Elara's footsteps echoed faintly in the empty hallway as she walked away from Caleb, her head held high but her heart crumbling under the weight of his words. The opulent mansion, once a dream she had stepped into as a newlywed, now felt like a suffocating prison. Each ornate detail-the gilded chandeliers, the polished marble floors-mocked her, reminders of the life she had tried so hard to make her own, only to be met with icy indifference

She found herself in the nearest washroom, locking the door behind her. The bright, pristine space was as cold as her husband's gaze, the spotless mirrors reflecting a woman she barely recognized. Her trembling fingers reached for the faucet, turning on the water. The sound of it rushing down the sink was the only thing keeping her grounded.

Elara cupped her hands under the stream, splashing the cool water onto her face. Her reflection stared back at her, tear-streaked and pale. She let out a shaky breath, gripping the edge of the counter to steady herself.

"Get it together," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the water. "Just a little longer."

She reached for a hand towel, dabbing her face dry with slow, deliberate movements. The bruising ache in her chest refused to subside, but she pushed it down, burying it beneath a fragile veneer of composure.

Elara adjusted her hair, smoothing it back into place. She knew Arthur Morgan would be waiting, and she couldn't face him looking like a woman who had just had her heart shattered. It took every ounce of her strength to swallow her pain, to don the mask she had perfected over four years of being Caleb's wife.

The study door creaked open as Elara stepped inside, her hands folded neatly in front of her. Arthur was standing by the window now, his back to her, the firelight casting his silhouette in warm tones. He turned at the sound of her approach, his expression softening as he took in her composed demeanor.

"Elara, my dear," he said with a small smile. "What brings you here?

Elara offered a small, polite smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Grandpa Arthur," she began, her voice steady but distant, "I wanted to thank you for your kindness over the years. You've been more of a family to me than anyone ever has."

Arthur frowned, sensing something in her tone. "What are you saying, child?"

She hesitated, her fingers twisting together briefly before she clasped them behind her back. "I think it's time I leave," she said softly.

Though she wanted to say, "This is the time to leave this marriage." but stopped herself.

She offered him a grateful smile, though her heart felt like it was shattering into a million pieces. "Thank you, Grandpa Arthur."

Elara stepped out of the mansion into the cool night air, the weight of her decision pressing heavily on her shoulders. The sprawling gardens stretched out before her, bathed in the soft glow of moonlight. Her steps were slow, measured, as though she were walking through a dream.

Her mind was a storm of thoughts. Sienna's pregnancy was a turning point-a clear indication that Caleb's future was already written and she wasn't a part of it. He would never allow his child to be born illegitimate, and Elara knew it was only a matter of time before he asked her for a divorce.

But this time, she wouldn't wait for him to make the first move. She had endured enough.

She paused at the edge of the grand driveway, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. The thought of facing Caleb one last time, of proposing the divorce herself, filled her with a strange mixture of dread and relief.

With a deep, shuddering breath, she wiped her tears away and began walking toward the car, waiting for her at the end of the driveway. Her steps were steady, her resolve stronger with each passing second.

The night was still and quiet, with only the soft hum of the city beyond the walls of the Morgan estate. Elara lay in bed, her damp hair spread across the silk pillow. She had hoped for a dreamless sleep to escape the turmoil within her, but instead, she was pulled from her slumber by an unfamiliar sensation-gentle yet deliberate, warm yet intrusive

Soft lips grazed hers, nibbling in a way that was both punishing and seductive. The scent of expensive cologne, a mix of cedar and musk, invaded her senses. Her eyes flew open, her heart pounding in her chest as she realized who it was.

"Caleb," she whispered under her breath, her voice caught between disbelief and resignation.

He didn't stop, his movements slow and purposeful as if daring her to resist. Her body tensed beneath him, and she pushed him away with trembling hands. "What are you doing?" she snapped, sitting up and fumbling to turn on the bedside lamp.

The dim light illuminated Caleb's chiseled features, casting sharp shadows on his face. His hair was slightly disheveled, his dark eyes glinting with a dangerous mix of desire and annoyance. He was dressed casually, his shirt unbuttoned at the collar, giving him an air of effortless arrogance.

