Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 11 - Chapitre 20

Meritt's POV For six agonizing years, I had convinced myself that the extravagant European style decor of our home was his silent and perhaps awkward way of showing he cared, just a tiny little bit about me. The paintings, the sculptures, the classical art, the design of the staircase…I foolishly thought it was some sort of consolation to my lost career in musical theater. I thought he was trying to build me a stage where I could feel beautiful again. But looking down at them from up here, the bitter truth filled my mouth. Stella walked a little further into the hall, her heels clicking against the floor until she stopped in front of the crystal vase in the center of the living room. It was filled with rare blue flowers that glowed like diamonds and butterflies in the dark. "Oh, my goodness," Stella breathed, gently touching one of the petals. "These are stunning. But they are so hard to keep alive indoors, especially with the weather." "Well, you know how Michael is," one

Meritt's POV The morning sun felt different when it finally slipped through the shattered windows of the living room. I woke up cold on the floor, my leg still hurting where the shard had sliced into it. I didn't wait for the housekeeper to arrive and scream at the destruction. I quietly bandaged my leg, changed into a long coat to hide the dressing, and left the house. By noon, the overwhelming ruins and unyielding reigns of my marriage were miles away, replaced by the beautiful views and warm air of the city theater. "Breathe in, Meritt," Professor Vance whispered affectionately, standing beside me in the center of the empty auditorium. "This is where you belong." I looked up at the stage. The crew was setting up the lighting for an upcoming musical, the curtains drawn back to reveal the beauty of the room in the dark. For six years, I had locked away my love for music, convincing myself that a monster had no right to stand in the light. But standing here now, a spark tha

Meritt's POVStella’s sweet, pitiful voice echoed through the phone speaker, filling the tense silence in the bedroom."It's fine, Michael," she said softly, playing the perfect victim. "I don't need to be your wife right now. Even if I don't have an official status, it doesn't matter. As long as you stay by my side, that's enough for me."My stomach churned in pure disgust. I couldn't stand listening to another second of this twisted and deranged romance.I didn't even wait to see how Michael would react. I just dropped the phone right there on the mattress. He stood frozen against the wall, his face pale, but I didn't say a single word to him. I turned my back, walked out of the bedroom, and shut the door behind me.The living room was cold, but it was better than breathing the same air as him. I curled up under a thin small blanket. My mind was completely exhausted from the fighting, the crying, and the lies. After staring at the ceiling for what felt like hours, I eventually fell

Michael’s POVMy heart stopped dead in my chest.Meritt was walking into the banquet hall, looking incredibly elegant in a simple dress. But what shocked me the most wasn't that she was here. It was her hair.For six years, she had always kept it pulled tightly across the left side of her face like a thick, desperate shield. But today, she let it fall naturally. It didn't hide her scars completely, and she didn't seem to care. She walked with her head held high. She looked... confident.Before I could even figure out how to handle this, Alesandro noticed her.His face lit up with a massive smile. He turned away from Stella and me, rushing right over to Meritt and gently guiding her toward our spot on the patio."Meritt, you made it!" Alesandro said cheerfully. Then he turned back to me, completely unaware of the massive bomb he was about to drop. "Mr. Sterling, this is the important friend I was just telling you about."I couldn't breathe. The ground beneath my feet felt like it was c

Meritt's POVOnce Michael and Stella were finally gone, the heavy tension in the hall completely vanished.Professor Vance and her husband immediately walked over to me, their faces full of genuine concern."Meritt, I am so sorry you had to endure that," Mr. Vance said gently, handing me a fresh glass of champagne. "Listen to me. If you want him to have that project, I will sign it. Whether his company gets this deal or not is entirely up to you."I looked at the kind older man and smiled softly. "I'm fine, Mr. Vance. You really don't need to consult me about it. His business has nothing to do with me anymore."He nodded, respecting my decision, and gave me a comforting pat on the shoulder.With the drama over, the atmosphere quickly lightened. The party continued, and for the first time in six long years, I actually felt alive. I talked with theater directors, laughed with musicians, and enjoyed the music. I wasn't just a scarred wife hiding in an empty mansion; I was Meritt again.I