"Are you sure about this decision, Ms. Clarke?" The voice of the man sitting in front of me sounded doubtful from behind the desk.

"Positive. Death will leave a mark on them like Albrecht and Hilarion left on Giselle."

With the weariness of heart that I had endured all this time, I added, "One most important thing, Jason. Use all your resources because my death must look perfect. Sebastian and Ethan alone will have to watch me get caught in a fire in the house we shared."

I could see Jason was silent for a few seconds. Then, he leaned back in his chair and his gaze turned more serious. "Alright give me three days. Contact is only through Jarvis. I'll let you know when everything is ready. "

I nodded firmly. There was no smile for the love that once rested in my heart. This heart is now frozen.

Everyone thought I was lucky to be married to Sebastian Hayes, a successful man and seemingly perfect father. But Sebastian and our son were secretly building a new life with another woman. After that night, when they chose to attend the Ballerina's party over Thanksgiving at home, I'm no longer the same Elara.

Three days from now, I will be free from the inner pressure of a husband who betrayed me, a son who rejected me, and a woman who took my place. I made up my mind, that I would fake my death and disappear forever.

I will rebuild my life all over again without them...with true love.

---

April 10, 2024. - I was making ginger cookies and pumpkin pie at the request of my husband and son. It's been a long time since they asked me to make them. However, tonight they whined about wanting them with excitement and smiles.

However, when I reached the door to Ethan's room, my hand suddenly stopped pushing the door when I heard my husband and son's conversation. Their voices were excited, but they left me frozen in place.

"Bianca is adorable, Dad. I like her." Ethan's voice came clearly from behind the door. His tone is enthusiastic as if he's talking about someone he admires.

I sharpened my hearing.

"Yeah, Dad knows that. Bianca cares about you a lot." Sebastian replied with a small chuckle from him. "But, you have to promise me, Ethan. Don't let your mom know that we see her almost every day."

"Chill Dad, I promise. You said a man has to keep his word. Mom won't know," Ethan replied as he patted his chest. "I don't want to lose Bianca either, just let Mom go."

My heart was racing with my body starting to tremble.

"That's why you have to act normal in front of your mom, so Dad can always see Bianca," Sebastian said again as he brought his face closer to our son.

Ethan nodded. "So, when is Dad going to bring Bianca to this house to live with us?" he asked innocently. "I can sleep with you guys anytime I want."

"It won't be long now, Ethan. Just be patient."

The two of them laughed together as if I'd never been around to hear it.

I knew Bianca the beautiful and famous ballerina from all over Minnesota. Every curve of her body in the show would bewitch anyone.

I'd been so naive, believing that they were just friends. And I already thought of her as a sister. But I was wrong. Sebastian betrayed me and my son disowned me. Both chose Bianca.

I tightly gripped the tray with the plate of food I had made earlier. My heart broke even more hearing their honesty.

Silently, I retreated. Back to the kitchen. Staring at the cake I made with love, I threw everything into the trash.

I rushed into my room and sat at the end of the bed, trying not to cry.

I was still sitting at the end of the bed when I heard footsteps approaching. The door to the room opened slowly. Sebastian appeared with Ethan, both smiling like nothing was wrong.

"Mom, we were looking for you," Ethan said with a cheerful face. "We were talking about your birthday tomorrow."

I stared at them wordlessly. They didn't realize that I had heard everything.

"Right," Sebastian chimed in quickly as if to add to the impression that this was a genuine surprise. "We're planning a special dinner for you. At your favorite restaurant, which serves mushroom steak."

I took a deep breath, trying to contain the emotional turmoil in my chest. Then, I smiled faintly. A smile that didn't come from happiness, but from deep hurt.

"I'm sure Mom will be happy to hear that," Ethan said enthusiastically, patting my hand.

Sebastian sat next to me. "Imagine, those of us who haven't had dinner together in a long time. It'll be fun. After that, we can go somewhere you like. The mall, or an amusement park."

Ethan even jumped for joy. "We'll wear the same color clothes, Mom! Then, we'll take pictures. I'll show them to my friends."

"Agreed," Sebastian added quickly. "Dad will buy the clothes. We'll be the happiest family tomorrow night."

But none of that matters to me anymore.

I stare at the two of them. Two people who were once the center of my life. Now they spoke sweet nothings just to keep up the pretense. One had learned to manipulate from his father, and the other was too good at playing the role of the perfect husband.

I was reminded of the old days when Sebastian once said, "I may be the CEO of a big company but at home... I'm just a subordinate to my wife and children."

Ethan also once made a speech praising me. "Mom is a superhero. She can defeat cockroaches without having laser eyes like Superman."

