With that thought, Julian flicked a glance at Leia’s flushed cheeks before heading straight for Piper and prying open the first-aid kit.

Leia itched to leave. Watching them be so close was more than she could bear. But the second she turned to go, Piper called her name.

"Leia, could you help me with the ointment? Julian’s all thumbs, honestly."

Leia went rigid. She clenched her fists so tight her nails dug half-moons into her palms. This woman really was something else.

Julian turned toward her too. "Leia, would that be okay? I can handle it if you don’t want to."

Leia bit down on her lip until she tasted copper, then answered coolly, "Sure. I can help."

Under both their gazes, she walked over to Piper and knelt slow. Piper lifted her foot, a smug little grin tugging at her mouth—she was clearly doing this just to get under Leia’s skin.

Right as Leia went to take Piper’s foot in her hands, Piper spoke again.

"Oh goodness! My feet got so dirty walking all day. It’s gonna be impossible to get the ointment on right like this!"

Leia’s eyes narrowed. She lowered her head, and heard Julian say, "You’re right. I’ll go get water to clean them off."

"No, Julian. Can Leia do it? I have something I need to talk to you about right now."

Piper’s soft, sweet, pitiful act was impossible to say no to.

Leia’s hand tightened. Bitterness clawed its way up her throat, her chest burning so bad it ached. She waited to see if Julian would actually make her wash Piper’s feet. She told herself he wouldn’t—he’d always taken her side before, always looked out for her.

But she’d underestimated how much Piper meant to him. Julian frowned, even looked a little annoyed, like he suspected she was doing this on purpose. Still, he answered patiently, "We can talk later. It’s not urgent."

Leia exhaled, breath rushing out her lungs, tears pricking the back of her eyes—then her heart plummeted right to her stomach.

Piper pleaded, "But I can’t wait. Please, Julian."

After a long, heavy silence, he caved. He gave Leia a muted, guilty look. "Leia, could you…"

Before he could finish, Leia swallowed down the bitterness clogging her throat, forced a smile, and said, "No problem."

As she walked calmly out the door, Julian’s gaze stuck to her back, a twist of unease settling in his gut.

He turned back to the woman on the bed, and his voice dropped straight to ice. "You did this on purpose, didn’t you?"

Piper looked up, and the tears she’d been holding back came spilling down. "Julian, what are you even implying?"

"Making Leia haul water and wash your feet just to embarrass her. That was deliberate, wasn’t it?"

His usually soft, warm eyes held a coldness Piper had never seen before—sharp, accusatory.

She’d never seen him like this. A chill went straight through her, and she only cried harder. "Julian, that’s so unfair. How could you think that of me?"

"Am I really that awful of a person? Boo-hoo…"

"I just had something I needed to tell you. I didn’t mean any harm. I never expected you’d misunderstand me like this."

Her tears fell like pearls, splattering against her frilly Victorian dress.

The ice in Julian’s eyes started to soften. How could the woman he loved—kind, sweet, good—do something like that? He wouldn’t believe it.

He stepped over, wrapped her in his arms, and murmured soft apologies. "I’m sorry. I misjudged you."

She playfully swatted his chest, still sniffling. "Don’t let your mind run wild like that. It hurts when you think such terrible things about me."

"Okay. I won’t."

Leia came back with the water, and one look at the two of them curled up together made her freeze. The heavy basin nearly slipped out of her hands. If she hadn’t caught herself at the last second, she would’ve gone tumbling to the floor, red-faced and humiliated.

One look at Leia’s paper-white face, and Julian unconsciously let go of Piper. He spoke soft, "Leia, just set it down. I’ll wash her foot for her."

He was going to wash Piper’s feet. She’d half expected it, but the pain still cut deep, sharp enough to take her breath away.

Leia pulled herself back together, stepped forward, and set the basin on the floor. Julian crouched down, ready to start, but right as his hand neared the water, a shriek split the air.

"Ah! It’s burning hot!"

Piper yelped, yanking her foot out of the water so hard she knocked the whole basin over. Water went flying everywhere, spreading across the hardwood, and her pale foot was already puffing up red.

Just a faint redness, nothing too extreme.

Leia’s eyes went wide. She couldn’t believe it. With Julian standing right there, Piper had framed her right to her face. How could she not be shocked?

