It was nine in the evening when they left the Richards estate.

Sebastian clicked his seatbelt and casually asked, "What were you and Daniel chatting about just now? Looked like you were really hitting it off."

Elaria let out a quiet "Mm" and replied, "Oh, we were discussing your childhood sweetheart."

Sebastian went quiet.

After a moment, he reached over and gently held her hand, his voice softer than usual. "I've never slept with her."

Leaning back against the seat, Elaria stared ahead, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

She knew better. That rare glimpse of tenderness from Sebastian only showed up when she was in her most fertile window-he just wanted a child.

It had nothing to do with love, and even less to do with her.

Deep down, she really wondered-if Sebastian found out she couldn't have kids anymore, would he still try to keep her, or sprint into a divorce just to find someone "worthy" of being Mrs. Richards?

Tonight, Sebastian was putting in uncommon effort, closing the distance between them, trying to draw her in.

And Elaria? She couldn't feel more pathetic.

Her husband didn't love her-only saw her as a breeding and business machine. He clearly had zero interest in intimacy with her but still made sure they slept together like clockwork, just to conceive.

It felt no different than being reduced to instinct-driven animals.

She turned her face away from his kiss, her voice hoarse, tinged with a sorrow she couldn't hide. "Sebastian, I meant it when I said I want a divorce. If you think I'm asking for too much, we can negotiate."

Inside the dim car, Sebastian stared at her like he was trying to see through every inch of her.

After a long silence, his tone went cold.

"I've told you-we're not getting divorced."

"Elaria, everything'll be fine once we have a kid. You won't be in your head so much."

She quietly shut her eyes, drained. "Sebastian... what if I can't have children anymore?"

He frowned like it was the most ridiculous thought. "That's impossible. We both did pre-marital checkups, remember?"

Elaria gave a bitter smile.

That four-year-old report? Might as well be trash now.

Just like his proposal back then-already buried somewhere between broken promises and another woman's arms.

Back at Imperial Crest Residences, it was nearly ten.

Sebastian took a shower in the guest room. He had probably planned to coax her into bed tonight, but a call came and he left in a hurry.

Elaria didn't even flinch. She figured he was off to see his lover.

Whatever. At least she didn't have to put up with him tonight.

That night, he never came back.

The lights at Imperial Crest stayed on all night, but the man of the house never returned.

Over the next week, Sebastian wasn't home once.

He never brought up divorce again.

And those chilly autumn nights-what was Elaria doing?

She often stood by the floor-to-ceiling window in their bedroom, gazing out at the sycamore leaves starting to turn yellow, thinking...

If she hadn't quit painting early, hadn't rushed into marriage, hadn't dived into the business world too soon-maybe, just maybe, she'd be living a much happier life now.

As for Sebastian? She didn't call him. He might as well be out there, dead to her.

After days apart, they finally saw each other again-at a business dinner.

*****

[Eclat Haven]

Caelmoor's most upscale business club.

Elaria had barely walked into the private room when she spotted Bianca pressed up close to Sebastian, playing the doting damsel.

As soon as Bianca saw her, she looked down at her phone, pretending Elaria didn't even exist.

Annie looked pissed, ready to snap.

Elaria stopped her with a light touch, her tone flat, "She's Sebastian's latest obsession-let's just play along for now."There wasn't an open seat near Sebastian, and Elaria had no intention of joining his little entourage, so she simply excused herself and went to the restroom, giving him enough time to deal with his precious sidepiece.

The washroom sparkled under the crystal lights.

While rinsing her hands, Elaria suddenly heard the clack of heels behind her.

She glanced up and saw Bianca's reflection in the mirror.

Bianca stepped closer, nowhere near her usual respectful self, voice laced with smugness and challenge. "I moved back into the villa. Sebastian said I can stay as long as I want."

Elaria turned off the tap.

She calmly studied Bianca's youthful, doll-like face in the mirror.

Fresh and innocent-Bianca could sell that image all day. Not like her, face showing traces of long nights and business meetings. Funny, she was only twenty-six.

Elaria looked down, slowly twisting her wedding ring around her finger, her tone light. "If I were you, Miss Thompson, I'd learn to play the part of a quiet, well-fed canary. Stop making noise, cling to his neck when you want something, and spare the world the awkward details of what happens between the sheets. Also, this kind of event? Not really your crowd."

Bianca smirked. "Sebastian won't let me drink. He's protective of me."

"Is that so?" Elaria's smile didn't reach her eyes. "You might want to know this-Sebastian worships one thing: money. He knows exactly where women stand in his priority list. Give it five minutes-if that glass had poison instead of wine, he'd still probably hand it to you with a smile."

