That night, fever burned through me like fire, the ache in my body spreading until it became unbearable.

My vision blurred, and in my dazed state, I instinctively reached for my phone and dialed Sylus.

After all, I had been his wife for three years, how could I suddenly stop depending on him? Surely, he would care, wouldn't he?

When the call connected, I expected concern, but instead, his voice came through, sharp and impatient. "Stop calling me all the time. You are an adult. Can't you solve your own problems?"

His words struck me like a punch to the gut, my breath catching as though I were drowning. I tried to speak, each word feeling like a struggle. "Sylus, I... I feel really uncomfortable. Can you…."

Before I could finish, a soft voice interrupted from the background.

"Lily, do not bother him anymore," the woman’s voice, unmistakably Charlotte's, chimed in. "He has been taking care of me all day, and he is already tired. As his current wife, you should understand him, okay?"

The call ended with a click, cutting off the last shred of hope I had clung to. It felt like a bucket of ice water had been poured over me, freezing me in place.

Of course, how could I have forgotten? Sylus had never loved me from the beginning. I had been a substitute for Charlotte all along, a mere shadow in their story.

With trembling hands, I called Julius, the one person in the manor I could still rely on.

I never knew when it started, but I had always been independent, ever since my parents died.

It seemed three years of being Sylus’s wife had changed me. I had grown accustomed to the idea of having someone to lean on, even if that person never truly cared.

Julius arrived in my room quickly, his eyes widening in alarm when he saw me drenched in sweat, as if I had just been pulled from the ocean.

Without a word, he moved to call Sylus, but I shook my head weakly, stopping him. "I already called," I whispered.

Understanding washed over Julius’s face.

He did not push further, knowing Sylus would not come. Instead, he offered a simple solution, "I will call a doctor to the house."

But I shook my head again, desperate. "No, Julius. I need to go to the hospital."

With that, he scooped me up and rushed me to the car.

Looking at the road, I felt like they were going to take me to a hospital funded by Fuentez, so I begged him again to go to another hospital.

He hesitated, torn between his concern and my request. "But the other hospital is farther away, and I am afraid you will not make it in time."

"I will hold on. Just take me to the one I mentioned. Please," I pleaded, barely able to keep my eyes open.

The reason why I did not want to go to Fuentez was my fear of the surgery I did not want that day.

I was just an ordinary commoner with no power or influence. If I went to their hospital again, I did not know what crazy actions Sylus would take to me.

Reluctantly, Julius agreed. "Okay, but you must hold on. I will drive as fast as I can."

By the time we arrived at the hospital, my vision was fading, and I was barely conscious. The last thing I remembered was the concerned face of the doctor I knew well, someone I trusted.

The relief of knowing I was in safe hands was the only thing that kept me from spiraling into complete darkness.

When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed, an IV in my arm, and Julius sitting dutifully beside me. His face, usually so calm, was etched with worry.

Seeing me awake, Julius immediately called the doctor, and they hurried in to examine me. After ensuring I was stable, the doctor let out a long sigh of relief.

"You’re lucky, Lily," he said softly. "The wound was not completely sterile, and it became infected. If you had come any later, it could have led to severe organ damage."

His words hit me like a blow. I had been so close to losing everything just for the pearl owned by my man’s fiancée.

The doctor, sensing my distress, tried to reassure me. "But everything is under control now. You just need to rest for a few days. And please, don’t go home too soon. It is better for you to stay here where we can take care of you."

I nodded weakly, managing a small smile. "Thank you. Of course, I will enjoy my time here as long as possible."

The doctor left, and Julius approached, his worry easing slightly.

“Thank you, Julius," I said quietly, my voice still weak. "Thank you for listening to me and for bringing me here."

"It’s my pleasure, Madam," he replied with a bow. "It is my duty to serve you."

I smiled, though it did not reach my eyes. "You can go home now, Julius."

But Julius shook his head. "No, Madam. I will stay and take care of you. Mr. and Mrs. Fuentez’s last request was for me to look after you, and I intend to keep that promise."

