Ezra's lifelong friend had recently lost her husband. On our fifth wedding anniversary, he brought Laurel and her daughter into a bar and, in front of everyone, slipped the wedding ring off my finger.

"Laurel needs a status now; you should give up this ring," he said.

"Starting tomorrow, quit your job and focus on taking care of them at home."

The room went silent, everyone expecting me to explode in anger. But I stayed composed, placing the signed divorce papers on the table before leaving.

A friend stood up to intervene, but Ezra swirled his whiskey glass, smirking, "Let her go. I bet she’ll be begging for my forgiveness before dawn."

As the door closed, laughter echoed through the room like crashing waves.

They had no idea I’d received a text half an hour ago confirming my visa approval. The person picking me up was already waiting at my doorstep ten minutes earlier.

This time, I wouldn’t look back.

---

When I noticed the glaring lipstick stain on Ezra’s collar, I stiffened, nodding.

"Okay."

"You agreed?"

Ezra seemed taken aback by my quick consent, staring at me intently as if he could see through my soul.

"Yes, I agree."

After five years of marriage, he knew how much I treasured the wedding ring—one I would never part with easily. Yet he chose to take it for another woman.

What was the point of someone like him?

With this thought, my throat tightened, but I managed to smile.

"Let’s divorce so you can have your space."

As these words fell, shock spread across Ezra's face and throughout the room.

Especially when I produced the divorce agreement; Ezra was visibly stunned.

But only for a moment. A mocking grin soon spread across his lips.

"Trying to play hard to get, Virginia? You've picked up some tricks. Do you honestly think anyone will want you once I’m gone?"

The room erupted with unrestrained, scornful laughter.

"Virginia's finally wising up, realizing being a doormat isn’t worth it."

"Throwing a fit now? Since when did Virginia grow a spine?"

"Where can you go without our leader, Ezra?"

They all assumed I was hopelessly devoted to Ezra, their malice and scorn barely hidden.

Over the years, their words cut deep, leaving me long desensitized. Now, I felt nothing.

I looked at them calmly, my tone detached, "I’m leaving tonight. Let me know when the paperwork will be finalized."

With that, I turned to leave.

Ezra, clearly annoyed, grabbed my hand.

"Do you have to cause a scene?"

Laurel stepped in with a delicate demeanor, tugging on Ezra’s sleeve.

"Ezra, don’t argue because of me."

"Virginia, don’t be upset with Ezra. If it bothers you, we’ll leave."

Annoyed, I pulled my hand away. "Do whatever you want."

To my surprise, with a light nudge, Laurel collapsed, clutching her chest like a fish gasping for air.

In the next moment, Ezra, eyes red, was cradling her, shouting at me.

"Virginia! What’s wrong with you? If you have a problem, say it outright. Why resort to petty tricks to bully Laurel?"

My heart skipped a beat, overwhelmed by sadness and anger.

"I didn’t touch her. She fell on her own."

Before I finished speaking, Laurel’s weak voice cut through, "It hurts…"

Ezra’s expression changed instantly, kneeling to check on her.

Seeing Laurel’s face turn pale, Ezra’s eyes filled with even more concern.

"Virginia, I’ll deal with you later!"

Not bothering to argue, he left me with one last glare, turning to carry Laurel out.

I stood there, watching their hurried departure.

The cold wind seemed to blow through the emptiness of my heart, leaving a biting chill.

Luckily, it would all be over soon.

I rushed home after leaving the suite, hurriedly packing some clothes and gathering my papers. Just as I was about to leave, the door swung open.

Laurel's daughter, Jimena, burst in first. She charged at me, kicking me sharply. "You’re horrible! You hurt my mom! You’re bad!"

The kick sent a sharp pain through me, and as I prepared to respond, Ezra's voice followed.

"Get the child back to her room," he commanded, his tone icy and resolute. "Put her in the car."

A group of bodyguards emerged and pulled me away, forcing me into a car.

Ten minutes later, I found myself at the Smith family's private clinic, tightly restrained on an operating table.

