Chapter 5

Elara's POV

Inside the box was the white cotton coat Callum bought me for our wedding. I still remember how defeated he looked back then as he told me, “Elara, give me a few years. Once I save enough money, I’ll buy you a wedding dress like the one in the movies. I’ll make it up to you with a proper wedding.”

I took the coat out and tossed it onto the bed. It belonged to him, and I didn’t want it anymore.

The door swung open. Briar walked in, picked up the coat, and clicked her tongue with disdain. “You wore this for your wedding? Pathetic. Do you know what I wore on my wedding day? A custom-made gown. Callum said his biggest dream was to see the woman he loved wearing a movie-worthy wedding dress.”

My hands tightened as a dull ache spread through my chest.

When I didn’t respond, she kept talking on her own. “You didn’t really believe that story about me being his comrade’s widow, did you? That was just a lie for you. When he fell down the snowy mountain in the northwest, I was the one who took care of him until he was discharged. Whenever he felt like giving up, he said seeing me gave him the strength to stay alive. So, the moment he recovered, he confessed to me.”

“He said he only felt guilty because you were back home taking care of his mother. Otherwise, he would’ve divorced you ages ago. Oh wait, no, that’s not right. You two aren’t even married. I forgot. So, what does that make you? The mistress,” she smirked.

Laughing, she continued, “You didn't know yet, right? Well, let me be the one to tell you, he married me. He said he loved me too much not to give me security, so he filed the paperwork, and we got married in Washington.”

She lifted her chin proudly and announced, “And I’m pregnant. The moment he found out, he was over the moon.”

Then she leaned in, savoring every word, “You’re lucky I can tolerate a mistress like you. Honestly, you should be on your knees thanking me. Selling your apartment to pay for my home? That’s what should’ve happened from the beginning. Even your dowry and your bridal gifts were meant to be mine.”

With that, she snatched the gold bracelet from my hand. “A mistress like you doesn’t deserve something this nice.”

A sharp pain stabbed through my chest. “Give it back! That was my mother’s. It’s not Callum’s to give!”

“How would I know you’re not lying just to keep something that belongs to my husband?” she countered, eyebrow raising.

Briar shoved me again and again, her voice sharp and poisonous. “Raised without a mother, no wonder you don’t know shame. Clinging to someone else’s man like a parasite.”

My eyes burned, and I slapped her. “Shut up!”

But before my hand even reached her, a strong grip clamped around my wrist.