~ LEA POV

On the eve of my wedding, my mother stumbled upon my fiance and my best friend wrapped in a betrayal so deep it shattered her heart.

The betrayal sent shockwaves into her fragile heart, triggering a relapse that left her fighting for her life. Mom needed a blood donor that matched her.

But at the time, no bloodstock matched my mom. We kept searching so that mom could get a blood donor as soon as possible to save her life.

Amid my confusion, Daniel Xaverius appeared like a savior. He was willing to donate his blood.

We didn't know each other at first, but suddenly he was willing to sacrifice himself for my mother. At that moment, I didn't think twice and immediately took Daniel to the blood transfusion room.

When I was about to go home to bring my mother a change of clothes, in the middle of the journey disaster happened to me. An unknown person hit me deliberately, causing blood to run down my head, and the people who were there immediately took me to the hospital.

I was unconscious for two hours.

By the time I woke up, Daniel's expression was filled with regret. His voice was soft, almost apologetic. "Your mother... she had an unexpected rejection during the blood transfusion.

She's gone. Forever.

With puffy eyes and tears in my eyes, I collapsed into his arms. He held me close, whispering his loyalty, vowing to take care of me for life. I believed him.

We were now in our fifth year of marriage.

I was heading to my husband Daniel office, clutching the pregnancy test I had just gotten from the hospital. Two lines. And also the keys to the mansion I had prepared for him as a gift.

However, it all fell apart when I arrived in front of his office.

I had just raised my hand to knock on the door when voices from inside caught my attention.

I hesitated for a moment, but then quietly leaned against the door, listening.

"Lea doesn't need to know, Axel, it's in the past. You need to forget about it!" Daniel's voice was firm, almost cold.

I frowned. What did he mean?

Then the voice of Axel, Daniel's best friend and right-hand man, spoke up in a more hesitant tone.

"You used his mother's organs to save Alexa Fiber, Daniel. You lied to Lea about donating your blood to save her mother? But you made Lea's mom die instead!" Alex said in a high tone.

The world around me stopped spinning.

Alexa Fiber was Daniel's first love, and none other than the wife of my ex-boyfriend, Ethan.

I almost lost my balance, my fingers weakening on the doorknob.

Axel's words swirled in my head like a hammer hitting mercilessly.

Mom... died because of my husband Daniel?

Not because of his illness? Not fate? But my husband's own decision?

"I did what I had to do, Alexa needed me, and I loved Alexa, and I saw that Lea's mom was dying," Daniel said without a hint of emotion.

"You killed her! You killed an innocent person!" demanded Axel, his voice full of suppressed anger.

"I saved Alexa, the person I love. Is that wrong?" replied Daniel without hesitation. "And I married Lea. Isn't that enough? Lea means nothing to me."

"What about Lea now? I can still see her mother's face, how she cried blood when her mother died, filled with hatred. Aren't you afraid that Lea will come and get you once she finds out the truth?" Alex said again, trying to get Daniel's attention.

Daniel paused, then chuckled, self-mocking.

That sentence hit me like a crushing blow to the chest.

I wanted to stop breathing. I wanted to turn off my ears so I wouldn't hear any more.

However, I couldn't move. I remained rooted to the spot, forcing myself to accept the truth that I had been blind to.

Five years of marriage. Five years of believing that Daniel loved me. Five years of living a lie.

"Lea means nothing to me. I don't want to feel guilty for making her mother die," Daniel repeated in a flat, almost cold voice.

"I've repaid her by dedicating my life to her. I've done my duty. However, if she finds out... so be it. I'll put her out of my life and I can live happily with Alexa!" Daniel said again.

The pregnancy test I was holding slipped from my fingers and fell to the floor.

I was his surrogate. The doll he married to cover up his hidden obsession with Alexa. I was nothing more than a tool.

My body trembled as I backed slowly away from the door, not realizing tears were starting to stream down my cheeks.

With my hands still trembling, I grabbed the house key I had intended to give him, then threw it into the nearest trash can.

I have to go. I had to get out of there before my breath ran out.

Without looking back, I ran out of the building, letting the night wind pierce my skin.

My chest felt tight like there was an invisible hand gripping it tightly. I got into my car and started the engine with stiff movements.

My mind was blank.

My eyes were blurry.

I couldn't think straight, couldn't feel anything other than the pain burning through my entire body.

I pressed the gas pedal, driving at a higher speed than usual. However, with all the emotions raging, I didn't notice when the red light appeared at the intersection.

I hit the brakes too slowly. The impact sent me reeling forward, and everything went dark.

When I opened my eyes, I smelled a sharp antiseptic scent.

Then I saw him, Daniel.

Daniel was sitting beside my bed, clutching my hand tightly. His eyes were red, his face looked desperate and full of regret.

"Lea," his voice trembled. "What happened? Why are you driving like that? You could have died!"

I looked at him.

I saw him crying, Daniel kissing my hand frantically.

I heard his sweet words, how much he loved me, how much I meant to him.

I knew it was all lies.

