To everyone else, I was Mrs. Finck. In reality, I felt more like his on-call, unpaid maid.

A moment later, my phone buzzed with a location pin. I sighed, grabbed my keys and headed out the door, pushing through the pain to drive.

When I arrived at the private lounge, I found Magnus slumped on the couch, looking utterly defeated. For a man as ambitious and composed as he was, that was a rare sight.

One of his friends handed him another drink. “Come on, Magnus. She’s just an assistant. If you want a woman, it’s not that hard.”

“Seraphina turned you down? Big deal. There are a dozen women dying to throw themselves at you.”

Someone in the corner snickered and added under their breath, “Like Eve.”

Laughter erupted from the room.

So this was why he was drinking himself into a stupor. It was over Seraphina turning him down.

My hand froze on the doorknob. For a long moment, I just stood there, my jaw clenched. Then I pushed the door open and walked in.

The room went quiet in an instant.

One of his friends looked up, startled, then forced a smile. “Well, look who’s here—Mrs. Finck.”

I didn’t even acknowledge him. I looked straight at Magnus. “I’m here to take you home.”

Magnus stood slowly, his face unreadable. He staggered a little as he approached, then casually draped his arm around my shoulders, leaning into me without a word.

Before I could leave, a voice cut through the silence.

“Mr. Finck,” Seraphina said, standing just inside the doorway. “If you were going to have your wife pick you up, why did you message me?”

I turned to look at her. Her face was scrunched up like she was wounded. “You didn’t have to go this far just to humiliate me.”

Magnus’s expression changed immediately. He was furious. He turned to his friends and barked, “Who used my phone to message her?”

The silence in the room thickened.

“I said, who did it?” His voice rose.

No one dared speak. No one moved.

He looked like he was ready to explode. “If any of you think this kind of prank is funny, don’t say I didn’t warn you. Stay the hell away from Sera.”

Seraphina stood frozen, her cheeks burning red, her eyes full of unshed tears. She spun around and rushed out, barely holding herself together.

Magnus panicked. He could barely walk straight, but without a second thought, he let go of me and stumbled after Seraphina.

“Sera, don’t be upset… wait, please—just wait!”

I stood there watching the two of them disappear down the hallway. Strangely, I didn’t feel much of anything. Maybe because deep down, I’d always known I was the one he’d drop the second someone else called.

Once Magnus was gone, the room slowly came back to life. Voices returned, low at first, then louder.

“Jesus, I’ve never seen him that angry.”

“Think he’s serious about her this time?”

“Obviously. Anyone can see it. People who throw themselves at him just come off cheap.”

More laughter broke out.

They didn’t bother lowering their voices. Magnus didn’t care about me, so they didn’t have to either.

My shoulder, already fractured, ached badly where he had leaned on me earlier. I reached up to press against the pain, ready to leave.

Then I heard Sven’s voice behind me. “Eve.”

I turned.

Sven's expression was tight, like he was holding something back. “Let me drive you home.”

He must’ve been in the room the whole time. He saw everything, heard everything.

I didn’t know what he thought about any of it. I wasn’t sure I cared anymore.

Sven had always been there—Magnus’s best friend, from the very beginning. From the moment I fell for Magnus, Sven had been at his side. He’d seen every pathetic moment of mine. And I wasn’t going to pretend cover it up.

***

The ride home was quiet. Sven didn’t say a word the entire way.

Right before I opened the car door to leave, he finally spoke. “You really sure you want a divorce?”

I nodded.

I didn’t even hesitate when giving my response.

Sven looked right at me, then suddenly got out of the car and walked over.

He stood in front of me and said in a serious tone, “Then maybe… you should consider me instead.”

I froze. That wasn’t what I’d expected.

I wasn’t trying to get revenge on Magnus. I wasn’t trying to prove anything to anyone. I was just tired. Tired in a way I hadn’t been when I was eighteen, dreaming of a fairytale life with him. Now, all I wanted was peace.

So I joked. “Sure. Once the divorce is final, I’ll come find you.” Then I walked away.

Not long after I got home, my phone buzzed with a message from Sven: [I’m done waiting.]

I stepped out onto the balcony and looked down. His car was still there. Sven was leaning against it, smoking.

It was the first time I’d ever seen him smoke.

I’d always heard Sven came from an old military family. Strict upbringing. Cold personality. His background could rival the Fincks.

Maybe Sven sensed me watching, because he slowly lifted his head until our eyes met. He exhaled a stream of smoke, gave a faint, crooked smile… then turned, got into his car and drove away.

I stood there watching his taillights fade into the night. To my surprise, something inside me stirred...

By the time Magnus finally came home, the sky had already started to lighten.

He stepped through the door and immediately scowled, nose wrinkling.

“Evelyn, can you try acting like a decent woman for once?” he snapped. “You stink of smoke. It’s disgusting. Quit that habit. It’s not ladylike.”