Bianca paled. "I don't believe you."

The curve of Elaria's smile faded a bit more.

When Bianca left, Elaria stared at her own reflection, dazed. Even she found her earlier bluff laughable. She knew well-if she made the effort, she could stay Mrs. Richards forever. But that's not the life or marriage she wanted.

Back at the private room, Sebastian's side was finally cleared. Elaria sat down gracefully, defaulting to their usual charade of the doting couple.

Bianca sat far off, eyes watery, trying her best to look pitiful.

Sebastian looked annoyed. "Was it really necessary to pick on her?"

Elaria didn't respond. He had no clue-every word he said in Bianca's defense felt like a stab. He cared when Bianca hurt, but what about her? The woman who'd stood by him through it all?

Yeah... what about her?

Her heart ached, but her face remained composed. With a smile, she suggested Bianca toast someone from the other firm-clearly a man who had a thing for Bianca's sweet-and-innocent act.

Bianca tried to squirm her way out of it, counting on her "position."

Under the glittering chandelier, Sebastian's striking face darkened-quiet, but charged, like a storm about to break.

He knew. Elaria was doing this on purpose.

Sebastian picked up his glass and looked at Elaria, though his words were aimed at Bianca. "Aurvista's project is a billion-dollar deal. Bianca, show Mr. Lee some courtesy."

Bianca didn't dare object anymore. Lips trembling, she murmured, "Okay."

As Bianca humbled herself and went over to drink with Mr. Lee, Elaria stayed seated beside Sebastian.

His expression was blank, while Elaria felt like the evil stepmother, watching herself snuff out whatever teenage fantasy love he'd once had.

For a second, they forgot they were once young lovers.

*****

Late at night in the underground parking garage.

Annie steadied Elaria as she opened the rear car door. "Watch your head, Ms. Grace. You drank a bit too much tonight."

Elaria held her forehead, muttering, "Just not in a great mood."

Annie got it. Sebastian had really gone too far today.The Aurvista Project had been Elaria's baby from day one. She handled everything-upfront planning, all the networking-it was all her. But tonight, Sebastian brought Bianca along like she had any right to be there. Anyone would be pissed.

And honestly? Seeing Bianca drink herself straight into the hospital? Felt oddly satisfying.

Just as Elaria was about to get into her car, a man's arm reached out and grabbed her wrist.

With a loud bang, her body slammed against the black SUV. The cold metal only made her look even more fragile and alone.

She took a few seconds to catch her breath from the pain, then looked up at her husband's stormy face and spoke quietly, "Annie, give us a minute."

Annie looked worried but didn't dare argue under Sebastian's sharp gaze. She whispered, "Ma'am's not feeling well."

Elaria's eyes stung, turning red.

After Annie reluctantly stepped away, Sebastian finally snapped. He stepped in on her, gripped her chin, and hissed through clenched teeth-

"Why the hell were you picking on her?"

"She had to be sent to the hospital for her stomach to get pumped."

"I've told you already-she's just a family friend. I'm only helping out a bit..."

Smack!

Elaria slapped him across the face. Her hand went numb from the impact, and her whole body trembled uncontrollably.

She stared at him, her voice icy. "Helping her straight into your bed? Tell me, Sebastian, are you flaunting your affair, or do you really think I'm that stupid?"

Sebastian's head turned with the force of the slap. Slowly, he turned back, tongue pressing against the inside of his cheek, eyes locked on her like she was his biggest threat. But his voice was eerily calm. "You that desperate for my love? Willing to lose it all?"

Elaria gave a dry laugh, echoing his words with scorn. "Don't flatter yourself."

Sebastian seemed to reel himself in.

Eventually, he reached out and gently touched her face. "Elaria, you've changed. You used to be obedient. Wasn't it nice, playing the perfect Mrs. Richards? Just have a baby, and your place would be secure. Why's that not enough for you? Why always fight me on everything?"

The night air was cold. Tears streamed down Elaria's cheeks, but she barely noticed.

"Back then?"

"So you know there's a 'back then'?"

"Sebastian, are we even still the same people from back then? Back then, you didn't have some girl hanging off you every time I turned around. Back then, you actually came home at night. Back then, you didn't time my ovulation like I was some baby-making machine."

"So tell me, who's changed? You, or me?"

Four years in the same bed, and now the masks were off.

Sebastian looked at Elaria without saying a word. This woman had walked beside him through the elite social scene for four years. But after a long pause, his eyes turned cold, like he'd made up his mind right then and there.

The night was silent.

It felt like mourning.

He let go of her and took a step back. "Starting tomorrow, you're off the Aurvista Project. As for your role at the company, I'll bring it to the board."

