Elise's POV

Louis sneered icily. “You’re still pretending? I already know everything like how ten years ago, you…”

Before he could finish, Nicole suddenly burst into the room, cutting him off. “Louis, I’m not feeling well. Can you take me to the hospital?”

I stood up, ready to press him for answers, but Louis shoved past me before I could get a word out.

Right then, Nicole clung to his arm as the two of them stormed out.

I stood there, frozen, the frustration building in my chest until it finally boiled over.

But I forced myself to stay composed.

A short while later, I made my way to the hospital.

...

In the quiet of the hospital room, I sat beside my mother’s bed, gently holding her hand.

“Mom, you once told me Auntie took her own life because she couldn’t bear to watch Uncle die from the curse after he betrayed her. That’s why you always warned me not to marry, not to believe anyone could stay loyal forever.”

I let out a long, shaky breath. “I understand now. I was wrong. But don’t worry, I won’t punish myself for someone else’s sins. I’m still waiting for you to wake up.”

As visiting hours concluded, I dried my tears and exited the room quietly. While passing through the hospital lobby, I unexpectedly encountered Louis.

“What are you doing here? Following me?” he snapped, a flash of disgust crossing his face.

I didn’t bother replying. I turned to leave, but he grabbed my arm, refusing to let go.

“Elise, I’m talking to you. Are you deaf?”

I yanked at my arm, trying to break free. “Louis, if something’s wrong with you, see a doctor. Stop lashing out at everyone like a madman. You seriously think I’m following you around? Don’t you remember my mom’s here too? I come every day to see her.”

The bitterness in my voice surprised even me, but it felt good to let it out finally.

Louis froze, caught off guard by the outburst. His eyes dropped to my face, noticing the faint tear stains.

His tone softened, almost uncertain. “I was just in a rush… I forgot…”

Before I could respond, Nicole appeared, stepping between us.

She waved the ultrasound report in front of Louis.

“Louis, the doctor said the baby’s healthy. Look, the eyes and nose look just like yours," she chirped, her voice saccharine and oozing with false sweetness.

Louis smiled gently at her. “It’s better if the child looks like you. That way, I’ll have two little treasures.”

Nicole leaned into him, her playful tone laced with teasing. “You’re so annoying, Louis. Elise is still here. She’s going to be upset when she hears this.”

If it had been the old me, I would’ve been furious. I would’ve argued with Louis and Nicole, demanding an explanation.

But now, all I felt was cold detachment. I simply turned and walked away without a second glance.

Nicole called after me, her voice dripping with sweetness. “Elise, tomorrow’s our wedding. Why don’t you come and be our wedding emcee?”

I paused and turned around, locking eyes with Louis.

A sarcastic smile spread across my lips. “You and the mistress are getting married? And you want me, your wife, to be the emcee? You two really know how to play this game, don’t you?”

Louis’s face darkened, guilt flashing in his eyes for a moment. “Elise, can you not be so harsh? You’ve already got me. I’m just giving Nicole the wedding she wants. I’m fulfilling her wish. Why are you being so petty?”

I opened my mouth to refuse, but before I could speak, Louis cut me off.

“You must come to the wedding tomorrow. Don’t forget, your mother still needs the imported medicine from the Anderson family.”

My fists tightened instinctively as anger surged within me. I hardly noticed my hand's wound reopening, yet blood started to flow again.

...

Louis had arranged a wedding for Nicole that was more extravagant than the one we had five years ago.

When the guests saw me walk in, whispers filled the air.

“Elise Jefferson really has a big heart. She’s willing to attend her husband’s wedding to someone else.”

“I think those rumors about the Jefferson women are false. They were just lies to trap a man,” one guest whispered, clearly judging me.

Another guest chuckled. “They thought they could make a man loyal, but no man is willing to marry them anymore.”

Elise's POV

I casually lifted my glass and took a sip, keeping my expression unreadable.

We’d discover whether the curse was real or just an old family myth in three days.

The room buzzed with laughter and clinking glasses, but the moment Louis appeared at the top of the grand crystal staircase, silence rippled through the crowd.

Nicole stood beside him, her hand locked tightly in his.

They descended together, each step guided by the rhythm of the music, which flowed like a gentle wave.

Then, without warning, Louis’s face twisted in pain.

His foot slipped, and in an instant, he lost his balance. He tumbled down the stairs, landing on the ground with a sickening thud.

A collective gasp rippled through the room.

"Do you think Louis is dead?" someone asked, voice trembling with concern.

Several people quickly gathered, kneeling to see if Louis was alive.