Alarmed, I turned to Ezra and shouted, "What’s going on?!"

Ezra’s voice was strained. "Laurel just got home, and I don’t want her to be stressed. We can't have this child."

I glared into his eyes, my nails biting into my palms, voice cracked and raw. "You're willing to harm your own child for another woman?"

Ezra didn’t look up. "Yes."

That single word felt like a plunge into darkness. I knew no pleas would change his mind.

"I hope you don’t live to regret this," I murmured, squeezing my eyes shut as the anesthesia took hold. A faint voice echoed in my mind.

The doctor hesitated, "Her health isn't great. A termination could make future pregnancies difficult. Shouldn’t we reassess..."

"No," Ezra interrupted firmly.

His voice cut through the silence, and after a moment's pause, he added, "Even if she can’t have more, I think she’ll forgive me."

I drifted into a dreamlike state. A man appeared, his face blurred but smiling gently. I reached out for him, anxiety rising as I struggled. "Remington, help me, save me..."

Awakening, I found Ezra glaring at me, eyes full of suspicion.

"Virginia, who were you calling?"

Pressing my lips together, I stared at the ceiling. "You imagined it."

His eyes remained doubtful, yet he chose to believe me. Maybe he thought someone so dedicated couldn't harbor feelings for anyone else.

I touched my now empty belly, seeing guilt flicker in Ezra’s eyes as he tried to rationalize his actions in a weak and illogical way.

"Laurel married another because of me, destroying her life. I owe her; I have to do this..."

"I know you’re upset, but you’re still my wife, and that’s how it’ll stay."

"Recover well; there will be other chances for children."

I responded with quiet indifference, remaining silent.

Assuming I was still angry, he reached out to touch my face. I dodged him, leaving his hand frozen awkwardly, panic in his eyes.

As he began to speak, I was overwhelmed by the scent of Laurel’s perfume on him. Disgusted, I said, "If there’s nothing else, I need rest. Please go."

I must have hit a nerve, because his expression hardened with frustration.

"Virginia, what will it take? I’ve already apologized! What more do you want?!" he shouted.

I closed my eyes, refusing to look at him.

"Ezra! Where are you? Jimena’s crying for you. Can you come join us?" Laurel’s enticing voice cooed through the phone, making Ezra hesitate.

Glancing at me, he said, "I’ll go check on Jimena and be back."

Once Ezra left, I retrieved my phone, flooded with missed calls. I dialed back, instantly connecting.

"Virginia, you finally picked up! I was so worried. Are you reconsidering?"

"No, just had a minor procedure due to an unexpected situation. I’ll rest for a few days, then I’ll come over."

"You didn’t even tell me about something this major. No way, I’m coming to get you. Wait for me," Remington stated firmly.

Before I could argue, the call ended abruptly.

Later, Laurel texted me with a taunt. Accompanying her message was a recording of Ezra swearing to care for her and Jimena forever, along with photos of her nestled in his arms. The images were dripping with suggestion.

Weary of it all, I switched off my phone. Exhausted, I soon drifted into deep sleep.

Awaking the next day, I checked out of the clinic and returned home, only to find my room in disarray.

Jimena sat amidst the chaos, toying with something in her hands. My heart jolted. She held the locket I’d prepared for my unborn child.

I hurried to snatch it back, causing Jimena to glare and burst into tears.

Hearing the commotion, Ezra rushed in. Without a word, he tossed an extravagant necklace at me.

"Think of this as compensation!"

"This locket isn’t worth much. If Jimena likes it, let her have it for a while."

His words stabbed at my heart. The locket had been personally commissioned by Ezra, engraved with the child's birth chart and blessed at a chapel.

He had once promised to protect our child as he had protected me. But his devotion had shifted entirely.

With a bitter smile, I hurled the locket to the ground, shattering it.

"If it couldn’t save my child, it’s clearly unlucky. Better to destroy it."

"Don’t want Jimena catching its bad luck, do you?"