His loyalty touched me, but I knew how difficult his position was.

Sylus, as the head of the Fuentez family, held power over him. I had seen Julius scolded many times by Sylus and his brother Xavier, just for being kind to me.

Yet, he remained steadfast, caring for me when no one else would.

"Julius," I murmured, "I will be fine here, I know some doctor here, so you can rest easy. You still have some work on the Manor, right?”

As a result, Julius could only give up and return to the Manor, after promising to visit me every day.

In the days that followed, Sylus did not come to see me. It was as though I had faded from his world entirely, replaced by the warmth and comfort he found in Charlotte.

Julius, however, fulfilled his promise by visiting me every day, his loyalty unwavering, making sure I had everything I needed.

Each time he returned from the manor, Julius would gently mention that he had tried to speak with Sylus about my condition, only to be dismissed with cold indifference.

Sylus’s disgust was clear; he did not want to hear anything about me.

But a week later, something stirred in Sylus, and he remembered my existence. Maybe it was guilt, or maybe it was simply the looming need to sever ties.

It turned out, he came to the hospital to discuss our divorce. He brought Charlotte with him, her presence like a cruel punctuation to our shattered relationship.

I was still packing my belongings, preparing for my discharge, when they arrived.

The moment Sylus entered the room, a rare flicker of guilt crossed his usually stoic face. His voice, though still distant, held a trace of something softer.

“Why didn't you tell me you were in the hospital?”

Before I could respond, Charlotte cut in smoothly, slipping her arm around his and pulling him closer.

“Oh, Sylus has been with me these past few days. He did not have time to check on you,” she smiled sweetly, through her eyes dancing with triumph. “You know how it is. We have been together since childhood. Our bond is unbreakable.”

She tightened her grip on his arm, her chest pressed provocatively against him, as if daring me to object.

But I did not give her the satisfaction. Instead, I forced a smile, even if my heart was aching even as I feigned indifference.

“It is fine. I am okay now. I was just about to go home,” I said, my voice steady even though my insides felt hollow.

“So, what business brings you here today? Oh, right. Julius mentioned the divorce. Is that what you wanted to talk about?”

The words came out calmly, but inside, I was breaking. The pain I had buried deep within me swelled, but I would not let it show. I could not let either of them see how much it still hurt.

Sylus’s eyes flickered briefly with something. Was it regret? Maybe, but it was fleeting, quickly replaced by the familiar, unreadable coldness.

“This is not the right place to discuss it,” Sylus said after a pause, his tone more commanding. “Come home with us. We will talk at the manor.”

Charlotte’s smile faltered for a split second, surprise flickering in her eyes. She had not expected Sylus to care about me at all, not even enough to bring me back to the manor.

But she quickly recovered, her smile widening as she clung tighter to him. “Yes, Lily. We do have dinner plans, but we can take you home first.”

I shook my head, the weariness of the last few weeks weighing heavily on me. “No need. We are getting divorced anyway. You don’t have to change your plans for me.”

Sylus’s jaw tightened at my casual tone, and with an annoyed sigh, he pulled away from Charlotte, taking a step toward me. “No. I have canceled the plans. I am taking you home, and we are discussing this now.”

Charlotte’s smile vanished completely, replaced by a tight-lipped expression. Her eyes narrowed as she crossed her arms, clearly displeased by the change in their evening.

She remained silent, though, her frustration visible in every stiff movement as she climbed into the car behind us.

The ride back to the manor was tense. But I just stared out the window, my thoughts spinning.

Even though I had spent the entire week in the hospital thinking about life after Sylus, after the Fuentez family, but the truth was, I still did not know what that life would look like.

Would I be safe, free from their grasp? Or would the shadow of Sylus and his powerful family linger over me forever?

When we finally arrived at the manor, Sylus wasted no time. In the living room, he laid everything out with the precision of a business transaction.

“Charlotte and I are getting married soon,” he said bluntly, not even pausing to see how those words might affect me.

