Divorced Before He Knew I Was an Heiress

I used to think loving Karl Varek long enough would make him love me back. Even when high society mocked me for being a poor orphan who didn’t belong beside the billionaire heir of the Varek empire, I endured it all quietly. After all, his grandfather forced him to marry me because I once saved his life. I knew Karl never wanted me but I still foolishly believed that one day, I could become more than just his unwanted wife. I was wrong. For three years, my husband humiliated me openly. He brought different women home, let the media compare me to his beautiful ex-girlfriend, and watched silently while everyone treated me like a shameless gold digger clinging desperately to the Varek name. But the cruelest part? I still stayed. The night I discovered I was pregnant, I thought everything would finally change. I rushed to tell Karl the news only to overhear him telling his friends that I was nothing more than a burden forced onto him by his grandfather. He said I disgusted him. He said I was never worthy of becoming his wife. And while his ex sat in his arms, he looked me in the eyes and admitted he would never love me. Heartbroken and humiliated, I walked into the street and got hit by a car. But when I woke up in the hospital, I couldn’t remember the man I once loved so desperately. Suddenly, the wife who used to beg for Karl’s attention no longer cared about him. And for the first time in three years, Karl Varek panicked at the thought of losing me. Chapter 1 Elara’s POV My hands wouldn’t stop shaking. I pressed the thin white envelope tightly against my chest like it might disappear if I loosened my grip. The bold words on the medical report blurred as tears filled my eyes again. Pregnant. A breathless laugh escaped my lips, half disbelief and half overwhelming happiness. “Karl… you’re going to be a father.” For three years, I had waited for this moment. Three years of trying. Three years of hoping. Three years of enduring cold silences, lonely nights, and a marriage that felt more like an obligation than love. But none of that mattered now because this changed everything. I wiped quickly at my eyes before anyone in the hospital lobby could notice me crying. Tonight was supposed to be different. Tonight, Karl would finally look at me as more than the unwanted woman his grandfather forced him to marry. Maybe this child would finally become the bridge between us. My heart pounded painfully as I stepped outside the private hospital. The cold night air brushed against my skin, but I barely noticed it. All I could think about was Karl. Karl Varek, CEO of Varek Group. The man every woman in the city wanted and my husband. A small nervous smile tugged at my lips as I imagined telling him the news. He probably wouldn’t react dramatically. Karl was never expressive. Even after three years of marriage, he remained distant and unreadable. But deep down, I knew this mattered to him. An heir mattered to the Varek family especially after Chairman Varek’s declining health. The black luxury cars lining the front of Noir Lounge came into view, pulling me out of my thoughts. Music echoed faintly from inside the exclusive rooftop bar while photographers lingered near the entrance hoping to catch celebrities and socialites leaving the party. I slowed slightly. Earlier, one of the staff at the Varek mansion mentioned Karl would be here tonight hosting a welcome party for someone important returning to the city. I didn’t care about any of that. I just wanted to tell my husband that we were finally going to have a baby. The glass doors slid open as another group entered the lounge, and my steps froze instantly. Through the golden lights of the VIP section, I saw him. Karl sat at the center of the private lounge, his dark suit perfectly tailored to his broad frame. One arm rested lazily along the back of the couch while expensive whiskey glowed in the crystal glass between his fingers. And beside him was Lilith Laurent. My breath caught painfully. Lilith leaned comfortably against Karl’s shoulder, her manicured fingers tracing slowly along his chest while she laughed softly at something he said. The medical report slipped slightly in my grasp. No, there has to be another explanation. I forced myself to breathe even as my chest tightened painfully. Someone suddenly raised a champagne glass. “To Lilith’s return!” Laughter and applause followed immediately. Lilith smiled beautifully, tilting her head toward Karl. “Thank you for throwing this party for me, Karl. It’s been too long. Did you miss me?” My stomach twisted painfully when Karl didn’t move away from her. “I’ve been busy,” he answered indifferently. But he still didn’t push her away. “They still look perfect together,” one woman whispered nearby. “They always did,” another replied casually. “Honestly, Karl should’ve married Lilith from the beginning.” A few people murmured in agreement. I stood frozen outside the glass doors then someone laughed softly. “What about