The water was a little warm, sure, but not scalding. But there the redness was, clear as day on her foot. How had she even done it?

Leia hurried over, her words sticking in her throat. "Are you okay?"

No one answered her. Julian’s back, still crouched, shook just a little.

That red, swollen foot burned like a brand in Julian’s line of sight. He grabbed it fast, blowing soft little puffs on the skin, and his eyes blazed with white-hot anger.

Piper whimpered, "Julian, it hurts. The water was so hot."

She lifted her tear-streaked face to look at Leia. "Leia, did you do this on purpose? You were upset I asked you for help, weren’t you?"

"If that’s what this is, I’m sorry."

"I really just wanted to talk to Julian. I never thought you’d take it that way."

Her words stacked up like dry kindling, turning Julian’s already roiling anger into an inferno. His eyes were a violent storm, just waiting for a spark to explode.

Framed right to her face. Leia had had enough. She shot back cold, "Piper, I’m not half as vicious as you’re making me out to be. The water wasn’t that hot. Your little act is nauseating."

She’d hit her breaking point, and she wasn’t holding back anymore. She never had been the type to lay down and let people walk all over her—why would she start now?

Piper’s sobbing got louder. "Julian, I didn’t do it, I didn’t…"

"You know damn well what you did. Cut the disgusting act, and get this through your head: this is my house."

Leia’s sharp retort. Her blazing anger. Her open defiance. Every part of it rubbed Julian the wrong way.

In his eyes, she’d always been gentle as a lamb—obedient, docile, easy.

But now her words cut like glass, her attitude screamed defiance, and all he felt was disappointment.

He stood slow, stepping toward her one step at a time. His eyes were colder than the dead calm after a tornado.

"You say you didn’t do it on purpose, but the proof is right in front of us. Her foot is red, Leia. If you didn’t want to help, you could have just said so. Did you really have to stoop this low?"

Julian’s words hit Leia like a bolt of lightning. For two years, he’d cherished her. For two years, she’d thought he knew her.

She wasn’t scared of misunderstandings. She wasn’t even scared of being framed.

What terrified her was that he didn’t trust her. That he actually thought she was that petty.

His eyes were full of disappointment, anger bleeding through, the whites of his eyes turning bloodshot.

Pushed all the way to the corner, Leia kept her face calm even as her voice shook. "You don’t trust me?"

"How can I? You’ve made everything worse for her."

"You know her health is terrible. How could you hurt her like this?"

"I told you, I didn’t. She’s faking this," she cried, desperate to make him believe her.

"You say she’s the one playing games, but all I see is you. Not her."

"Bang!"

It felt like a sledgehammer spiked with ice had smashed straight into Leia's skull, scattering every thought she had and leaving her drowning in a hazy fog. Her vision swam, and a sharp, searing pain behind her sternum twisted tight around her heart.

Leia Shaw bit down hard on her lower lip, glancing over her shoulder at the woman standing behind her: Piper Cooper. Piper's smile was nothing but a mocking taunt, stripping every last scrap of dignity Leia had left right off her bones.

Julian Shaw—her husband—was tearing into her in front of Piper, and his string of accusations wasn't even close to finished.

"Leia, I always thought you were sensible. My sweetheart—innocent, full of life."

"When you saved Piper, I felt indebted to you. I spoiled you, took care of you, protected you, gave you everything you ever asked for."

"Until yesterday, when I brought up divorce and you agreed without a second thought. I thought you were just being kind, straightforward. But now I see—this whole thing was just a game to win me over."

"You've let me down."

Disappointment dripped from every line of his face, like he'd never known her at all. Every word sliced into her like a sharpened knife. Leia held his gaze in silence, tears tracking hot and heavy down her cheeks.

This was the first time he'd ever shouted at her. The first time he'd ever doubted her. The first time he'd called her two-faced. The first time he'd admitted all his "generosity" was rooted in guilt over another woman.

Her heart felt ripped clean in half as the tears kept falling. After a long, heavy silence, all she asked was, "Are you done?"

Her question was ice-cold, completely empty of any emotion—and it shook Julian to his core.

He stopped talking...

And she laughed a bitter, hollow laugh. "Yeah, that's me. A deceitful fraud."

"I can't stand how she fakes being pitiful in front of you."

