Kristopher stayed away the entire night.
By the time he finally returned to Prime Estate, it was already noon the following day.
The moment he entered the bedroom, his gaze settled on the divorce agreement left atop the nightstand.
One clause stated, "The wife voluntarily relinquishes all claims to the couple's joint assets and will leave the marriage without receiving anything."
Kristopher's fingers curled around the pages until his knuckles whitened.
Pulling out his phone, he called Leyla.
Her phone had been switched off.
He tried once more.
The result was the same.
"Helen!" Kristopher barked, his voice sharp with fury.
Helen came hurrying over from the kitchen. "Mr. Gordon, you're home."
"Where's Leyla?" Kristopher asked.
Helen faltered beneath his stare. "She... she left first thing this morning with a suitcase. A luxury car worth tens of millions picked her up... The man inside the car was incredibly handsome. He looked very rich, too."
A layer of frost seemed to settle over Kristopher's expression when he heard that.
He strode back into the bedroom and called his assistant, Derek Carter. "Track Leyla down. I want to know her whereabouts before the end of the day."
After ending the call, he stopped before the window as a pulse hammered at his temple.
So, Leyla had truly dared to leave him.
He had assumed her demand the previous night was nothing more than a fit of temper.
For the past three years, she had relied on him for every part of her life.
How long could she possibly survive in the city without him?
It would only be a matter of days before she came back in defeat.
Drawing in a sharp breath, Kristopher crushed the divorce agreement in his fist and tossed the wad of paper into the trash can.
There was no chance he would sign it.
It wasn't that he was unwilling to lose her; it was just that no one had ever dared walk out on him like that.
Leyla had demanded a divorce the previous night, then left in a luxury car that morning. Clearly, she had planned everything in advance.
She had never loved him. Otherwise, how could she have left so resolutely with another man?
Kristopher let out a humorless chuckle. His jaw clenched as he muttered, "Leyla, you've really got some nerve!"
***
A Rolls-Royce eased onto the grounds of Holden Manor.
Looking out the car window, Leyla took in scenery that felt both familiar and strange. For reasons she couldn't explain, her pulse began to race.
After three long years, she had finally returned.
Her parents, Gregg Holden and Jayde Thorpe, were already waiting for her at the entrance.
The car door swung open.
"Leyla!" Jayde ran forward and gathered her daughter into her arms. Tears spilled down her face as she said, "You're finally home. We've waited so long for you to come back."
Leyla rubbed her mother's back in gentle strokes. "Mom, Dad, I'm sorry I put you through so much worry."
Even Gregg, a formidable titan of industry, felt his vision blur. His voice came out rough with emotion. "Having you home safe is all that matters."
Jayde finally loosened her embrace and brushed the tears from her cheeks, only to go rigid when her gaze landed on the scar marring Leyla's face.
"Leyla, your face..." A flash of concern crossed her features.
She had spent all those years believing her daughter was happy.
Leyla had rarely gone outside, and every phone call with her parents carried the same assurances. She spoke only of the good and concealed every hardship.
Yet this was what had truly become of her?
Leyla had gotten her face ruined to save Kristopher, hidden her privileged identity, and taken care of him for three years. But in return, he had held another woman at an auction and spent recklessly just to please her, completely ignoring Leyla's feelings.
Damien moved closer. "Mom, don't worry. Collin is one of the best reconstructive surgeons in the world. He'll be able to erase Leyla's scar."
A spark of hope brightened Leyla's gaze as she nodded. "Yeah."
Collin Holden, her second brother, was an exceptional surgeon.
Her third brother, Felix Holden, had built a celebrated career as a jewelry designer.
"Mom, Dad, I'm all right. It's all in the past." Leyla's voice softened as she tried to reassure them. "From now on, I'll stay right here with you, always."
Only now did she realize that being with Kristopher had been a huge mistake. Loving him had brought her a disaster.
Gregg sighed heavily. Thinking of his daughter's past choices left him torn between anger and heartache.
"Take a few days to rest," he told Leyla. "The Pearl Charity Gala is coming up next week. You'll attend with Damien."
Gregg knew his family had made one critical mistake in the past.
They had kept such a low profile that ignorant fools believed they could mistreat his daughter without facing any consequences.
Gregg's words stirred complicated feelings within Leyla.
The Pearl Charity Gala ranked among the most exclusive gatherings in Wrafham.
Despite being Kristopher's wife for three years, she had never attended the event. She had not been considered worthy of an invitation.
Gregg continued, "Since you've chosen to reclaim your true identity, it's time to let everyone know that you are my daughter."
Leyla was silent for a moment before giving a firm nod.
Three years ago, she had defied her parents and concealed her identity to marry Kristopher. Her decision had enraged them so deeply that they had nearly cut ties with her.
Now, she owed it to them to make amends.
"Okay," she replied.
"Now that's my daughter," Gregg said with approval.
He then extended a sleek black card edged in gold toward her. "The card has no spending limit. The Holden family has more than enough money, so you can buy anything that catches your eye."
Leyla studied the black card, and a faint smile touched her lips.
Only minutes earlier, she had been completely penniless. Did this mean she had suddenly become wealthy?
