I sat motionless, knees pulled tightly against my chest as the night grew heavier and darker. Beside me, my phone lay abandoned next to the untouched meal I had spent hours preparing, its dim screen casting a faint glow in the shadows.

Maybe he was just delayed… Maybe he was already on his way. Maybe, despite everything I had just witnessed and heard, he would still choose me.

Clinging to that fragile hope, I typed one more message with trembling hands.

“I’m waiting here, Lucien. I set all of this up for us. Please come…”

Silence.

The wind grew colder, brushing against my skin, but I stayed frozen. I tried calling him, my fingers quivering so badly I almost dropped the phone. The line rang once before an automated voice echoed: “The number you dialed is currently unreachable.”

Unreachable.

I blinked, my chest sinking further into despair. That was it, wasn’t it? The illusion was finally shattered. He wasn’t on his way. He had never planned to be. To him, I had never been important—only useful. Just as he had admitted to Selene.

Why hadn’t I realized it sooner? Why did I allow myself to be deceived, to believe that the man who once stood beside me beneath the Eiffel Tower, who whispered sweet promises while we lay on the yacht under the stars, could have truly loved me?

My vision blurred with tears as I rose, carefully clearing away what remained of the dream I had tried to preserve.

I drove away in silence, each breath growing heavier, the world outside melting into streaks of color through my tears. The headlights and neon signs bled together, distorted by the water in my eyes.

I didn’t see the car until it was too late.

The screech of metal twisting, the shattering of glass—then everything collapsed into darkness.

When I opened my eyes again, pain roared through every inch of me. It felt as though my body had been ripped apart and crudely pieced back together with burning wire.

“Don’t try to move too much, Mrs. Draemir,” a nurse’s gentle voice urged. “You’ve got stitches, some fractured bones… Honestly, you’re lucky you survived.”

Survived. The word felt like a cruel joke.

“Where…” My throat was raw, my voice cracked. “Where is my husband? Lucien Draemir… did he know what happened?”

The nurse paused, adjusting the IV line in my arm with careful hands. “We informed him right away. He didn’t come. But… he did send his butler to settle all the hospital expenses.”

My chest twisted painfully. “Only the butler?”

The nurse gave a small nod, then offered me a mobile phone. “Maybe you should try calling him yourself.”

With shaking fingers, I dialed his number.

One ring… two… three… then voicemail.

I tried again.

Still voicemail.

And again.

Nothing.

The realization hit harder than the crash itself—I was truly, utterly alone.

I stared blankly at the sterile wall ahead, until the television in the corner shifted to a news update. At first I didn’t care, barely listening—until the names cut through me like a blade.

“Lucien Draemir, heir of the Draemir conglomerate, was spotted dining at La Maison with renowned fashion designer Selene Arvale.”

My head jerked toward the screen. A video played: Lucien beside Selene, her laughter bright, her hand casually placed over his chest as he smiled down at her. His eyes sparkled—alive, warm, radiant.

In a way he had never once looked at me.

The reporter’s voice continued, “Insiders suggest the two may be rekindling their romance after years apart. Witnesses say they appeared deeply affectionate…”

I turned away quickly, tears stinging my eyes.

He hadn’t even bothered to check if I survived the accident.

The days that followed blurred together in a haze of numbness. I lay in that hospital bed surrounded by bouquets sent by acquaintances and strangers—but never one from him. Doctors rotated in and out, nurses offered sympathetic smiles. But the man I had married, the one I had once believed cherished me, never came.

Meanwhile, Selene’s social media overflowed with updates: pictures of spa days, cocktails by the beach, shopping trips. In every photo, Lucien was right beside her—laughing, smiling, showering her with attention.

And in each post, she tagged him boldly, flaunting it for the world. He never hid it, never denied it.

I watched it all with empty eyes, too drained to cry anymore.

The day I was finally discharged, a message came from my professor.

“Your scholarship has been approved. Your flight leaves in 10 days. Please prepare accordingly.”

I circled the date on my calendar as soon as I returned home.

But the word home no longer felt true.

The moment I stepped inside, I sensed something wrong. The lights were glaringly bright, and the sound of music and laughter drifted from the backyard. Curious and wary, I followed the noise, limping slightly.

What I found made my blood run cold.

A celebration. Loud music. Glasses clinking. Lucien in the center of it all, surrounded by friends, carefree as though nothing had happened. As though his wife hadn’t nearly died days before. As though I didn’t exist.

No one even noticed my return.

I was about to retreat quietly to my room when I heard one of his friends—Ethan, I remembered faintly—snicker and shout over the music:

“So, Lucien, how are you planning to get rid of that pathetic excuse of a wife, Elowen, now that Selene’s back in the picture?”

I should have turned away right then. I should have gone to my room, bolted the door shut, and refused to hear another word. But my body betrayed me. My legs refused to move.

