Elena let out a long sigh as she looked at the small apartment that would now be home to her and her three daughters. It was a far cry from the luxurious mansion she had lived in for the past ten years.

"This is our home now?" Olivia asked quietly, her eyes sweeping the modest room.

Elena smiled, trying to look strong in front of her children. "Yes, darling. Our new home."

Katty looked at her mother in confusion. "Does Daddy not want to be our Daddy anymore?" Katty's tears flowed freely, further breaking Elena's heart.

However, Elena tried to smile in front of her three daughters.

Delya, who still didn't understand what was happening, hugged her mother's legs tightly. "I want Daddy, Mommy."

Elena squatted down, gently stroking the little one's hair. "Daddy can't be with us right now, but Mommy is always here for you, okay?"

Olivia took Elena's hand, trying to encourage her mother. "It's okay, Mom. Mommy will be both mother and father to us," Olivia said.

Elena smiled, holding back her tears. Then she stroked her daughter's hair.

Shortly afterward, after the children had rested, Elena immediately rushed to the registry office.

It didn't take long before Elena was standing in front of the registry office, the envelope containing the divorce documents in her hand. This was the first step to freeing herself from the man who had betrayed her.

When it was her turn, she handed the file to the clerk.

"Miss Elena, are you sure you want to file for divorce?" asked the female officer in front of her in a cautious tone.

Elena nodded without hesitation. "Very sure."

The officer stared at her for a few seconds before finally accepting her file. "Okay, we'll process this. You just need to get your husband's signature."

Elena smiled slightly. "Okay, thank you."

After that, Elena returned to the Lancaster mansion. No longer as Damian's wife or supplicant, but as a woman demanding justice for herself.

Upon entering the house, it was quiet. One of the servants said Damian was upstairs. Elena immediately rushed there. But as she climbed the stairs to her room—or rather, the room that used to be hers—the sound of laughter and soft sighs could be heard from inside.

Elena's heart skipped a beat. Then she opened the door roughly.

The sight she saw made her anger boil over.

Damian and Isabella were on the bed, their bodies intertwined, the man's hand caressing the woman's face tenderly.

Isabella turned her head and smiled sarcastically. "Oh, Elena. You came at an inopportune time! Your presence is very disturbing!"

Elena snorted, folding her arms across her chest. "I'm sorry, Mistress Isabella, if my arrival has disturbed Madame and Sir."

Damian looked at her lazily, not at all bothered by her presence. "What are you doing here? Oh, I know; you must be begging to come back to me, right? Don't wish, Elena!"

Elena stepped closer, throwing the divorce envelope at his chest. "Don't be too confident, Mr. Damian!" Elena grinned. "Sign this."

Damian sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed casually. "Are you sure?" Damian smiled playfully at Elena.

"I have no reason to keep a jerk like you around, Mr. Damian," Elena replied quickly.

Damian took the envelope, opened it, and skimmed through it before chuckling. "You really want to end it all?"

"Isn't that what you want, Mr. Damian?"

Isabella chuckled from her bed. "You're so pathetic, Elena. To be honest, I pity you."

Elena turned to her with a sharp look. "Pity? There's no need. I just pity you for having to accept the remains of the man who was once my husband."

Isabella raised her eyebrows, as if unfazed.

Damian finally picked up the pen and signed the document. "Alright, I'll sign it!"

He then took a piece of check from the drawer and wrote a large sum of money on it. Casually, he handed the check to Elena. "Five billion. That's more than enough for you and your children, right?"

Elena stared at the check for a long time.

Then, with a quick movement, she tore the check into pieces and threw them at Damian's face.

"I don't need your money, Mr. Damian!"

Isabella laughed softly. "Oh, what an arrogant ex-wife you have, dear."

Elena looked directly at Damian. "You think the price of ten years of marriage can be paid with a piece of paper? Save your money, Mr. Damian. My three children and I don't need money from a heartless jerk like you!"

Damian squinted, his expression turning sharper. "Fine. Don't regret it, Elena."

Elena smiled coldly. "My only regret is ever loving an asshole like you."

Without waiting for a reply, Elena turned around and strode out of the room with her head held high.

The next day, in front of the registry office, Elena stood tall with her head held high. Her hands clutched tightly around her small bag, while beside her, Damian stood arrogantly.

An officer arrived carrying two divorce certificates, handing them over one by one.

