Chapter 2

"You're really going to divorce Alex?" Margaret Grant, Alexander's mother asked.

At first, she'd been irritated by Emily's unexpected visit to the Grant Estate, but once she realized why Emily had come, her eyes lit up with barely hidden delight.

Watching that faint smile spread across Margaret's face, Emily felt like she'd been punched in the chest.

Even though Alexander had once threatened to take his own life to force his family to accept their marriage, they'd never truly welcomed her.

Margaret, in particular, had made Alexander sign a divorce agreement before the wedding, calling it a "just in case" precaution.

Back then, Alexander hadn't cared at all. He'd signed it casually, then tossed the papers to his mother as if they meant nothing.

"This doesn't mean anything. Emmy and I are never getting divorced," he'd said with complete confidence.

Who could have imagined how wrong he'd be?

Now, that same sheet of paper had become Emily's only way out.

"Fine, you can have your divorce, but you'll have to cut off a finger," Margaret said coldly.

Emily froze, eyes widening in disbelief.

Margaret's disdain was unmistakable. "The heir to the Grant family can't have the slightest imperfection," she sneered. "Back then, Alex cut off his finger for you. Now that you're leaving, it's your turn to pay up."

Every memory of that fiery, reckless love now felt like a blade slicing into her chest.

Tears welled up in Emily's eyes, her throat tight, but she forced out a single word. "Fine."

Margaret's expression flickered in surprise. Clearly, she hadn't expected Emily to agree so easily. She gestured for someone to bring a knife.

Emily stared at the knife. Without a trace of hesitation, she lifted her left hand. The moment the blade came down, a searing pain shot up her arm and exploded behind her eyes.

Her pinky hit the floor with a dull thud, blood spilling fast. Pain roared through her body, sweat soaking her back, but she didn't scream. She just bit down on her lip hard enough to taste blood.

After all this time, they were even.

"Emily, once the cooling-off period is over, I expect you to disappear from Alex's life for good," Margaret said, her voice dripping with cold satisfaction.

Emily let out a quiet laugh. Pressing a handkerchief hard against her bleeding finger, she turned and walked out.

But she hadn't even reached the gate when a black car came hurtling toward her.

With a great crash, the impact threw her off her feet and slammed her into the ground.

Her vision blurred, the world spinning, but she forced her eyes open and saw who was in the car.

Sophie trembled in Alexander's arms, weakly hitting his chest as tears streamed down her face. "Mr. Grant, it's all your fault. I told you I can't drive, but you made me do it. I hit someone. What if I end up in jail?"

Alexander bent down and ruffled her hair, a faint smirk on his lips. "Relax, Sophie. Nobody's sending you to jail over something like this. Stay in the car. I'll handle it."

Emily's whole body screamed in pain, but she forced herself to watch as he stepped out of the car.

When he saw her lying on the ground, his eyes widened in shock and then hardened instantly. "Emily, since when did you start pulling dirty stunts like this?" he sneered.

A bitter laugh slipped from her lips, the taste of blood filling her mouth. "Alex, unless I've completely lost my mind, why would I risk my life to fake an accident? Don't you think your precious Sophie aimed for me on purpose?" she shot back.

"Sophie wouldn't hurt a fly," Alexander said coldly. "If you're not seriously hurt, then get out of here.

"And don't show up around her again. You'll just make her blame herself every time she sees you for supposedly wrecking someone's family."

Emily stared at him, wide-eyed, stunned by his words.

She clenched her bleeding fist and let out a shaky laugh. "Isn't that exactly what she is?"

Alexander frowned. "What?"

"I said, isn't she the homewrecker who destroyed my family? The shameless woman who'd do anything to steal someone else's husband?" Emily hissed, eyes blazing with fury.

Before he could respond, a car door slammed shut behind her.

Alexander turned and saw Sophie standing by the car, her eyes red and her body trembling. He hadn't even noticed her get out.

His heart clenched. "Sophie!"

Sophie burst into tears. "Mr. Grant, don't come looking for me again!" She covered her face and ran off, sobbing.

"Emily!" Alexander's voice snapped like a whip. His face was ice-cold, eyes hard and dangerous. "Are you looking for trouble?

"Did you forget? After the transplant, she's still not fully recovered. If anything happens to her because of you, I'll never forgive you."

Before he could say another word, his phone rang.

A strange, heavy dread crept over him as he answered.

"Hello, are you Sophie's family? There's been an accident at the intersection..." the voice said.

Alexander's mind went blank. Without another glance at Emily, he turned and sprinted back to the car.

Just before driving off, he paused, eyes glinting cold as steel. "Take her to the police station," he ordered his bodyguards. "Tell them she started a fight and injured someone. Lock her up for five days, and make sure she gets special treatment."

Emily's head snapped up.

She couldn't believe it. He was really going to have her dragged off to jail—bleeding and broken—all because of Sophie.