"I will make sure you are well-compensated," he continued, his tone matter-of-fact. "You will not have to worry about anything after the divorce."

Charlotte, sitting beside him with her arms crossed, watched me with a smug smile.

For a moment, the room fell silent. Sylus stared at me, and I could see something flicker behind his eyes.

Charlotte was the first to break the tension, leaning forward with a smile that did not reach her eyes.

"Well, you will get a villa too, Lily.” Then she looked to Sylus before continuing, “Right, Sylus?”

Sylus cleared his throat, standing up from the couch and straightening his suit. "Yeah. The divorce agreement is in your room. Once everything is signed, you will be free to go."

"Sure," I replied, though the words tasted bitter on my tongue.

He turned to leave with Charlotte at his side, and for a moment, it felt as if I was not important anymore in his life.

After gathering my few belongings, I packed them into a small suitcase.

I did not take much, just the things I had brought with me at the start of my marriage.

I left behind the clothes, jewelry, and gifts Sylus had given me over the years. I did not want any reminders of a life that no longer belonged to me.

As I stood before the divorce papers, my hands trembled. I had made up my mind, but my heart felt heavy with the weight of what was to come.

I took a deep breath and forced myself to open the document. The pen was already there, waiting for my signature.

But as my eyes scanned the paper, I noticed that Sylus had yet to sign. It felt as though he was waiting for my decision, but I quickly brushed that thought away.

"He must be busy planning his wedding," I muttered to myself, trying to push down any lingering feelings.

With a final, steadying breath, I signed my name. Just as I finished, there was a knock at the door. Sylus stood there, holding a set of keys in his hand.

"This is the key to your villa," he said in that same indifferent tone I had grown used to. "As for money, I have transferred it to your account. Let me know if it is not enough."

I glanced at him, forcing a faint smile. "Okay. I have signed the divorce papers. Please find some time to sign them too." Without waiting for a response, I grabbed my suitcase and walked past him.

Once I was outside, I took out my phone to check the address of the villa. But my heart skipped a beat when I saw the balance in my account, ten million dollars.

He had kept his promise, ensuring that I could live comfortably for the rest of my life.

But the thought only deepened the ache in my chest. They had prepared everything so neatly, so meticulously, to build a future that had no place for me.

As I made my way downstairs, Charlotte was waiting for me, her face twisted in a sullen expression. Even on the day I was leaving, she could not resist stirring up trouble.

"Lily," she cried, her voice loud and trembling. "Please, give me back my ring. It is the engagement ring Sylus bought for me five years ago. It was custom-made. You can’t just take it for revenge."

I stared at her, taking in her frail figure. Her face might have resembled mine, but that was where the similarities ended. She was smaller, weaker, like a fragile doll that would break at the slightest touch.

I could not help but smirk. "Move aside, Charlotte," I said coldly. "I did not take your ring."

I pushed past her, but she fell to the floor, crying as though I had shoved her with all my might. "Ow, it hurts! Are you really doing this to punish me? Taking my ring?"

My anger flared, and I spun around to face her. "Charlotte, have you lost your mind? I said I didn’t take it!"

Her tearful expression shifted into something more sinister, her voice a venomous whisper. "Or did you swallow it again? Are you waiting for someone to cut your stomach open like last time?"

My blood ran cold. Memories of the last time they had forced me into submission rushed back, and my body began to tremble.

I was terrified that history would repeat itself, that they would hurt me again.

Soon, the commotion drew Sylus and Xavier to the scene.

Xavier immediately rushed to Charlotte’s side, demanding to know what had happened.

She wasted no time in accusing me of stealing her engagement ring, claiming I had taken it out of spite.

As a result, Xavier’s eyes burned with fury, and he moved toward me, ready to force me to hand over the ring. But Sylus, ever composed, simply ordered the guards to search my belongings.

They ripped open my suitcase, scattering the few things I had packed across the floor.

My heart broke at the sight of it. My life was reduced to that humiliating scene and my privacy violated once again.

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I would not give them the satisfaction of seeing me cry.