“This is the divorce certificate, sir, madam. You are now officially divorced,” the officer said formally.

Elena accepted the document with a faint smile. Meanwhile, Damian only let out a long sigh, slipping the divorce certificate into his coat without looking at it again.

“You think you can survive without me?” Damian spoke in a mocking tone.

Elena turned her head, raising one eyebrow. “Of course.”

Damian chuckled, folding his arms across his chest. “Don’t be ridiculous, Elena. Without my money, you won’t survive. You shouldn’t have refused the compensation I offered.”

Elena gave a sarcastic smile. “Oh, so now you’re worried?”

Damian slowly shook his head, as if in pity. “I’m just thinking realistically. You have no one, no proper job. Do you really think the world will side with you?”

Elena let out a small laugh, then looked at the man with a gaze full of confidence. “I don’t need the world to be on my side. I just need the certainty that I can stand on my own without your money, Mr. Damian!”

Damian narrowed his eyes. “Interesting. I want to see how long you can survive without my compensation.”

Elena crossed her arms over her chest. She gave no response to her ex-husband’s words.

The man chuckled again, this time more condescendingly. “And you think any man will want to be with you after this?”

Elena stifled a laugh. “And why should I care about that?”

Damian stepped closer, his voice lower but sharp. “You’re no longer attractive, Elena. You can’t take care of yourself. You’ve gained weight, you’re not as beautiful as you used to be, and most importantly, you can’t give me a son.”

Elena kept smiling, her gaze growing colder. “You’re so funny, Mr. Damian! You speak as if I still want to get your attention.”

Damian’s face hardened.

Elena continued, her voice calm but deadly, “Listen, Mr. Damian. I don’t care what you think of me. I don’t need validation from a man who betrayed his marriage just because he was obsessed with having a son. You think I will cry and beg you? You’re very wrong, sir. In fact, I’m truly grateful.”

“Grateful?” Damian repeated with a mocking tone. “You’re grateful for losing everything?”

Elena laughed softly yet confidently. “I’m grateful because I’m finally free from a man who never appreciated his wife. You think I’ll be crushed? Oh no, Mr. Damian, I’m actually very happy to be free of you. All this time, you’ve been pressuring me with so many demands. I had to stay beautiful, I had to take care of myself perfectly. And you didn’t even hire a babysitter to help me with the children? You touched me just to get me pregnant again quickly, hoping for a son. When you found out the baby I was carrying was a girl, you threw me away.”

The man glared at her sharply. He didn’t care about Elena’s words.

“Enough, Elena. There’s no need to talk about this anymore! I just can’t wait to see you fail,” he muttered coldly.

Elena shrugged. “And I can’t wait to see you regret underestimating me!”

Without waiting any longer, Elena turned and walked away with steady steps.

Once outside the registry office, Elena walked calmly toward a taxi. In her heart, she had already made a big decision. It was time to return to her former self—not as Damian Lancaster’s wife, living only in the shadow of that bastard.

Quickly, she reached for her phone and dialed a contact she hadn’t called in a long time. It didn’t take long for the call to connect.

“Elena?” The voice on the other end sounded surprised.

Elena gave a small smile. “Hi, Tamara.”

There was a brief silence before a hysterical voice rang out. “OH MY GOD! ELENA! IS THIS REALLY YOU?!”

Elena laughed softly. “Of course it’s me.”

“Where have you been?! Five years with no news! I thought you had disappeared forever!”

Elena sighed. “I didn’t disappear, Tamara. I was just busy with my life as a wife and a mother.”

Tamara snorted. “What kind of marriage makes a Queen Elisabeth vanish from the fashion world just like that?! Do you know how many people have been looking for you?! You’re a legend! Everyone is still wondering where the mysterious designer went!”

Elena smiled faintly. “I’m coming back, Tamara.”

Tamara was silent for a few seconds before finally screaming, “ARE YOU SERIOUS?! ELENA, ARE YOU REALLY COMING BACK?!”

Elena nodded, even though Tamara couldn’t see it. “Yes, I want to get back into business. I want to reclaim my position.”

“Oh my God… you’re not joking, are you, Elena?” Tamara’s voice was filled with excitement. “Wait a minute, are you coming back under your real name or keeping your pseudonym?”

Elena thought for a moment before answering confidently, “For now, I’ll remain Queen Elisabeth. I want the world to remember who I am before they know who I really am.”