his wife?” The group burst into amused laughter. “She?” another woman scoffed. “Please. Everyone knows Chairman Varek forced Karl into that marriage.” “I still can’t believe he married some random orphan girl.” “She was a nobody before entering the Varek family.” “Apparently she saved the chairman once,” another voice added mockingly. “And he rewarded her with a marriage contract.” “How pathetic.” “She’s completely obsessed with Karl,” someone else said. “Even after he ignores her publicly, she still follows him around like a lost puppy.” “She has no dignity.” My fingers tightened around the report until the paper crumpled. Another woman smirked. “Honestly, Lilith suits him more. At least she matches his status.” Their laughter blended into something sharp and suffocating. Then someone turned toward Karl with amusement in their eyes. “Mr. Varek, you’ve never denied any of this before.” Karl swirled the whiskey in his glass slowly, his expression calm and unreadable. He said nothing. My chest tightened. Then another man leaned forward slightly. “So it’s true?” he asked casually. “You only married Elara because your grandfather forced you to?” My breath caught. Please, don’t say it. Karl finally set his glass down. “Yes.” That single word shattered something inside me. “She’s like a stubborn roach that wouldn't die,” he continued coldly. “Nothing more.” The world tilted around me. “She was never suitable to be my wife,” he added calmly. “And she certainly isn’t someone I would’ve chosen myself.” The pain hit so hard my knees nearly gave out. Instinctively, my hand moved toward my stomach. The child I had been so desperate to tell him about. The child I believed would finally make him accept me. A soft broken sound escaped my lips before I could stop it. Silence immediately fell across the VIP section. Every head turned toward me. For one horrible moment, nobody spoke. Then someone laughed awkwardly. “Well… this is unfortunate." “She heard everything.” Another woman shrugged dismissively. “So what? It’s not like she’ll leave.” “She never does even when Karl sleeps with different women she still stays beside him.” “Of course, she's a pathetic mutt with no home and money, she'd stay beside Karl as his loyal dog even if it means getting some scraps of attention from him,” someone else added mockingly. Their eyes remained fixed on me with curiosity, amusement, and laughter. Like I was entertainment instead of a human being. And suddenly, every moment from the last three years crashed into me all at once. The quiet humiliation, the cold dinner, the endless waiting. The way Karl never once introduced me proudly as his wife, the way people looked at me during elite events with disgust, as if I was beneath them. I had spent three years convincing myself that if I loved him enough, if I stayed patient enough, if I became good enough one day Karl might finally love me back. And tonight, I came here believing the baby growing inside me would change everything. Slowly, I lifted my eyes to Karl. Just once, I waited for him to say something. Anything to defend me. To deny their words and acknowledge me as his wife. But his expression never changed. His gaze remained cold, distant, and utterly indifferent. And in that moment, I finally understood. Karl Varek never loved me, not even a little. I turned around and walked away. Nobody stopped me. Behind me, the music resumed again as though nothing had happened. The cold night air hit my skin sharply as I stepped onto the empty street. My vision blurred and breathing felt uneven but I kept walking anyway. Then faintly behind me, I heard another voice. “Should someone go after her?” Karl answered without hesitation. “Forget it.” My chest tightened painfully. “She’s always like this,” he said dismissively. “Maybe now she’ll finally understand her place.” Understand my place. The words echoed hollowly inside my head. I kept walking, barely aware of where I was going. Everything around me felt distorted. The city lights blurred together. The sounds of traffic faded into distant noise. Then suddenly a loud horn blared. My head snapped upward as bright headlights rushed toward me at terrifying speed. My body froze. For one brief moment, the world slowed completely then the impact came. Pain exploded through my body violently and everything went dark. Chapter 2 Elara’s POV A dull throbbing pain spread slowly through my body, dragging me out of the darkness little by little. My brows tightened as I tried to move, but sharp pain immediately shot through my ribs. A soft gasp sounded nearby. “Elara?” My eyes fluttered open slowly. Bright white lights blurred above me while the faint scent of antiseptic filled the air. The steady beeping of medical equipment echoed quietly around the room. I was in the hospital. Confusion settled over me instantly. A woman sat beside my bed gripping my hand tightly with both of hers. Her eyes were swollen and red as though she had been crying for hours. The moment she saw me awake, relief