Chapter 3

Elena's eyes snapped open, a jolt of shock coursing through her body as icy cold water cascaded over her face. The sudden deluge soaked her hair.

'Is she dead?'

'Is she in heaven?'

Gasping for breath, Elena struggled to regain her composure, her vision blurred as water droplets clung to her lashes. The drenched fabric of her clothing clung uncomfortably to her skin.

"Oh, First Miss, are you awake?"

"You were caught red-handed by the Donovan family for having an affair!" Elena's stepsister, Kesha Roseford uttered in disdain. "They sent you back, do you know that? The entire Roseford family's reputation has been ruined by you!"

"Kesha, what are you talking about?" It was her manipulative stepmother, Felicia.

Elena looked at the gloating faces of Felicia and Kesha in front of her, and she smiled bitterly in her heart.

It turned out that it was not heaven. It was back to hell. Life with Laura and Damon was bad, but life in Roseford Mansion could be even worse.

She struggled and winced at her aching body as she sat up. She smirked. "Well, I was just following the footsteps of this family anyway. The mistress now becomes the wife."

Everyone was in the main living room, gathered around Elena, who was on the sofa. It felt like a grand spectacle, where everyone was watching the main attraction: an unfaithful woman.

"You..." Kesha glared at her angrily. "Dad, did you hear what Elena just said?"

Gordon Roseford stood next to Kesha. Elena finally noticed that her father was there as well. She puckered her lips, keeping quiet out of respect for her father.

"Dad, I want a divorce!" Elena said firmly.

"I do not agree!" Gordon spoke loudly.

She felt a pang of disappointment. She thought that even though her other family members had always mistreated her, her father would still stand by her side.

Elena sneered and tried to leave the room. "I do not care if you agree or not. I am already an adult."

"How dare you!" Gordon's anger surged within him like a raging inferno, boiling his blood until he could barely contain it.

Suddenly, he erupted into violent coughs, each one tearing through his chest with a ferocity that stole his breath away. The coughing fit was so severe that it left him gasping for air, his lungs aching with each desperate inhalation.

Elena stopped walking, but she did not turn around.

Felicia and Kesha rushed to Gordon's side, their concern etched deeply on their faces as they witnessed his distress.

"Gordon, you need to tell Elena about our family's predicament," Felicia urged, her voice tinged with urgency. "We're facing a crisis with our project, and we've already lost 50 million dollars. The very foundation of the Roseford Family hangs in the balance, and without Damon's support, we could face utter collapse!" The weight of their words hung heavily in the air, adding another layer of tension to an already fraught situation.

Elena was shocked. She remembered what Laura said when she was hitting her. Was that what she said... true?

"What the hell is going on?"

"Elena!" Gordon's voice cracked, tears streaming down his face. His voice trembled with a mix of despair and guilt, his vulnerability laid bare before her. "I hope you do not blame me. I was not able to do anything. Your late mother and I built our wealth and influence together from scratch. But I have failed her. I am going to be the one who is going to single-handedly destroy it!"

Elena's heart ached as she witnessed Gordon's anguish. The weight of his words resonated within her, the depth of his sorrow palpable in the trembling of his voice. It was a painful admission, a revelation of his perceived failure and the impending ruin that haunted him.

Mother!

Elena remembered that when her mother died, she made her promise to do everything possible to protect the Roseford family. If only her mother were still alive"This is the last time, I promise! Elena, please apologize to Damon again. As long as the Roseford family is able to survive this crisis, I will definitely take you back!"

Gordon's tear-streaked face mirrored the burden he carried, the weight of their shared legacy now threatening to crumble beneath his feet. The depth of his remorse tugged at Elena's own emotions, a realization that their lives were intertwined by more than just a marriage.

Elena turned around and looked at Gordon pitifully. She no longer believed in her father, but for the sake of the promise she made to her late mother, she was willing to try one final time.

"I will go back to Damon, but this is the damn last thing I do for you all."

The Donovan Residence stood silent and imposing as Elena returned to it in the late hours of the night. The weight of exhaustion settled upon her shoulders, but she mustered the strength to continue forward.

As she made her way through the dimly lit hallway, the soft glow of the living room spilled into her path. A mixture of trepidation and curiosity tugged at her, urging her to glance inside. And there, at the scene that unfolded before her, a wave of tension hung heavy in the air.

Her husband, Damon Donovan, sat at the dining table, sharing a meal with Laura. Their presence cast a pall over the room, the atmosphere charged with unspoken animosity.

Laura's gaze pierced through Elena, her eyes filled with disdain. With a resounding clatter, she threw her spoon onto the table, the clinking of metal against wood echoing. "I do not want to eat anymore!" she declared. "My appetite is ruined."

Elena felt the weight of Laura's words settle upon her like an invisible cloak of condemnation.

The tension in the room threatened to suffocate her, the hostility palpable even in the dimly lit space.

Elena ignored her and walked straight ahead.

In the face of Laura's contempt, Elena straightened her posture, summoning an inner strength that would shield her from the daggers of disapproval.

"Stop!" Damon suddenly opened his mouth.

When Elena turned back to look at him, Damon sneered and pointed at the ground. "Kneel down and crawl to me." He shouted at her like she was a dog.