Colton Riggs' voice came through the phone, groggy: “Yes, sir, I have it.”

“Send me a copy,” Adrienne replied.

Once the call ended, Adrianne’s phone buzzed with a new message. It was Lizzie’s physical exam report. Everything seemed normal—aside from some mild anemia and a vitamin D deficiency. Adrianne knew Lizzie didn’t spend much time in the sun, so that wasn’t a big surprise. He felt a wave of relief that there was nothing seriously wrong with her health.

The next morning, Lizzie woke up to find Adrianne still at the house. Adrianne had always been a workaholic, even with Ophelia around, so seeing him here now, especially in the morning, was hard to believe.

When she came down the stairs, Adrianne quickly ended the call he was on and stood up from the couch.

“I’ve booked us a flight to Lhasa this afternoon. Pack your things. We’re leaving for the airport soon.”

Lizzie raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by the sudden announcement.

Seeing her reaction, Adrianne added, “I just realized our wedding anniversary is coming up, so I thought we could take a short trip there to celebrate. We’ll be back before the New Year.”

Lizzie didn’t want to ruin the mood by asking about Ophelia—about what would happen to her if they leave her. Over the years, Lizzie had always been the one to plan everything—birthdays, anniversaries, even casual dates on weekdays. Whenever Adrianne had time, he’d spend it with her, but when he didn’t, Lizzie was left to figure things out on her own.

So hearing this sudden plan was like being hit by a thunderbolt—it was so out of the blue that it left her confused.

Was this guilt talking? Was this related to what happened last night? Lizzie couldn’t help but wonder. She took a deep breath and decided to go along with it, taking as the farewell trip.

After breakfast, Lizzie went back to the room to pack. The weather was cold, so she packed warm clothes and a few things she might need in case of altitude sickness. She packed quickly and before long, the driver was there to take them to the airport. Lizzie checked in, handed over her boarding pass and they moved through security without any problems. With time to kill before boarding, she decided to grab a coffee.

When she came back, however, Adrianne was nowhere to be found in the waiting area. At first, Lizzie thought maybe he had stepped away to use the restroom, so she waited calmly. But as boarding time drew nearer and Adrianne still hadn’t returned, Lizzie decided to call him.

When the phone picked up, Adrianne sounded out of breath. “Lizzie, I can’t make it. Just go without me. I’ll pick you up in two days.”

Lizzie froze, her hand shaking around her coffee cup. 

“Why?” her voice barely above whisper.

“It’s Ophelia... she… she tried to kill herself.”

Lizzie’s mouth went open and she couldn’t find the words. She hung up the phone and boarded the plane to Lhasa alone.

While she was there, Lizzie visited the prayer wheel and made a wish—but it wasn’t the wish she had always hoped for, the one where she and Adrianne would grow old together. Instead, she found herself wishing for her own safety and health.

She didn’t contact Adrianne again while in Lhasa and he didn’t reach out to her either. He had promised to pick her up, but days passed with no word.

By Christmas night, their fifth wedding anniversary had come and gone and still, no calls, no texts—nothing. The trip had ended and their anniversary had passed. Lizzie wasn’t surprised. She didn’t hold much hope in the first place, but after five years together, her heart felt like it had been stabbed with a thousand needles—the pain was sharp and overwhelming, making her hard to breathe.

After returning from Lhasa, Lizzie went to see a lawyer Mara had recommended.

Since Lizzie wanted the divorce to happen as soon as possible, the lawyer suggested she talk to Adrianne first, have him sign the divorce agreement and then they could proceed with the paperwork. The division of property could be handled later.

Lizzie hesitated, the weight of her decision pressing down on her. Was now really the right time to bring up the divorce? The idea of facing the entire Lennox Family felt overwhelming—especially her in-laws. Mr. and Mrs. Lennox had always been kind to her, almost like second parents. She couldn’t help but wonder how they would react if they tried to persuade her to stay. She wasn’t sure how she would handle that kind of confrontation. She felt emotionally drained, every fiber of her being stretched thin from everything that had happened. The idea of hearing them out, of having to explain herself, was more than she could bear.

Finally, her voice broke through the silence. “What if I give you full authority? You talk to Adrienne to get his sign about the the divorce and I’ll come back to complete the paperwork. Does that work for you?”