flooded her face. “Oh my God,” she whispered shakily. “You’re finally awake.” I stared at her blankly. She was beautiful in a soft, effortless way with long dark hair and worried eyes but I didn’t know her, not even a little. My throat felt painfully dry when I finally spoke. “Who are you?” The relief on her face disappeared instantly. “What?” Her voice sounded frightened now. I frowned slightly. “I… don’t know you.” She froze completely. “Elara, stop joking.” “I’m not joking.” Silence filled the room. The woman stared at me for several long seconds before quickly standing up. “I’ll call the doctor.” Panic flashed across her face as she rushed toward the door. A few minutes later, a middle-aged doctor entered the room while the woman hovered anxiously behind him. He asked me several questions calmly and I answered correctly. My name, except I got my age and today’s date wrong. Then he asked softly, “Do you know who she is?” I looked toward the woman again. “I don’t,” I answered honestly. The doctor nodded slowly before writing something down. “And your husband? Do you remember him?” he asked carefully. I frowned, “Husband? I don't recall getting married.” The woman inhaled sharply behind him. The doctor sighed quietly. “You suffered severe trauma after the accident,” he explained gently. “It appears you’ve lost memories connected to recent years. Precisely you've lost three years of your memory.” My brows pulled together. “Will I ever get my memories back?” The doctor spoke gently again. “Don’t pressure yourself too much. Sometimes memories return gradually.” I nodded quietly. After he left, silence settled between the woman and me again. She sat back down slowly, staring at me with wet eyes. “You really don’t remember me?” I shook my head honestly. “I’m sorry.” She let out a shaky breath before forcing a small smile. “My name is Mira Quinn,” she said softly. “I’m your best friend.” I nodded slowly. “Alright.” The sadness in her eyes deepened. Then suddenly, a phone resting on the bedside table vibrated loudly. Mira froze instantly. I noticed the way her expression shifted the moment she looked at the screen. It was one of irritation. “Who is it?” I asked quietly. She hesitated before answering. “It’s your husband, Karl.” Mira picked up the phone slowly. “Hello?” Even from where I sat, I could hear the deep cold male voice through the speaker. “Is she done with her little stunt yet?” My brows pulled together immediately. Mira looked uncomfortable. “Karl, she was in an accident.” “She does this every time she wants attention.” His tone sounded impatient rather than concerned. “Tell her to stop embarrassing herself and come home.” Then the call ended. I stared at the phone slowly. “Is that supposed to be my husband?” Mira looked nervous now. “Yes but—” “He sounds horrible.” Her eyes widened slightly. “You’ve never said that before.” “Well, I’m saying it now.” A startled laugh escaped her before she quickly covered her mouth. Then her expression slowly fell again. “You used to love him very much,” she said softly. “Why?” Mira stared at me helplessly for several seconds before finally speaking. “Three years ago, you saved Chairman Varek’s life during an accident.” I frowned slightly. “The chairman insisted on repaying you. Karl refused at first, but his grandfather forced him to marry you.” I stared at her quietly. “So my husband never wanted me.” Mira looked away. “No.” Strangely, hearing that didn’t hurt. It should have but it didn’t. It just felt distant like hearing a tragic story about someone else. “Is he rich?” I asked suddenly. Mira blinked at the question. “Karl Varek is one of the richest men in the country.” I nodded slowly. “That explains the ego.” Another startled laugh escaped her before she sighed tiredly. “You really changed.” I looked down at my hands quietly. Mira suddenly went quiet beside me. I looked up immediately and her eyes were filled with hesitation. “There’s something else,” she whispered. Something about her expression made my stomach tighten slightly. “What is it?” Mira lowered her gaze. “The accident…” Her voice shook. “You were pregnant, Elara.” Everything inside me went still. Pregnant? “You lost the baby.” I stared at her quietly while the words echoed in my head. I was pregnant and now I've lost the baby but strangely I felt no grief or attachment because I couldn’t remember the child. I couldn’t remember wanting the baby and I couldn’t remember loving the man who got me pregnant. My fingers tightened slightly around the hospital blanket. “What kind of woman was I?” I asked quietly. Mira looked startled. “What?” “The woman before the accident,” I continued softly. “What kind of woman was I before the accident?” Chapter 3 Elara’s POV The question lingered heavily in the room. Mira stared at me silently for several seconds before finally looking away. “You were…” Her voice softened. “Too in love.” I frowned slightly. That answer unsettled me more than it should have because I couldn’t imagine it. I couldn’t imagine