A tense moment passed before one of them let out a sigh of relief.

"He’s still breathing. Get him to the hospital, fast!"

Right then, Louis collapsed. Chaos erupted, and within minutes, he was rushed to the hospital.

The wedding screeched to a halt.

But the curse?

That was just getting started.

I glanced up at Nicole, still frozen at the top of the stairs, her eyes wide with terror.

She didn’t scream. She didn’t move.

I didn’t say a word. Just turned and walked away.

When Louis fell, she’d been close enough to catch him.

But she didn’t.

Worse, when he reached out for her, desperate, she pushed him away.

“Elise, was this your doing?” Nicole’s voice rang out from behind me, full of accusation.

I didn’t even respond. The truth didn't need to be said.

...

Later that day, when Louis regained consciousness, he ordered that I be taken to the hospital.

“Elise, do you think pulling these tricks will make me believe in the Jefferson family curse?” he sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. “Let me tell you, you can’t fool me.”

I looked at him coolly. “What the hell are you talking about?”

With her eyes swollen and red from crying, Nicole stepped forward.

“Elise, I had people investigate. It was you who drugged Louis’s water, causing his legs to go numb, embarrassing him in front of everyone. He almost lost his life.”

She was on the verge of tears again.

“It’s my fault,” Nicole added, her voice trembling. “I was so worried about the baby... I didn’t grab you in time. Louis, it’s all my fault.”

Louis raised his hand to wipe away her tears, his gaze softening. “Nicole, I don’t blame you. The baby is the most important thing.”

Then his eyes darted to me, his voice becoming cold. “Elise, be thankful Nicole and the baby are fine. Or else, I wouldn’t let you off so easily. You’ve ruined my life, so don’t think you’ll get away with it. I’m cutting off your mother’s medicine. Let her learn a lesson.”

My breath caught in my throat, panic flashing in my eyes.

“No, Louis! You can’t stop my mother’s medication!” I snapped, voice trembling. “If you’re angry, take it out on me! My mom got hurt saving your life. If you cut off her meds now, she might never wake up!”

Louis’s eyes narrowed, his tone like ice. “Don’t try to threaten me. Who told you to ruin my wedding with Nicole today?”

I fumbled in my bag, pulled out the freshly printed divorce agreement, and shoved it into his hands.

“I told you, it’s the curse. If you divorce me now, nothing will happen. It’s your last chance.”

Louis's expression twisted into a bitter sneer. With one sharp motion, he ripped the papers to shreds.

“Elise, do you really think I’m that stupid? Still playing the curse card? You want a divorce?”

Then he threw the torn pieces to the floor and sneered, “Keep dreaming.”

With that, Louis gave the order.

His men dragged me back to the Anderson estate and threw me into the confinement room.

Desperation surged through me as I pounded on the door.

“Please! Please open the door, let me out! I need to see Louis!”

I kept yelling, voice cracking, hands raw.

“Open it, please! My mother needs me! I have to save her!”

On the other side, the guard’s voice emerged, icy and indifferent.

“Madam, please don’t make this harder than it already is.”

...

For three long days, I screamed until my voice gave out, until all that was left was the sound of my ragged breathing and the silence pressing in around me.

My eyes were swollen from crying, my throat raw, and the weight of hopelessness settled over me like a shroud.

When I thought I couldn’t take another second, the door creaked open.

Louis stood there, leaning casually against the frame, a smirk playing on his lips.

“Today’s my grandfather’s 80th birthday. You’re coming with me. And this time,” he said coolly, “don’t try anything.”

Elise's POV

Louis glanced at the maid behind him and ordered, “Get her ready. We leave in half an hour.”

Without waiting, I snatched my phone and quickly turned it on. A string of missed calls from the hospital flashed on the screen, each one a painful reminder.

With trembling hands, I called back.

"Ms. Jefferson, why did it take you so long to answer? Your mother passed away last night..."

The voice on the other end was stiff, professional, but it felt like a punch to the gut.

I stood there, stunned, as I was brought before Louis. With his arm casually draped around Nicole's waist, they entered his private car when he rolled down the window and looked at me.

"Nicole can’t stand the smell of the new car," Louis said nonchalantly. "You take another one."

As his car drove away, I stood there clutching my phone, staring at the hospital’s death notice glowing on the screen.

Rage rose inside me, sharp and unrelenting. All I felt was hatred for Louis and everything he had taken from me.

At that moment, it felt like fate itself had turned cruel.

Then, out of nowhere, a runaway truck barreled toward Louis’s car.