As Elara left the grand hall with her head held high, the crowd was left buzzing with disbelief and curiosity. All eyes turned to Caleb, expecting an eruption of anger, a dramatic confrontation, or even an abrupt end to the party. After all, Elara had just shattered the carefully curated illusion of his perfect life. Yet, to everyone’s surprise, Caleb remained uncharacteristically calm.

With a commanding voice, he ordered the party to continue as planned, stepping down from the stage with an aura of composed authority. It was as if the scene of his wife throwing divorce papers at him in front of hundreds had been nothing more than an inconsequential moment. This calm, calculated response only solidified Caleb’s image as the shrewd, composed businessman who was always in control, no matter the storm. Guests murmured among themselves, now understanding why Caleb Morgan sat at the top of the business world.

But their admiration wasn’t limited to Caleb. Many couldn’t stop marveling at Elara’s poise. Her entrance, her audacious act of eating the cake before Sienna, and her calm yet cutting remarks had left an indelible mark on their minds. Some silently applauded her bravery, her beauty, and the quiet strength she exuded while standing up to Caleb Morgan—a man many wouldn’t dare to cross. A few even whispered among themselves that Caleb might be making a grave mistake by letting such a gem slip away, especially for someone like Sienna.

Sienna, meanwhile, was a storm of emotions beneath her radiant exterior. As a top actress, she wore her practiced smile like a mask, hiding the seething rage that threatened to spill over. Being called a mistress in front of an elite crowd was humiliating, but Sienna’s mind was already working. Elara’s announcement of the impending divorce only fueled her hope. She believed Caleb's pride wouldn’t let him tolerate Elara’s audacity, ensuring he would soon cut ties with her for good.

As the party resumed, Sienna couldn't help but think back to five years ago when she had foolishly chosen her acting career over Caleb. She had assumed he would wait for her, that their connection was unbreakable. But learning about his marriage to Elara—a woman who came into his life after a single night—had been a bitter pill to swallow. Her jealousy had burned ever since, driving her to manipulate Caleb’s mother, Evelyn, and sister, Lillian, to make Elara’s life unbearable.

Now, with Elara seemingly on her way out, Sienna felt vindicated. She was determined to reclaim her place at Caleb’s side, erasing Elara from his life entirely. This public humiliation would soon fade, she thought, and when the dust settled, she would finally become Mrs. Caleb Morgan. After all, the world loved a story of redemption, and Sienna was ready to play her part to perfection.

Sienna approached Caleb, who was seated in a quiet corner of the grand hall, his posture unusually stiff, his gaze distant. Despite the lively party continuing around them, he seemed lost in his thoughts. Sienna’s smile was gentle, but beneath it lay her calculating intent. Placing a delicate hand on his shoulder, she leaned in slightly.

"Are you fine, Caleb?" she asked softly, her tone laced with concern.

Caleb didn’t respond immediately. His mind was elsewhere—still replaying the moment when Elara walked into the hall. For four years, she had been nothing but a shadow in his life: quiet, submissive, blending into the background. She never raised her voice, never challenged him, and certainly never tried to draw attention to herself. But tonight, she had stepped out of that shadow entirely.

The blue gown she wore highlighted her elegance, her soft features glowing with a confidence he had never associated with her before. Her voice, melodic and calm, had filled the room, commanding attention in a way that left everyone—including him—spellbound. Her sharp, confident words, followed by the audacious act of eating the cake before Sienna, played on repeat in his mind.

Her fiery defiance had been as shocking as it was alluring. For the first time, he realized how much he had underestimated her. And her beauty—God, how had he never noticed it before? Was it the attire, the boldness in her eyes, or something deeper that had transformed her in his view? Whatever it was, he couldn’t shake the image of her walking away, head high, leaving the divorce papers in her wake.

Sienna, sensing his distraction, pressed on. "Caleb?" she repeated, tilting her head slightly to feign understanding.

"I know this must be hard for you. I mean, after everything Elara just said... I never thought she'd embarrass you like that."

She paused, her voice dropping to a whisper, "You know, I always thought she was too meek for someone like you, but tonight… Well, she really surprised me too."

Still, Caleb said nothing, his jaw tightening slightly.

Sienna leaned closer, her tone becoming more conspiratorial.

"But Caleb, don’t you think it’s strange? Her timing, I mean."

"Why now? Throwing divorce papers at you in front of everyone? Wearing that dress, acting so bold? It’s almost like she wanted to make a spectacle out of this."