He hated it when I smoked.

But I hadn’t always been like this. I only picked it up after we got married—when silence, cold shoulders and routine had taken over my life.

I needed some kind of release, even if it was just the burn of nicotine.

I stubbed the cigarette out without a word and headed for the bathroom.

He followed me in. “Did you hear me?” he demanded.

Magnus was getting irritated and I knew why. I’d always revolved around him—never defied him. Now that I wasn’t falling in line, it was starting to rattle him.

I gave him a half-hearted response. “I heard you.”

Magnus paused, caught off guard. Through the mirror, he studied my face.

“What’s wrong with you?”

His eyes dropped to my collarbone, where the edge of the bandage peeked through. “What happened to your neck?”

He reached out, as if to check it, but I turned away. His hand froze midair. For once, I didn’t let him touch me.

He grew impatient, then turned to leave.

“Evelyn, I’ve given you everything I promised. You have no reason to act out like this.”

But I hadn’t done anything at all.

As he started walking away, I looked at his back. “If you think I’m standing in your way—with her or whoever—maybe…”

I continued, “…we should get a divorce.”

Magnus stopped cold. Then turned around, staring at me in disbelief. “What did you just say?”

A beat of silence. Then he let out a dry, bitter laugh.

“So that’s your move now? First, you clung to me like your life depended on it. Now it’s emotional blackmail?”

“Evelyn, do you really think a manipulative woman like you is someone I could ever love?”

“You’ve been coming to my house since you were ten. If we divorce, where the hell would you even go?”

His voice was sharper than usual, every word designed to sting. “If you’re not strong enough to walk away, then stop pretending to be. Just stick to your role as Mrs. Finck.”

It wasn’t often he lost his temper like this—but when he did, the ugliness showed.

He didn’t stop until he’d basically called me a leech, like I was nothing without him.

I didn’t argue. I just turned on the faucet and washed my hands.

Behind me, I could feel his gaze lingering, but eventually his tone shifted—calmer, colder.

“Grandpa's birthday is next week. Get something respectable and come with me.”

A command. No different from how he spoke to his staff.

***

Then the day of the birthday arrived. Magnus actually came home early to pick me up. What I didn’t expect—was that Seraphina was already in the car.

She was in the front seat. When she saw me, she offered a polite smile and greeted me as Mrs. Finck.

“Mr. Finck, I’ve already prepared a gift for Grandpa Marcel. And your stomach’s been acting up lately—don’t drink at the party, okay?”

Seraphina had said everything I, as Mrs. Finck, should’ve said. So, I stayed silent.

When we arrived, Seraphina got out of the car with us and was the first to greet Grandpa Marcel. He looked at her with clear fondness, his face lighting up when he saw the scroll she’d brought—an elaborate longevity painting. It was obvious this wasn’t her first time visiting.

As for me, I didn’t want to force myself into a scene I didn’t belong in.

Grandpa Marcel had never liked me. He believed I’d tricked Magnus into marrying me. That belief had never wavered.

The painting was large—delicate and detailed.

As Seraphina pulled down its cover for Grandpa, she slowly stepped back to give him a full view.

I tried to step out of her way, but she moved faster and bumped straight into me.

With a startled cry, she stumbled and fell down the stone steps, dragging the painting with her. The painting fell and tore in half.

Magnus immediately rushed to her side. “Sera! Are you okay?”

Seraphina clutched her arm, wincing in pain—but her gaze locked on me. She didn’t even have to say a word.

That was enough for Magnus. So, he turned to me. “Evelyn, I didn’t know you were capable of something this cruel. Apologize to Sera! Now!”

Grandpa Marcel was furious, his face turning red. The ruined painting had clearly upset him. Grandma Bella turned on me with scorn.

“Evelyn, what is wrong with you? Do you really hate this family so much that you’d make a scene at your grandfather-in-law on his birthday?”

Soon as Magnus helped Seraphina back up the steps, he approached and slapped my face.

I didn’t even have time to react.

His voice was icy. “I should never have spoiled you the way I did. It’s made you completely out of control. Apologize.”

I held my cheek and slowly looked up—only to catch the faint, triumphant smile on Seraphina’s lips.

I didn’t even want to defend myself anymore.

I lifted my head and looked directly at Magnus. “I’m sorry. It was my fault.” Then I added, “Well? Are you all satisfied now?”

With that, I walked away.

Magnus's expression faltered. His lips parted slightly, like he wanted to say something, but he didn’t.

I made it alone to the front gate, but just as I was stepping outside, a car pulled up in front of me, blocking my way.

The back window rolled down.

It was Sven. His voice was low, “Get in.”

Before I could respond, I heard Magnus calling from behind me. “Evelyn!”

I turned to see him standing a few feet away, his expression cold, dark.

“I dare you to get in that car.”