Chapter 4

Elena's POV

He stares at me, searching for panic, regret, hesitation.

If I show even a flicker of weakness, he'll pull me back in and go right back to looking down on me.

But he's going to be disappointed.

I glance at Miles's room upstairs. The door is closed. I can hear him laughing with Sophie.

That child doesn't belong to me anymore.

Or rather, that spoiled, brainwashed little boy isn't my son anymore.

Better to end it now.

If I have to cut away infected flesh to survive, I'll do it. Even if it's attached to my heart.

"No. I don't want him."

I look Adrian in the eye. Each word comes out clear and deliberate. "Let Sophie be his mother. That's what Miles chose. That's what you chose."

Adrian's expression hardens.

When that doesn't work, he gets nasty. "Where do you think you're going? Your parents are dead. You're nobody without me! You don't even have a home!"

My body goes rigid.

The words cut like a knife.

That was seven years ago, back when I worked at the architecture firm.

Adrian was an important client. A CEO. We fell hard and fast. But when I brought him home to meet my parents, things got tense fast.

My father didn't mince words at dinner. "This man is arrogant. He wants a trophy wife, not a partner."

My mother saw through him even faster. "He only cares about himself. He won't truly love you, sweetheart. You'll lose yourself in this relationship."

But I was drowning in romance. I thought they were old-fashioned. That they didn't understand real love.

I stopped going home as much to be with Adrian. My parents came to the wedding, but they weren't happy about it.

After we got married, I quit my job to stay home. They were even more disappointed.

My mother called once and couldn't help herself. "We didn't raise our daughter so she could give up her dreams to be a housewife."

I snapped back. "This is my choice. You don't understand."

We didn't talk for months after that.

Years later, late one night, the hospital called. My parents had been in a car accident. A drunk driver hit them head-on. Both were in the ICU. Critical condition.

I was taking care of Miles at the time. He had a high fever.

I grabbed my keys to drive to the hospital. It was over two hours away. But Adrian stopped me. "The kid's burning up. Who's going to watch him if you leave? Your parents have doctors. They don't need you. I'll send someone to check on them. If anything happens, we'll know right away."

I hesitated.

Miles really was burning up. And what Adrian said made sense.

By the time I got to the hospital hours later, the operating room doors were already closed.

A nurse came out and shook her head. "I'm so sorry. We did everything we could."

I collapsed in the hospital hallway. All the strength left my body.

The nurse knelt beside me. Her voice was soft. "Your father asked me to tell you something before he went into surgery. He said, tell her we're okay. Tell her not to worry. And tell her we'll always love her."

I clenched my fists. Tears blurred my vision.

My parents worried about me until the very end. And I had pulled away from them for that man. I missed the last years of their lives. I didn't even get to see them one last time.

Everything they warned me about came true. Adrian was selfish. He only cared about himself. I gave up my career for him. I lost myself for him. And now I'd lost my parents too.

And when my parents were dying, all he thought about was who would take care of his son.

I snap back to the present and look at the man who just threw my dead parents in my face without a shred of shame. My eyes go cold.

"You're right. My parents are dead." My voice stays calm. "Before they died, they told me you're a selfish bastard. I didn't believe them then. I do now."

I pause. "They were right. I was wrong. But at least I still have time to fix my mistake."

Adrian freezes completely.

His mouth opens like he wants to say something, but my words shut him down. Fear flickers in his eyes. The fear of losing control.

"Elena, don't you dare regret this!" His voice is loud but hollow. "If you walk out that door, you could beg on your knees and I still won't let you see Miles!"

"Don't worry."

I grab the handle of my suitcase and take one last look at this cold, expensive house.

"Adrian, meeting you was the biggest mistake of my life. As for Miles..."

I pause. I smile bitterly. "I hope you get exactly what you want. Raise him to be as selfish and cold as you are. Then you'll really be a family."

I turn and walk out the door without looking back.

The late fall wind cuts through my coat.

But I feel lighter than I have in years.

I'm free.

---

Elena walks out.

The moment the door closes, something twists in Adrian's chest. He almost goes after her. Almost grabs her and drags her back inside.

But he doesn't.

He's Adrian Thornton, CEO of Thornton Group. Women throw themselves at him all the time. Elena's just a housewife living off his money. How long can she survive in this city without him?

"Three days." Adrian stares at the empty living room and smirks. "Give it three days and she'll come crawling back."