Belinda, the attorney, didn’t answer immediately. She simply studied Lizzie for a long moment, her gaze calm and focused. Then, she nodded.

“Yes, we can do that. But I’ll need you to sign a power of attorney form and the contract,” she said, her voice as steady as her gaze.

Lizzie signed the papers, her hand shaking slightly, but she didn’t let it show. Once it was done, Belinda led her out of the office. They barely made it past the front door when the mob descended.

Milk tea, coffee and bottles came flying out of nowhere, splashing onto Lizzie’s head and shoulders. She froze in shock, her heart racing. She stood there, stunned, unable to process the sudden assault.

“You shameless homewrecker!” one of the girls screamed, her face twisted in anger.

“Rot in hell!” another shouted.

“Stay away from our idol’s man, you awful witch!” someone else yelled, her voice thick with hatred.

The insults rained down from every direction, sharp and unforgiving. Then, without warning, one of the women shoved Lizzie. She stumbled back, losing her balance and fell to the ground, the impact jarring her body and sending a shock of pain through her side.

“Hey! Stop it! What the are you doing?” Belinda’s voice cut through the chaos. She had turned back just in time to see Lizzie fall and without a second thought, she rushed toward the scene, pushing her way through the crowd of angry women.

“Security! Call the police!” Belinda shouted as she reached Lizzie’s side. One of the guards quickly pulled out his phone to call for help, while another rushed to assist.

Lizzie sat there, drenched in spilled drinks, her hair matted and tangled, her face pale and defeated. She felt humiliated, small, the weight of the world pressing down on her shoulders. Belinda helped her up, her voice sharp with authority as she confronted the women.

“What is wrong with you people? Do you realize that public assault is a crime?” she demanded, her tone cold and commanding.

The leader of the group sneered, her expression full of righteous anger. “A crime? We’re just giving her what she deserves for everything she’s done to our idol.”

“Your idol?” Belinda scoffed. “There are hundreds of idols in this country, girls! Is it Ophelia Bullock?”

“Who else?!” the girl retorted, her arms crossed defiantly.

Belinda raised an eyebrow, a knowing look crossing her face. “Did Ophelia send you?”

The girl stood even taller, her posture full of self-righteous indignation. “She’s too kind-hearted to stand up for herself. That’s why she’s miserable. This bitch has been tormenting her for years, but we won’t let her get away with it anymore.”

“Our Ophelia has suffered enough because of this witch!” another girl chimed in, her voice full of venom.

Belinda smirked, unimpressed. “Well, let’s see if Ophelia shows up to bail you out at the police station.”

At that moment, the police arrived and the crowd began to scatter, their rage fading in the face of authority. Belinda quickly took Lizzie back to the office, helping her clean up as best as she could. Lizzie’s body felt like it was made of lead, every movement exhausting. They made their way to the station and on the way, Belinda checked her phone. The video of Lizzie being attacked had already gone viral, flooding her social media feeds with hate-filled comments.

Lizzie’s eyes narrowed as she scrolled through the posts, her heart hardening with each hateful word she read.

“Ms. Sawyer,” Lizzie’s voice was icy, the resolve in her words as sharp as a blade. “I’m authorizing you to handle this as well. I want to file a defamation suit against everyone with more than five hundred shares or likes on those posts. And as for the ones who attacked me today? No settlements. I’m pressing charges against each and every one of them.”

Belinda nodded without hesitation. “Don’t worry, Miss Bradford. I’ll take care of everything.”

At the police station, Lizzie was barely holding herself together. The exhaustion was overwhelming and she could feel every ounce of energy being drained from her. After giving her statement, she slumped back in the chair, completely drained.

“Are you okay, Miss Bradford?” Belinda asked, her voice gentle, yet laced with concern. “Do you want me to drive you home?”

Lizzie shook her head, her voice distant. “Thanks, Ms. Sawyer, but I’ll walk. I just... need some time to clear my head.”

Belinda gave a quick nod. “I understand. Just take care of yourself.”

After watching Lizzie leave, Belinda sent a quick text to Mara:

“Lizzie Bradford is at my place. She doesn’t look well. I offered her a ride, but she wouldn’t take it. Do something about it.”