Tamara chuckled. “I like the way you think. Alright, so what’s the plan?”

Elena leaned back against the car seat. “I want to start with a new collection. I’ve been on hiatus for five years; I need something that will make a breakthrough. I want everyone to know that Queen Elisabeth is back.”

Tamara laughed happily. “Oh, that’s amazing, Elena! You’re really going to shake the fashion world again! I can’t wait!”

Elena smiled. “I need your help, Tamara. I need the best team, I need resources, and most importantly, I want to make the world interested in me again.”

Tamara took a deep breath, sounding extremely enthusiastic. “Elena, leave everything to me. I’ll arrange everything. Just tell me when you’re ready, and I’ll contact our people.”

Elena looked straight ahead, her eyes full of determination. “I’m ready, Tamara. I’m ready to take back what’s rightfully mine.”

Tamara laughed in excitement. “Then get ready, Queen Elisabeth! The world will know you’re back!”

Elena smiled confidently. This was the beginning of everything. No more women being oppressed. No more wives being treated as useless.

Now, the world would see her standing at the top—with her own name.

“Damian! You will regret underestimating me! And I will keep the child in my womb,” Elena said to herself.

Only a day after Elena was officially divorced, her ex-husband's wedding invitation had already reached her.

"You're invited to that asshole's wedding?!" Tamara's voice rose as Elena showed her the gold invitation with the engraved names of Damian Lancaster and Isabella Monroe.

Elena just smiled wryly. "Of course. How could I not be invited? That jerk and that bitch want to see me hurt."

Tamara snorted. "So, you're coming?"

Elena nodded. "Yes."

Tamara was wide-eyed. "El, are you crazy?! What for?!"

Elena looked at the invitation coldly. "I wanted to see it for myself. I wanted to see how quickly someone would replace me and remind myself that I'd never be caught in the same stupidity."

Tamara sighed. "Well, then, you should come and show that bastard that you're okay. You need to look more classy."

Elena smiled as she understood what Tamara was saying.

"Alright, then I'll leave Olivia, Katty, and Delya to you."

"Okay!"

***

As night fell, Elena stepped into the ballroom of the luxury hotel with confidence. Her self-designed black satin gown wrapped her body perfectly, revealing the graceful silhouette that had been hidden behind modesty. Her long hair was pulled into a low bun, and her red lips displayed a thin, meaningful smile.

As she took a step further, whispers began to be heard.

"Who's that?"

"Oh my, she looks perfect. So beautiful and elegant."

However, all the compliments were drowned out once Damian and Isabella appeared on the main stage.

Isabella looked flawless in a diamond-white gown, while Damian stood proudly beside her. In his arms, a small baby curled up with a serene face.

"This is the heir to the Lancaster family, David Lancaster Moreno!"

The guests cheered and applauded. The nobles praised Isabella as a very compatible and worthy woman for Damian.

Meanwhile, Elena stood still, feeling something foreign creep into her heart—the envy she hated.

In ten years of marriage, Damian had never brought himself and his children to a big event like this. Olivia, Katty, and Delya were never proudly introduced. They were always hidden away, as if they were not part of the Lancaster family.

But now, Isabella and her baby were on display in front of the world.

Her eyes heated up.

And as Damian gently kissed the baby's forehead, Elena felt like her heart was being squeezed.

All this time, Damian had never done that with their three children.

Damn it.

Elena turned away, not wanting to look any longer. Her tears were about to fall, but she held them back with force.

But damn it, she was in too much of a hurry.

BRUKK!

She bumped into someone.

The glass of red wine that the man was holding spilled, soaking his expensive suit.

Elena looked up, staring at the man.

He had a sharp face with a solid jaw, cold gray eyes, and a tall, intimidating posture.

Nathaniel Drake Sebastian.

Who wouldn't recognize that name?

He was the most powerful man in the capital, the owner of a business empire that could even shake up the royal family if he wanted to.

Nathaniel looked down at his wet suit, then turned to Elena with an incredulous look. "You've gotten my suit wet, Miss!"

Elena gasped, but instead of apologizing, she turned and walked quickly away from the man.

Nathaniel frowned. "What the hell?"

He stared at the woman's retreating back.

"She didn't apologize?" he muttered, incredulous.

Normally, anyone who wronged him would immediately apologize or even offer compensation. But that woman just ran away.

Nathaniel looked down at his dirty suit and chuckled. "Interesting."

