Chapter 4

Elena stood in the middle of the bedroom long after Adrian left.

His last words kept playing in her mind.

“If you are tired of this marriage, then leave.”

She looked at the closed door.

A strange calm came over her.

She had cried enough.

She had spent too much time trying to understand a man who never explained himself to her. She had made excuses for his distance and convinced herself that things would eventually change.

But she was tired.

Not the kind of tired that could be fixed by sleeping for a few hours.

She was tired of feeling unwanted in her own marriage.

Tired of waiting.

Tired of pretending that everything was fine.

Elena slowly wiped her face and walked toward the wardrobe.

She opened it and pulled out a suitcase.

She did not throw anything around. She did not cry again. She simply started packing.

One dress after another went into the suitcase.

Then her shoes, books, bags, and a few personal things she had collected over the years.

She moved calmly, almost as if someone else was packing for her.

When she reached the back of the wardrobe, she noticed a small box.

She stopped.

It was the anniversary gift Adrian had given her.

Elena picked it up and opened it.

Inside was a delicate bracelet.

She stared at it for a few seconds.

It was beautiful.

A part of her wondered why Adrian had chosen it.

Was it just a gift because it was their anniversary?

Or had he actually thought about her when he bought it?

She did not know.

She closed the box and returned it to the wardrobe.

She was not taking it with her.

Some things belonged to the life she was leaving behind.

Elena zipped her suitcase and placed it beside the bed.

As she picked up her handbag, she heard voices downstairs.

She walked toward the staircase but stopped when she recognized Victoria's voice.

“I still cannot believe Adrian allowed this marriage to continue.”

Elena stood quietly.

Victoria was speaking to her daughters.

Audrey answered, “Mother, maybe Adrian has his reasons.”

“Reasons?” Victoria replied. “What reason could there possibly be?”

Isabelle laughed softly.

“I think Elena should understand by now that Sophia is better suited to Adrian.”

Elena's hand tightened around her handbag.

Victoria continued.

“It is high time she divorces my son and leaves this family.”

Elena remained still.

“She should know that Sophia is more sophisticated. She understands Adrian's world, she comes from a family that matches ours, and she knows how to behave.”

“She also looks much better beside him,” Isabelle added.

Audrey gave a small laugh.

“They have always looked good together.”

Elena closed her eyes.

She did not feel angry.

The words did not even surprise her anymore.

Instead, they gave her something she had been searching for.

A final answer.

Victoria continued, “Adrian should marry Sophia. She fits him better than Elena ever could.”

Elena opened her eyes.

That was enough.

She quietly turned away from the stairs.

She did not wait for them to notice her.

She did not go downstairs to argue.

She did not defend herself.

She simply walked out of the house.

Outside, she took a deep breath.

The air felt strangely fresh.

Elena got into a car and gave the driver an address.

She was going to see a lawyer.

Nobody knew where she was going.

She did not call Adrian.

She did not tell Mrs. Carter.

She did not even tell her family.

She needed to make this decision on her own.

When she arrived at the lawyer's office, she walked inside and asked to speak with someone about divorce.

The lawyer listened as she explained what she wanted.

“You are sure about this?” he asked.

Elena looked straight at him.

“Yes.”

There was no hesitation.

“I have made my decision.”

The lawyer nodded.

“You understand that there are legal steps involved?”

“I understand.”

“And your husband has not been informed?”

“No.”

The lawyer placed the documents in front of her.

“You will need to sign your part first. Your husband will then have to sign his.”

Elena looked down at the papers.

Her name was written beside Adrian's.

She stared at it for a moment.

Then she picked up the pen.

Her hand did not shake.

She signed the first page.

Then the next.

She continued until she had finished everything required of her.

When she put the pen down, she looked at her signature.

It felt strange.

Not because she regretted it.

But because she knew there was no turning back now.

The lawyer gathered the documents.

“I will contact you about the next step.”

Elena nodded.

“Thank you.”

She walked out of the office.

The moment she stepped outside, she took another deep breath.

She expected to feel broken.

Instead, she felt lighter.

She had finally made a decision for herself.

She returned home later that afternoon.

The house was quiet.

Victoria and her daughters had already left.

Mrs. Carter was in the kitchen when Elena entered.

The older woman looked at the suitcase in Elena's hand.

“Mrs. Blackwood, where have you been?”

“I had somewhere to go.”

Mrs. Carter looked at the suitcase again.

“You are leaving?”

Elena nodded.

“Yes.”

“Where will you go?”

“I will be fine.”

Mrs. Carter's eyes filled with concern.

Elena reached for her hand.

“Please don't worry about me.”

“But—”

“I have already started my master's program. I can take care of myself.”

Mrs. Carter looked at her for a moment.

She seemed to understand that Elena had already made up her mind.

“I will miss you,” she said quietly.

Elena smiled.

“And I will miss you too.”

Mrs. Carter held her hand tightly.

“You can always come back to see me.”

Elena nodded.

“Thank you for everything.”

When she entered the bedroom, she went straight to the table.

She took the divorce papers from her handbag and placed them neatly on the table.

Then she took out a sheet of paper and wrote a short note.

Adrian,

You told me that if I was tired of this marriage, I should leave.

I have made my decision.

I have signed the divorce papers. Please sign yours.

The lawyers will contact us about the next step.

Elena.

She read the note once.

There was nothing else she needed to say.

She placed it on top of the divorce papers.

Then she picked up her suitcase.

Before leaving, she looked around the room.

This room had once represented everything she thought her future would be.

Now it was only a room.

She turned and walked away .

Hours later, Adrian finally returned home.

He walked through the front door, removed his jacket, and handed it to Mrs. Carter.

He entered the bedroom.

Something immediately caught his attention.

The wardrobe was partly empty.

He looked at the bed.

Then his eyes moved toward the table.

There was an envelope waiting for him.

Adrian walked closer.

He picked it up and opened it.

His eyes moved across the first page.

Then he stopped.

His face changed.

He read the name again.

Elena Hart.

His eyes moved down to the signature.

Elena had signed the divorce papers.

Adrian slowly turned to the next page.

His breathing became heavier.

He looked at the note lying beside the papers.

He picked it up and read it.

You told me that if I was tired of this marriage, I should leave.

His fingers tightened around the paper.

He read the rest of the note.

Then he looked back at the divorce papers.

For several seconds, Adrian stood completely still.

There was no anger on his face.

There was no smile either.

His expression was impossible to read.

He simply stared at the papers Elena had left behind.

She had actually done what he told her to do.

She had left.

And she had asked him to sign the divorce papers.