Chapter 4

My chest tightened until every breath became difficult. So this was all because of Allicent. She had played the helpless victim, convinced Jace that she had been in danger, and now he wanted me to suffer for it. Did he really care about her enough to go this far?

Before I could process what was happening, one of the men crouched beside me and reached for my clothes. His rough fingers brushed against my skin, and my whole body went rigid.

Then I heard police sirens approaching.

“Stop right there!” someone shouted from nearby. “The police are coming. I already called them!”

The men cursed and immediately backed away.

“Damn it! We have to go!”

They scattered into the darkness, leaving me alone on the ground.

Soaked and trembling, I stared up at the night sky without really seeing it. My mind had gone completely numb, but then everything I had been holding inside finally collapsed. Tears poured down my face as fear, anger, and humiliation overwhelmed me.

My chest hurt so badly that I could barely breathe, and my body continued shaking long after the men had disappeared. It took a long time before I could force myself to stand. Eventually, I dragged myself home.

Jace didn't return that night.

He didn't come home the next night either.

**

A week passed without a single word between us. There were no calls, no messages, and no explanations. We were still husband and wife, yet it felt as though we were nothing more than strangers living under the same roof.

I still knew where Jace was, though.

Allicent made sure of that.

Every day, she posted pictures of them together. One evening, they were having dinner by candlelight. Another day, they were watching a movie in a private theater. Then there were photographs of fireworks lighting up the sky as she stood beside Jace, smiling happily.

The places changed, but the message remained the same.

Jace was with her.

And he was giving her everything.

He bought her designer bags, jewelry, a house, and even one of his unlimited black cards. She was receiving privileges I had never enjoyed, despite being the woman who had been his wife for eight years.

I stayed home and stopped seeing people. If I was going to leave Jace and everything connected to him, I wanted to erase every trace of the life we had shared.

The first day she posted pictures of them together, I went to the storage room and brought out every photo album we had collected over the years. Our wedding, anniversaries, vacations, birthdays, and all the other memories I had once treasured were inside.

I burned every one.

I watched the photographs curl and blacken in the flames until all those years were reduced to ashes.

The next day, Allicent posted a video of her and Jace baking together. They were laughing, covered in flour, and feeding each other as if no one else in the world existed.

I watched it silently before walking over to Jace's wine cabinet.

He had collected those bottles for years. Some were rare and expensive, and he used to tell me he was saving them for special occasions we could celebrate together.

I took one bottle and smashed it against the floor.

Then another.

And another.

I didn't stop until broken glass covered the tiles and my hands were trembling.

On the seventh day, Allicent uploaded another video. This time, Jace was confessing his feelings to her while she smiled shyly and removed the ring from her finger.

I looked at my own hand.

My wedding ring was still there, its diamond catching the light.

I had once believed it represented love, commitment, and the future Jace and I would share.

Now it meant nothing.

I stared at it for several seconds, then took it off and dropped it into the toilet.

**

Jace came home late that night.

The mattress shifted when he lay down beside me, and almost instinctively, his arm reached around my waist.

“Wife,” he murmured tiredly. “Can we stop fighting like this? I'm done with the silent treatment. Tomorrow is the company's anniversary, so come with me. We should at least appear together.”

Our eighth wedding anniversary.

Once, that day had meant everything to me. Every year, I had planned the celebration myself, from the dinner and decorations to the smallest details.

This would be the last.

I moved closer to the edge of the bed, putting enough distance between us that he couldn't reach me.

“Alright,” I answered quietly.

His hand stopped for a moment, as though he hadn't expected me to pull away. Eventually, he withdrew it and settled back down, probably assuming I was still angry.

Soon, his breathing became slow and steady.

He fell asleep.

I stayed awake.

**

The anniversary celebration was held the following evening at one of Jace's private estates. The huge garden was decorated with lights, and a large pool reflected everything around it. Guests arrived in expensive suits and elegant dresses while music played and quiet business deals took place beneath polite conversations.

Everything looked perfect.

Almost too perfect.

The enormous screen suddenly came alive.

It began with the history of Cole Group, showing its growth, achievements, and rise to power. Naturally, none of the ugly truths behind that success were mentioned.

Then the footage changed.

Jace and me appeared on the screen.

Eight years of marriage were displayed through photographs and videos—our vacations, celebrations, anniversaries, and all the moments when we had stood beside each other, smiling as though nothing could ever come between us.

The guests began whispering.

Some looked impressed. Others looked envious.

I felt Jace watching me, and when I glanced over, his expression had softened. For a brief moment, his eyes held something almost warm.

Then the screen flickered.

The next images appeared.

Allicent.

Photograph after photograph showed her with Jace, standing too close and sharing moments that were clearly intimate. Some had been taken in unfamiliar places, while others showed Allicent in private situations that were never meant to be displayed publicly.

The crowd erupted.

Gasps and whispers filled the garden as everyone immediately turned toward me.

Of course they did.

Who else would they assume was responsible?

Jace's face darkened.

“Elena, what the hell is this?” he demanded. “Did you really think humiliating her in front of everyone was funny?”

“I didn't do this,” I said, shaking my head.

Before I could explain further, Allicent rushed toward us with tears streaming down her face.

“Mrs. Cole, why would you do this to me?” she cried. “President Cole and I never crossed that line. Why are you trying to destroy my reputation?”

“I didn't do it.”

My voice came out weaker than I wanted.

Allicent immediately grabbed Jace's arm.

“I can't stay here anymore. If I remain, everyone will keep talking about me. I'll resign and leave. I don't want to ruin your marriage.”

Then she turned and ran away crying.

Jace tensed and immediately moved after her.

I caught his hand.

“Jace, please. I didn't do this. You have to believe me.”

He roughly pulled his hand away.

I stumbled backward, my heel slipping beneath me. Before I could regain my balance, I crashed into the champagne tower.

The glasses toppled and shattered. Champagne spilled across the floor as I fell, and sharp pieces of glass cut into my skin.

Jace didn't even stop.

Instead, he stared at me with disgust.

“You've gone too far this time. Following people, taking pictures, spreading this kind of garbage—what else are you planning to do?”

“I didn't—”

“I was going to make things right with you,” he interrupted. “I thought you were simply throwing another tantrum, but this time you've crossed the line.”

Then he reached into his pocket.

When he pulled out the emerald necklace, my breath caught.

I knew it immediately.

It had belonged to my family for generations. Years ago, I had sold it to help save Jace's company, and I had never been able to get it back.

For one foolish moment, hope rose inside me.

Maybe he had bought it back.

Maybe he remembered what it meant to me.

Then he threw it into the pool.

“No!”

My voice broke as the necklace disappeared beneath the water.

Jace had already turned away.

“Stay here and clean up the mess you've made. I don't have time for this.”

He didn't look back.

He simply walked away after Allicent, leaving me alone among the shattered glass and spilled champagne.