"I can't stand watching you two play the happy couple right in front of my face anymore."

"My heart's already broken. Thanks for two years of a cushy life. Thanks for your guilt. But I don't need any of it."

The room went taut with tension as Julian stared at Leia's face, now stamped with nothing but cold indifference.

The ache in his own chest spiked sharp. He regretted losing his temper, regretted the cruel things he'd said.

She kept going. "So everything you gave me, I'll give it all back. No need to keep reminding me what you've done for me."

"I have my dignity. I have my pride."

With that, she turned to leave.

Silence settled over the room again, broken only by Piper's soft, sniffling sobs.

A minute later, Leia walked back in, holding a pen and a blank sheet of paper. Julian's eyes clouded with uncertainty, and a cold fear began to creep up his spine.

Leia had dried her tears, and she held up the divorce papers he'd had her sign days earlier.

Julian frowned. "You..."

A loud ripping sound cut him off.

She shredded the paper into pieces, letting the scraps flutter to the floor like cold, final snowflakes. Her gaze never once left the man standing in front of her.

She smiled—a beautiful, heart-shattering tragic smile.

"You said you supported me for two years? Well, I'm paying you back. Every last thing. This new settlement covers the one point one million, the car, the house you gave me. Is that enough?"

"If it's not, I'll find another way to pay you back."

Julian felt her words like a dozen daggers to the chest, leaving him gasping for air. Behind him, Piper still smiled that quiet, secret smile.

"Leia..."

He whispered it, everything already slipping out of his control, panic climbing up his throat.

Leia waved a dismissive hand, silenting him, then crossed to the desk and started writing.

Piper stood slowly, tears streaking her cheeks, and whispered to Julian, "Julian, I'm so sorry. Leia's just upset. This is all my fault."

Julian glanced at her, irritation sharp in his gaze, but said nothing.

When she finished writing, Leia walked toward them, pale as a sheet.

She handed him the new papers, voice flat and steady. "Sign it. Tomorrow, we finalize this."

Her words left Julian frozen in shock. Piper stood between them, her surprise masking a hidden satisfaction.

"Leia, can't we stop this madness?"

"Madness? Really?"

Julian cast a skeptical glance at the new settlement terms. "We're sticking to the original agreement. This isn't valid."

"It's unnecessary," she stated firmly.

"Leia, you've crossed a line today. I'm giving you an out. You should take it."

Leia's eyes turned to ice, her tone hard as stone. "Will you sign it? If you don't take this chance now, you'll never get another one."

"Julian," Piper's eyes went wide and pleading.

Leia sneered. "In a hurry, Piper?"

"Leia, that's not what I meant. Don't pressure him."

Piper looked the picture of innocence, tears glistening in her big eyes.

Pressure?

Leia almost laughed out loud. Instead, she just stared right at Piper. "Piper, you got what you wanted. Congrats."

"Leia, you've misunderstood..."

Leia cut her off mid-sentence. "Spare me the act."

Her words left Piper's jaw tightening, visibly annoyed.

Leia's voice was ice. "I'm giving you until the count of three to sign. If you don't, the chance is gone forever."

Turmoil churned in Julian's eyes, the tension in his chest growing heavier by the second.

"Three."

"Two."

"One."

"Julian, sign it!" Piper urged, almost hysterical.

Leia sneered again. "Not signing? Fine. You'll never get another shot."

With that, she turned for the door. "And Piper? Since I'm still Julian's wife, this is still my house. By tomorrow, I want you—this outsider—gone."

"Move out now, or I'll see you in court."

She walked out, slamming the door hard behind her.

Julian was stunned by the transformation. This new, cold, unapologetic Leia unsettled him down to his bones.

A flash of anger flickered across Piper's face, gone so fast no one but her would notice. She tucked her hand into Julian's arm and sobbed, "Julian, what do we do now? She's furious, she wants me gone."

"She won't get her way. Go rest, I'll handle this."

He turned and left the room.

Piper snickered quiet under her breath. "Leia, you think you can get rid of me? Not a chance in hell."

Back in her bedroom, Leia closed the door and slid down her back until she hit the floor. The cold hardwood sent a shiver rippling through her, but she just dropped her head forward.

She didn't cry, didn't throw anything. She was eerily calm, like nothing had even happened.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and Julian's voice echoed through the wood.

