Chapter 2

The next morning, the storm had passed, leaving the city washed clean.

I hadn’t slept. I’d spent the entire night staring into the darkness, replaying every moment of our lives. I had known love in its purest form. How could I ever accept this tainted, broken version of it?

I was Elara, the woman who loved Julian Astor with every fiber of her being. But I was also Elara Vance, heir to the Vance fortune. And my world had no room for this kind of betrayal.

I picked up my phone and dialed my father. “Dad, wasn't the company looking to expand our operations in the UK? Chloe's husband is from a British aristocratic family, and she’s taking Leo back to visit in two weeks. I was thinking of going with them to scout things out.”

My father sounded puzzled. “Is this Julian’s idea?”

“No,” I said, a bitter smile touching my lips. “This one is all mine.” Everyone, even my own father, saw us as a single entity. JulianandElara.

“Ellie, what’s going on?” his tone sharpened. “Did that boy do something to hurt you?”

I bit my lip, choosing to deflect for now. “Dad, please don’t ask. I’ll explain everything once I get to London.” The Astor and Vance families were old allies, their ties strengthened by our marriage. I wouldn’t let my personal tragedy cause collateral damage to my family’s business.

My father, unable to refuse me anything, relented. “Alright. Then come by the office today. I’ll have the London team brief you.”

After hanging up, I dragged myself to the bathroom. The woman in the mirror stared back, her eyes swollen into puffy, bruised almonds. The ache in my chest was a dull, constant throb. The divorce papers, already drafted by my lawyer, sat on my nightstand. I still hadn't figured out how to bring it up to Julian. So many years… how do you just sever a part of your own soul?

I skillfully concealed the evidence of my grief with makeup, trading my sorrow for a mask of professionalism. Dressed in a sharp power suit, I left my room.

Downstairs, Chloe was having breakfast with her son, Leo. He must have been frightened by my state yesterday.

“Auntie Elara!” Leo scrambled off his chair and ran to me, his little legs pumping. He took my hand and blew on it gently. “Mommy said your heart was hurting yesterday. I’ll blow on it so it feels better.”

The pure, innocent sweetness of a six-year-old. I stroked his cheek. “Thank you, sweetie. Auntie’s all better now. Go on, back to your mom.”

He nodded, still a little confused, and scurried back to the safety of Chloe’s arms.

A pang of longing shot through me. I thought of Julian laughing with that other boy. If our child had lived… he would have been a little older than him.

I took a deep breath, pushing down the bitterness, and after a quick word with Chloe, I headed out.

But as I stepped out of the villa’s gate, I froze. A sleek Maybach was parked down the street. Leaning against it, wreathed in a cloud of smoke, was Julian.

He looked exhausted, a cigarette dangling from his lips.

I was stunned. According to the PI’s report, both Isabelle and her son’s birthdays were in July. Hers had just passed, but the boy’s hadn’t. Why was he back so soon?

My stare must have been intense, because he looked up. The moment his eyes locked on mine, the weariness vanished, replaced by a sudden, brilliant light.

He strode towards me, closing the distance in three long steps, and pulled me into his arms.

His embrace was as warm as I remembered, but this time, it felt like a brand, searing my skin.

“Is your cold any better?” he murmured into my hair, his voice laced with genuine worry. “Your voice on the phone… I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I took the first flight back.”

“I went to our place and you weren’t there. I figured you must be with Chloe.”

His concern was so palpable, it felt real. I still couldn’t understand it. How could a man who loved me this much live with himself, sharing his life, his body, with another woman?

My lips trembled. I swallowed the lump in my throat, fighting the urge to scream at him. Instead, a weak, pathetic sentence came out. “I’m fine. I was just heading home.”

Julian let out a breath of relief. “Next time you’re sick, you have to tell me. You’ll worry me to death.”

His voice was a low, tender murmur, and for a split second, everything felt normal, as if the last twenty-four hours had been a nightmare.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw her.

A slender figure standing under a nearby tree, phone pressed to her ear. The next second, Julian’s phone buzzed.

He glanced down at the screen, and a flicker of conflict crossed his face. “Something urgent came up at the office. I have to go.”

My breath hitched. I’m not blind. I saw the name flash on his screen for a fraction of a second. Isabelle.

The bitterness threatened to choke me. I forced my voice to remain steady. “Okay. Go on, then. The company is important.”

Guilt flickered in his eyes. He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead before getting into his car and speeding away.

The moment he was gone, Isabelle hung up her phone. She sauntered over, her hips swaying. “Miss Vance. Hello. My name is Isabelle. I’m…”

She trailed off, her eyes landing on my tightly pressed lips. A knowing smile spread across her face.

“Ah. It seems you already know about Ethan and me. Well then,” she purred, “let the games begin.”