Chapter 3

I collapsed onto the bed, my body trembling uncontrollably.

What I was about to face was a gamble that I had no confidence in winning.

However, I didn’t regret proposing it.

This was a choice I was giving Elijah. If he let go first, I would leave him without hesitation.

The next morning, I woke to the smell of coffee in the air, along with my favorite butter croissants.

I put on a coat and slowly walked downstairs. From a distance, I saw two busy figures in the kitchen.

Elijah was standing at the stove, flipping eggs with a spatula in a pan.

Little Kai stood beside him, holding a plate with both hands, reminding him nonstop, “Mom likes soft eggs. Don’t overcook them!”

Soon enough, the two of them started arguing over whether I preferred round eggs or heart-shaped ones.

Kai was the first to notice me. His eyes lit up.

He set down the plate, picked up the coffee from the table, and walked toward me clumsily.

“Mom, happy anniversary! I picked this coffee bean for you, and I chose the freshest one for the egg Dad made!”

He spoke eagerly, listing his contributions like a little ball of sunshine.

Elijah pretended to complain.

“I made the coffee, and I cooked the egg. You just move your mouth a bit and take all of Mom’s attention. That’s not fair!”

Kai made a face at him. “But there’s nothing you can do, because Mom likes me more!”

My expression faltered for a moment. It was as if I had gone back to those happy days from two years ago, when I was cherished by both of them.

I took the coffee and carefully took a sip.

It was my favorite coffee bean.

They knew all my preferences perfectly.

Everyone envied me for being the woman cherished by Don Mason and his future heir. No one had a better life than I.

However, the warmth of the moment was quickly shattered.

Elijah’s phone began vibrating insistently.

When he unlocked the screen, I caught a glimpse of Naomi’s name.

Elijah immediately stood up and walked back into the kitchen.

Kai’s eyes shifted. He pulled me toward a chair in the living room and made me sit down, saying with exaggerated seriousness, “Mom, just sit here and enjoy me and Dad taking care of you.”

Then he ran eagerly into the kitchen, not noticing that I quietly followed behind.

Their voices were lowered.

I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but I could clearly see the excitement on Kai’s face.

Soon, it seemed like they reached some kind of agreement. They both stood up and headed out.

I quickly returned to my seat, pretending I knew nothing.

Elijah’s face was full of apology.

“My dear, the elders suddenly need me for something. I have to go back to headquarters.”

He turned to Kai and instructed carefully, “Take care of your mom. Wait for me to come back.”

Kai nodded, but there was a rare reluctance on his face.

“I want to go with Dad too,” he muttered under his breath, thinking I couldn’t hear him.

“Then take him with you. It’ll be good for me, too.”

I suddenly spoke up, making a request that surprised both of them.

Elijah looked slightly taken aback, but Kai had already cheered and rushed into his arms.

In the end, Elijah picked him up. Before leaving, he didn’t forget to say to me.

“Remember to eat breakfast while it’s hot. Later, a professional makeup team will come to help you get ready. Stay home and wait for me. I’ll be back soon to pick you up.”

However, I knew that they wouldn’t be coming back.

At that same moment, Naomi sent me a message.

[I’m pregnant! He was so happy when he found out and rushed over immediately. Even your son is happy for me! Hazel, you’ve already lost. Even if you don’t leave, Elijah will divorce you soon. He won’t let my child be born illegitimate!]

My mind went blank. The world seemed to spin, as if all color had drained away.

It took me a long time before I finally managed to call Matteo.

“The plan starts now. Elijah has gone to Naomi. Based on his route, you can prepare along the way. The body double must die under his car.”

After hanging up, I snapped my SIM card in half and deleted all my contact history with Matteo.

Only my chat records with Naomi over the past two years remained.

Then, I had someone deliver this phone to the body double.

Even if I was leaving, I wanted Elijah to understand everything clearly.

After everything was arranged, I took nothing with me.

Under Matteo’s arrangements, I boarded a private plane leaving Neapolis.

From this moment on, there would no longer be a Hazel in this world.