I smiled at that time when Ethan boasted about me in front of his friends on Mother's Day at his school. I'm used to receiving compliments, but if Ethan was the one who complimented me with such a sincere look, I would keep talking about it with Sebastian during a deep talk in bed.

Sebastian once canceled an important meeting in Beijing just because I had a fever. "No acquisition worth anything is more important than you," he said while gripping my hand tightly.

And Ethan, the kid was even willing to drop his playdate to help me organize the living room. "Mom always helps me, so I'll take her turn," he said as he straightened the tablecloth. "You'll be proud of me, Mom."

I laughed then. Proud. Now, it's all just a bittersweet memory.

Ethan's tug on my hand broke my reverie. I looked at him, and he was engaging me in conversation.

"Come on, Mom, pick a restaurant." He seemed to be repeating his question to me.

"Elara, what's wrong?" Sebastian's question managed to shut Ethan up.

I shook my head. "Nothing. I'm just tired because my cooking failed."

I watched as Sebastian sighed and then smiled. "It's nothing to think about. You can make it again tomorrow, or buy it outside."

Ethan nodded. "So, what about Mom? Which place will Mom choose?"

"Just choose whatever you want." I just replied flatly.

Both of them smiled. I let them laugh for a few days until the time came.

"I know, today is your birthday. But, I have an important meeting, an investor from Australia came unexpectedly. I can't postpone it. I'm sorry, honey." Sebastian said softly, playing the role of a helpless husband. "I promise I'll celebrate with you tomorrow."

"Dad's right, Mom. I'll be left playing alone in Dad's study," Ethan added in a contrived voice.

"You can stay home and play Beatsaber all you want, honey." I tried to test my son's lying skills.

"I think Dad's office is more interesting. I promise I won't fuss."

I laughed bitterly. They were getting better at acting. "Go on. It's already 7 o'clock, don't be late."

I stared at their departure with a hollow feeling. I didn't expect my home life to change 180 degrees just because of Bianca's appearance. I stepped into the house and started investigating Sebastian.

Sure enough, Jarvis displayed Sebastian's car route, which wasn't to South Marquette-the building of his agricultural industry company. My eyes narrowed as Sebastian's car drove calmly into a building at 240 Park Ave.

The cell phone rings. I saw a name I recognized. My heart beats rapidly.

"Jarvis, answer."

"Incoming call from: Personal Contact. Connecting now..." I focused on the phone screen.

"Ms. Ohlson," the voice on the other side sounded fast and cold. "You need to see this now. I will send you a video shortly."

A video message came in.

"Enlarge." I gave Jarvis the command again until the screen enlarged itself.

I looked at the television screen connected to Jarvis. In the video, a woman was sitting in the middle of Sebastian and Ethan. The faces of the three radiated happiness just like me and the two of them used to.

"Sebastian? He's going to be my husband soon." The woman said as if it was an imminent fact.

"Oh, my God. Is that true, Mr. Hayes?" someone said while looking at Sebastian.

I waited for Sebastian's answer, but the universe seemed to be against me. Sebastian, sitting silently, neither argued nor commented. He only smiled slightly, but I could see the tinge of happiness radiating from his gaze at the woman.

Meanwhile, Ethan, who was sitting beside him, smiled contentedly and chattered enthusiastically, "Isn't that right Dad? How exciting, Bianca is going to be my mom."

Bianca famous ballerina who was graceful and the center of the stage lights whenever she headlined a ballet performance. Bianca was also Sebastian's childhood friend, who accompanied him for almost half of his life.

"But don't you already have a wife?" asked one of the men with a champagne glass in his hand.

"Mom and Dad rarely talk, so Dad and Bianca often talk and go out together. I think Dad loves Bianca now and I'm okay with her being Dad's wife," Ethan snapped.

Bianca smiled as she gently stroked Ethan's hair, while Sebastian seemed to look satisfied with his son's answer.

I held my burning eyes as I caught my breath. I knew that the photo was taken a few days ago. Sebastian had accompanied Ethan to the bookstore, buying school supplies but dressed very neatly. That night I didn't ask many questions because I felt very sleepy, not as sleepy as usual.

I was about to walk to my room when my cell phone rang again.

"What's up, Jarvis?" I asked breathlessly.

"I searched. You should check it out, Ms. Ohlson.”

Dinner with Club Ballerina Bianca - confirmed by a personal assistant. +1: Ethan Hayes. The exact date and time is today, seven in the evening.

