Chapter 3

I dropped to the floor, frantically trying to piece it back together, but it was useless—completely destroyed.

My eyes burned as I glared at her. "Mia, you did that on purpose!"

Seeing Mia's eyes start to glisten, Edward immediately pulled her behind him, shielding her.

"Rachel, it's just a bracelet. Why are you getting so worked up?" he said.

Just a bracelet?

Sure, nothing fancy—maybe a couple hundred bucks at any jewelry store.

But it was the only reminder I had of my mom since she passed.

"I'm really sorry, Rachel. I didn't mean to," Mia whispered.

Suddenly, she started gasping, her face going pale.

Edward's expression shifted instantly. He tore into the living room, searching frantically.

"The medicine—where's the asthma medicine?" His voice cracked with panic.

I stood there, watching him fall apart with cold detachment.

The man who was always so composed—put Mia in the picture, and it all fell away.

"I threw it out," I said calmly. "Neither of us has asthma. Why keep it? It was taking up space."

Edward stared at me in disbelief, and that was when I realized his eyes had gone red.

"You know Mia has asthma! Are you trying to kill her?" he roared, sweeping her into his arms.

Worried she couldn't breathe, he hesitated, then quickly unbuttoned her blouse.

My eyes caught on the protection pendant around Mia's neck—identical to the one I'd given Edward.

As he turned to leave, I grabbed his sleeve and demanded, "Wait—is Mia wearing the pendant I gave you?"

Edward's eyes flickered with guilt, but his voice stayed firm.

"Mia had an accident. I was worried, so I gave it to her. You're going to be family, so of course you'd understand."

I couldn't help but laugh.

Who the hell did he think he was, making decisions for me?

For that pendant, I climbed thousands of steps to a shrine on my knees, every step a prayer. By the time I got to the top, my knees were raw and bleeding.

But everything I did for him meant nothing compared to Mia saying she liked something.

"Why did her asthma suddenly flare up?" Edward murmured.

His eyes swept the room and landed on the bouquet on the table.

His face darkened, brows drawing tight.

"Didn't I tell you—no flowers in this house, ever? Rachel, those are yours, aren't they?"

I met his glare. "This is my home. I can put whatever I want—"

Before I could even finish, Edward's hand cracked across my face.

Everyone froze. The room went silent, all eyes darting between us nervously.

Edward looked unhinged—I'd never seen him like this. The veins in his neck were bulging, his eyes wild with rage.

But maybe seeing the tears streaming down my face made him pause. His voice came out heavy. "Sorry. I lost control. I need to get Mia to the hospital. We'll talk when I get back."

With that, he turned and bolted downstairs without a backward glance.

One by one, everyone who'd been watching slipped out, leaving me alone.

My finger suddenly throbbed—I'd cut it on the broken bracelet.

After bandaging it, I called my lawyer to start the divorce paperwork.

Then I went back to the bedroom and started packing in silence.

Edward, this game was over.

After signing the papers, I took off my wedding ring and left it on the table beside the letter and divorce documents.

I sent Edward one last message, then blocked him.

[Check the table. I'm out of your way now—go be with Mia.]