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.

Elaria ran into Liam in the parking lot.

Liam looked just as surprised. After a beat, he walked over, gaze deep and steady. "You're actually leaving Halden?"

Elaria nodded lightly. "Yeah. Time to go."

She tossed the suitcase into the trunk, slammed it shut, then turned to face him. "Thanks for what you did that night."

Liam studied her face-the calm, quiet look that gave nothing away. This was the Elaria he knew.

That night, she'd looked heartbreakingly fragile. Like something out of a fleeting dream.

His eyes darkened a shade, but he held back, nodding simply. "It was nothing."

Even though he seemed cool about it, after Elaria drove off, he stood there for a long time, staring into the distance, expression unreadable.

*****

At 8 p.m., Elaria reached Imperial Crest Residences.

As soon as she got out of the car, a warm hint of osmanthus scent brushed past her. It was oddly comforting.

The housekeeper approached quickly, polite and eager. "Madam, will you be dining alone tonight, or wait for Mr. Richards? The food's all prepped, just needs a quick stir-fry and it's ready."

Elaria paused, her tone quiet. "No need to cook for me anymore, starting today."

The housekeeper looked shocked, mouth half open to ask more, but Elaria had already stepped past the entry and up the staircase.

Upstairs, soft golden light filled the hallway.

Elaria slowed her pace. She stared silently ahead down the elegant corridor, each step pulling up memories-of her and Sebastian, of all they'd been through, the scars, the love, and the ache.

"Sebastian, you wanted power-I helped you."

"We won't always struggle like this, right?"

"Sebastian, it hurts. My stomach..."

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Richards. After examining, your chances of conceiving are extremely low. You may want to consider adoption."

Every meter she walked felt like a lifetime. Like she was walking away from everything she'd once felt for him.

The night breeze skimmed across her face-cold. Numb.

She pushed open the bedroom door, flicked on the wall light. The room glowed soft and warm.

In four years, her world had revolved entirely around Sebastian. She'd stood by as he rose to the top. He was thriving... and she? She'd lost herself.

But now, she was finally free.

Elaria headed into the walk-in closet, dragging out several large suitcases. She started packing everything: the clothes she wore the most, the jewelry she once cherished. She wasn't leaving anything behind for Sebastian.

Once packed, she stood up and her eyes fell on the oil painting on the wall.

It was her own work, painted years ago-a youthful Sebastian, full of light.

But the love was gone. So, the painting didn't matter anymore.

Digging into her handbag, Elaria pulled out a lipstick. She slashed it hard across the painting, red marks bleeding over the surface, turning the image into chaos.

Little by little, Sebastian's face disappeared beneath the mess.

She had poured all her love into that painting. Now, she let all her hate do the same.

Not just the painting-Elaria grabbed a knife and cut their wedding photo into jagged pieces.

Glass shattered. So did the last ties of their story.

The once-happy smiles in the photo couldn't be mended anymore.

She let the knife drop to the floor, her hand trembling uncontrollably. She raised her hand to cover her face, eyes burning, almost as if she could still feel the stabbing pain from that night... when she'd lost everything.

Elaria left, not looking back.

The bedroom, once warm with life, was now a hollow shell. On the nightstand, a diamond ring lay still, catching the light-cold and distant.

In the ground floor garage, the housekeeper failed to stop her, watching helplessly as she drove off.

Once she snapped out of it, she quickly dialed Sebastian.

*****

VIP Inpatient Unit, Newgrace Hospital. At the end of the hallway, the tall windows were wide open, letting in the cool night breeze.

Sebastian stood there, tall and sharp in profile, answering a call from Imperial Crest Residences. The voice on the other side sounded panicked. "Sir, Madam has left."

He looked mildly annoyed. "Did she say where she was going?"

He didn't take it seriously-just figured Elaria was in a bad mood and out blowing off steam. A few days ago, didn't she go drinking alone?

He scolded the maid for overreacting.

There was a pause before the maid said softly, "She didn't say. But she took several suitcases. After we went upstairs to check, we realized all her clothes and jewelry are gone. The bedroom's a complete mess, sir... you should really come back and see for yourself."

His chest tightened a bit. He held the phone, standing frozen for a moment.

After a long silence, he hung up and quickly headed for the elevator. Light from the hallway spilled over his face, casting sharp lines against his cheekbones. Even his lowered lashes trembled faintly.

By the time Sebastian rushed back to Imperial Crest, night had fully fallen.

He took the stairs two at a time up to the second floor and pushed open the bedroom door he once shared with Elaria.

The door gave way softly, and his eyes were met with chaos.

Their wedding photo, once hung above the bed, had been smashed to bits-glass shattered all over the floor. The sweet smile they'd once exchanged during that shoot was now completely slashed through, barely recognizable under deep knife cuts.

He walked into the dressing area. Her closet doors were flung wide open, empty like they'd been raided.

All her clothes, all her jewelry-gone.

A painting hung crookedly on the wall-the one Elaria had always loved. She'd begged him back then to pose for it during their honeymoon phase. One of the few genuinely good memories in their marriage.

Sebastian just didn't get it. They had everything now-they stood at the very top. So why was Elaria growing distant, why was she causing all this drama?

Being Mrs. Richards was supposed to be some women's dream.

And she just... didn't want it anymore?

He refused to believe that.

Hands clenched, he stood among the shattered glass and dialed her number.

He honestly thought she was just trying to make a point. Maybe trying to get his attention. But to his surprise, the call connected-and she actually answered.

Sebastian's voice was sharp, filled with frustration. He told her that her little disappearing act would blow up and mess with their public image-bad press, rumors, all of it would hurt Halden & Co.

He barked into the phone, "You're being ridiculous! Elaria, this isn't just about you. Think about the bigger picture."

Her voice came back clear, calm, almost too calm. "There is no bigger picture left. Sebastian, the divorce papers are already being drawn up. You'll be getting a court notice soon."

His throat tightened. A long pause.

"...What are you saying?" His voice was hoarse.

There was a beat, then her tone turned cold. "Exactly what you heard. It's over, Sebastian. We're done."

And just like that, she ended the call.

He called again, but it was useless-her phone was already turned off, the automated message from the service provider playing over and over:

"Sorry, the number you've dialed is currently unavailable..."

Sebastian stood rooted on the spot for ages.

From the doorway, a maid spoke up carefully. "Miss Bianca called. She's asking to speak with you."

His temple twitched with restrained fury. In a low growl, he snapped, "Tell her to get lost!"

Elaria was gone.

She didn't want him anymore. His Elaria didn't want him anymore.

The same Elaria who once looked him in the eye and said she'd stay forever, that she'd always be by his side-no matter what...

Breathing hard, he held back the flood of emotions until something on the floor caught his eye. A folded piece of paper that had slid halfway under the bed-aged, yellowed, like it'd been there for years.

He frowned and bent down to pick it up. And when he saw what it was, his whole body froze.

It was a diagnosis form.

From an OB/GYN clinic.

Patient name: Elaria.