With trembling hands, I open the agenda attachment. It was exactly tonight, as Sebastian and Ethan had promised, that they would take me out to dinner to celebrate my birthday. As it turns out, they'd rather spend time with Bianca than me with the excuse of, yet again, work.

I just laughed bitterly, but I had to keep quiet, waiting for the right time after everything was taken care of by Jason.

It was getting late, there was no sign of their return. I crouched in the backyard. The fire was already lit, burning all our memorable photos. From the wedding photos, to the family photos I loved so much, the last one taken when our relationship was still very warm, Ethan laughing so wide.

As the photo of Ethan on his fifth birthday began to burn, my hand stopped. I paused for a few seconds and then, threw it into the fire. I wasn't going to cry anymore, I wasn't going to let that wound stay open and played with.

"All those pictures of your loved ones, Ms. Ohlson."

"Not anymore, Jarvis. They've already cut deep wounds in my heart." I replied as I continued to toss the photo.

As I stared at the flames in front of me, I remembered one night. Ethan appeared with a blanket and pillow that almost dragged the floor.

"Mom... I want to sleep with you tonight."

Without many words, I patted the side of the bed. Ethan climbed in, rolling himself under my arm, his head resting on my shoulder. I hummed softly until Ethan's breathing was regular with his eyes closed looking peaceful.

The next day when I was busy preparing breakfast. Ethan came into the kitchen half-running with an excited face. He opened the fridge and poured milk into a glass, spilling a little on the table, but still carrying it proudly.

"For you, Mom," he said as he handed over the glass and smiled widely.

However, I didn't see that anymore.

Everything started to change when I forbade Ethan from eating chocolate because he had just had severe constipation. I was angry at Sebastian for still bringing Ethan that snack, even though the doctor had told him the consequences. My maternal signals increased dramatically to make sure Ethan didn't consume it again.

"Enough, Sebastian! You know, he's just recovering," I said sternly, taking the chocolate from Ethan's hand.

Ethan looked up at his father. "Dad didn't forbid it. Bianca doesn't either, but why is Mom so nagging? You're always forbidding me this and that, Mom. You might as well not feed me."

From that day on, Ethan always mentioned Bianca in every sentence that used to be just for me.

"What are you doing, Elara?"

Someone's voice pulled me to the current reality. I turned my head and immediately stood up then took a few steps back.

"Nothing," I replied calmly. "Just idly burning useless trash."

Sebastian stepped closer. We were now facing each other with the fire separating us.

Sebastian glanced at the metal container, saw black ash, and couldn't see what I had burned.

Ethan came forward slowly. In his hand is a bouquet of my favorite tiny roses, pink taped with a yellow ribbon that's slightly askew.

"These are for you, Mom. Happy birthday."

I accepted it with a smile. Then, releasing my grip on the stems to fall into the fire, everything began to burn. My lips displayed a faint grin on my face.

"Oops. Well...it fell. Ouch, my hands are wet." I pretended to say weakly.

"Mom, the flowers..." Ethan said with a surprised face.

Sebastian stared at me, I don't know what he was thinking. However, from the way his eyes were wide open, it seemed like he wanted to get angry.

I put on a guilty face as I said, "Sorry, Ethan. Mom didn't hold it right."

Sebastian opened his mouth, but I quickly said, "It's very late. We'd better get some sleep."

I stepped up first. Normally I would kiss Ethan's cheek and take his hand to go inside. Now I didn't want to do that stupid thing anymore. However, I had already eliminated one by one the things that wanted

When Sebastian and Ethan went inside, it seemed like they realized something. All their pictures weren't there. I glanced over, they quickly went into their respective rooms and the result was the same. I had emptied all the frames.

I kept walking towards the room when I got inside, Ethan walked in. "Dad, where did all my pictures go?" he asked with a sad face.

Sebastian turned to me. I casually replied, "I threw them away because they were old photos and the room looked dated. It feels better to replace them with new photos later."

Sebastian looked calm after hearing my explanation. Maybe he thought I knew something.

"Listen, Ethan. Nowadays photos are better captured on social media. Mom will do it for us." he said smiling with relief, rubbing his son's head gently.

"Dad promised, I'll buy you the latest state-of-the-art cell phone, so you can post all our happy moments," he said again.

"Really?" asked Ethan excitedly.

Sebastian nodded with a big smile. "Of course."

Ethan cheered. "Yes! I'll take a picture of you and show it off to the class."

I moved up to the bed, not caring what they said.

A new cell phone. A moment of togetherness. It was not about me.

"Incoming message from a private number." Jarvis opened the message and displayed a short text.

I stared at the screen seriously.

[We should meet now]

I replied to the message saying I would be there in 30 minutes.