Mara, who had been in a meeting, read the message and replied almost immediately:

“Got it. I’ll check on her in a minute.”

As soon as Mara ended the chat with Belinda, she left the meeting room and dialed Lizzie’s number.

When she picked up, Lizzie’s voice sounded light, almost playful. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me, just get back to work. We’ll grab dinner when you’re done.”

Mara couldn’t help but smile at the sound of her voice. “Lizzie, let’s ring in the New Year together this year,” she said, her tone sincere, yet full of a quiet anticipation.

Without skipping a beat, Lizzie’s reply was warm, unhesitating. “Alright, but you better not be working overtime.”

Mara chuckled. “I won’t. I’ll just bring my work home with me.”

Lizzie snorted, a soft, affectionate sound that made his chest tighten with something he couldn’t quite name. “Alright, get back to your desk then. I’m fine, really,” Lizzie added, as if to reassure her once again.

Back at the office, things were beginning to unravel for Ophelia. The video of Lizzie being attacked by fans had gone viral and now she was the top trending topic. Elaine Coleman, Ophelia’s manager, had come to meet with her to discuss the fallout and Adrienne, who’d been quietly sitting by, looked far from calm.

Elaine, trying to stay composed, addressed the situation first. “I’m so sorry, Ophelia...and Lizzie, for what happened. This isn’t your fault.”

Adrienne’s eyes were glued to his phone, the image of Lizzie—covered in spilled drinks, surrounded by chaos—on his screen. His face went pale as he pressed his lips together, his expression hardening.

“When did this happen?” he asked, his voice tight.

Elaine hesitated, glancing at him nervously before answering, “About an hour ago. Those girls are still at the police station right now.”

Adrienne didn’t waste another second. He immediately dialed Lizzie’s number, but it went straight to voicemail. His jaw clenched and without saying a word, he stood up, grabbed his jacket and stormed out of the office, heading straight for his car.

Ophelia, who’d been sitting silently, watched him leave with a mixture of concern and something darker. She turned to Elaine, her voice low and cautious. “Elaine, this is too risky.”

Elaine sighed deeply, her shoulders slumping under the weight of the situation. “This is the quickest way to get Mr. Lennox to choose between you two. You know, even though he’s with you, he hasn’t divorced Lizzie yet. If this gets out, what do you think will happen? How are you going to clean up this mess?”

Adrienne’s mind was racing as he drove toward the police station. The images of Lizzie, bruised and exhausted, wouldn’t leave his head. She’d come back from Lhasa without a word to him. She hadn’t asked him to pick her up, hadn’t called him, hadn’t said anything. And now, she was avoiding him entirely. Something had shifted and it was eating him up inside.

Before he could even make it to the station, he spotted her walking down the sidewalk, dragging a suitcase behind her. Adrienne’s heart skipped a beat as he quickly turned his car around, pulling up next to her.

“Lizzie,” he called out, his voice soft yet urgent.

Lizzie stopped in her tracks, her gaze flicking over to him. But it was like she didn’t even recognize him anymore. Her eyes were distant, unfocused—empty.

Adrienne felt his heart sink. This wasn’t the woman he knew. Without thinking, he threw the car into park, jumped out and rushed to her side. He grabbed the suitcase from her hand and placed it in the trunk of the car.

“Why didn’t you call me when you got back? I would’ve come to pick you up.” His voice was tight with worry.

But Lizzie didn’t answer. She opened the back door of the car and climbed in without so much as a glance at him, as if he hadn’t even spoken.

Adrienne stood frozen for a moment, then hurried around to the driver’s side. He started the car, glancing at her in the rearview mirror. She stared out the window, her face expressionless, her lips pale and drawn. She looked... empty. Tired. Like she’d been drained of everything.

Something was off. She’d lost weight. Her jawline was sharper than he remembered.

“Lizzie, are you hungry? Let’s grab something to eat,” he suggested, his voice gentle.

But Lizzie didn’t respond. Her voice was flat, barely audible. “Not hungry.” Then she closed her eyes. 

Adrienne took a deep breath before asking, “Are you hurt?”

Lizzie slowly opened her eyes, looking sharp into the rearview mirror. He must have had seen the video. That’s why he was here, rushing to to her and acting all concern.