Chapter 4 - The Return of the Queen

The next day, in front of the registry office, Elena stood tall with her head held high. Her hands clutched tightly around her small bag, while beside her, Damian stood arrogantly.

An officer arrived carrying two divorce certificates, handing them over one by one.

“This is the divorce certificate, sir, madam. You are now officially divorced,” the officer said formally.

Elena accepted the document with a faint smile. Meanwhile, Damian only let out a long sigh, slipping the divorce certificate into his coat without looking at it again.

“You think you can survive without me?” Damian spoke in a mocking tone.

Elena turned her head, raising one eyebrow. “Of course.”

Damian chuckled, folding his arms across his chest. “Don’t be ridiculous, Elena. Without my money, you won’t survive. You shouldn’t have refused the compensation I offered.”

Elena gave a sarcastic smile. “Oh, so now you’re worried?”

Damian slowly shook his head, as if in pity. “I’m just thinking realistically. You have no one, no proper job. Do you really think the world will side with you?”

Elena let out a small laugh, then looked at the man with a gaze full of confidence. “I don’t need the world to be on my side. I just need the certainty that I can stand on my own without your money, Mr. Damian!”

Damian narrowed his eyes. “Interesting. I want to see how long you can survive without my compensation.”

Elena crossed her arms over her chest. She gave no response to her ex-husband’s words.

The man chuckled again, this time more condescendingly. “And you think any man will want to be with you after this?”

Elena stifled a laugh. “And why should I care about that?”

Damian stepped closer, his voice lower but sharp. “You’re no longer attractive, Elena. You can’t take care of yourself. You’ve gained weight, you’re not as beautiful as you used to be, and most importantly, you can’t give me a son.”

Elena kept smiling, her gaze growing colder. “You’re so funny, Mr. Damian! You speak as if I still want to get your attention.”

Damian’s face hardened.

Elena continued, her voice calm but deadly, “Listen, Mr. Damian. I don’t care what you think of me. I don’t need validation from a man who betrayed his marriage just because he was obsessed with having a son. You think I will cry and beg you? You’re very wrong, sir. In fact, I’m truly grateful.”

“Grateful?” Damian repeated with a mocking tone. “You’re grateful for losing everything?”

Elena laughed softly yet confidently. “I’m grateful because I’m finally free from a man who never appreciated his wife. You think I’ll be crushed? Oh no, Mr. Damian, I’m actually very happy to be free of you. All this time, you’ve been pressuring me with so many demands. I had to stay beautiful, I had to take care of myself perfectly. And you didn’t even hire a babysitter to help me with the children? You touched me just to get me pregnant again quickly, hoping for a son. When you found out the baby I was carrying was a girl, you threw me away.”

The man glared at her sharply. He didn’t care about Elena’s words.

“Enough, Elena. There’s no need to talk about this anymore! I just can’t wait to see you fail,” he muttered coldly.

Elena shrugged. “And I can’t wait to see you regret underestimating me!”

Without waiting any longer, Elena turned and walked away with steady steps.

Once outside the registry office, Elena walked calmly toward a taxi. In her heart, she had already made a big decision. It was time to return to her former self—not as Damian Lancaster’s wife, living only in the shadow of that bastard.

Quickly, she reached for her phone and dialed a contact she hadn’t called in a long time. It didn’t take long for the call to connect.

“Elena?” The voice on the other end sounded surprised.

Elena gave a small smile. “Hi, Tamara.”

There was a brief silence before a hysterical voice rang out. “OH MY GOD! ELENA! IS THIS REALLY YOU?!”

Elena laughed softly. “Of course it’s me.”

“Where have you been?! Five years with no news! I thought you had disappeared forever!”

Elena sighed. “I didn’t disappear, Tamara. I was just busy with my life as a wife and a mother.”

Tamara snorted. “What kind of marriage makes a Queen Elisabeth vanish from the fashion world just like that?! Do you know how many people have been looking for you?! You’re a legend! Everyone is still wondering where the mysterious designer went!”

Elena smiled faintly. “I’m coming back, Tamara.”

Tamara was silent for a few seconds before finally screaming, “ARE YOU SERIOUS?! ELENA, ARE YOU REALLY COMING BACK?!”

Elena nodded, even though Tamara couldn’t see it. “Yes, I want to get back into business. I want to reclaim my position.”

“Oh my God… you’re not joking, are you, Elena?” Tamara’s voice was filled with excitement. “Wait a minute, are you coming back under your real name or keeping your pseudonym?”

Elena thought for a moment before answering confidently, “For now, I’ll remain Queen Elisabeth. I want the world to remember who I am before they know who I really am.”

Tamara chuckled. “I like the way you think. Alright, so what’s the plan?”

Elena leaned back against the car seat. “I want to start with a new collection. I’ve been on hiatus for five years; I need something that will make a breakthrough. I want everyone to know that Queen Elisabeth is back.”

Tamara laughed happily. “Oh, that’s amazing, Elena! You’re really going to shake the fashion world again! I can’t wait!”

Elena smiled. “I need your help, Tamara. I need the best team, I need resources, and most importantly, I want to make the world interested in me again.”

Tamara took a deep breath, sounding extremely enthusiastic. “Elena, leave everything to me. I’ll arrange everything. Just tell me when you’re ready, and I’ll contact our people.”

Elena looked straight ahead, her eyes full of determination. “I’m ready, Tamara. I’m ready to take back what’s rightfully mine.”

Tamara laughed in excitement. “Then get ready, Queen Elisabeth! The world will know you’re back!”

Elena smiled confidently. This was the beginning of everything. No more women being oppressed. No more wives being treated as useless.

Now, the world would see her standing at the top—with her own name.

“Damian! You will regret underestimating me! And I will keep the child in my womb,” Elena said to herself.