A few minutes later, one of the guards whispered something to Sylus. They had not found anything, of course.

"Can I pack my things now?" I asked, my voice trembling but defiant.

Sylus did not even look at me as he spoke. "No. You don’t need to take anything from here. Leave the manor and go on your own."

His words felt like a final blow, cold and heartless. I watched as he turned and walked back upstairs without another word.

Charlotte looked momentarily stunned, but she quickly recovered, sneering as Xavier helped her to her feet.

I stood there for a moment, staring at the mess they had made of my things, before finally turning toward the door.

My hands still shook, but with each step, I felt a strange sense of freedom growing inside me.

That place had been my prison for far too long, so I would never come back there.

*

A few days later, Sylus appeared at my villa without knocking, without ringing the bell. It turned out he had a spare key.

I was in the living room when he strolled in, holding a small envelope in his hand. His face was unreadable as he looked at me. Then, with unnerving casualness, he extended the invitation towards me.

“Will you come to our wedding? I want to have your blessing.”

My answer was immediate, my tone as sharp as glass. “Of course not.”

Silence settled between us like a heavy fog. The only sound in the room was the ticking of the clock, each second stretching longer than the last.

Sylus let out a long sigh, lowering the invitation, his gaze clouded with regret that I could neither comprehend nor care about.

“Do you really not care about me anymore?” he asked, his voice soft, almost pleading.

I looked at him, the man who had torn apart my world, and found it all so absurd. “And if I did still care, would you call off your wedding?”

My question seemed to strike him, and for a second, he was lost for words. His mouth opened, but no reply came.

Then he moved closer, his hands reaching out to mine, holding them as if trying to anchor me to him.

“Hey, listen," he began, his voice low, almost tender. "It is okay if you don’t want to come. But, for your information, I still have not signed our divorce papers. I just… I just want you to get along with her, peacefully. We can still live together.”

I felt my heart turn cold, colder than it had ever been. I pulled my hands free from his grip, sneering. "Are you suggesting I become your mistress? Or that she does? Which one of us is supposed to play that role?"

It was laughable, really. How little he understood me, or maybe how little he cared.

Also, the fact that he had not even signed the divorce papers, as if toying with my life was some casual game for him, was just the final insult.

Anger flashed across Sylus’ face. He cornered me, grabbing both of my arms with a force that stung. “I’m not asking you to be a mistress!

“I want you to remain the hostess of our family. But I need you to tolerate her. She is an orphan. She has no one but me.”

I stared into his eyes, unflinching. “I am also an orphan, if that is your excuse for keeping her around. But forget it, I certainly will never be your hostess anymore.”

His desperation showed as he leaned his head on my shoulder, his voice lowering. “What do you want from me, Lily? Do you really want me to cancel the wedding?”

His words slithered into my ears like poison, but I would never be fooled by his mind games again. I steeled myself and leaned close, my breath cold against his ear.

“You don’t need to cancel anything for me. In fact, I wish you both a long, happy life together. May you have children soon and live in your perfect little world.”

He recoiled, his jaw tight with frustration. He gritted his teeth, letting go of me abruptly. “Fine. Just don’t regret it. I gave you a chance.”

I watched as he stormed out, his frustration barely masked. It was clear he had not gotten the answer he wanted, but I was done being a part of his twisted games.

*

The next morning, as if fate had another cruel joke to play, Charlotte appeared at my door.

She smiled as she approached, her steps deliberate, a glint of mischief in her eyes.

“Lily, guess what this is?” she purred, her voice sickly sweet.

Charlotte’s smile stretched wide as she flaunted the engagement ring, the very one she had accused me of stealing on the day I left Fuentez manor.

"Oh, you found it," I said flatly, keeping my tone even.

My lack of reaction seemed to drive her mad. She stormed toward me, her face twisted with rage, and grabbed the collar of my shirt, her fingers trembling with anger.

“Does this seem fine to you?” she hissed; her voice barely contained. “Don’t think I don’t know that you asked Sylus to come here yesterday. Divorced, but still flirting with him, how shameless!”

