Gabriela's brows drew together as she glanced at her phone, ignoring every missed call from Alexander.

"Ella, you cannot go soft on that heartless jerk and forgive him!" Lindsay's angry voice came from behind her.

The sudden shout made Gabriela flinch. She took a moment to compose herself, then lowered her gaze.

"Don't worry. It's really over between us."

Hearing the certainty in her tone, Lindsay gave a satisfied nod. "That's more like it! I'm starving. Let me take you out for a quick breakfast."

She pressed her fingers to her temples, clearly still groggy from her hangover.

"I'm afraid I can't," Gabriela said apologetically. "I have to return to his family home now."

Lindsay's eyes widened in shock. "Didn't you just say it's over? Don't tell me—"

"It's not what you think." Gabriela shook her head, understanding Lindsay's concern. "I already agreed to have lunch with his grandmother today. Whatever is going on between him and me is separate. His grandmother has always treated me well. I don't want to disappoint her."

Lindsay fell quiet, studying her face with worry. "I'm just afraid that scumbag might try something to hurt you."

"It'll be okay," Gabriela said gently, reaching out to pat her shoulder in reassurance.

After getting ready, Gabriela headed back to the Marshes'.

The moment she stepped into the living room, her eyes landed on Alexander's mistress. The woman was seated on the sofa, chatting brightly and laughing with his mother and elder sister. They looked perfectly at ease together.

Lynda Marsh, Alexander's mother, held Kylie's hand, her face lit with warmth and approval.

"You're such a lovely girl. If only Alexander had met you sooner," Lynda said, her gaze shifting meaningfully toward Gabriela.

Gabriela showed no reaction to the familiar, subtle insult. Lynda had never approved of her, and that had long been clear.

There was a time when it had left her feeling small and helpless, when she had tried everything to earn her place as a proper daughter-in-law. But now, none of it held any weight. The only thing she wanted was to end this marriage as soon as possible.

"Gabriela, you're part of the family now. Where are your manners? Why are you standing there without a word? Can't you even greet us?"

Reclining lazily on the sofa, Caitlin Marsh, Alexander's sister, cast her a look full of disdain. The moment she noticed Gabriela's empty hands, her expression turned even colder.

"Where's the seafood chowder I told you to prepare?" she demanded with a condescending tone, as if she were addressing hired help rather than a sister-in-law.

"I didn't make it," Gabriela answered.

The detached response made Caitlin hesitate, unsure if she had heard correctly.

Her eyes swept over Gabriela from head to toe, confirming it was indeed her. And yet, something felt off.

The Gabriela she knew would never have dared to speak this way. She had always tried to please everyone in the household, even taking on chores meant for the staff.

Had she lost her senses, or did she think that marrying Alexander gave her the pass to change?

Caitlin's gaze hardened. "You can't even manage something so simple. What good are you? I told Alex not to marry you, but who knows what schemes you used to make him go through with it."

Gabriela had heard such cutting remarks countless times before. They no longer had the power to hurt her. In the past, she would have endured it quietly just to keep peace within the family, but that version of her was gone.

"No matter how useless I may seem, at least I'm not someone who plots endlessly and still can't secure a husband, then turns around to take it out on her sister-in-law," Gabriela said with a faint, mocking smile.

"How dare you!" Caitlin's face flushed a deep red. Her body shook with anger as she glared at her.

What had gotten into Gabriela today? How could she talk back so boldly. She even threw such humiliating words at her? Did she not fear Alexander finding out?

"How could you say something like that to Caitlin?" Kylie cut in, her brows knitting together as she spoke in reproach.

She struck a righteous pose. "Caitlin only spoke that way because she considers you family and wants you to do better."

Her soft voice brushed away everything Gabriela had endured, twisting the situation until Gabriela appeared to be the one at fault.

With Kylie backing her up, Caitlin grew even more aggressive, hurling one sharp insult after another without restraint.

"That's exactly why I like you, Kylie. You're thoughtful and reasonable. Not like someone who came from nothing, knew nothing, yet got lucky marrying into this family and living off my brother. And still, she acts wronged all the time, as if we've ever treated her badly!"