Elaria gave a bitter smile.

First sword out of its sheath-and he used it to cut her down.

The truth was, both Elaria and Sebastian knew-Bianca wasn't the only thing wedged between them. This wasn't just about another woman. Sebastian was burning the bridge behind him, trying to force Elaria back into the role of Mrs. Richards.

A full-time wife.

A child-bearer.

He wanted to keep her chained to him for life, using her love as the leash.

Love, children... In that moment, her grief broke through rage. It hit her all at once.

All these years, it had always just been her loving alone. Meeting Sebastian hadn't been fate-it was her biggest mistake.

She was done hiding.

She was done pretending.

Right now, she was going to tell Sebastian the truth.

She couldn't have children anymore.

Elaria knew the moment the truth came out, there'd be no going back with Sebastian. But when disappointment builds up to a breaking point, people stop second-guessing - they just let go.

She looked up at the man she once loved, ripped off the last bit of armor, and threw her pain right in front of him. Her voice was tired, hollow, like she'd run out of strength. "Sebastian, don't bother pretending anymore. I don't care about titles, not the job at Halden & Co., not even being your wife. None of it matters... because I can't have-"

She didn't even get to finish the word. Sebastian's phone vibrated.

He stared at her face as he picked up. On the other end, Ms. Woods sounded panicked. "Mr. Richards, it's urgent. Miss Thompson's in bad shape. You need to get here now."

"Got it," he replied crisply.

Hanging up, he barely looked at Elaria. "We'll talk later." Then without another word, he turned and walked straight to the black Rolls-Royce.

Elaria stayed rooted in place as the cold night wind cut through her.

At first, she whispered his name. Then she raised her voice. And finally, it came out like a scream torn from her soul. "Sebastian, you couldn't even spare me one freakin' minute? After four years of marriage, I'm not even worth finishing a sentence for?"

He had one hand on the car door. His tone was distant, clipped. "We'll talk when Bianca's out of danger."

Then the engine roared, and he was gone - just like that.

The night was cold, but nowhere near as cold as her heart.

Elaria stood silently, staring at the road he vanished down, and finally said the words she couldn't finish earlier. "Sebastian, I can't have children."

The wind howled.

She repeated it - louder. "Sebastian, I can't have children!"

Each time she said it, it was like stabbing herself with the broken pieces of her love for him. Like laughing at how foolishly she'd thrown herself into this marriage.

She gave him her youth, her everything - but it was never enough.

Her pain never mattered to him. It never had.

Something inside her snapped. Tonight, she didn't want to play the dutiful wife anymore. The title of "Mrs. Richards" had become a chain she was finally ready to break. By tomorrow, she'd just be Elaria. No one's wife. Just a woman finally living for herself.

She looked down at her outfit. What a joke.

It had been the perfect power suit for corporate events. Sebastian liked it on her at business dinners. But outside that world, he found it dull, boring. Now, even she couldn't stand wearing it. She had dressed for him, tried to be his kind of woman - for what? Some scraps of affection?

It was pathetic. She was done.

When Annie showed up, Elaria had already taken off her blazer. The smooth silk shirt beneath had two buttons undone, exposing a hint of porcelain skin. Her long black hair was loose, spilling across her shoulders. She leaned against the car, legs stretched, looking both fragile and alluring.

She turned her head slightly, voice soft. "Got a cigarette? I really want one."

Annie felt a sting behind her eyes.

She'd worked as Elaria's assistant for four years. She knew exactly how deep Elaria's love for Sebastian ran. And now that love had shattered - she'd never seen Elaria look so wrecked. Annie didn't have any cigarettes, but she rushed off to get some.

Elaria had never smoked before.

Her first drag choked her. She coughed, eyes watering.

But even as the smoke stung her throat and the tears fell, she smiled - a bitter, broken kind of smile. In every puff, she burned her love for Sebastian down to ashes, letting hatred carve deep into her bones, pierce through her heart...

*****

It was Elaria's first time letting loose.

Dim lights, heady air - it was all so beautifully ruined. Elaria was completely wasted-and honestly, she just didn't care anymore. Sebastian' opinions, the Richards family's so-called rules, all of it... meaningless now.

Slumped over the bar, she lazily tapped her glass to signal for another drink.

The bartender was about to respond when a slender hand pressed down on her glass. A tall figure slid onto the seat beside her.

It was Liam, the guy from Ashbridge Legal.

His sharp gaze lingered on Elaria, thoughtful, unreadable. She looked even more wild than last time-shirt slightly undone, revealing a hint of soft skin, sprawled over the bar like she had no bones.

