose.

"Then perhaps you can explain the car Adrian bought you."

"It was a birthday gift."

"The apartment?"

"Adrian's decision."

"The jewelry?"

"Wedding gifts."

Margaret smiled.

"How convenient."

Elena's fingers curled beneath the table.

Adrian finally spoke.

"Mother."

One word.

Cold.

Warning.

Margaret looked at him.

"What?"

"Enough."

Elena's heart gave a small, foolish lift.

For once, he was defending her.

Then Adrian continued.

"We're not discussing this tonight."

The hope disappeared as quickly as it came.

Margaret smiled.

"Of course."

She turned toward Elena.

"Some conversations are better saved for when we're alone."

Elena understood the warning immediately.

After dinner, Margaret cornered her in the hallway.

"You'll be leaving soon."

Elena stopped.

"What?"

Margaret folded her arms.

"Adrian told me."

Elena stared at her.

"He told you about the divorce?"

"Naturally."

There was something almost satisfied in her expression.

"Don't make a scene, Elena. The family has tolerated this marriage for three years."

"Tolerated?"

"You were never a suitable match."

Elena swallowed.

"Then why did you allow the marriage?"

Margaret's smile vanished.

"Because Adrian made a foolish decision."

Elena's eyes stung.

"And now?"

"Now he's correcting it."

Margaret stepped closer.

"You should be grateful."

"For what?"

"For the opportunity you were given."

Elena almost laughed.

An opportunity.

That's what they called it.

They never called it loneliness.

They never called it sleeping alone.

They never called it humiliation.

They never called it loving a man who couldn't even pretend to care.

Margaret continued.

"Adrian is giving you a generous settlement."

"I didn't ask for one."

"Of course not."

The sarcasm was unmistakable.

"Women like you rarely ask directly."

Elena's face hardened.

"You don't know anything about me."

"I know enough."

Margaret looked her up and down.

"You came into this family with nothing."

Elena stared at her.

She almost told her.

Almost.

She could have explained that the Laurent name had once been respected in financial circles.

She could have told her that her father had built companies worth hundreds of millions.

She could have told her that she had grown up surrounded by bankers, lawyers, and executives.

But there was no point.

The Laurent empire had collapsed years ago.

Her family had lost almost everything.

And Elena had never told Adrian the full story.

Not because she wanted his money.

Because she had wanted one person to love her without knowing what her family name was worth.

Apparently, that had been too much to ask.

Margaret turned away.

"Sign the papers and leave quietly."

Elena looked at her.

"I intend to."

"Good."

Margaret walked away.

Elena remained in the hallway.

For several seconds, she couldn't breathe properly.

Then she heard voices from the drawing room.

Adrian.

And a woman.

Elena frowned.

She hadn't known anyone else was still in the house.

She moved toward the partially open door.

A woman's voice floated through.

"You're really going through with it?"

Elena stopped.

She recognized that voice.

Victoria Hart.

Adrian's former university friend.

And the woman his family had always considered the perfect match for him.

Elegant.

Wealthy.

Connected.

Everything Elena supposedly wasn't.

Adrian answered.

"I already signed."

Elena's stomach dropped.

Victoria laughed softly.

"You sound relieved."

"I am."

Elena's hand tightened around the edge of the door.

Victoria stepped closer to him.

"You know, I never understood why you married her."

Neither did Elena.

Adrian didn't answer immediately.

Then Victoria asked the question Elena had secretly feared for three years.

"Did you ever love her?"

Silence.

Elena stopped breathing.

She waited.

One second.

Two.

Three.

Then Adrian spoke.

"No."

The word was quiet.

Absolute.

Elena's eyes filled instantly.

Victoria sounded surprised.

"Not even a little?"

"No."

Adrian's voice remained calm.

"I never loved Elena."

Something inside her broke.

Not dramatically.

There was no crash.

No scream.

Just a quiet collapse inside her chest.

She stepped backward.

Her heel struck the floor.

The sound was barely audible.

But Adrian turned.

Elena saw his face through the opening.

Their eyes met.

For one terrible second, neither moved.

He looked surprised.

She looked shattered.

Victoria turned toward the door.

"Elena…"

Elena walked away.

She didn't run.

She didn't cry.

She simply walked.

Up the stairs.

Past the photographs.

Past the bedroom she had shared with a man who had never loved her.

She entered their room and closed the door.

Her hands shook as she opened the wardrobe.

Three years of her life hung inside.

Dresses Adrian had never noticed.

A coat he'd once told her was too expensive.

A blue gown she'd worn to his company gala.

Memories.

All of them suddenly felt embarrassing.

She began pulling clothes from the wardrobe.

Not because she had decided where she was going.

Because she knew she couldn't stay.

A knock came.

She froze.

"Elena."

Adrian.

She didn't answer.

The door opened.

He stood there.

His expression was unreadable.

"What are you doing?"

"Packing."

"You don't have to leave tonight."

She laughed softly.

"Why?"

"Because this is still your home."

"No."

She looked at him.

"It was never my home."

His jaw tightened.

"Don't twist my words."

"I'm not."

She folded a dress.

"You said you never loved me."

Adrian went still.

"You heard that."

"Yes."

He looked away.

Elena waited.

Maybe he would explain.

Maybe he would say he hadn't meant it.

Maybe he would finally tell her something real.

Instead, he said, "It's complicated."

She smiled sadly.

"No, Adrian. It's actually very simple."

She zipped her suitcase.

"You didn't love me."

He didn't deny it.

That was the final wound.

Elena lifted the suitcase.

At the door, she stopped.

"Do you know what the saddest part is?"

Adrian said nothing.

"I spent three years thinking I wasn't enough."

She looked directly into his eyes.

"Now I realize you simply never wanted me."

She walked past him.

Adrian remained in the bedroom.

He watched her disappear down the hallway.

Something unfamiliar twisted in his chest.

Regret.

He didn't understand it.

Not yet.

Outside, Elena placed her suitcase into a waiting car.

She looked back at the Vale mansion.

The lights were still glowing.

The place where she had spent three years trying to earn a love that had never existed.

She wiped the single tear that finally escaped.

Then she whispered to herself,

"Never again."

The car pulled away.

Behind her, Adrian stood at the window.

He watched the taillights disappear into the night.

And for reasons he couldn't explain, the house suddenly felt much larger.

And much emptier.

He told himself he was relieved.

But the lie didn't feel convincing anymore.