Chapter 1

I was the lady of the house at The Mercer Estate—in name only.

In our five years of marriage, I had lost count of how many women my husband brought back to spend the night.

I could only swallow the humiliation and stay silent.

Because my mother was gravely ill, her life hanging by a thread, sustained entirely by an experimental life-saving medication provided by the Mercer family.

Until today...

When my mother suffered another severe episode, I went to beg my husband for the medication, but he refused to see me.

Talia, the latest woman he had brought home, passed on his message:

"Adrian says you get it when he's in a better mood. Wait on the porch."

And so I stood on the porch, listening to the sounds of their intimacy for an entire night...

Early the next morning, Talia walked out holding a small medicine box.

A second later, right in front of my eyes, she tossed the medication that could save my mother's life straight into the roaring fireplace.

Talia smiled, sweet yet cruel. "Adrian's orders."

In the midst of my despair, a maid came stumbling over in tears.

"Ma'am... your mother... she took her own life. She's gone."

Trembling, she handed me my mother's suicide note.

"My sweet girl, I've been a burden for too long. Live for yourself now."

"What's with the waterworks? Is playing the victim all you're good for? You could cry your eyes out, and Adrian still wouldn't look twice at you."

Talia clearly thought my breakdown was just a pathetic ploy to win Adrian's pity.

She stepped closer in her heels and shoved my shoulder.

I grabbed her wrist and threw her hand off me.

Talia stumbled and fell to the floor, her eyes going wide.

"What the hell is going on out here?"

The door opened.

Adrian stood in the doorway, eyes heavy with sleep, his shirt unbuttoned to reveal a collarbone and neck covered in marks from the night before.

"Adrian..."

Talia's eyes instantly welled with tears, her voice trembling. "Maris was so angry. She threw a fit and tossed her mother's medication right into the fire..."

Her shift in demeanor was flawless. The sharp, venomous tone from seconds ago vanished, replaced by fragile innocence.

Adrian stepped forward to help her up, but his gaze cut into me like a knife.

He closed the distance between us and seized my wrist.

"Taking it out on Talia now?"

His grip was terrifyingly heavy, clamping down on my bones like a vice.

"Are you actually here for the medication, or is this just another pathetic stunt to get my attention?"

"I didn't—"

He shoved me hard against the doorframe.

My shoulder blade slammed into the solid wood. My teeth cut into my lip, and the metallic taste of blood instantly flooded my mouth.

Adrian stared at me, his eyes brimming with disgust.

"That was the last batch of the experimental life-saving medication for your mother. Who gave you the right to burn it?"

I gripped the doorframe, struggling to stay on my feet.

"I didn't burn it."

"Still lying."

His voice was devoid of any warmth. "The only reason I haven't had security drag you off this estate is because the ink isn't dry on our marriage yet."

He let go, and I slumped pathetically against the cold, damp stone steps.

"Adrian, don't be mad."

Talia wrapped her arms around his, her voice soft and coaxing.

"I had this amazing petal oatmeal at an artisanal wellness café yesterday. I want to try making it, but I need organic, pesticide-free rose petals. Picked at dawn..."

"That sounds perfect."

Adrian's tone softened immediately.

Then, he snatched a stack of care and transport confirmation papers from Ivy's hands and hurled them at my feet.

"If you want your mother's treatment to continue, go pick those petals. Come up short, and I'll cancel every medical arrangement she has."

With that, he wrapped his arm around Talia and led her back into the bedroom.

"Mrs. Mercer..."

Only after the door clicked shut did Ivy step forward, crying as she wiped the blood from my lip.

I looked down at my tightly clenched hands.

My mother's suicide note was crumpled and soaked in sweat, but the handwriting remained painfully clear.

Suddenly, the closed door jerked open again.

A pile of expensive lingerie and evening gowns was thrown out, hitting me squarely in the chest.

The fabric was stained with fresh blood.

"Talia got her period this morning. Wash these."

Ivy shook with rage, reaching out to snatch the soiled clothes away.

"I'll do it, Ma'am. This is sick..."

I pressed my hand over hers.

"No. You've suffered enough with me. It's over."

I stared at the bloodstains, my voice barely a whisper.

My mother was gone.

I no longer had any reason to stay at The Mercer Estate and let them grind me into the dirt.

Adrian, I owe you nothing anymore.

We are completely done.