Her skin was pale-striking in the dim light.

Liam's eyes darkened just a bit before he shrugged off his coat and gently draped it over her shoulders.

Startled, Elaria slowly tilted her head up to look at him.

Through the shifting neon lights, she locked eyes with him-deep, dark eyes that seemed to pull her into something bottomless.

"You've clearly had enough. I'm taking you home," Liam said, voice cool, keeping his distance.

Elaria leaned against the bar, staring hard at him. Liam noticed how her naturally sultry eyes-usually masked under proper outfits-were more noticeable now.

Her voice came out unsteady, totally different from her usual collected tone. "Who even are you? Why should I go with you?"

Trying to reason with a drunk woman? Pointless.

Liam pulled out his wallet and tossed down a stack of cash on the bar. Then, without waiting, he leaned in and scooped her up like it was nothing. Elaria tried to resist, but he held her legs down firmly, his tone sharp like he was dealing with a stubborn suspect.

"You want your face all over gossip sites tomorrow? Thought not. Then walk out of here with me. Now."

She had no choice but to stay in his arms.

Her head rested against the side of his neck-his skin was surprisingly warm, almost too warm-so she shifted slightly, pressing her cheek against his shoulder instead. The fabric of his shirt was cooler, more comforting, but she still grumbled, "Liam, put me down."

In the parking lot, city lights faded, only a scattering of stars left.

Liam looked down at Elaria, something unreadable flickering in his eyes. She recognized him-that much was obvious.

But he quickly shoved that thought away. She was Sebastian' wife. Not someone he could mess around with.

Five minutes later, he placed her gently in the back seat.

She leaned back into the leather, eyes closed, face pale-exhausted from the inside out.

Liam glanced at her, then pulled out his phone to call Sebastian.

Both numbers? Off.

Figures it had something to do with Bianca. Elaria wouldn't be drinking like this for no reason. Just as he started dialing Ms. Woods instead-

Elaria suddenly stirred.

She reached out and smacked the phone from his hand.

"I don't want to go home."

She tipped her head slightly, chest rising and falling rapidly. The soft blouse shifted with her breathing, her scent lingering in the closed air, faintly intoxicating.

Liam's Adam's apple bobbed once. Hard.

He turned away, staring at the fading glow of the skyline, then stole a glance back-Elaria seemed to have drifted off again.

He watched her silently for a beat... and stepped out of the car.

The night wrapped around them, quiet and dim.

Leaning against the front of the dark Range Rover, Liam's tall frame melded with the shadows. He lit a cigarette, shielding the flame from the wind.

Smoke curled upward, swallowed quickly by the breeze, softening the lines of his face.

Halfway through the cig, he turned his head slightly to look at her through the window.

She was glowing in the moonlight-those beautiful features, soft eyes with a hint of lingering sadness, the kind that just stayed with you.

Late autumn nights always brought a weird kind of warmth inside the car.

Elaria caught the faint scent of tobacco on Liam-same brand Sebastian used. Her mind buzzed with alcohol, and in that hazy mix-up, she mistook Liam for Sebastian...

She closed her eyes, her fingers catching Liam's hand as she murmured, "Sebastian."

Half-dreaming, half-awake-like falling back into the old days.

Back to how she used to be with Sebastian...

Liam didn't pull away. He didn't say a word, just turned to stare at the pitch-black road ahead. The night outside was like silk soaked in rain-soft, heavy, matching the mess in his head.

Liam had his fair share of flings.

Straightforward stuff-no strings attached. But this? This raw, aching thing coming off Elaria? That was new. He couldn't help but wonder what it would feel like to be loved that deeply by someone like her...

In the far-off sky, fireworks exploded.

Suddenly, the night turned as bright as day.

The person in the passenger seat shifted slightly-barely a move, but Liam caught it. He glanced at her, his dark eyes calm. "You awake?"

Elaria felt her body heavy and limp, but her mind slowly cleared.

She knew she'd had too much to drink, and Liam had dragged her out of the bar... the rest was a blur.

Her voice came out scratchy. "What time is it?"

"Just past 1:30," Liam said simply.

Elaria quietly watched the fireworks above, her eyes glistening. She looked oddly calm.

After a pause, she whispered, "I've seen the brightest fireworks in the world. Thought they'd be mine forever. But I forgot-no matter how stunning, fireworks fade fast."

"Like me and Sebastian. I thought giving everything up meant he'd stay. Took me this long to get it... Maybe he did imagine love, just not with me."

She let out a bitter laugh. "Tell me, Liam, am I just... pathetic?"

"No."

Liam's voice was flat but firm. "As long as you want to be, you'll always be Mrs. Richards."