loving someone enough to endure humiliation. Especially not a man who thought getting hit by a car was an attention-seeking stunt. Mira let out a slow breath. “You met Chairman Varek three years ago during a charity gala,” she began quietly. “He collapsed unexpectedly and everyone panicked. Most people stood around waiting for someone else to help but you stayed with him until the ambulance arrived.” I listened silently. “You spent the entire night at the hospital with him even though you didn’t know who he was.” A strange feeling stirred inside me. “The chairman became attached to you after that,” Mira continued. “He treated you like family. Eventually, he decided you were the perfect wife for Karl.” I gave a dry laugh, “Clearly Karl disagreed.” Mira lowered her gaze, “He fought against the marriage.” “Then why did he marry me?” I queried. “Because the chairman threatened to remove him as heir to the company.” The words landed heavily between us. I stared down at my hands. “So my marriage was basically a business ultimatum.” “It wasn’t like that.” I looked up, “Wasn’t it?” Mira couldn’t answer. A strange sadness settled inside me. Not because of Karl but because of the woman I used to be. The woman who apparently married a man who never wanted her. “What happened after the wedding?” “At first you were happy.” I frowned, “Happy?” “You thought if you worked hard enough, he’d eventually love you.” Something twisted painfully across Mira’s face. “You tried so hard, Elara.” The pity in her eyes made me uncomfortable. “How?” Mira looked away. “You learned how to cook because Karl preferred home-cooked meals.” I blinked, “I can’t cook.” “You can. You taught yourself,” Mira stated. My mouth hung open in surprise. “You used to wake up at five every morning just to prepare breakfast before he left for work.” I stared at her, “And did he appreciate it?” “He didn’t,” Mira shook her head slowly, “Most mornings he never even touched the food.” “What else did my pathetic old self do for love?” Her expression grew increasingly painful. “It’s not your fault, Elara—” “Just tell me!” I interrupted her. “Your birthday last year. You spent the entire day preparing dinner. You decorated the dining room yourself. You bought his favorite wine.” I already knew where this was going. “Did he show up?” Mira looked away. “No. He said he forgot.” I scoffed. I didn't feel heartbroken, I felt embarrassed. Embarrassed for the woman who had waited, who had loved shamelessly, and believed someone other than herself. “What did I do?” Mira’s eyes became glossy. “You stayed awake until three in the morning waiting for him.” Something about it made my chest ache not because I remembered but because I couldn't understand why she stayed. “What else?” I asked quietly. Mira looked reluctant. “Do you really want to know?” “Yes.” “You got sick last winter.” I frowned. “Sick?” “Pneumonia. It was serious. The doctor ordered complete bed rest. But Lilith came back to the city that same week and you overheard Karl telling the staff to prepare the guest suite for her.” I grinned, “Please tell me I stopped that son of a bitch.” Mira looked at me helplessly. “You got out of bed and personally prepared the room yourself.” I stared at her. “You’re joking.” She didn’t smile. “You changed the sheets, arranged flowers, and even baked cookies because Lilith liked them.” I just stared at her, speechless. Mira’s eyes filled with sadness. “Elara—” “No.” I shook my head firmly, “That woman was insane.” The words slipped out before I could stop them. Mira let out a startled laugh through her tears. “How could anyone love someone that much?” My voice came out barely above a whisper. “How could someone destroy themselves like that?” Mira wiped her eyes. “You loved him.” “No.” I shook my head slowly. “That wasn’t love. That sounds more like emotional self-destruction.” For the first time since waking up, I felt genuinely disturbed by the woman I used to be. The woman who had spent three years chasing affection from someone who clearly never intended to give it. I stared toward the rain-covered hospital window. “It’s funny but when I arrived at the hospital I had just come from a car accident and I lost my memories which was how I landed in the orphanage.” “But now I remember everything… my family, the kidnapping, how I escaped. It’s like I remember my life before and suddenly I've forgotten the life I used to live here.” “I can't remember Karl or loving him or the pregnancy I lost. I don't feel anything. It’s like I'm listening to the life of someone else because that person wasn’t me.” “What do you want to do now? You can't go back to Karl, he's treated you so poorly, what would he do now you've lost your memory?” Mira asked worriedly. I shrugged, “I’m going back.” “What? Did you not hear anything I said?” she demanded. “I want to see him myself.” “Elara—” “I want to see what kind of man I gave three years of my life to.” Mira looked worried. “Maybe you should wait.” I shook my head. “If my marriage