I remained frozen in the dim hallway, a shadow among shadows, while the voices and laughter carried from the backyard. Each burst of amusement cut into me like blades, sharper with every strike. But the sound that hurt most—the one that split me apart—was Lucien’s.

“Well, I haven’t really decided yet,” he said in a careless tone, as though he were pondering what to do with a broken object he no longer valued. “Maybe I’ll send her off somewhere far, or… who knows. She’s obedient enough. Always trailing after me like a dog. So maybe I’ll just keep her around.”

The group roared with laughter.

My chest tightened until breathing felt impossible. A part of me wanted to scream, to cover my ears, to block it out—but I stood there rooted to the floor while my spirit fractured piece by piece.

Then another voice—probably his closest friend—snorted. “Won’t that piss Selene off, though? Be serious, Lucien. You waited for her for seven whole years. You even flew to London month after month just for a glimpse of her. And now you’re going to let Elowen linger around? You’ve spoiled her so much she probably thinks you actually care about her.”

I held my breath, desperate, praying for him to deny it.

But Lucien only laughed.

“Care about her? Don’t make me laugh. Elowen means nothing. She’s just someone who keeps my bed warm at night.” His tone turned colder than ice. “Selene—Selene is the one I love. She’s the woman I plan to marry. I’ll give her the world.”

The hollow crack in my chest splintered wide open. It felt like something inside me was tearing, raw and jagged.

I had been nothing but a fool.

“Speaking of Elowen,” another voice piped up, half amused, half curious. “Didn’t she just get into some car accident? Weren’t you supposed to be taking care of her?”

Lucien chuckled, utterly unconcerned. “Oh, that? My butler handled it. I was busy putting together this party for my Selene.”

For a heartbeat, I swore my soul left my body.

And then Selene arrived. The sharp rhythm of her heels against the patio tiles echoed like a death sentence. Her voice, smooth as honey, wrapped around him as she approached. “Thank you for throwing this party, Lucien… but I think I’d like some private time with you. What do you say?”

His laugh was light, indulgent, enchanted. “You know I could never refuse you.”

He stood, offered her his hand, and together they vanished inside.

I stumbled backward, tears spilling freely down my face, my mouth gaping in a soundless cry.

I fled to my room, slammed the door shut, and twisted the lock with shaking fingers. But even there, the walls could not protect me.

The hallway filled with sounds I wished I could erase—their moans, their ragged breaths, the unmistakable noise of intimacy. The very closeness I had once believed was mine alone.

And all I could do was collapse and weep.

The night dragged endlessly, until sunlight seeped through the curtains. That was when my door suddenly burst open.

Ice-cold water drenched me, shocking me awake.

I gasped, choking, dripping, shivering uncontrollably. “What the hell?!”

Selene stood at the foot of my bed, wrapped in silk, a smirk curving her lips. “Didn’t I already tell you to leave?” she said mockingly, tossing the empty glass onto the floor as if it were garbage. “Why are you still here?”

I wiped water from my eyes, my hands trembling, my voice barely steady. “I wasn’t planning to stay,” I whispered. “I only came to collect my things. That’s all. I’ve already booked my ticket. I’ll be out of here in ten days.”

Selene crossed her arms, tilting her head as if she had just heard a joke. “Ten days?” she repeated with scorn. “So you actually think you’ll still be here for his birthday?”

I looked away, ashamed. “That’s just when my flight is scheduled. I don’t have anywhere else to stay until then. And if I suddenly disappear, Lucien might suspect something.”

She stepped closer, her perfume suffocating the air. “Of course—you still care about what he thinks. You still believe he’ll chase after you, don’t you? Pathetic.” Her voice dropped into a sharp edge.

“I suppose you don’t want me telling him that you’re the reason I had to leave.”

Anger flared through me. “What are you saying? That it’s somehow my fault you’re leaving? When we both know you’re the one who forced yourself back in here?”

Her hand flew up suddenly, poised to strike—

But the sound of approaching footsteps halted her.

Lucien appeared in the doorway, his shirt half-buttoned, hair tousled, eyes narrowing at the sight. “What’s going on?”

Selene whirled around instantly, her expression softening into a sweet smile. She slipped her arm through his as though nothing had happened. “Oh, it’s nothing,” she purred. “I just thought I should spend some time with your wife. Since I’ll be staying here now, I figured we could try to become friends.”

My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach.

“She’s staying here?” I repeated, my voice breaking.

Lucien didn’t even glance at me. “Yes,” he replied coolly. “Selene is someone special to me. I expect you to treat her with respect. Serve her well.”

I stared at him in disbelief, words choking in my throat.

Selene leaned her head on his shoulder, feigning a yawn. “Speaking of being served… why don’t you cook us some breakfast? I’m starving.”

Together, they turned to leave. Just before disappearing down the hall, Lucien cast me a brief glance over his shoulder. “Don’t make us wait, Elowen.”