Ezra was visibly agitated, but found no words to counter, leaving the room instead.

Soon, the door creaked open again, revealing Laurel. Her expression smug, satisfied.

"Virginia, seeing you like this makes me happy," she gloated.

I glanced at her dismissively, refusing to engage.

"What can I say? Ezra loves me. For me, he’s willing to sacrifice everything—not just your child, but you too."

Her words were bold, assuming I’d seen her smug posts, daring me to react.

"Ezra never valued you like he values me, did he? Honestly, he always said you lacked any spark."

"I pity you for spending five years on a man who doesn’t love you."

She eye-balled my neck with her red lips curled in satisfaction, teasingly revealing more skin marked with passionate traces.

Perhaps she expected me to crumble, to cry or rage. Instead, I merely raised an eyebrow, unfazed.

"Enjoy it while it lasts."

Her inability to provoke me irritated Laurel, as she glared.

"You know, it was my idea to get rid of your child."

"As long as my child exists, yours never will."

That statement broke me. My vision blurred with rage as I threw a vase at her.

Though it missed, she screamed, "Ah!"

The door flew open, and Ezra rushed in, finding Laurel on the floor, tears streaming.

"Ezra, I’m so scared. Why did Virginia attack me? I didn’t do anything..."

Ezra rushed to her side, pushing me away to help Laurel up.

Thrown off balance, I fell, shards digging into my palms, drawing blood.

But Ezra didn’t notice, glaring at me with disdain and anger. "Virginia, have you no sense? Laurel is hurt, and you still aim to harm her?!"

Jimena ran over, kicking and hitting me.

Struggling to stand, it felt as if my heart were squeezed, robbing me of breath.

"Hurt her? Are you blind, Ezra? Can’t you see she’s the one hurting me?"

"Enough, Virginia! You still slander Laurel! I never knew you could be so cruel!" Ezra shouted, grabbing another vase to throw.

In the next instant, there was a crash, and I felt warm blood trickle down my forehead.

Ezra froze momentarily, then spoke almost involuntarily, "Why didn’t you dodge..."

His gaze lingered on my face with a hint of hesitation. Just as he was about to reach out to help me, someone from behind pulled him back.

"Ezra, it hurts..." Laurel murmured softly, leaning against Ezra Silva's chest, her tears streaming down like a broken necklace of pearls.

Ezra's expression instantly turned anxious. Without even a glance back at me, he spun around and quickly left the room with Laurel in his arms.

As I watched them leave, my vision darkened, and my head hit the floor with a heavy thud.

When I regained consciousness, I found myself in a hospital room.

The door swung open, and Hollis Bryant, the assistant, came in.

"Mr. Silva asked that when you woke up, you join him at the chapel to pray for Miss Richards. The car is already waiting at the entrance."

Choked with grief, I nodded, holding back my tears.

After this, I could finally move on.

Throughout the drive, Ezra held Laurel close, while I sat alone in the front seat.

The two were so absorbed in each other, it was as if I were invisible.

I chose to ignore them, gazing out the window, until a screeching brake pierced the air.

This was followed by the rapid crunch of collisions and the shattering sound of glass.

Before losing consciousness, I caught a glimpse of Ezra rushing toward me, "Virginia, don't worry, I'm here."

But in the next instant, as Laurel's screams filled the air, he immediately turned and lifted her into his arms.

"Ezra, Ezra..."

I called his name, reaching out desperately, trying to stop him from leaving with Laurel.

Ezra heard me, yet still cradled Laurel, saying, "Laurel is bleeding. She needs the hospital now. Hold on; the paramedics will be here soon."

With that, my strength faded, and I closed my eyes, tears blurring my vision.

An hour later, Ezra's people couldn't find me at the accident scene. He sent me a message.

"Let me know you're okay. I'm caught up with Laurel, but I'll come to see you soon."

I didn't respond.

That night, just before my flight, Ezra called again.

I didn't answer, blocking all his contact details and discarding the SIM card.

From this point on, there would be no connection between Ezra Silva and me.