Caitlin twisted the truth, her voice thick with mockery. Kylie nodded along, quietly agreeing with every word.

Gabriela's lips curled into a mocking smile. Her sharp gaze moved past Caitlin then settled on Kylie.

She didn't say a single word, yet the chill around her was unmistakable, pressing down on the room.

Kylie held her gaze for a brief second then she faltered. She quickly looked away and instinctively stepped closer to Caitlin.

Caitlin was just about to continue when the sound of footsteps cut her off. Alexander walked in.

"Alex…" Kylie's face brightened at once. Without a second thought, she left Caitlin's side, rushed toward him, and wrapped her hands around his arm.

Gabriela's eyes flickered to where Kylie clung to him, but she said nothing.

Alexander noticed. Almost instinctively, he tried to free his arm, but Kylie held on, refusing to let go.

"Alex," she called softly, her voice laced with feigned vulnerability.

He paused, then slowly stopped resisting.

A trace of victory flashed in Kylie's eyes as she turned to look at Gabriela.

Gabriela caught the challenge in that glance, but she chose not to respond.

Caitlin watched her closely. Her lips curled with disdain at Gabriela's composed expression.

She refused to believe it. A woman who loved Alexander that deeply could never accept another woman by his side so easily.

She felt like Gabriela had to be burning with jealousy and was forcing herself to stay calm on the surface.

She let out a scoff, already preparing to tear apart that fragile act.

"Alex, Kylie is our honored guest. You should know how to treat her properly," Caitlin said, her eyes fixed on Gabriela, searching for even the slightest crack in her calm.

But Gabriela did not react. Her face remained still, showing no emotion.

Kylie accepted Caitlin's support with a gentle smile, her voice soft and sweet.

"Caitlin, I heard from Alex that you've been looking for a bottle of '45 DRC. My father once received a bottle as a gift, so I brought it today for you."

"Really?" Caitlin's eyes widened with excitement, disbelief written all over her.

She had spent five long years searching for that very bottle. The last time one appeared at auction had been years ago, and the final bid had climbed to five hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

Back then, she had not been able to afford it, and the regret had lingered ever since.

"Alex, could you pass it to Caitlin for me?" Kylie said sweetly, leaning closer to Alexander in a way that felt far too intimate.

Caitlin quickly took the bottle, holding it tightly with joy. Her approval of Kylie soared instantly.

"This is too precious," she said with delight, then cast a glance at Gabriela, whose continued silence was beginning to annoy her.

"Gabriela should really learn from you, Kylie. She comes from nothing and can't support Alex in any way. She can't even handle something as simple as making seafood chowder."

Alexander's brow furrowed at Caitlin's mocking tone. "Caitlin, that's enough."

Before he could continue, Lynda cut in coldly, "Was anything she said wrong?"

From the start, Lynda had never accepted Gabriela as her son's wife. In her eyes, Kylie was far more fitting, especially after casually presenting an expensive bottle of wine that only highlighted Gabriela's supposed shortcomings.

"Alex, she was never right for you, and she never will be. You shouldn't have married her at all. She stays at home doing nothing for the family, and it's embarrassing to bring her out. How could she ever compare to Kylie?" said Lynda.

Those biting remarks only made Gabriela let out a faint, mocking smile.

Her gaze drifted toward the wine bottle Caitlin held so carefully, and her voice turned cold. "This isn't a bottle of DRC."

"What are you talking about?" Caitlin shot back immediately. "You're just jealous of Kylie, so you're making things up."

"Ms. Moore, I know you don't like me, but you can't accuse me like this," Kylie added, lowering her voice as tears gathered in her eyes.

Alexander frowned at Gabriela. "Ella, I understand that Mom and Caitlin upset you, but Kylie has done nothing wrong. You shouldn't say things like this. Apologize."

Watching them side with Kylie without question, Gabriela's gaze gradually turned colder.

"Everyone knows DRC uses off-white labels, yet this one is pure white."

"Maybe it's a special release, so it looks different," Caitlin argued, though her confidence had already begun to waver.

Caitlin's response only made Gabriela's smile grow colder. She stepped closer, her tone sharper now.

"Every DRC bottle has its number and vintage printed on the lower left, and a monopole mark on the lower right. This one has the number and vintage, but it's missing the monopole mark. That alone proves it's fake."

