Chapter 4

Elise stood at the door in a plain knit dress, a small suitcase in her hand. She flashed him a bright smile, her eyes sparkling. "Is this going to be my home from now on?"

What did he say to her back then?

He said, "Of course."

But later, no one in that house ever truly saw her as the real lady of the house.

Not even him.

On the ride back to the Wright family, Elise sat in the back seat, watching the street scenes blur past the window, but none of it registered with her.

Alieen sat beside her, trying a few times to reach for her hand, but always pulling back, worried it would be too forward. In the end, she said softly, "We'll wait for you outside, okay?"

Elise looked up at her.

Alieen clearly took good care of herself, but the fine lines at the corners of her eyes couldn't hide her exhaustion, like she hadn't slept well in years.

Her mind suddenly drifted to her adoptive mother.

When her adoptive mother was gravely ill, she always looked at Elise that way, wanting to reach out and touch her face, but afraid it would upset her, so she'd act like everything was fine and ask if she was hungry.

Elise's heart ached, and she murmured a soft "mm."

The car pulled up outside the Wright family's villa.

Gavin had bought the house before their wedding. It was in a prime spot, the decor was expensive, and even the garden out front looked like it belonged in a magazine.

When Elise first moved in, she thought the place was so beautiful that it could've been a set from a TV show. She felt so out of place, like she didn't even belong on those floors.

But now, standing outside, all she could feel was a chill.

Cold, like a shiny shell with nothing inside.

As soon as Elise stepped through the door, Alina's voice rang out from the living room.

"How can a divorce take this long? Is she still up to something..."

Her words stopped abruptly.

Alina was sitting on the couch in a deep purple silk fitted dress, with an emerald necklace around her neck. When she saw Elise walk in, her expression soured instantly.

"You still know how to come home?" Alina said.

Elise didn't say anything. She slipped off her shoes and went straight upstairs.

Alina set her coffee cup down with a sharp thud. "Stop right there. I'm talking to you!"

Elise paused, turned back, and said, "Did you need something?"

Alina's temper spiked at Elise's attitude, her voice shrill. "Is that all you have to say? Now that you're divorced, shouldn't you be returning everything that belongs to the Wright family? My pearl necklace is gone. Did you take it?"

Elise stared at her, and couldn't help but feel a wave of amusement.

Three years.

Alina never changed. When Elise was burning up with fever, Alina accused her of pretending. When Elise ruined a tablecloth in the wash, Alina sneered that people from humble backgrounds had no sense of proper manners.

And now, the moment Elise got divorced, the first thing Alina did was accuse her of stealing.

"I didn't take it," said Elise.

"Oh, so you say you didn't take it, and I'm supposed to believe you?" Alina sneered. "People from backgrounds like yours are always scheming. Don't think you can walk out now that you're divorced. I'm telling you, unless you clear things up today, you're not going anywhere..."

"Mom." Gavin said.

Gavin walked in, interrupting her.

Alina turned and saw Gavin. Her temper cooled a bit. But then she caught sight of the Bentley parked outside, and her expression soured again.

Alina asked, "Whose car is that?"

No one answered.

Alina's eyes narrowed as she looked at Elise, her voice turning even nastier. "Elise, you just got your divorce papers, and you're already cozying up to someone else?

"No wonder you've been acting so tough these days. I thought you finally grew a spine, but it looks like you were lining up your next man all along."

Elise's fingers tightened bit by bit, her hand clenching slowly.

Gavin's face darkened. "Mom, that's enough."

"And tell me, what exactly did I say that's wrong?" Alina was getting more fired up. "I've seen plenty of women like her, pretending to be all innocent, but always scheming behind everyone's back.

"Three years in the Wright family, not a single sign of a baby, but she sure knew how to spend our money. Now she's divorced, and there's a fancy car parked outside. What, you think she hasn't already got herself a new man lined up?"

Smack!

The crisp slap cut through the room, and suddenly, everything was dead silent.

Alina froze.

Gavin was stunned, too.

Elise lowered her hand, her palm still stinging a little from the hit, but her face was completely calm.

It was the first time Elise had ever struck Alina.

For three years, no matter how much she'd been wronged, she'd never once fought back against her elders. But when her hand finally landed, there was no sense of relief, just a numbness that should've come ages ago.

She stared at Alina. Her voice wasn't loud, but every word hit home.

"You can insult me all you want, but don't dump your dirty assumptions on me."

Alina snapped out of it, let out a shriek, and came at Elise. "How dare you hit me?"

Gavin held her back. "Mom!"

"Let go of me. This bitch..."

"Say that again, I dare you."

A cold, deep voice came from the doorway.

Everyone turned their heads at once.

Jim had slipped in without anyone noticing, his black shirt making him look even sharper, eyes cold as ice with not a hint of warmth.

He stood in front of Elise, cool and collected, but it was obvious he was there to protect her.

Right after, Jeffery and Alieen walked in.