Chapter 1

I was the lady of the house at The Mercer Estate—in name only.

In our five years of marriage, I had lost count of how many women my husband brought back to spend the night.

I could only swallow the humiliation and stay silent.

Because my mother was gravely ill, her life hanging by a thread, sustained entirely by an experimental life-saving medication provided by the Mercer family.

Until today...

When my mother suffered another severe episode, I went to beg my husband for the medication, but he refused to see me.

Talia, the latest woman he had brought home, passed on his message:

"Adrian says you get it when he's in a better mood. Wait on the porch."

And so I stood on the porch, listening to the sounds of their intimacy for an entire night...

Early the next morning, Talia walked out holding a small medicine box.

A second later, right in front of my eyes, she tossed the medication that could save my mother's life straight into the roaring fireplace.

Talia smiled, sweet yet cruel. "Adrian's orders."

In the midst of my despair, a maid came stumbling over in tears.

"Ma'am... your mother... she took her own life. She's gone."

Trembling, she handed me my mother's suicide note.

"My sweet girl, I've been a burden for too long. Live for yourself now."

"What's with the waterworks? Is playing the victim all you're good for? You could cry your eyes out, and Adrian still wouldn't look twice at you."

Talia clearly thought my breakdown was just a pathetic ploy to win Adrian's pity.

She stepped closer in her heels and shoved my shoulder.

I grabbed her wrist and threw her hand off me.

Talia stumbled and fell to the floor, her eyes going wide.

"What the hell is going on out here?"

The door opened.

Adrian stood in the doorway, eyes heavy with sleep, his shirt unbuttoned to reveal a collarbone and neck covered in marks from the night before.

"Adrian..."

Talia's eyes instantly welled with tears, her voice trembling. "Maris was so angry. She threw a fit and tossed her mother's medication right into the fire..."

Her shift in demeanor was flawless. The sharp, venomous tone from seconds ago vanished, replaced by fragile innocence.

Adrian stepped forward to help her up, but his gaze cut into me like a knife.

He closed the distance between us and seized my wrist.

"Taking it out on Talia now?"

His grip was terrifyingly heavy, clamping down on my bones like a vice.

"Are you actually here for the medication, or is this just another pathetic stunt to get my attention?"

"I didn't—"

He shoved me hard against the doorframe.

My shoulder blade slammed into the solid wood. My teeth cut into my lip, and the metallic taste of blood instantly flooded my mouth.

Adrian stared at me, his eyes brimming with disgust.

"That was the last batch of the experimental life-saving medication for your mother. Who gave you the right to burn it?"

I gripped the doorframe, struggling to stay on my feet.

"I didn't burn it."

"Still lying."

His voice was devoid of any warmth. "The only reason I haven't had security drag you off this estate is because the ink isn't dry on our marriage yet."

He let go, and I slumped pathetically against the cold, damp stone steps.

"Adrian, don't be mad."

Talia wrapped her arms around his, her voice soft and coaxing.

"I had this amazing petal oatmeal at an artisanal wellness café yesterday. I want to try making it, but I need organic, pesticide-free rose petals. Picked at dawn..."

"That sounds perfect."

Adrian's tone softened immediately.

Then, he snatched a stack of care and transport confirmation papers from Ivy's hands and hurled them at my feet.

"If you want your mother's treatment to continue, go pick those petals. Come up short, and I'll cancel every medical arrangement she has."

With that, he wrapped his arm around Talia and led her back into the bedroom.

"Mrs. Mercer..."

Only after the door clicked shut did Ivy step forward, crying as she wiped the blood from my lip.

I looked down at my tightly clenched hands.

My mother's suicide note was crumpled and soaked in sweat, but the handwriting remained painfully clear.

Suddenly, the closed door jerked open again.

A pile of expensive lingerie and evening gowns was thrown out, hitting me squarely in the chest.

The fabric was stained with fresh blood.

"Talia got her period this morning. Wash these."

Ivy shook with rage, reaching out to snatch the soiled clothes away.

"I'll do it, Ma'am. This is sick..."

I pressed my hand over hers.

"No. You've suffered enough with me. It's over."

I stared at the bloodstains, my voice barely a whisper.

My mother was gone.

I no longer had any reason to stay at The Mercer Estate and let them grind me into the dirt.

Adrian, I owe you nothing anymore.

We are completely done.