: I Don't Want You Anymore

The words had barely left her mouth when the wine glass in Chloe Shaw's hand tipped over, spilling onto me.

The red liquid drenched me, and the glass shattered on the floor.

"Elara Rhodes, I never came between you and Aiden. You were the one who abandoned him for a $50,000 marriage settlement. You pushed him away with your own two hands."

"Then, when you saw that Aiden had made it big, you used your past together to force him into marrying you with an exorbitant marriage settlement. But I was the one by his side all these years! He had already promised to marry me…"

"I know you still blame me for what happened back then. When your family ran into trouble, you came to me for help. But I was just a student then. Even if I wanted to help, I couldn't. After all, your father didn't just commit financial crimes, he was a murderer! And your mother was…"

I didn't hesitate. I shoved her away.

"Chloe Shaw, shut your mouth!"

'My father is not a murderer!'

'My father was framed!'

'I've had a fiery, headstrong personality since I was a child. Even if life has worn down my edges over the years, I will never let anyone slander my family.'

I barely used any force.

But Chloe Shaw still fell to the ground.

The broken glass on the floor sliced a deep gash into her palm.

Blood streamed onto the floor.

Everyone in the private room panicked. They scrambled to their feet, rushed over, and shoved me aside forcefully.

Caught off guard, I fell, my own palm cut by the shards.

The food container I was holding fell, its contents spilling across the floor.

I watched it all unfold in silence.

I saw Aiden Dalton rush to Chloe Shaw's side in an instant, lifting her into his arms and setting her down on the sofa.

His face was filled with concern. "It's okay, don't be afraid. I'm here."

'I could tell he cared about her a great deal.'

'Just as he had once cared for me.'

The others crowded around, fussing over her.

And I was just the laughingstock.

Only after Chloe Shaw's wound was treated did they turn on me.

I didn't care about their insults and disgust.

I clenched my fist and looked up at Aiden Dalton. "There's a new development in my father's case. I need you to represent him."

'Aiden Dalton isn't just a brilliant businessman; he's an even better lawyer.'

'He's never lost a case he's taken on.'

'If he's willing to help, my father's name can finally be cleared.'

Aiden Dalton looked up at me, a mocking glint in his eyes.

"Elara Rhodes, do you still think I'm that same poor kid who would do anything you asked?"

The color drained from my face, and my heart sank.

'He refused.'

'But I couldn't give up.'

Chloe Shaw peeked out from his arms and said in a small voice, "Aiden, you don't have to be angry with Elara Rhodes just because I got hurt. I know she hates me. She hates that I was the one by your side when you broke up."

"But Aiden, my heart ached for you, too. You were in such despair back then, and I just wanted to be there for you. I would have stayed by your side even if you never loved me."

Aiden Dalton's expression visibly softened. He reached up and gently wiped away her tears.

He murmured softly, "It's okay. This isn't your fault."

'Chloe Shaw was the apple of his eye now, the woman his friends all accepted as their future sister-in-law.'

Seeing that I had "bullied" Chloe Shaw to tears, his friends quickly jumped in to stick up for her.

"It's just a lawsuit, right? If you get on your knees and apologize to Chloe, I'm sure we can work something out. Right, Dalton?"

After a few seconds of silence, Aiden Dalton spoke, his voice slow and deliberate.

"Elara Rhodes, if you're going to ask for a favor, you should act like it. Besides, what happened today was your fault to begin with. You're the one who hurt Chloe."

'He didn't care that Chloe Shaw had been the one to provoke me.'

'He just couldn't stand to see her suffer the slightest hurt.'

'He knew full well how much my family means to me, yet he was still using this to force me to abandon my pride.'

I lowered my eyes, blinking rapidly to force back the tears.

When I looked up again, I slowly unclenched my fist, and a small, bitter smile touched my lips.

"Fine. I'll kneel and apologize to her."

Forcing down the pain and humiliation, I knelt directly in front of Chloe Shaw.

"Chloe Shaw, I'm sorry."

'Aiden Dalton, I knelt and apologized to the woman you love.'

'You've crushed what little dignity I had left.'

'Are you satisfied now?'

As it turned out, they weren't satisfied.

One of Aiden Dalton's friends said I had ruined the mood of their party and that I should punish myself by downing a bottle of liquor.

"I'm sick. I can't drink."

