Elena's POV

Fate has a way of finding the worst possible moment to twist the knife.

At the elevator, I ran straight into the two people I never wanted to see again.

Seraphina was nestled against Lucien's chest, glowing, with an ultrasound report in her hand.

Lucien saw me and went rigid. For a split second, he seemed to push Seraphina away — but stopped halfway.

He wanted to explain. I could see it on his face. But I just stared at the floor numbers ticking by on the display, giving him nothing.

They had pressed the button for the upper floors. Probably going to preview the birthing suite.

"Elena! What a coincidence, running into you here."

Seraphina bounced over, bright and cheery, her smile radiant.

"I know the doctor already checked, but I'm still a little worried. Would you mind taking a look?"

She held out the ultrasound report.

Lucien clearly knew this was out of line. His expression darkened, and he opened his mouth to stop her.

But I took the report. Calmly. Read every word.

The estimated date of implantation was circled on the page.

It was the day I first met Seraphina.

Our wedding anniversary. The day I sat alone on that sofa, waiting for hours.

"Congratulations. The baby looks perfectly healthy."

I said it with a faint smile. But instead of handing the report back to Seraphina, I gave it to Lucien.

My expression, my posture, my composure — all of it borrowed from four years of watching him. His coldness and restraint had taught me, in the end, how to hold myself together when everything was falling apart.

We were divorced now. If he wanted to have a child with another woman, it was none of my business. And I certainly had no right to feel hurt about it.

For four years, my eyes had followed him everywhere.

Only now did I realize — if you can't even manage a smile when you look at someone, how could you ever call it love?

My detachment irritated Lucien. He watched my indifference, and his voice dropped.

"Elena. Let me explain."

There it was again — that commanding tone that had no place between two people who were supposed to be equals.

"We're divorced. There's nothing to explain."

I was done listening.

The down elevator arrived. I stepped inside, smiled at him. "I wish you both a lifetime of happiness. Goodbye."

Lucien stared at the expression on my face — an expression he'd never seen before — and for once, he had nothing to say. He stood frozen, utterly at a loss.

The cold steel doors closed between us.

I thought that would be the last time I'd ever see him.