The Morgan mansion’s greenhouse was a sanctuary of life and tranquility, filled with the fragrance of blooming flowers and the gentle rustle of leaves. Sunlight streamed through the glass panels, casting a golden glow over the vibrant greenery. Elara stood amidst the lush plants, her hands tenderly brushing against the petals of a white orchid, a faint smile gracing her lips. This place had always been her retreat, a space she shared with Arthur—a bond they forged over their shared love for nurturing life.

Today, however, the serenity of the greenhouse did little to quell the storm within her. The news she had shared with Arthur lingered in her mind. Telling him about her decision to divorce Caleb had been one of the hardest things she had ever done. But she knew he deserved the truth, no matter how painful it might be.

The sound of the greenhouse door creaking open shattered her thoughts. She turned, and her breath hitched at the sight of Caleb standing in the doorway. His tall frame was rigid, his sharp features darkened by a storm of emotions. His usual composed demeanor had been replaced by something raw, something dangerous.

“Elara,” he said, his voice low but laced with fury.

Elara stiffened, her heart pounding in her chest. She could tell from his expression that his conversation with Arthur had not gone well.

Caleb stepped inside, his presence consuming the room like a thundercloud.

“What did you say to grandpaa?” he demanded, his voice tight.

Elara didn’t answer immediately, her gaze shifting back to the orchids.

“I told him the truth,” she said softly, her voice steady despite the turmoil brewing inside her.

In an instant, Caleb crossed the distance between them and grabbed her wrist, his grip firm and unrelenting. Elara gasped, her free hand instinctively trying to pull away.

“Let me go, Caleb!” she protested, her voice rising.

His grip tightened, and he leaned closer, his eyes blazing with anger.

“You’re really impressive, you know that?” he hissed.

“How dare you talk about divorce to my grandpaa? Do you even care about his health?”

Elara met his gaze, her own eyes filled with defiance.

“Yes, I care about his health,” she said firmly, her voice trembling only slightly.

“But I also care about his trust. Grandpaa has been the only person in this house who treated me with kindness, who cared about this marriage. He deserved to know the truth.”

“The truth?” Caleb’s lips curled into a bitter smile.

“Do you think I’ll believe your sweet words? You’re just playing your part as the dutiful wife one last time, aren’t you?”

Elara’s chest tightened at his accusation. She had expected resistance, but not this venom. Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself.

“Think what you want, Caleb. If you’re convinced I’m making a fuss about this divorce, nothing I say will change your mind.”

Caleb’s eyes darkened at her calm response, his anger boiling over. Without warning, he began dragging her toward the exit.

“Where are you taking me?” Elara demanded, struggling against his grip.

He turned back to her, a wicked smirk playing on his lips.

“You like it here, don’t you? Fine. We’ll continue here.”

Elara froze, blinking in confusion.

“What are you talking about?”

Caleb stopped abruptly and turned to face her fully. His smirk deepened, his eyes narrowing with cold mockery.

“Don’t play innocent,” he sneered.

“Isn’t this all part of your plan? Using divorce to manipulate my grandfather into forcing me to take this marriage to the next step? To secure your position as Mrs. Morgan by giving the family an heir?”

His words were like a slap to her face. Shock rippled through her as she stared at him, her lips trembling.

“What… what are you saying? I would never—”

“Never?” Caleb interrupted, his voice dripping with disdain.

“Don’t lie to me, Elara. You’ve always been good at pretending, but I see right through you.”

Before she could respond, he slammed her back against the glass wall of the greenhouse. The impact stole her breath, and she stared at him in stunned disbelief as he shrugged off his jacket and began unbuttoning his shirt.

“Caleb, stop this!” she pleaded, her voice cracking as panic set in.

But Caleb didn’t stop. He pulled off his shirt, his toned chest and defined abs catching the light. He leaned in closer, his body pressing against hers, trapping her against the cold glass.

“You want this, don’t you?” he said, his voice low and dangerous.