"Besides," Gabriela added, loud enough for everyone to hear. "A '45 DRC—over eighty years old—why is the wine level here?" She pointed to the spot below the bottleneck. "That's 'Into Neck'—as full as if it were bottled yesterday. Have you guys ever seen an old wine that hasn't evaporated at all?"

Her words made sense, and Caitlin, who had dismissed her earlier, now hesitated and glanced at Kylie with doubt.

"That's not true..." Kylie insisted, though uncertainty crept into her voice.

She had only wanted to impress Caitlin. Since DRC was so rare, she had bought a counterfeit, assuming no one would notice. She hadn't expected Gabriela to know so much about wine.

Flustered, she stepped back into a wine glass tower.

Gabriela ended up right beneath the falling tower. She tried to move aside with a frown, but she was already too late.

The tower crashed over her, red liquid soaking into her dress and leaving her in a disordered state.

At the same moment, her husband rushed to protect Kylie, his attention filled with concern for her alone.

"Are you alright?" he asked with a deep frown, looking Kylie over carefully.

With tears running down her face, Kylie held her calf where a small shard had grazed her. "It hurts... That really scared me."

The moment Gabriela noticed the tiny cut, barely visible, her expression turned cold. Even so, Alexander was already panicking, calling for the family doctor as if it were something serious.

"Alex, please don't blame her. I don't think she meant to push me," Kylie said softly, twisting the situation before Gabriela could even respond.

"I pushed you?" Gabriela almost laughed at the accusation. She never thought Alexander would be so foolish as to believe Kylie's claim without even questioning it.

"You were standing right next to her, and you've been picking on her all day. You're jealous of how close Kylie and I are, so you did this to get back at us!"

Alexander looked at Gabriela with clear disappointment. Convinced she was being unreasonable, he decided she needed to be taught a lesson.

Gabriela stared at the man scolding her, unable to ignore the pain inside her. Even though she had already accepted that their marriage needed to end, a sharp bitterness slowly rose in her heart.

"I didn't push her!" she said firmly.

For a brief moment, her steady, defiant gaze made Alexander hesitate.

Had he misjudged her? But Kylie had no reason to lie. Maybe something had been misunderstood.

His brows furrowed as he prepared to speak more gently, but Kylie interrupted him first.

"Alex, please don't argue with her because of me. If she says she didn't do it, then it must be a misunderstanding..."

Kylie's pitiful tone stirred his sympathy and even a sense of admiration. When he looked back at Gabriela, her unwavering expression now only made him more annoyed.

"Look at Kylie. Even after getting hurt, she's still defending you. You should learn from her. You keep creating trouble. Maybe you should just leave."

Alexander's voice turned sharp as he spoke, filled with anger.

He meant to intimidate Gabriela, yet he didn't expect her to leave without hesitation.

As she turned, his eyes caught the blood on her arm.

Was she hurt, too? Then why hadn't she said anything?

Alexander watched her leave, a conflicted expression on his face, his instincts telling him to follow, but his arm was held back.

When he turned, Kylie was still clinging to him, tears falling as her voice shook.

"Alex, it hurts so much... I'm really scared. I've never felt pain like this before. Can you stay here with me?"

As soon as Gabriela stepped out of the house, regret settled in. She had come intending to dine with Alexander's grandmother, yet she left in disgrace without even seeing her.

She hadn't been naive about it. Lynda and Caitlin's presence was expected, along with their sarcasm and condescending remarks. She had prepared herself to ignore it all and stay composed, but in the end, she still couldn't hold on.

Pain lingered where the wine glass had cut her arm. Blood slid down slowly, dripping onto the pale stone beneath her feet, leaving scattered stains. Yet that sting was nothing compared to the ache inside her chest, sharp and unrelenting.

Lowering her gaze, she looked at her dress, damp and stained, and realized how much it mirrored her current state. Everything felt messy and ruined.

As if things weren't already bad enough, the situation only worsened. She spent nearly half an hour trying to book a ride, but no one accepted. Even the one driver who took the job canceled as soon as he saw her location.