was really this pathetic then I want to see it with my own eyes.” Chapter 4 Elara’s POV An hour later, the taxi stopped outside the Varek mansion. I paid the driver and stepped out. The massive estate stood before me, illuminated by golden lights. Apparently, I had lived here for three years. Yet standing in front of it now felt no different from standing in front of a stranger’s house. I pushed open the front door and stepped inside. The sound of laughter immediately reached my ears. A woman’s laughter. I followed the sound toward the living room then stopped. A beautiful woman sat curled up comfortably on one of the couches. A wine glass rested in her hand while an expensive suit jacket hung loosely around her shoulders. A man sat across from her, a laptop open on his lap. The woman noticed me first. A smile spread across her face. “You’re finally back.” Lilith Laurent, Karl’s ex-girlfriend and she was with Karl, my supposed husband. The woman Mira spent half the day talking about. Karl looked up from his laptop. His gaze swept over me briefly then he looked back down at the screen. “You’re late.” I blinked. “I was in the hospital.” “And yet here you are.” I stared at him. For a second, I genuinely wondered how I had managed not to strangle him during our marriage. Lilith laughed softly. “You really worried everyone.” She sipped her wine elegantly. “Karl even left an important meeting because of your little stunt.” Karl finally closed his laptop. “You seem determined to argue today.” I looked at him. “You seem determined to be unpleasant.” Lilith’s eyes widened while Karl stared at me like I was a stranger. “What’s your problem?” I almost laughed. “My problem?” “Yes.” I looked around the room. “Honestly? I’m still trying to narrow the list down.” Lilith nearly choked on her drink. Karl’s jaw tightened. “Enough.” “Fine,” I shrugged, “Let’s start with something simple.” My gaze shifted toward Lilith. “Who are you?” She blinked. “What?” “I know your name but who exactly are you in this house?” The smile disappeared from her face. Karl’s expression darkened immediately. “Lilith is my guest,” Karl said coldly. “And you will treat her as such.” I stared at him. “And I’m your wife.” His expression didn’t change. “Then stop embarrassing yourself in front of her.” I nodded slowly, “A very permanent guest.” Lilith sat up straighter, “I don’t understand what you’re implying.” “Really?” I gestured toward the jacket draped over her shoulders. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like everyone in this house forgot who Karl’s wife is.” The room went completely silent. For the first time, neither of them had an answer. Lilith recovered first. “You shouldn’t be insecure.” I laughed. “Insecure?” Lilith’s smile became strained. “Yes.” I shook my head. “You’re mistaken. You’d have to matter for me to be insecure.” Her face froze. Karl immediately stood. “That’s enough.” I turned toward him. “Why?” “Because you’re being ridiculous.” My eyebrows rose. “Your ex-girlfriend lives in your house.” “She doesn’t live here. We have investors coming tomorrow. You’ll be attending dinner.” I folded my arms. “And if I don’t want to?” “You don’t have a choice.” “Why?” Karl’s eyes hardened. “Because the only reason you’re standing in this house is because my grandfather wanted it.” The room fell silent. Lilith’s lips curved upward slightly. “Karl—” “No.” His gaze remained fixed on me. “If she’s going to stay here, then she has to act accordingly.” I smiled sweetly. “That’s unfortunate. It appears I lost the part of my brain that tolerated you.” Lilith’s mouth fell open. Karl looked stunned. Satisfied, I turned around and walked away. — I had barely reached the bedroom when my phone rang. I frowned slightly before answering the unknown number. “Hello?” “Miss Elara?” a woman’s voice asked politely. “This is St. Mary’s Hospital.” My brows pulled together slightly. “Yes?” “We’re calling regarding the emergency blood transfusion performed during your surgery.” Confusion settled inside me immediately. “What about it?” “The donor who saved your life shares an extremely rare blood type with you.” I frowned slightly. “And?” “The individual has requested to meet you. They believe you may be connected to their family.” Chapter 5 Elara’s POV I barely slept that night. After ending the call with the hospital, I spent hours staring at the ceiling. Someone believed I was connected to their family. The thought sounded ridiculous. I was an orphan. At least, that was what I had believed for years. But after recovering my childhood memories, I wasn’t so sure anymore. I remembered my parents, I remembered my brother, I remembered being taken away, and I remembered never finding my way back. The next morning, I left the mansion before anyone could stop me. The hospital wasn’t far. By the time I arrived, my palms were damp with nervousness. A nurse greeted me at the reception desk. “Miss Elara?” “Yes.” “Please follow me.” She led me through several hallways before stopping outside