“You’ve been using every excuse to push me, to get what you want. Well, congratulations, Elara. I’m giving it to you now.”

Tears welled in her eyes as she pushed against his chest, her voice trembling.

“You’re wrong, Caleb. I never wanted this. I never wanted any of this!”

He snorted, his lips curling into a cruel smile.

“Shout all you want, Elara. Let the whole mansion hear. Do you think anyone will stop me? You’re still my wife, and I’m entitled to—”

Before she could respond, he leaned in suddenly, his lips descending toward hers.

“Caleb, no!” she cried, turning her face away just in time.

But Caleb didn’t stop. His hand cupped her chin, forcing her to look at him.

“Why not?”

He murmured darkly, his voice rough. “Isn’t this what you want? To play the perfect wife, Mrs Morgan?”

Tears welled in her eyes as she pushed against him with all her strength.

“Enough!”

“You’re wrong, Caleb. I don’t want this."

"I don’t want YOU.”

Elara’s voice rang out, startling them both. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she looked up at him, her gaze filled with pain and anger.

“You can take everything from me, Caleb—my dignity, my pride—

but you’ll never break me."

"Do you hear me?"

"Never.”

Her words hung in the air, cutting through the tension like a blade. Caleb’s grip loosened, his expression faltering for a brief moment.

Elara took advantage of his hesitation, slipping away from him and rushing toward the door. Her tears blurred her vision, but she didn’t stop. She couldn’t stop.

As she reached the exit, she turned back to face him one last time. Her voice was steady, her words sharp as a dagger.

“I hate you, Caleb Morgan.”

And with that, she disappeared into the mansion, leaving Caleb standing alone amidst the greenery.

He clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as her words echoed in his mind. Hate. Since when had she gained the right to hate him? He had never forgotten the night she willingly entered his bed, binding them to a marriage neither of them truly wanted.

Now, watching her retreating figure, something inside him twisted—a mixture of rage, regret, and something far more unsettling.

.

.

.

Elara rushed out of the greenhouse, her breath ragged and uneven as tears streamed down her face. The humiliation burned through her, each step feeling heavier than the last. She paused in the corridor, her body trembling as she leaned against the cold wall for support. Her mind replayed the horrifying scene that had just unfolded—Caleb’s cruel words, his actions, his complete disregard for her dignity.

“How could he?” she whispered to herself, her voice trembling with disbelief.

He had never done this before—not in a place where anyone could walk in, not where the carefully constructed illusion of their "normal" marriage could shatter. For four years, Caleb had kept up appearances, never showing the cracks in their relationship to the outside world. But today, he had crossed a line. Today, he had treated her with zero respect, ripping away what little pride she had left.

Elara wiped her cheeks, her tears smearing but refusing to stop. She felt exposed, vulnerable, and deeply ashamed. How was she supposed to face anyone now? The greenhouse, a place she once loved, now felt like a cage that Caleb had used to trap her.

She swallowed hard, her voice barely a whisper as the truth settled heavily in her heart.

“I can’t go on like this.”

The memory of his words, his touch, his blatant disregard for her boundaries made her stomach churn. The man she once thought she could coexist with had turned into someone she couldn’t even recognize. He hadn’t just crossed a line; he had obliterated it.

“If I don’t leave now…”

her voice cracked as she whispered to herself. “If I don’t divorce him, he’ll violate me whenever he likes, like today.”

The realization struck her with the force of a tidal wave. Caleb no longer saw her as a person deserving of respect or autonomy. She was just a possession to him, something he could dominate and control. The marriage had long been a façade, but now it felt like a prison—one she needed to escape before it destroyed her completely.

Squaring her shoulders, Elara wiped her tears and took a deep breath. This time, her resolve was unshakable. She would no longer let Caleb dictate her life. No matter the cost, she would reclaim her freedom and her dignity.

With that thought, she straightened herself and decided to walk out from there and decided to go to Isla's place.

And now she will use any way to get divorce from Caleb.