By the time night fully set in, the fabric clinging to her body had turned cold in the wind. She pulled it closer around herself, though the chill had already seeped through. Walking along the empty road, she became painfully aware of how alone she was.

High up in the hills, the neighborhood was home to the wealthy and influential. From time to time, luxury cars passed by, their headlights briefly illuminating her pale face before leaving her in darkness again.

At that moment, one regret stood out. She should have listened to Lindsay and driven herself. Walking out of this place would take at least two hours.

Some thoughts were better left untouched. The moment she let them surface, the weight of disappointment pressed down on her, making it hard to breathe.

She thought back to the beginning of her relationship with Alexander. No matter where she was, he had always come for her. Rain or shine, he never failed. Now, when she needed him most, he chose to believe someone else and treated her with nothing but disdain. He had even told her to leave.

The memory took whatever strength she had left. She lowered herself to the curb and gazed ahead with empty eyes, wondering if every decision she had made had been wrong.

Nothing about it made sense. How had the man who once cherished her and promised to love her forever become like this? Had she done something wrong, or was this what marriage turned into over time?

At that moment, a car passed by, then slowed and reversed back toward her.

The door opened, and a pair of polished black shoes stepped onto the pavement, stopping right in front of her.

"Why do you always look like this whenever I see you?" His low voice carried a hint of amusement.

Slowly, Gabriela lifted her head. Under the faint streetlight, she finally saw his face clearly. It was the man from earlier, the one who had helped her.

Why was he here?

As if sensing her confusion, Asher spoke first. "I had business here. I thought I might be mistaken at first, but it really is you." His gaze swept over her briefly before he extended his hand. "Come with me. I'll take you home."

Gabriela's eyes fell on the hand he offered. Even in the dim light, it looked steady and refined. She paused, unsure of what to do. Her arm throbbed from the cut left by the glass, and the cold night wind made her teeth tremble. If she remained outside any longer, she did not know what could happen.

Besides, he had already helped her once before. Maybe she could trust him?

Pressing her lips together, she hesitated for a moment before placing her cold hand into his. His palm was steady and warm, and that simple contact eased some of the chill in her body.

With little effort, he pulled her up. She had been sitting there too long, and the moment she stood, dizziness rushed in, making her sway. He caught her immediately.

"Careful," he said in a low voice.

Once she regained her balance, she gently pulled her hand away and said, "Thank you." Her head lowered as she spoke. She didn't have the strength to maintain even basic courtesy anymore.

Asher gave no reply. Instead, he walked ahead, opened the car door for her, and waited.

Warm air filled the car the moment she stepped inside. The heat slowly chased away the cold that had settled into her, letting her breathe a little easier. Almost without thinking, she curled inward and hid her injured arm behind her, not wanting him to notice.

Asher still saw it, though he said nothing. He simply told the driver to drive down the hill, then grabbed a blanket and passed it to her.

In a quiet voice, Gabriela thanked him before pulling the blanket over herself from head to toe.

Silence settled inside the car, broken only by the soft hum of the heater and the sound of the tires moving along the road. Gabriela buried part of her face in the blanket, and as the warmth surrounded her, the tension in her body slowly eased. Exhaustion followed soon after.

Her eyes closed, yet the memories from earlier today refused to fade. One scene after another played in her mind, and the pain in her chest sharpened again. Without realizing it, she curled up slightly, her brows tightening.

Sitting beside her, Asher looked out the window. In the reflection, every shift in her expression was clear to him.

Even with her eyes shut, her distress was obvious. The tension in her face showed how hard she was trying to hide everything she felt.

He gave his knee a light tap with his fingers, then went still. What he could not figure out was this—if she felt so miserable, why would she not simply let herself cry?

And another thought followed. Did she really not recognize him?

At that, he turned and studied her openly.

Years had altered her so much he almost didn't recognize her. The little girl in his memory had been cheerful, with soft, round cheeks and a natural sweetness. The woman sitting next to him now appeared slimmer, more angular, and tired. Her chin was sharper, and faint dark circles rested under her eyes, as though she had gone without proper sleep for far too long.

Even so, he had known it was her the moment he saw her. If he could recognize her instantly, then why couldn't she do the same? Had he changed just as much?