'The doctor said I need to take very careful care of my health.'

'Drinking will only make me die faster.'

I had barely finished speaking when the room erupted in jeering laughter.

"An escort, saying she can't drink? That's hilarious."

"What's with the act? Lying about being sick so she doesn't have to drink. How fake."

Finally, Aiden Dalton spoke.

"Elara Rhodes, drink this bottle of wine, or I represent your father. Pick one."

I looked at him calmly. "I'm not lying. I really am sick. This bottle will kill me."

He seemed furious, and his smile was ice-cold.

"Do you still think you're that delicate little wealthy young miss you used to be? You think a little alcohol is going to kill you?"

'I felt something inside me get stripped away.'

'Fine. I'll drink it.'

'But Aiden Dalton, I hold grudges.'

'And you'd better remember this: I'm done with you.'

I finished the bottle of wine in one go.

Then, after getting Aiden Dalton's promise, I dragged my aching body home in a taxi, all alone.

The night was pitch-black. I fought through the pain, forcing myself to stay alert as I sat at my desk, writing and sketching.

'I'm afraid I won't make it through the night.'

'So while I'm still lucid, I have to do something.'

After closing the notebook in my hands, I shakily took out my phone and sent a message.

'If I can still open my eyes tomorrow…'

'If everything goes according to plan, I'll be able to leave this place.'

Once everything was arranged, I finally looked out the window.

It was cold and dark tonight, with snowflakes drifting through the sky.

Just like the weather on the night of my eighteenth birthday.

Except back then, I was the apple of Aiden Dalton's eye, the treasure he held in the palm of his hand.

That year, my friends threw me a birthday party at a bar.

We played a game where the loser had to drink.

My luck must have been terrible. I lost nine times out of ten, so of course, I was the one who had to take the penalty shots.

The truth was, I hated alcohol. Back then, I didn't touch a single drop.

Aiden Dalton stepped in front of me, standing up for me. "Elara hates drinking. From now on, don't make her drink. I'll drink all of her shots for her."

My friends all said that Aiden Dalton spoiled me rotten.

He wouldn't let me suffer the slightest grievance.

He would do anything for me.

To buy me the most expensive birthday present, he would go work as a handyman at a construction site whenever he didn't have classes.

After a hard day's work, covered in dirt, he would only earn $30.

But he kept it up for a month and gave me a necklace on the night of my birthday.

I recognized the necklace. I had glanced at it a few extra times when we were at the mall before.

I was originally planning to go back and buy it myself when I was shopping alone next time.

But I never expected him to buy it for me ahead of time.

That necklace cost over $900.

For me at the time, $900 was just the cost of a single meal.

But for him, that was more than half a year's living expenses.

I held his scarred hands and cried my heart out.

"Aiden Dalton, you big fool. I don't want any presents, and I don't want you to work so hard for me. I just want you..."

He pulled me into his arms, kissed my tears away, and patiently soothed me.

"Elara, you're willing to eat with me at a street stall that costs a few dollars, so I'm willing to work my hardest, no matter what, to buy you the best things in the world."

That night, he put the necklace on me with his own hands.

It was the most beautiful necklace I had ever seen.

No other necklace, no matter how expensive, could ever compare.

A noise from the living room broke me from my thoughts.

Aiden Dalton was back.

'Probably with Chloe Shaw.'

I didn't go out.

I stayed quietly by myself in the servant's room on the first floor.

In our two years of marriage, the only time I was allowed to set foot on the second floor was when he brought Chloe Shaw home.

Except they would be in the room, while I was required to stand guard at the door.

After Chloe Shaw left, I would take her place as Aiden Dalton's tool to sleep with.

'How filthy.'

I lowered my gaze, staring at the scars on my arm for a long time.

At some point, he appeared behind me, frowning as he looked at me.

"Why is your face so pale? Did you catch a cold?"

He reached out to touch my forehead, but I dodged him.

"My face is this pale, and President Dalton has no idea why?"

"Are you here to make me watch the two of you be lovey-dovey again, President Dalton? Just a moment, I'll be right there."

I stood up and tried to walk past him, but he yanked me back.

He shoved something into my hand.

I glanced down and saw it was a jewelry box.

"I bought this for you. From now on, dress yourself up properly. Don't embarrass me."

I stared at the jewelry box for a few seconds.