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.

Early in the morning, Elaria woke up with a pounding headache.

The housekeeper, ever so thoughtful, brought her some painkillers.

After taking the meds, she felt a bit better and was just about to shower when the housekeeper muttered angrily, "Mr. Richards got bewitched by that vixen. He came back last night, saw how drunk you were, and still drove off."

That's when Elaria realized-Sebastian had actually returned home the night before.

The housekeeper then remembered something else. "Oh, right, ma'am. Mr. Richards asked us to dry-clean Mr. Collins' coat-and hand-deliver it to him too. Guess he's still got some conscience left, trying to look after you like that."

She had no clue about Sebastian's real motives and only saw it as some kind of thoughtfulness.

But Elaria knew better-Sebastian just didn't want to be mistaken for a fool.

Still feeling under the weather, she spent two days resting at home and visited her grandma when she had the strength.

Monday came, and everything shifted at Halden & Co.

A major project had gone wrong, and all fingers pointed to Elaria for the blunder. After a shareholder meeting, she was suspended from all her duties. That same day, she had to move out of the vice president's office.

On the 32nd floor, in that very office, she stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, quietly staring out at the bustling skyline of Caelmoor.

Then Annie came in, gently closing the door behind her and lowering her voice. "President Grace, they handed the Aurvista project over to Bianca."

Annie was fuming, but Elaria stayed calm.

At this point, she'd let go of Sebastian.

All the fame and status-she no longer cared about any of it. Once she got what she deserved, she'd walk away with dignity, out of Sebastian's world. Whether he truly loved Bianca or just felt guilty-it was none of her business now.

Just as she was about to speak, her phone on the desk buzzed.

She stepped over to pick it up.

It was Charles, Sebastian's father, asking to see her in his office.

Elaria didn't hesitate-she said yes.

That afternoon, she headed over to where Charles worked.

He wasn't actually based at Halden & Co.-he had his own ventures. He always came off as cultured and low-key, but in truth, he'd been quietly paving the way for his son.

It was late October.

A gust of cool autumn wind carried the sweet scent of blooming osmanthus through the air.

As soon as Elaria got out of the car, Charles' personal secretary-an elegant woman-approached with a polite smile and led her to a refined tea room.

Sliding the door open, the secretary announced, "Mr. Richards, Sebastian's wife has arrived."

Charles was sipping tea and looked up at her with a warm smile. "Elaria, come, join me for tea."

She took off her shoes and stepped in.

It was clear Charles already knew what had gone down at the company. Without giving much away, he poured Elaria a cup of tea and started chatting about Halden & Co. He genuinely admired her skills-she had kept Sebastian's position rock solid.

But sometimes, competence is a double-edged sword.

When a beast grows its wings, it stops being useful-and starts becoming a threat.

On that point, father and son were surprisingly aligned-Sebastian just took a rougher approach.

Charles remained easygoing. "Elaria, I've always thought highly of you. Is something going on between you and Sebastian lately? If it's about that Bianca girl-honestly, she's just a little nobody."

Elaria gave a faint smile. "No issues."

She wasn't about to air her dirty laundry to them. The Richards weren't exactly a merciful bunch.

Charles paused, caught off guard.

And his respect for her only deepened-this woman really knew how to hold her ground.Charles hesitated for a moment before voicing his concern. "The Aurvista Project is in partnership with Mr. Harmon. Daniel has a short fuse-I'm worried giving it to him could spell trouble for the company."

Elaria caught the drift of what he was implying without needing it spelled out.

"Don't worry," she said calmly. "Officially, Bianca's in charge, but it's actually Sebastian calling the shots. Daniel won't get the chance to stir things up."

Having his real intention laid bare made Charles a tad uncomfortable. He mumbled something vague to soften the air.

By the time Elaria left, dusk had already fallen. The sky bled a fractured orange as the sun dipped below the horizon.

Charles's assistant stood by the car, bowing slightly to see her off. The woman's polite smile was so polished, she looked like a perfectly sculpted doll. Elaria paused, feeling like she'd seen her before...

*****

Elaria returned to her office before night fully settled. She quietly started packing-handing some stuff over, tossing out the rest.

Annie, fuming, went off about Sebastian, swearing that once they were back on their feet, they'd make those fake people pay.

Elaria just smiled faintly, saying nothing.

A knock came at the door.

Sebastian stood there, every bit the sharply dressed gentleman, like he had walked out of a fashion ad. He asked Annie to step out. She did-but not before muttering, "Jerk," under her breath.

Once alone, Sebastian stepped closer. His eyes were dark and serious, locked on Elaria.

They were face to face again-but everything had changed.

Trying to keep things civil, he said, "Bianca's never been the problem between us. If you're willing, I'll call a shareholders' meeting next month and have you reinstated at Halden & Co."

Elaria let out a soft chuckle.

It was honestly laughable.

All the nights they fought. All the times she lost control, drank herself into oblivion-he saw all that as childish tantrums. And now, with some offer to "take her back," as though she should be grateful?

He still didn't get it.

She wasn't begging for a place anymore. She wasn't his loyal second, ready to battle the world for him. Thinking about how tender he was with Bianca made her realize how much of herself she'd wasted.

She stepped closer, reaching up to fix his collar.

She'd done this countless times before every big event. It was muscle memory.

Sebastian instinctively leaned in so she could adjust it more easily. They were close-close enough that she could feel the heat of his breath on her cheek.

Seeing her up close like this, Sebastian couldn't help but recall that night in bed. Four years of marriage, and he had never seen her like that. Something had shifted in her.

His Adam's apple bobbed.

Elaria's fingers brushed along the fabric. Fine material. Expensive. Familiar.

Six years of love. Four years of marriage.

It was over.

This would be the last time.

She looked up at him quietly and said, "No need. I'm not coming back."

Sebastian froze.

Then she stepped around him, lifting her small suitcase. After all that time, it hit her-she didn't have much to take. At the door, she stopped, voice tight but calm.

"Sebastian, goodbye."

A thud landed in Sebastian's chest.

Something about her felt... off. But he couldn't quite say what.

He stood there, still in her office, watching her walk toward the elevator, watching her vanish from sight.

What he didn't realize was-

That really was goodbye.

She wasn't coming back to Halden & Co.

And she wasn't coming back to him.