"Leia, open up. We need to talk."

His voice cracked straight through her carefully built facade. Tears slipped silent down her cheeks as hot anger surged through her veins.

She shouted, cold and sharp. "Go away."

This was the first time she'd ever told him to leave. The first time she'd ever shouted at him.

"Just breathe for a minute. We have to talk," he urged, gentle but firm.

Leia felt completely overwhelmed. All her pent-up frustration threatened to swallow her whole, the pain in her chest tightening until her fists were clenched so hard her nails dug into her palms.

"If you don't open this door, I'm gonna force it open."

She heard the iron determination in his voice, and for a brief second, she hesitated.

Still no sound from behind the door. Julian Shaw’s nerves were fraying, terrified Leia might do something irreversible. His legs turned to jelly as he sprinted downstairs to yank a heavy sledgehammer off the garage rack. Bursting back up to the door, he barked, "Open up now, or I’m breaking this down."

Silence answered him…

The thunder of the blows made Piper Cooper next door jump straight out of her skin.

Every heavy slam of the sledgehammer against the wood sent Leia Shaw’s panic spiking. Her vacant, glassy eyes suddenly snapped sharp with alertness. She pushed herself up slowly and wrenched the door open.

The door flew open out of nowhere. The sledgehammer was already arcing through the air.

Julian’s heart dropped straight into his stomach, panic blazing in his eyes.

Leia just stared coldly at the metal head that had swept inches from her skull, her gaze blank, unreadable.

Julian wrenched the sledgehammer back at the last second. It hit the floor with a heavy, deafening thud. A sharp, tearing pain twisted through his chest — it felt like something irreplaceable was slipping right through his fingers. If he’d been half a second slower, that hammer would have hit her.

Outside that door, he was a wreck of agony. Inside, she was still ice-cold calm.

He rushed in and crushed her to his chest.

His fear was still screaming through him, his heart hammering so hard he could feel it in his throat. One more inch. He’d almost lost her.

"I’m sorry, I’m sorry — I almost hurt you, I’m so sorry…"

His repeated apologies pulled Leia slowly back to the surface. He held her so tight she could barely draw a breath.

Three words she hated more than anything in this world: I’m sorry. If you don’t want to be sorry, don’t do the things that hurt people. Don’t say the words that cut deep.

Her hands clenched so hard her knuckles whitened at her sides, her voice colder than ice, "Let me go."

He didn’t let go. He held her even tighter, confused by how far gone she was.

In that split second where he’d almost lost her, his heart had felt like it was being squeezed to dust — pain, panic, terror, all tangled together. All he could think was he never wanted to let go of her for the rest of his life.

When he didn’t release her, Leia shoved him away with every bit of strength she had left, "Didn’t you hear me? Let go."

"I’m not a damn puppet you can yank out whenever you want and toss aside when you’re done."

Her hysterical scream left Julian standing there, completely stunned, defeated.

Across from him, the woman’s eyes were bloodshot, her pale face almost see-through. She burned with fury like a wild tigress cornered.

Julian had had enough. He turned and slammed the bedroom door shut, his jaw tight, "How long are you gonna drag this out? I’m so tired of this."

She glanced at him once, ice in her glare, then turned away. Her voice was just as cold, "I’m tired too. So just leave. I need to rest."

"Leia, do you really have to cut me off like this?"

He stepped closer and grabbed her wrist. He knew her — a few soft words, a hug, and she’d always soften, relent.

But this time was nothing like before…

She ripped her hand out of his grip, screaming, "Don’t you touch me. You’re disgusting."

Disgusting.

That one word set Julian off.

He could put up with every mood swing, every outburst, every crazy thing she did — but he couldn’t stand being called disgusting.

"Are you done yet? You’re blowing this way out of proportion. This has to end."

Leia spun around, her eyes ice when they locked onto his, "If you can’t stand me, then leave. Give me some damn peace."

"I…" He didn’t get another word out.

"I know exactly what you’re gonna say."

"And I know what you’re worried about."

"But let me make this clear: Piper is out of this house by tomorrow morning."

Hearing her ultimatum, seeing that flat, unfeeling look on her face, Julian’s temper snapped, "She’s not leaving."