"You're back," Elara muttered, her tone void of any welcome.

Did Sienna not have time for him today? Well, it might be true as she's newly pregnant? Elara thought herself.

Caleb straightened, his gaze steady and unapologetic. "What does it look like?" he said coolly, sitting at the edge of the bed as if he hadn't just crossed a line. His shirt was half-unbuttoned, his expression calm yet laced with annoyance.

He leaned back, sitting at the edge of the bed, his jaw clenched tightly. "You always know how to ruin a moment, don't you?"

Elara quickly fixed her rumpled pajamas, standing on the cold floor to put some distance between them. She drew in a deep breath, gathering her courage. "Let's get a divorce, Caleb," she said, her tone void of any warmth.

The words hung in the air like a thunderclap, loud and irreversible. Caleb's head turned slowly, his dark eyes narrowing as they locked onto hers. "Are you done with your little dramatics?" he asked, his tone laced with irritation.

Elara's face remained stoic. "I'm serious," she said, her voice dry and emotionless, as though she had drained herself of all feeling just to utter those words.

Caleb's brows furrowed, his annoyance morphing into something darker. He was in out of city for business meeting and returned today at first his not so good talk with his grandpaa and then his crave for his body needs because few minutes back elara had responded to his touch and he so so deep in making love with her but now her asking about divorce seemed like a tactic to him so he asked,"Are you sure?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

Elara didn't respond, but the silence spoke louder than any words could. Her resolve, etched into her tear-streaked face, conveyed a finality that sent a chill down Caleb's spine.

His eyes darkened. "Divorce? Just like that?" he asked, his voice sharp. "Do you think you can just walk away?"

His lips twisted into a scornful smile, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of unease. "Let me remind you," he began, his voice sharp, "that your father and brother's company would have gone bankrupt if the Morgans hadn't stepped in to save them."

Elara's chest tightened at his words. They stabbed at old wounds, dragging her back to the cursed memory of how this all began. Her father and brother, desperate to save their failing company, had tricked her into Caleb's bed four years ago, ensuring a union that would tie her to the Morgan family which will help them to take advantage of morgan's reputation to build back their company.

Though she had tried to explain herself to Caleb countless times since then, he had never listened. He had never trusted her. To him, she was nothing more than a scheming gold digger who tricked him to bed to climb up the social ladder by becoming Mrs. Caleb Morgan.

The bitterness of those years bubbled to the surface, and she finally met his gaze with a fiery defiance. "I've already sold myself to you for four years," she said, her voice trembling with suppressed anger. "That's more than enough which I could for them."

Caleb's expression darkened further, his hands clenching at his sides. "Sold yourself?" he repeated, his tone dangerously low. "So these past four years were just a business transaction to you? They meant nothing?"

"What else could they have been?" Elara shot back, her voice cracking under the weight of her emotions, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"You've never cared for me. You've never trusted me. What we have-it's not a marriage, Caleb. It's an arrangement. It was a cold, hollow agreement that we've both endured. It was all physical because your heart has always belonged to someone else."

Caleb's jaw tightened, and his fists curled into the sheets. Her words stung, but he refused to show it. Instead, he sneered, his voice laced with mockery.

"Endured? That's rich coming from you.

Do you have any idea what you've had? The luxury, the prestige-everything I've given you aside from love." caleb not stopped there he continued,"And yet you've enjoyed every luxury I've provided. The status, the wealth-everything aside from my love. Can you really walk away from all of that?"

Elara held her head high, tears brimming in her eyes but refusing to fall. "I don't need your wealth," she said, her voice steady despite the storm raging in her heart. "I don't need your status. And I certainly don't need you."

The room fell into a tense silence, the air thick with unspoken pain and anger. Caleb's expression remained unreadable, but his eyes burned with an intensity that made her falter for a moment.

Her words hit him like a slap, but Caleb said nothing, his jaw tightening as he watched her turn and walk toward the door. For the first time in years, he felt the sting of her absence even before she left. And for the first time, Elara felt free-even as her heart broke.