I could not help but smile, a cold and cunning smile. “You are right that Sylus came here. But if you think I invited him, you are wrong.”

“Then why was he not happy after you left? He looked reluctant, almost sad. Do you know what he said to me when he came back? He asked me to postpone the wedding! Isn’t that strange, Lily?”

I tilted my head, meeting her gaze with amusement. “So, you doubt your fiancé now?”

“Of course not! Between the two of us, Sylus will always choose me.” She sneered, her voice dripping with venom. “Do you remember the pearl, Lily? I was the one who told Sylus to take it from your stomach.”

Hearing those words ignited a fire within me, a rage I could no longer suppress. My hands shot out, grabbing her by the neck.

Charlotte had been the one behind the very ordeal that had nearly taken my life, the one who convinced Sylus to tear the pearl from me. She even had the audacity to wear it around her neck.

“Listen to me, Lotty,” I growled through clenched teeth, tightening my grip. “You will never beat me. So, you should learn your place and live peacefully in the manor.”

But Charlotte was not one to back down. With a swift movement, she yanked at my hair, pulling me down to the floor.

She straddled me, her weight pressing onto the exact spot of my surgical wound, making me gasp in pain.

“Who said I can’t beat you?” she said triumphantly, her hands wrapping around my throat, squeezing as I struggled to breathe.

The pain shot through me, but I managed to slip my hand into my pocket, grasping my phone. With trembling fingers, I dialed for the police.

*

At the police station, I gave my statement, detailing everything that had happened.

Charlotte, of course, tried to spin the situation in her favor. She apologized sweetly, calling it all a misunderstanding. According to her, the ring had simply been misplaced in her room.

As we waited, Sylus arrived, his face pale with worry. He took in the sight of me and Charlotte and looked utterly bewildered.

His words stammered out, “I’m… I'm sorry for everything, for making you suffer.”

I sneered, my voice colder than ever. “No need to apologize, but I will never forgive you.”

As we stepped out of the police station, Charlotte approached me, her voice dripping with false humility.

“Lily, I really didn't mean it,” she said, her eyes wide, as if she were the one wronged. “I thought you would take the ring to ruin my marriage with Sylus. I was wrong. Can you forgive me?”

It was almost laughable, the switch from venom to this pitiful act. But what truly surprised me was Sylus falling for it so easily.

Before I could even form a response, he pulled her protectively into his arms, his concern all for her.

"Okay, okay, she did not mean it," Sylus said, looking at me with mild exasperation. "Don’t be so stubborn. I will transfer a million dollars to your account as compensation."

I smiled politely, accepting his offer without hesitation. Then, I watched as the two of them walked away, hand in hand.

Charlotte shot me a smug, victorious smile over her shoulder. But that smile only strengthened my resolve. The villa Sylus had given me was no longer safe, it never had been.

*

The day of Sylus’s wedding arrived, and the internet exploded with coverage of their lavish ceremony. Videos of the event flooded social media, and netizens swooned over the couple's ‘perfect love story.’

“It’s so sweet,” people wrote. “After waiting for so many years, they finally got what they wished for.”

It was as if I had never existed, completely erased from their fairytale narrative.

But then, a new video emerged, one that sent shockwaves through the public. As the wedding reached its peak, just as they were about to exchange rings, Sylus ran.

Chaos ensued, and Charlotte, overwhelmed with shock and humiliation, fainted at the altar. The guests were left in a state of confusion, and the wedding descended into complete disorder.

Meanwhile, I was quietly finishing my own preparations. The villa had successfully sold, and I was ready to leave the city behind for good, away from Sylus, from Charlotte, from everything tied to the nightmare they had dragged me into.

But as I sat in the back of the taxi on my way to the airport, my phone rang. When I saw Sylus’ name, with a heavy sigh, I answered.

“Where are you?” Sylus’s voice came through, breathless and panicked. “Why did you sell the villa and disappear? Is this some kind of game to you?”