chapter 5

Aurora smiled softly as she rested against Damien's chest. Her fingers moved slowly across the fabric of his shirt, tracing lazy circles as though she already belonged there.

"Damien, you're not yet divorced, so we shouldn't be so intimate with each other. Otherwise, Selene will resent me if she continues to see us."

Her voice was gentle, but her eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

Damien's expression immediately darkened.

"She wouldn't dare do anything." His tone was cold enough to send chills down anyone's spine.

Aurora tilted her head slightly, and spoke again."And what if she sees us again?"

Damien let out a dismissive scoff.

"She has been seeing us this close ever since you came back. Besides, she's only my wife on paper. She should know her place."

Aurora smiled and leaned closer, pleased by his answer.

Downstairs, the entire Vance family had already gathered in the living room. Meanwhile, Selene stood quietly inside the dining room.

She carefully arranged the dining table one final time with careful precision.

She straightened each folded napkin and adjusted every fork and knife until they were perfectly aligned.

To anyone watching, she looked like a devoted wife preparing for a family gathering.

But inside, she felt nothing but exhaustion. Years of disappointment had finally worn her down.

As Damien walked through the hallway, his eyes landed on her figure.

For a brief moment, he watched her, and the sight immediately made him smirk.

"Does she think doing all this will change anything?"

His gaze swept across the carefully arranged table.

"How desperate."

Without another glance, he turned away.

Twenty minutes later, the butler rushed toward him.

"Sir."

Damien frowned. "What is it?"

The butler lowered his voice and whispered into his ear.

Immediately, Damien's expression changed. "She left?"

The question escaped his lips before he could stop himself.

The butler nodded."Just now, sir."

Damien stared at him."Left when?"

"Only a few minutes ago."

The butler hesitated briefly.

"Mrs. Vance didn't take anything with her. She removed her apron and left through the back door."

For a second, Damien simply stood there, His brows slowly knitted together.

Left? Just like that? That didn't sound like Selene.

A strange feeling crawled into his chest.

Without another word, he strode upstairs and went straight toward the master bedroom.

Everything remained exactly where it had always been.

The room was spotless, and nothing appeared disturbed.

Damien walked toward the large window overlooking the driveway.

Just then, a black Escalade emerged from the estate gates.

The luxury vehicle moved smoothly down the road before disappearing from view.

His eyes narrowed.

"Wasn't she the one begging me not to proceed with the divorce hours ago?"

His grip tightened against the window frame.

"Now it seems she's excited to move on."

The thought irritated him far more than it should have.

For years, Selene had revolved around him. Yet now she had left without even saying goodbye.

Damien immediately pulled out his phone and dialed his secretary's number.

"Sir?"

His secretary's voice came through.

"Check this license plate number. KA49944

"Yes, sir, I'll look into it immediately." The call ended.

Damien remained by the window. The silence around him felt strangely suffocating.

Ten minutes later, his phone rang again.

He answered instantly.

"Well?"

"Sir, the vehicle belongs to the CEO of Constance Groups."

Damien's eyes narrowed, while his secretary continued.

"The owner is Michael Ashford. Eldest son of the Ashford family."

Damien's fingers slowly tightened around his phone.

Michael Ashford.

One of the most influential young businessmen in the country.The heir of a powerful family

How could Selene possibly know someone like him?

When Damien first met her, she had been nothing more than a poor village girl.

So how exactly had she gotten into Michael Ashford's car?

The more he thought about it, the darker his expression became.

A dangerous look entered his eyes.

"Have you already found another man?"

The thought burned through him. For reasons he couldn't explain, anger surged through him.

Before he could think further, another voice interrupted him.

"Mr. Vance."

His grandmother's secretary approached while holding several documents.

"I need your signature on these documents."

"What is it?"

The secretary flipped through the papers.

"Oh, I'm sorry, sir." He adjusted his glasses.

"Madam ordered three bouquets of roses for Mrs. Vance. She requested that the purchase be signed under your name."

Damien frowned. Why would his grandmother order roses for selene

The secretary hesitated before speaking again.

"It's Mrs Vance's birthday today, and your wedding anniversary too "

The words landed heavily. For a brief second, Damien froze.

Something flashed through his mind. His chest tightened unexpectedly.

Today was also her birthday, and he had completely forgotten.

Inside the black Escalade, Selene sat quietly by the window, beside her sat Michael Ashford.

His expression was filled with concern as he gently took both her hands into his.

"How about we get your favorite milkshake?"

His voice was soft.

"Your second brother already launched his five-star café. He'll be thrilled to see you."

Selene managed a weak smile.

"I'm not in the mood for anything right now, Mike."

Her voice cracked slightly.

The moment the words left her mouth, the strength she had been holding onto finally broke.

Tears gushed from her eyes.

Michael immediately wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

His heart ached as he watched his sister cry.

The Ashford family's treasured daughter reduced to this because of Damien Vance.

Selene slowly leaned against his shoulder.

For the first time in years, she allowed herself to feel safe.

Her phone suddenly vibrated, and a message appeared on the screen.

Selene opened the message, her gaze froze.

"Thank you so much for giving me what rightfully belongs to me." Aurora.

A bitter smile appeared on her lips.

Her fingers slowly tightened around the phone.

The last piece of hope inside her finally died.

A painful realization settled in her heart. Everything had truly ended.

"Don't tell me you still miss that fool after everything he has done."

Michael's voice carried obvious frustration.

Selene remained silent for several seconds.

Then she looked out the window.

"It's our anniversary today."

Her voice was barely above a whisper. "And my birthday."

Michael's face darkened instantly."Damien is an idiot, a complete fool.He doesn't deserve you."

Selene lowered her gaze.

Slowly, her hand moved toward her stomach.

Her fingers rested there gently.

A mother's instinct already beginning to form.

Inside her, a tiny life was growing.

"I have no regrets whatsoever."This time, her voice was stronger. She rubbed her stomach gently.

A silent promise forming in her heart.

"I will keep this child far away from Damien.

Selene lifted her head. "I am completely over him."

Her voice rang with certainty.

She stared ahead at the road unfolding before them.

"Nothing will ever make me go back to him anymore."