The Heiress's Choice

Elena’s povThe anniversary cake sat untouched on the dining table, three candles melting into the frosting. I watched the wax drip down like my pathetic hopes for this marriage.Three years, three whole years of being invisible.I checked my phone again. No missed calls, no texts, nothing from Damien.Of course there wasn't."Still waiting for him?" Margaret's sharp voice cut through the silence. My mother-in-law stood in the doorway of what was supposed to be my home, looking at me like I was dirt on her expensive shoes."He'll be here," I said quietly, even though we both knew I was lying.Margaret laughed, the sound was cold and cruel. "My son is working late with Victoria. You know, someone actually important? Someone who understands business? Not some nobody he picked up from God knows where."My fingers tightened around my phone. I wanted to scream that I understood business better than Victoria ever could, that I could buy and sell the Blackwell family fortune ten times over, t

Elena’s pov I waited until morning. Until Damien came downstairs in his expensive suit, checking his phone, barely noticing me standing in the kitchen. I didn’t wait for him to."Damien, we need to talk."He glanced at me. "Can it wait? I’ll be back soon. I have a breakfast meeting with…""No," I said firmly. "It can't wait."Something in my tone made him look up. Really look at me, maybe for the first time in months.I slid the papers across the kitchen counter."What's this?" he asked."Divorce papers."For a moment, he just stared down at them. Then he laughed. Actually laughed out loud."You're joking.""I'm not.""Elena, come on. You're upset about last night. I get it, okay? And I'll make it up to you.""You can't make up three years, Damien."He picked up the papers, still smiling like this was amusing. "You're being dramatic. So I missed one anniversary dinner. That's not a reason for divorce.""It's not about the dinner." I stared up at him. My voice was calm. Steady. "It's

Elena’s pov"You look happy."I smiled at Caleb across the table. We were at a cafe in Paris, tourists flowing past, and for the first time in three years, I felt like I could breathe. He sat tucked into the corner booth, with a baseball cap pulled low over his face. For an NFL star, it was a poor disguise but it seemed to be working because no one approached us. Caleb was unfairly good looking. Tall, broad shoulders, with sun kissed skin and a smile that could melt any woman. His eyes were warm brown, steady and sincere, the kind that made you forget how to breathe for a second.He’d flown in yesterday to see me. Apparently he couldn’t wait anymore."I am happy," I said, smiling faintly."Good. You deserve to be." He reached across and squeezed my hand. "So, how’s the real world treating you?""The real world" meant being myself again. Elena Sterling and not Damien's invisible wife.For two months, I'd been traveling everywhere. Paris, London, Milan. Reconnecting with who I was. I'

Elena's POVI stared at myself in the full length mirror and barely recognized the woman looking back.The gown I had on was a midnight blue custom designed dress, hugging my curves before flowing to the floor like water. The Gala day was finally here and I was so nervous. My hair was swept up in an elegant twist, diamonds glinting at my ears and throat. Real diamonds, not the cheap costume jewelry I'd worn as Damien's wife. "You look like a queen," my stylist said, stepping back to admire her work."I feel like I'm going to throw up," I admitted. She smiled knowingly. "That's normal. Big night, big reveal. But trust me, you look absolutely perfect."Perfect… When was the last time I felt perfect? Adrian knocked and entered without waiting. My brother stopped completely when he saw me through the mirror. For a long moment, he just stared."Elena." His voice cracked slightly. "You look beautiful."I swallowed hard. “Adrian, I’m so freaking nervous.”He walked over and bumped my s

Elena's POVI watched Damien flee the ballroom and felt absolutely nothing.That should have scared me. That complete absence of feeling for a man I'd once loved enough to give up everything for.But instead, I felt nothing."You're doing amazing," Caleb murmured as I stepped off the stage. He'd been waiting in the wings."I can't believe I just did that.""Believe it. You were incredible." He handed me a glass of champagne. "How do you feel?""Powerful," I admitted. "Is that bad?""That's perfect." He clinked his glass against mine. "That's exactly how you should feel."Adrian appeared beside me, grinning like a kid on Christmas. "The internet is exploding. #SterlingCEO is trending worldwide. Everyone wants to know your story.""They'll have to wait." I sipped my champagne, and my eyes scanned the room. Margaret had her head in her hands and Jessica looked like she was crying. Victoria had disappeared entirely.And Damien... Damien was gone."Mrs. Blackwell is asking to speak with