a private consultation room. My heartbeat quickened. The nurse pushed the door open. “Please go in.” Then she left. I stood there for several seconds before finally stepping inside. Two men were already waiting. One was middle-aged. The other looked a few years older than me. The younger man’s back was turned toward the door. The older man stood immediately upon seeing me. His eyes widened. For a moment, nobody spoke, then the younger man turned around and my world stopped. My breathing caught not because I recognized his face but because I recognized his eyes. Those eyes… Suddenly, I remembered a little boy running after me in the garden. “Wait for me, Ellie!” He had tripped over his own feet and burst into tears when I laughed at him. My vision blurred. No… It couldn’t be. The younger man’s lips trembled. “Elara?” My knees nearly gave out. “Big brother?” The moment the words left my mouth, he broke. He crossed the room in seconds and pulled me into his arms. I burst into tears. For years, I thought I had forgotten them. For years, I thought they had forgotten me. But standing here now, none of that mattered because my brother was holding me like he was afraid I would disappear again. “You’re alive,” he whispered hoarsely. His voice cracked, “You’re really alive.” I cried harder. The older man stood a few feet away, his eyes shining with tears. He looked like he wanted to hug me too but was afraid that I wasn't real and I would disappear. “Dad,” I whispered. A broken sound escaped him then he pulled both of us into his arms. For several moments, nobody spoke. We simply stood there crying. Years of grief, loss, and searching all crashed together at once. Eventually, we sat down. My father couldn’t stop looking at me. Every few seconds, his eyes would fill with tears again. “You look just like your mother,” he said quietly. My throat tightened. I remembered her, not perfectly but enough. “How did you find me?” I asked. My brother exchanged glances with our father before he answered. “Your blood type.” I frowned. “What about it?” “It’s extremely rare.” My father nodded. “After you disappeared, we registered your blood type with hospitals all over the country.” My eyes widened. “What?” “We never stopped looking for you,” His voice shook, “Not for a single day.” Tears burned my eyes again. My brother leaned forward. “We made arrangements years ago. If anyone with your blood type was ever admitted to a hospital, we wanted to know immediately.” I stared at them. All these years, all this time they had been searching. “I thought you abandoned me,” I admitted quietly. My father’s face crumpled. “Never.” The answer came instantly without hesitation. “Never, Elara.” His voice broke completely, “We searched everywhere.” I looked away quickly before I started crying again. My brother reached for my hand. “What happened after they took you?” he asked. The room grew quiet. Slowly, I told them everything I could remember. The kidnapping, my escape, living on the streets, the orphanage, the years I couldn't remember, the accident, and the memories returning. Neither of them interrupted. By the time I finished, both men looked devastated. My father looked especially guilty. “This never should have happened.” “It wasn’t your fault,” I said. “It was,” he insisted, his jaw tight with anger, “I should have protected you.” I didn’t know what to say to that so I simply squeezed his hand. For the first time, a small smile appeared on his face. Then my brother suddenly asked, “Where are you living now?” The room fell silent as I hesitated. “I’m married,” I finally admitted. Both men immediately stiffened. “Married?” my brother repeated. I nodded. My father frowned. “Are you happy?” The question hit harder than I expected because for the first time, I actually thought about it. Was I happy? From everything Mira told me… No. Not even close. I lowered my eyes and my brother looked furious while my father looked heartbroken but neither of them pushed further. Instead, my father reached across the table and took my hand. “Come home with us.” My throat tightened. For years, I had dreamed of hearing those words. Come home, not an orphanage, not a mansion that felt like a prison but home… My own home. Tears filled my eyes again. “I want to.” My father’s face softened. “Then come.” I looked down at our joined hands. For the first time in years, I finally had a family. I finally had somewhere to belong but there was still one thing I needed to do. I lifted my head. “Give me one day.” My brother frowned. “One day for what?” I met his gaze steadily then I answered. “To end my marriage.” Chapter 6 Elara’s POV When I returned to the mansion, the first thing I saw was Karl. He was seated in the living room, reviewing documents on his tablet. For a moment, I stood there. According to everyone, I had spent three years loving this man. Three years waiting for him. Three years of hoping for things he never intended to give me. Now all I felt was confusion. What exactly had I seen