And then they were gone—laughing, whispering together.

Leaving me drenched, humiliated, and trembling in the wreckage.

I sank down on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the water pooling on the floorboards beneath me.

Ten days.

Only ten more days.

The following morning, Selene slipped into her role with perfect precision, like a seasoned actress who had rehearsed the part all her life.

She pretended to care—handing me a steaming cup of coffee I had never requested, tossing insincere compliments about my “sweet but modest” dress, and forcing hollow laughter at the smallest things whenever Lucien was in the room, as though we were girlfriends sharing lighthearted moments. But I wasn’t blind. I recognized the poison behind her syrupy tone, the sharp edge hidden beneath each practiced smile. Every word she spoke was a weapon dressed as kindness.

So, I played along.

I mirrored her charade with my own. I faked polite smiles. I nodded in agreement. I even murmured thanks for the coffee I let go cold on the table, untouched.

But beneath the surface, beneath the mask I wore, I was splintering.

Lucien was no longer who he once was.

The man who used to cradle me at night, whispering that I was the center of his world—the one who had sworn forever—was gone. In his place stood someone who looked at me like I was invisible and who gazed at Selene as though she was carved from starlight.

Later that afternoon, his voice rang with forced cheer as he made an announcement. “We’re going shopping.”

“We?” I echoed, though deep down, I already knew what he meant.

“Yes, of course,” he said, gripping Selene’s hand with the kind of smile he hadn’t given me in months. “You’ll come along, won’t you? You can help Selene pick things out.”

But “help” turned out to be nothing more than playing servant—trailing behind them, my arms weighed down with glossy shopping bags while Selene spun through designer boutiques, parading in gowns as if she owned every runway in Paris.

When store clerks glanced at her with admiration and asked, “Is this Mrs. Draemir?” Lucien didn’t correct them.

He only smiled faintly.

Some even gushed about how beautiful his wife was, about how lucky he must feel.

And still, he said nothing. He allowed their mistake to live, allowed them to believe the lie.

I stood there, burdened with bags that didn’t belong to me, watching him erase me with silence. Watching him act as though the vows he once gave me had never been spoken.

That was the moment clarity struck me.

Lucien had never once made our marriage public. In the beginning, I convinced myself it was because of his dislike for the press, his need for privacy. I honored that. I believed it was his way of protecting us. But now I understood. The truth was crueler. He hadn’t wanted the world to know I existed—because, in his heart, he had been waiting all along. Waiting for Selene to return. And when she finally did, he wanted the picture to be seamless. I was nothing but clutter, a shadow blocking her light.

When we arrived back at the house, Selene sprawled across the couch like a pampered princess who had spent a long day at the carnival. She giggled softly, pressing a kiss to Lucien’s cheek. “I absolutely adore shopping with you,” she purred.

His smile was for her alone.

Never me. Not anymore.

That evening, while they sat close together, laughing over glasses of wine and reminiscing about memories I wasn’t part of, I quietly dressed and slipped out the door.

I didn’t bother with explanations. I simply needed to breathe.

I needed to feel something other than suffocation.

It wasn’t anything extravagant, just a small graduation gathering. Familiar faces, raucous music, cheap drinks passed around like candy. But it was alive, real, untainted. My college friends cheered when they spotted me, wrapping me in warm embraces. For the first time in weeks, I laughed. I danced. I let myself drink.

Too much. Far too much. The room began to tilt, or maybe I did. Someone thrust another shot glass into my hand, and without a thought, I downed it.

That’s when the murmurs reached me.

“Isn’t that Selene? Lucien Draemir’s woman?” a voice hissed, pointing across the bar.

And there she was. Selene. Radiant, glittering like she owned the night, surrounded by her entourage, her laughter carrying like a crown she didn’t need to wear.

“She must be his wife now,” another voice chimed in, deliberately loud enough for me to catch.

Laughter followed.

“Oh, poor Elowen. Didn’t she used to claim she was married to Lucien?”

“Completely delusional.”

“They just happen to share a surname. Pure coincidence.”

Heat burned in my chest, but I turned my back before the tears could spill. I refused to crumble in front of them. Let them laugh. Let them sneer. It didn’t matter. I’d be gone soon enough.

I stumbled back to the dance floor, my body swaying like a ship caught in a storm. The world tilted dangerously around me.

That was when Leander appeared—steady, familiar Leander. A friend since college.

“Elowen,” he said softly, his hands gripping my arms to keep me from toppling. “You’re drunk. You need to go home.”

“I’m fine,” I muttered, though my body betrayed me, leaning heavily against his chest, too unsteady to stand alone.

He shook his head, worry clouding his face. “No, you’re not. Come on. Let me take you out of here.”

I didn’t argue when he guided me outside. My arms found their way around him without thought, clinging tight. I had no words left in me. I simply held on.

Because in that fragile, collapsing moment, Leander felt like the only anchor keeping me from drowning.