Then, his eyes searched again for the woman who had just spilled wine on him.

For the first time, a woman dared to ignore him.

***

Elena stood in front of the toilet mirror, staring at her reflection blankly. Her eyes flushed slightly, and her lips trembled with emotion.

"Stupid," she whispered to herself. "There's no point in crying over that bastard man."

Her hands quickly wiped away the traces of tears on her cheeks. This was no time to look weak. Isabella must be enjoying her suffering out there, and she would not give that woman the satisfaction of seeing her broken.

Taking a deep breath, Elena fixed her makeup. A faint smile appeared on her face—a cold, calculating smile.

"Come on out, Elena. This is no time to give up," she muttered before stepping out with her head held high.

Once back in the ballroom, the atmosphere was still festive. Classical music played softly, guests chatted with glasses of champagne in hand, and in the middle of the crowd, Isabella stood gracefully, as if waiting for someone.

And sure enough, Elena had only stepped a few meters before a sharp voice greeted her.

"Elena, you came too."

Isabella's tone sounded sweet, but there was venom hidden behind it.

Elena smiled faintly. "Of course I came."

Isabella smiled sarcastically. "You really are a brave woman. Coming to your ex-husband's wedding and seeing his happiness married to another woman. Not all women can be that brave, you know?"

Elena just stared at Isabella expressionlessly. "I don't see happiness. I only saw two traitors showing off their affection."

Isabella's face hardened for a moment before she smiled again.

However, Isabella did not stop there. Her eyes swept over Elena's appearance, then she snorted.

"That necklace you're wearing... It's from a legendary designer, isn't it?" Isabella gave her a dismissive look. "Ah, but wait. I doubt you can buy the real thing. It must be a fake, right?"

Some of the guests began to notice their interaction, whispering in the background.

Elena kept smiling, even though in her heart she wanted to shut the woman up.

"Watch your language, Lady Isabella. Clearly, this necklace is real!"

Isabella chuckled, then approached with a sly look.

"Is it? Well then, let's see for ourselves whether your dress is fake too or not," she said before suddenly grabbing Elena's dress, preparing to rip it off.

Elena reflexively backed away, but before Isabella could pull further, a large hand suddenly held her wrist firmly.

"Miss Isabella Monroe, you seem to have gone too far."

The deep, cold voice made Isabella stiffen instantly. She turned her head, and her eyes widened when she saw the man who had just stopped her.

Nathaniel Drake Sebastian.

The room was instantly silent. All eyes were on the man in the black suit, who stood with an intimidating aura.

Elena was also surprised. She didn't think the man she had bumped into earlier would appear here and stop Isabella.

"Tu—Mr. Nathan?" Isabella stammered.

Nathaniel gave her a cold look before removing his hand from her grip. "I don't like women who act childishly in public, especially one who seeks to humiliate others in such a cheap manner."

Isabella swallowed. "I... I was just joking, Mr. Nathaniel."

"Joking?" Nathaniel raised an eyebrow, then looked at Elena, who was still standing still.

Isabella tried to smile, but it was clear that her face was a little pale.

Then, Nathan turned his gaze to Elena.

"And you," he said in a more casual tone, "looks like we haven't finished our business, does it?"

Elena frowned. "Hah?"

Nathaniel smiled slightly, then pointed at his wine-stained suit.

"Ah," Elena finally realized.

Isabella, who was still near them, also saw the stain and chuckled. "So, he made your suit dirty? Mr. Nathan, you should give her some punishment."

Nathaniel did not respond. He kept his eyes on Elena, waiting for an answer.

Elena sighed, then looked at the man. "Alright, I'll change your suit."

Nathaniel looked at her with an interested expression. "Replace it with what? Money?"

Elena chuckled. "I have a designer friend. I can get him to make a new suit for you. Surely, a suit that's better than the one you're wearing, sir!" How dare Elena speak like that.

Nathaniel was silent for a moment, then chuckled.

"I like confident women," he said, holding out his business card.

"Contact me within three days. I'll collect on your promise."

Elena stared at the card before taking it.

Isabella stared at them with her jaw clenched. She did not like this.

Elena looked at Nathaniel calmly. "Fine. I will keep my promise."

Nathaniel nodded. Then he walked away, leaving the party.

Elena looked at the card in her hand, then smiled a little.

"So, he's the most powerful businessman! Oh my..." Elena said to herself.