At the table, Bella stared at the food, but it tasted like nothing. Steven's fake sweet act, Ada's smug little performance—it all spun in her head until she felt sick.

She shoved her chair back and headed upstairs to pack. The mansion was just ghosts now, and she needed to rip them out.

Ada slipped in after her. "Ms. Beaufort, you're good at pretending. Ollie's the Rocca heir, and I'm his mom. You don't belong here."

Bella's smile was sharp and cold. "So what?"

Ada blinked, then doubled down. "I know you don't want a divorce, but stop clinging to the title of 'Mrs. Rocca.' The family will never accept a woman who can't have kids."

Bella laughed, short and cutting. "'Mrs. Rocca'? If you want it that bad, take it."

She pulled the divorce papers from her bag and held them out.

"You know how Steven feels about me. He won't make divorce easy. I'm giving you the papers—if you're capable, get him to sign and send them back. If not, get used to being the secret lover for life."

Ada's eyes lit up as she snatched them. Spotting Bella's signature, she squinted. "You're really willing to leave Steven?"

Bella's chest clenched. Love had swallowed most of her life—how could walking away not sting?

She shut her eyes, forcing it down. When she opened them, only ice was left. "I'm not fighting over a man."

She'd once risked her life for Steven. Betrayal killed that.

Ada sneered, sure Bella was just putting on a show, but still walked off with the papers.

Bella stared at the walk-in closet stacked with Steven's gifts. All she felt was empty.

She packed her clothes, documents, the basics—nothing left behind. Steven's gifts? Boxed up and shipped to the auction house.

If she was leaving, every tie had to be cut clean.

The staff peeked from the hallway, whispering, but she didn't explain a thing.

By the time she finished, the sun was already slipping past noon. Sitting in the living room with her suitcase, she waited for Heidi to pull up.

That's when it hit her—she hadn't seen Oliver all day. Had he really been sent away?

Still trying to piece it together, she saw Steven rush in, Ada and Miranda right behind him.

"Mrs. Rocca, where's Ollie?!" Ada cried, throwing herself at Bella and shaking her arms.

Bella stumbled back, slamming into the corner of a table. Pain shot through her side.

She gasped. "What are you even talking about? How would I know where he is?"

Ada only sobbed harder. She snatched a fruit knife off the table and pressed it to Bella's throat.

"Mrs. Rocca, I know you hate Ollie, but how could you hide him from Mr. Rocca and send him away? Give me back my Ollie!"

Oliver was missing?

Bella froze. The knife had already nicked her neck, a sharp sting burning her skin.

"Get a grip. I don't know where he is!"

Ada shook like a madwoman, knife trembling in her hand. "Impossible! You're the only one who hates Ollie. You even had vans here moving your stuff today. If it wasn't you, then who?"

Her eyes were bloodshot, voice cracked from crying, looking every bit the desperate mom of a lost child. "Mrs. Rocca, please, give me back Ollie. He's all I have left."

Then, out of nowhere, she dropped the knife and clutched Bella's wrist. "Ollie is my life..."

Bella tore free, her chest twisting at the words but only feeling mocked.

She couldn't hold back. "Give him back to you? He's an adopted kid from an orphanage—what does he even have to do with you? Why should I hand him over?"

"He's my—" Ada blurted, then cut herself off, breaking into sobs.

This time, Bella didn't let go. Her eyes narrowed, sharp as glass. "He's your what? Say it."

"Enough!" Steven's voice snapped across the room. "Bella, stop being so harsh."

Bella just stared at him, stunned.

They'd grown up together, and he'd never—ever—talked to her like that. Ada had a knife at her throat and he said nothing. But the first time he actually raised his voice? To defend his side chick and her kid.

One word hit her like a punch: disappointment. She was so done.

Steven's face shifted when he saw it, and he scrambled to backpedal. "Bella, that's not what I meant. Ollie was adopted into the family, but she's always cared for him. She just... lost it—"

"Save it." Bella's tone was pure ice. "Steven Rocca, for the last time—I don't know where your son is. If he's missing, call the cops."

Her voice was too calm, too cold. It crushed him, and he didn't even catch that she'd just called Oliver his son.

Just then, Steven's assistant, Bobby, burst in. "Mr. Rocca, we found the kid. He was in a van headed out of Valmora. Luckily, it hadn't gotten far—Oliver's already on his way back."

Everyone exhaled in relief—everyone except Bella. Her stomach dropped. She was the one who'd called for vans today to move her stuff. Of course, all eyes would swing her way.

Miranda lounged on the couch and let out a sharp snort. "You can't have kids yourself, and when I give you one, you're still not satisfied. You just want this family line dead."

The words cut deep, ripping open scars Bella thought had already bled enough.

Her eyes flicked to Steven, desperate—but he wasn't looking at her. He was staring at Ada, face unreadable.

Her chest clenched tight, no air left to breathe. A bitter laugh slipped out. "You're right. I should've never risked my life for Steven. I should've let him die."

Her voice was steady, but her heart cracked wide open.

Steven's head snapped up, eyes locking on her. The thin line of blood at her throat burned into his sight. "Bella, don't say that."

He lunged forward, reaching for her hand. She yanked back, cold.