in him? Karl looked up. “Where were you?” he demanded “Out,” I answered curtly. His eyes narrowed. “Out where?” I walked past him. “Outside.” His jaw tightened. “Elara.” I stopped, gritting my teeth. “What?” For a moment, he looked almost irritated by how calm I sounded. Then his gaze landed on the envelope in my hand. “What’s that?” he asked. “Documents,” I walked over and placed the stack on the coffee table, “That needs your signature.” Karl barely glanced at them. He picked up a pen and signed the last page. Then the second and third pages were signed without reading a single word or asking any questions. “Next time you need money, just ask for it.” He tossed the pen onto the table. “You don’t have to pretend it’s anything else. We both know that’s why you married into this family.” My fingers tightened slightly around the papers. Three years of marriage and all it took to end it was three signatures. I quietly slid the documents back into the envelope. Karl had already returned to his tablet completely unaware that he had just signed his own divorce papers. “Anything else?” he asked. I stared at him for a second then I shook my head. “No.” I turned and walked away. — A few hours later, I came downstairs after changing clothes. Voices drifted from the dining room. One belonged to Lilith and the other belonged to Karl. The moment I entered, Lilith smiled. “Perfect timing,” she smirked. Karl looked up at me before saying gruffly, “Prepare dinner.” I blinked. “Excuse me?” “Dinner,” he repeated, his tone flat, “We’re entertaining guests tonight.” I stared at him. “You want me to cook?” “Yes.” “No,” I said. Karl frowned. “No?” “No,” I repeated. Lilith looked surprised but she quickly masked it. “Elara, don’t be childish,” she said. I pulled out a chair and sat down. “I’m not being childish.” “Then stop making things difficult,” Lilith stressed. I shrugged. “Or what?” The room fell silent as Karl’s expression darkened. “You’ve been acting strangely since the accident,” he commented. “Maybe I hit my head hard enough to develop standards,” I snapped. Lilith nearly choked. Karl stared at me but I stared right back. For once, I wasn’t the first one to look away. The atmosphere became increasingly tense. Finally, Lilith sighed dramatically. “I don’t understand why you’re making such a big deal out of this.” I looked at her. “Then let me simplify it for you. I’m not your maid.” A flicker of anger crossed her face. “You certainly don’t behave like the lady of this house.” I laughed. The irony was almost painful. “Interesting. If you wanna be the lady of the house so badly then by all means slave away and cook the meals. I don't care.” Lilith’s face instantly darkened. “Elara!” Karl’s voice boomed with anger. “What do you want?” I snapped. “Apologize to Lilith. I told you that she's my guest. You have no right to speak to her in that manner." I scoffed, “I don't care what she is to you, Karl. I'm not apologizing.” Karl slowly stood. The expression on his face turned colder. “Dinner. Now,” he snarled. I stood too. “No,” I retorted. His eyes hardened. For the first time since returning from the hospital, genuine anger flashed across his face. “You seem to have forgotten who you’re talking to.” I met his gaze, “And you seem to have forgotten that I’m your wife not your maid.” The words slipped out before I could stop them not because I loved him but because I was suddenly tired. Tired of everyone pretending I was the outsider while his ex-girlfriend sat comfortably in my place. Lilith immediately stepped forward. “How dare you speak to him like that?” I turned toward her. “Why are you acting like his wife?” Karl grabbed my wrist. “Enough.” Pain shot through my arm as I tried to pull free. “Let me go!” I snapped. “Apologize,” he ordered. “No!” I shot at him. “This is your last chance, Elara, don't test me,” he said. “Go to hell!” The words landed like a slap. Lilith gasped and Karl’s expression became terrifying. I yanked my arm backward. At the same time, he released me and my balance disappeared. The edge of the glass coffee table hit my leg. The table tipped over then shattered, and the sound exploded through the room. Sharp pain shot through my palm as I crashed onto the broken glass. A gasp escaped my lips. Blood immediately appeared bright red against the marble floor. Lilith’s voice rang out. “Oh my God.” I looked down to see that several glass shards were embedded in my hand. Blood dripped steadily onto the floor. Karl took a step forward. His expression was unreadable. “Elara—” Heavy footsteps suddenly echoed from the entrance as a cane struck the floor and a furious voice shattered the silence. “Take your hands off her.” The entire room froze. Karl’s face changed instantly. Lilith’s wine glass slipped from her fingers and shattered on the floor. Slowly, I turned toward the doorway to see an elderly man standing there. His face was thunderous and his eyes burned with fury. For the first time since I’d returned to this house, Karl looked nervous.