Caleb’s eyes flickered, but he didn’t look at her.

"I hate to say this," Sienna continued, her voice dripping with faux sympathy, "but doesn’t it seem like she’s trying to tarnish your reputation? Maybe even push you into a corner where you have no choice but to give her what she wants? I mean, Caleb, she knows how much your image means to you. Why else would she pick tonight, in front of everyone, to make such a scene?"

Caleb finally shifted his gaze, though it wasn’t to Sienna. He looked out at the crowd, his expression unreadable.

Sienna sighed, as if burdened by the situation. "I only want what’s best for you, Caleb. You know that, right? I hate seeing you put through this kind of drama, especially by someone who should respect you more than anyone. After what she had conspired four years back."

She placed a comforting hand on his arm.

"If you need anything, I’m here. Always."

But Caleb wasn’t listening. His thoughts had circled back to Elara again. The way she had looked at him tonight—not with fear, not with submission, but with a calm defiance that had left him reeling. He didn’t know if he felt anger, admiration, or something else entirely.

For the first time in their marriage, Elara had shown him a side he never knew existed—a side that was unapologetic, bold, and, to his surprise, utterly captivating.

His voice was low, almost absent-minded when he finally spoke, interrupting Sienna’s monologue.

"She’s… different."

Sienna blinked, momentarily thrown off by the unexpected comment.

"What?"

Caleb didn’t elaborate. Instead, his lips pressed into a thin line, and he stood abruptly, his gaze still distant.

"I need some air."

Leaving Sienna standing alone, he walked away, his thoughts consumed by the enigma that was Elara. She had shaken his world tonight, and for the first time in years, Caleb Morgan didn’t know how to respond.

.

.

.

.

The cool night air hit Elara’s face as she exited the hall, her legs trembling with a mixture of nerves and adrenaline. She had never done something so bold in her entire life, and the weight of what she’d just faced inside was only beginning to settle in. She hurried toward the back of the mansion, where Isla was already waiting in the car, a knowing smile on her face.

The car door swung open, and Elara climbed in, her composure finally cracking as she let out a shaky breath. Her limbs felt weak, her heart still racing from the confrontation with Caleb. She leaned back, closing her eyes for a moment, trying to calm herself.

Isla immediately wrapped her in a tight hug, her excitement bubbling over.

"You rocked it, baby!" Isla exclaimed, unable to contain her laughter.

"Oh my God, Elara, I don’t know where this side of you came from, but you were on fire in there! The way you threw those papers at him, ate the cake—seriously, I can’t stop thinking about their faces. Priceless!"

She laughed so hard that she had to hold her stomach.

Elara opened her eyes, still dazed.

"Really? Was I?"

She asked hesitantly. For her, the whole scene had been a blur of adrenaline and sheer determination. Her only focus had been on getting Caleb to understand how serious she was about the divorce.

Isla grinned mischievously, pulling out her phone.

"You don’t believe me? Here, see for yourself."

She handed the phone to Elara, who hesitated for a moment before taking it. On the screen was a video Isla had managed to get, showing everything from Elara’s dramatic entrance to her bold confrontation with Caleb.

"I might have bribed someone to record this," Isla said casually, smirking.

"Just in case Mr. High-and-Mighty tries to deny the divorce later. You know how he is—always controlling the narrative. Well, not this time. We’ve got proof."

Elara stared at the screen, watching herself stride into the ballroom with confidence, her emerald gown catching the light. She saw the shocked expressions on the guests' faces, the way Caleb had looked at her with a mixture of disbelief and something she couldn’t quite place. She watched herself take a bite of the cake, throw the divorce papers at Caleb, and deliver her parting words with an elegance she barely remembered mustering.

When Caleb’s stunned face filled the screen, something inside her stirred. A trace of pain flickered through her chest as she saw his expression, a flicker of vulnerability hidden behind his cold, composed facade. This was the man she had loved for years, the man she had dreamed of building a life with. She had wished for his happiness, prayed for his success, and even endured years of his indifference.

But today, she reminded herself, that chapter was over.

Elara turned off the video, handing the phone back to Isla.

"From now on," she said softly, more to herself than to her friend, "he’s just a stranger to me."

Isla squeezed her shoulder encouragingly.

"That’s right. Tomorrow, once the divorce is finalized, you’re free. No more looking back. Only forward."

Elara nodded, her determination hardening.

"Tomorrow is the start of my new life."