It wasn't anger that gutted her—it was the silence of a heart already frozen. And knowing these same hands had just held Ada made her sick.

Bella looked away, lowered her head, and pulled out her phone. She texted Heidi again, asking how close she was. Still no reply.

The mansion fell into heavy silence, broken only by Ada's sobs.

Not long after, Oliver was brought back.

The second he spotted Bella, he ducked behind Steven and pointed straight at her. "Daddy, it was her! She tried to throw me away. It was her!"

Miranda shot up, face hard. "Bella, what else is there to say? Ollie's just a kid—would he lie?"

Steven's gaze flickered. Their eyes met, and Bella saw it clear as day.

He doubted her.

Helplessness slammed into Bella.

She forced a thin smile. "Forget it. Believe whatever you want. Nothing I say matters."

"Daddy, see? She admitted it! You have to punish her!" Oliver clung to Steven's sleeve, sneaking a glance at Ada.

One tiny nod from her, and he relaxed.

Steven crouched, smoothing Oliver's hair. "Good boy. Daddy will always protect you."

Then his tone snapped cold. "Take Bella to the chapel. She doesn't leave until I say."

Final. No arguing.

He stood, helped Ada up, and the three of them walked out like a picture-perfect family. Not even one glance back.

Ada did. Her smug spark sliced Bella open.

Outside, a car engine roared to life. Miranda smirked, chin lifted, and waved the staff on.

Some of the old servants whispered as they dragged Bella away. "Mrs. Rocca, don't worry. We believe you. Mr. Rocca must have his reasons. He loves you—he wouldn't really let you suffer."

Bella gave a bitter half-smile. She was leaving soon anyway. None of it mattered.

The chapel punishment was brutal.

Days on her knees. Staff, following orders, hurled insults, shoved, slapped—drilling it in again and again: she was nothing.

She stayed silent. Took it all. Bit her lip until the taste of blood spread across her tongue. Let despair sink deeper.

Her mind drifted back seven years—Steven kneeling here almost seventy-two hours just to marry her. His ribs had nearly cracked again, one breath away from permanent damage.

It hadn't just been Miranda forcing him—Heidi warned her. Even her own parents. Everyone knew the Roccas worshiped heirs.

But she pitied him. Believed in them. Married him anyway.

And now? This was her punishment for loving the wrong guy.

'Steven, I hope you regret this for the rest of your life.'

***

By the fourth morning, the Rocca chapel doors creaked open. Steven stepped inside.

"Honey, I've come to take you home." His voice was hoarse, his face worn and exhausted.

Bella didn't move. Her hollow eyes stayed fixed on the memorial plaques.

The ancient chapel was untouched by time, every Rocca patriarch carved into brass and marble, candles burning nonstop.

She'd been stupid to believe Steven would ever give up an heir.

This ending was hers alone.

Bella didn't answer. She pushed herself up, legs dead from kneeling so long, every move ripping at the cuts on her back.

The second she stood, her body gave out. She hit the ground—except Steven caught her.

"Bella, when you screw up, you take the punishment. Otherwise how do you set an example for a kid? And this was just kneeling."

Just kneeling? Then what were all these bruises hiding under her clothes?

She let out a harsh laugh and shoved him off. "Remember what you told me? That if I didn't want the kid, you'd send him away."

Steven frowned, sighing. "My family needs an heir. He's the best option. We're married—you should think about me too."

She'd heard that line so many times it was burned into her ears. She smirked. "Really? If I didn't know better, I'd swear he was your own kid."

Steven froze, eyes flicking away. "No way. I'll only ever love you. But Ollie's a good kid—he listens."

Love or not, Bella didn't care anymore.

Still, the weight of all those years, collapsing into nothing, pressed so hard she thought she might snap.

"Steven Rocca, how long do you plan to—" deceive me?

She never finished. Ada strolled in.

"Ollie's begging to hit the amusement park. Let's all go." Her eyes slid over Bella. "Though Mrs. Rocca looks a little too fragile, maybe she should—"

"She's not going." Steven's voice was flat.

Then, to Bella, just as cold: "Tomorrow's Ollie's birthday. We're throwing a banquet, announcing him officially. As his mother, you'd better be ready."

Bella's chest hollowed out. 'his mother.' The words tasted like poison.

She limped out of the Rocca chapel and spotted Heidi waiting down the path, nerves written all over her.

Without looking back, she headed straight for her. Steven's voice chased after her.

"I'm taking Ollie to the amusement park. I won't be home tonight. Rest. Tomorrow morning I'll send someone for you."

She didn't turn around. Just a soft, "Mm."

But as her figure disappeared, panic clawed at Steven's chest.

Still, he forced himself not to bend. He knew Bella's pride. If Ollie was going to be recognized, this fight had to happen. She loved him—he believed that. After the first pushback, she'd give in.

Meanwhile, Bella sank into the car with Heidi holding her up.

"Bella, I grabbed your suitcase. And this—that woman shoved it at me."

Bella tore open the envelope. Inside: divorce papers. Steven's signature at the bottom.

Through the window, she caught sight of the three of them—Steven, Ada, and Oliver—laughing as they piled into another car. Her eyes iced over.

"Take me to the airport. We're leaving now."

Inside, she muttered, ‘You made your choice, Steven. So here’s mine—I’m done.’