Leia’s hands clenched so hard her joints cracked, fighting the urge to scream and hit something. She spoke through gritted teeth, cold as death, "Fine. If she doesn’t leave by tomorrow morning, I will. Now get out."

With a deafening bang, the door slammed shut in his face.

Leia couldn’t hold it together any longer. She crumpled onto the bed, tears pouring down her cheeks, but she didn’t make a single sound.

After crying until her lungs ached, her phone buzzed on the nightstand.

Seeing "Mom" light up the screen made her heart skip. She swiped at her tears fast, forcing her voice steady before she answered.

She kept her tone even, "Mom, you’re still up?"

"Leia, I couldn’t sleep a wink tonight. I just have this bad feeling. Are you and Julian okay?"

"We’re fine, really. He’s just in the shower right now."

Zoe, her mother-in-law, laughed soft and warm, "That’s good. You two get some rest, and while you’re young, get busy so I can be a grandma soon, okay?"

The mention of a grandchild shattered what little composure she’d scraped together. The tears she’d just choked down came rushing back, hotter than before.

After a long, shaky pause, she said, "Okay, I’ll work on that. You and Dad take care of yourselves, don’t stay up too late."

"Alright, I won’t bug you two any longer. There’s a big surprise waiting for you tomorrow!"

Before Leia could even ask what it was, Zoe hung up.

The ache in her chest just kept getting worse…

That night she lay awake until the sky turned pink, her heart hurting so bad she twisted and turned on the sheets, unable to get comfortable.

And Julian never came back to their room. He spent the whole night in the study.

…

The next day, at first crack of dawn, Zoe showed up grinning, arms loaded with groceries.

Mrs. Thomas, the housekeeper, opened the door for her. She’d gone home early the night before, so she had no idea what had gone down.

The whole Shaw house was dead quiet. None of the three had come downstairs yet.

"Good morning, ma’am! What’s got you in such a wonderful mood today?" Mrs. Thomas said, taking the grocery bags from her hands.

Zoe was practically glowing, "Of course I’m happy! I went to see that top specialist yesterday, he prescribed new medication. Said after three rounds, Leia’s guaranteed to get pregnant. I’m gonna be a grandma soon, haha!"

"That’s such wonderful news, ma’am! Mrs. Shaw is gonna be over the moon."

Zoe smiled as she walked in, then glanced around and frowned in surprise, "Mrs. Thomas, it’s already ten o’clock. Where is everyone?"

Mrs. Thomas glanced upstairs, then leaned in close to Zoe, lowering her voice, "Looks like Mr. and Mrs. Shaw had a fight. Mr. Shaw brought another woman home with him, and they haven’t come down yet."

"What?" Zoe gasped. Her cheerful face hardened instantly into rage. She demanded, "How dare Julian do this? Who is this woman?"

Mrs. Thomas whispered again, "Not sure, but they look real close."

"Unbelievable. Mrs. Thomas, you get started on lunch, I’m going up there to sort this out."

With that, Zoe headed straight for the stairs.

In the master suite, Piper was curled up on the sofa while Julian fussed over her injured foot. One face was dark and quiet, the other glowing with a bright smile.

Zoe was about to head straight to Julian and Leia’s room, but just as she reached the top of the stairs, she heard a door click open.

Leia stepped out. Her eyes were swollen from crying, her face deathly pale. The once bright, lively woman looked completely worn out. She was shocked to see her mother-in-law standing in the hall.

"Mom, what are you doing here?"

Leia said, as she slipped her arm affectionately through Zoe’s.

Having lost her own parents when she was little, Leia grew up in an orphanage and had always craved a mother’s love. She loved Zoe like she was her own mom.

Zoe adored Leia right back. When Zoe was sick, Julian was swamped with work, and Leia took care of everything around the house and all of Zoe’s medical needs without a single complaint. She loved Zoe like family.

Leia was pure, kind, obedient — everything Zoe ever wanted in a daughter-in-law. The only flaw, if you could call it that, was she’d never been very good at small talk with strangers.

Zoe patted her hand, her voice soft, "I came to check on my girl. Look how thin you’ve gotten lately."

"You’re always so thoughtful, Mom. C’mon, let’s go downstairs."

"Wait," Zoe suddenly remembered, and nodded toward the empty guest room down the hall, "You slept here last night?"