He wasn't just trying to make her feel better.

Men like Sebastian didn't divorce easily. Flirting with some young girl? Sure. But the title of Mrs. Richards? That still belonged to a woman like Elaria.

She gave the faintest smile and turned back to watch the fireworks-silent again.

Around 2 a.m., Liam dropped her off at Imperial Crest Residences.

As he parked, Elaria turned to thank him quietly and held out his jacket.

"Keep it for now," Liam said. "It's chilly out there."

Elaria figured it'd be better to return it cleaned, so she didn't push. She grabbed the coat and got out, saying goodbye. Liam nodded from the driver's seat with his usual cool expression, then drove off down the street.

The moon lit up the sky, and a cold breeze blew past.

Elaria pressed her fingers to her temple-head pounding.

A housekeeper came up to her.

The alcohol smell was hard to miss, but she didn't mention it. "Ma'am, did you drink tonight? Mr. Richards just called, said he's coming by to grab a few changes of clothes. Do you want to pack them, or should I go upstairs?"

Elaria had already made up her mind about the divorce. Sebastian's stuff? Not her concern anymore.

She told the housekeeper to go pack. Meanwhile, she dragged herself upstairs with Liam's jacket clutched in hand. The moment she hit the bed, she passed out cold.

The breeze stirred the white curtains. Moonlight spilled in, leaving a soft glow on Elaria's sleeping figure-making her look fragile, almost unreal.That black tailored suit jacket lay there at the foot of the bed, tossed aside like it didn't matter.

*****

Late that night, the quiet of the yard was broken by the soft hum of a car pulling up.

Sebastian was back.

He didn't step out right away, just opened the door of his sleek black Bentley. Things between him and Elaria hadn't ended well earlier. With Bianca's worsening condition, he'd swung by only to grab a bag of clothes before heading out again.

One of the house staff heard the car and came hurrying over, handing the suitcase to Sebastian. The housekeeper hesitated a second, then added, "Mrs. Richards just got home. She'd had quite a bit to drink. It was Mr. Collins who brought her back."

Sebastian's brow furrowed. "She was drinking?"

After a moment's pause, he decided to check in on her.

Soon, he was upstairs. He pushed open the door to the master bedroom.

The room was dimly lit, a faint trace of red wine lingering in the air. Even her soft breathing seemed to carry a touch of sweetness.

He reached over and flicked on the light near the bed. Bright white light filled the room.

There she was, sprawled out across the bed, hair tousled and falling over her chest. Her silk shirt hung open at the collar, exposing pale flawless skin. The hem of her black dress had ridden up slightly, tracing out her curves, undeniably alluring.

Elaria always had a great figure-Sebastian knew that better than anyone.

She could be distant in bed, never really letting go. He remembered once she even brought up work mid-way-it was hard to feel desire when your partner talked business in the middle of everything. Over time, his interest naturally faded.

Still, the sight of her now stirred something in him. Maybe it had just been too long. Maybe, despite trying to maintain control, he was still a man after all.

He sat on the edge of the bed, quietly watching her sleep.

Even in sleep, her brows were pinched together, like there was hurt she couldn't let go.

She'd always loved him-Sebastian had never doubted that. But he didn't love her back. The only thing he ever gave her was the title of Mrs. Richards. Romance? Real love? That never factored into the equation for him.

His hand reached up to brush her cheek.

It was cold to the touch.

His gaze darkened, and he murmured, "Isn't being Mrs. Richards enough? Elaria... Feelings that strong always come with a price. I thought you, of all people, would've learned to let go a long time ago."

All that answered him was her steady, quiet breathing.

He was just about to leave when something caught his eye, and he froze.

A man's suit jacket was lying at the foot of the bed.

Sebastian picked it up. High-end designer-he wore similar brands himself, but this one clearly wasn't his.

It had to be Liam's.

A sharp discomfort flared in Sebastian's chest. He knew logically Liam probably didn't think much of it, but as a husband, seeing another man's clothes in his bedroom triggered something raw in him.

Elaria was his wife.

*****

Downstairs, the lights were still on.

The housemaid hadn't slept, waiting for Sebastian to come down.

When she finally heard movement from upstairs, she looked up to see him descending the staircase, face unreadable.

Without a word, he handed her the jacket in his hand and said flatly, "Clean this and send it to Mr. Collins's office."

She took it without a word of protest.

Back at his car, Sebastian was about to drive off. But then, for some reason, he paused and looked up toward the second floor of the main house.

That's where Elaria was sleeping.

Earlier that night, they'd argued. She had said she had something important to tell him. Something she never got the chance to say.