I am currently sitting in a black car with tinted glass that has stopped in front of a vacated cafe not far from the city center. I scanned the place and when I felt safe I quickly got out, approaching a man in a gray suit.

"Ms. Ohlson," the man greeted briefly.

"What did you get?" I asked directly.

"A lot, Miss." He handed me a tablet and then pressed play on the screen.

The first video showed Sebastian exiting an elevator in a luxury apartment building. The CCTV camera shows him holding a bag of groceries, smiling a little before knocking on the door of apartment number 1903. Not long after, Bianca appeared at the door, her hair loose and wearing only a thin peach nightgown.

I furrowed my brows as I watched Sebastian kiss Bianca on the cheek and then, enter familiarly as if it were his own home.

"This isn't the only one," the man said. "He comes regularly. Sometimes with your son, but more often alone."

He scrolled to the next video. This time Ethan appeared to be carrying a gift, a ballerina doll. Bianca hugged him tightly and kissed his forehead, as if Ethan was her real son.

I held my breath, my chest feeling like it was being stabbed from the inside.

The man continued, showing me a series of photographs.

One photo showed Sebastian and Bianca on the beach, wearing only swimsuits. Their bodies pressed together, they laughed like a couple on their honeymoon. In another, Sebastian hugs Bianca from behind as they stand under a small waterfall.

"These photos were taken in the Maldives," the man explains. "Secret vacation. The date... one week after your son's birthday last year."

I bite my lip until it almost bleeds with anger. That week, Sebastian said he had to attend a business conference in Chicago. He even called me a few times, saying how tired he was, how much he missed home.

"There's more," the man added. This time his voice was more serious.

"Just tell me. I'm ready to know everything," I replied, trying to remain calm.

The man again shows me photos and video footage of Sebastian accompanying Bianca to the hospital. One photo, in fact, made my heart break even more. Bianca's ultrasound results.

I stared at the man wordlessly, but he seemed to know the meaning of my gaze.

"Yes, that's Bianca's. She was pregnant a few weeks ago, miscarried. No, she didn't. It was more like a deliberate abortion by Bianca without Mr. Sebastian's knowledge," he said with a serious face. "Mr. Sebastian only knows that Bianca miscarried because of his lack of attention.”

My mouth was locked tight, no more words could come out of my mouth.

"You must be more surprised by this one secret," the man said as he took out a paper folder containing some old documents and articles that had been laminated.

I just watched, without interrupting.

"It's about Sylvia Hayes."

I paused. The name was very familiar to me. Sylvia-Sebastian's little sister who died four years ago in a car accident.

"You know, she was a ballerina?" he asked.

I nodded quickly. "She was very talented. Sylvia was always the center of the stage back then."

"There seems to be something odd about her death."

"What do you mean?" I asked confused with my eyebrows almost drawn together.

He pushed a document towards Elara. On it was a photo of a strange man with a criminal record. "Marco Alvarez. Used to be a rental driver. Now missing somewhere."

"What does this have to do with Sylvia?"

"Marco received a large sum of money from a small company account that I found out belonged to someone. A few days before Sylvia died, that person sent a message to Marco." He pointed to one of the lines in the transcript. [She'll never be better than me. I'll make sure she disappears. Disappear right now!]

I cupped my mouth with my hand.

The man showed me a photo of Marco with a black sedan. Another photo showed the same car around the accident scene, before Sylvia was found dead.

I was so surprised to hear that. "Someone? Who? Did you get any information about him?".

The man was silent for a moment, then said quietly, "It's just a clue, not strong enough to be evidence. But... one of the names that came up in the transaction trail... is Bianca."

I froze.

"You mean...?" I asked in a choked voice.

He nodded slowly. "We can't conclude anything yet. I'll investigate further. But if these clues are true, perhaps... Sylvia's death was no ordinary accident."

I couldn't say anything, only froze.

"It's just a guess, Ms. It's too early to conclude. But, I will look into it further."

This chest felt heavier than ever. Bianca's name was now not only destroying my household but also destroying a young, hopeful life. And if all this is true, she might be more dangerous than I ever thought.

I wanted to laugh at Sebastian's stupidity.

I took a deep breath, trying to stabilize my turbulent emotions. With slow but steady movements, I slipped a thin folder from inside my handbag containing my personal data, copies of my identity, and marriage documents. Without many words, I thrust the folder towards him to give to Jason.

He accepted it with both hands, giving a small nod of understanding. No questions, no comments. Just a hint that everything would soon be executed according to my plan-the first steps towards a divorce that could no longer be avoided.