Yet I didn't say anything.

Instead, I smiled a little, forcing myself to look weak and confused. "I'm fine," I whispered.

Relief flooded his face. He bent down and kissed my forehead, whispering how grateful he was that I was alive.

"I love you so much, please don't be like this anymore. I don't want to lose you, Lea." Daniel said, kissing my forehead repeatedly.

I let him believe that I was still a foolish and trusting wife.

But deep down, I was already planning my revenge.

Daniel had taken everything from me, the mother I loved.

So, I would take everything from him. Like he took my world!

I waited until Daniel was completely gone before starting to act.

His car had just disappeared at the gate when I got up from the sofa, pushing aside the blanket I'd been pretending to sleep under.

Quickly, I grabbed the small bag I had prepared and left the house silently.

Today, I will prove to myself the truth that I have been trying to deny.

I snuck into Daniel's office in the Harper Enterprises building, using the access card that was still in my wallet.

I stepped into Daniel's private room, a room I had memorized every corner of. Without hesitation, I walked towards the large painting on the wall. With one tug, I shifted it to the side.

"The men's room, the traitor!" I muttered, glancing around the room.

The black safe was displayed in front of me.

My hands trembled slightly as I typed in the code that immediately popped into my head *Alexa Fiber's birthday.*

One try, and the safe opened.

My heart sank. He didn't even bother to hide it better.

I took a deep breath before starting to examine the contents.

The first document I pulled out was the hospital paper. Quickly, I read the contents-and my stomach instantly felt queasy.

*Donor name: Evelyn Dawson.

*Recipient: Alexa Fiber.*

My hand gripped the paper tighter. Mom... I can't feel my tears falling.

The next document only made my anger boil over even more.

There were piles of evidence of financial transactions. Daniel's accounts showed an unusually large amount of money which was regularly transferred to an account in Alexa Fiber's name.

I flipped through other pages and found receipts for jewelry purchases, designer dresses, even and travel tickets to various countries.

Not for me. Not for his wife.

All for Alexa.

Meanwhile, the gifts I was proud of, which I thought were proof of his love for me, were nothing compared to what he had given her.

I closed my eyes for a moment, swallowing the lump of emotion that almost made me cry.

"No! I can't cry again because of a man!"

I grabbed my phone and started taking pictures of everything. Hospital documents, proof of transactions, and all the things that could become weapons later on.

I opened it and found a list of properties, investments, and insurance policies. All of them had Daniel's name as the main owner, and in some assets, Alexa's name was included.

My hand squeezed the document. I wanted to tear it up, wanted to destroy it all. But I restrained myself. I'm not a stupid woman who would act rashly.

"I will make him lose everything. Just like I lost everything because of him."

I left Daniel's office at a brisk pace, making sure no one saw me. My next destination is the lawyer's office.

"I want to sign the divorce agreement," I said in a steady voice when I met my lawyer.

The man looked at me, surprised. "Mrs. Harper, are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm very sure! Come on! Don't waste my time!"

I skimmed through the document, making sure there were no loopholes that Daniel could use against me in the future.

Once everything was clear, I took a pen and signed my name with a steady hand.

"Just send it to her after I leave," I ordered. "Not earlier."

"Leaving? What does Miss mean?" The lawyer looked at me confused.

But I didn't answer. I got up and left, heading for my final destination today.

It's hidden in a narrow alley, with no signage or obvious clues.

I stepped into a room that was stuffy with the smell of cigarettes and humidity.

A man in a black jacket sat behind an old wooden desk, looking at me with a sharp gaze.

"Are you lost?" he asked in a lazy tone.

"No," I replied firmly. "I need your services."

He grinned. "What should I do for you?"

"Help me to leave!."

His eyes narrowed, scrutinizing my expression. "Then what are you asking me to do?"

I opened the bag and took out a stack of cash, new and untraceable.

His smile widened. "Come with me! We'll talk about this business inside."

"Here's how it works," he said. "We can fake an accident, make it look like you died on a trip abroad. No one will question your death."

I nodded. "Make sure no one suspects anything."

"Do you want a fake body?" he asked.

I thought for a moment, then shook my head. "There's no need. Just make it as if my body was never found."

He nodded in satisfaction. "A plane crash in the ocean, perhaps? Or a car accident in a remote place?"

I smiled faintly. "Airplane. More dramatic."

He handed me a whiteboard with a form to fill in. I took a pen and started writing the requested information.

New name, new identity, new life.

Lea Dawson is dead. What remains is a woman who will destroy Daniel Harper, bit by bit, until there is nothing left of him.

I was relaxing on the living room sofa when my cell phone vibrated on the table. I reached for it lazily.

An article about Daniel Harper and Alexa Fiber attending an exclusive auction together. The article featured a photo of them looking intimate,

I frowned, opening the link with trembling fingers.

My vision blurred as I looked at the photos that followed. Alexa was wearing a graceful dress, she hand resting on Daniel's arm in intimacy.

Daniel looked at her with an expression that was familiar. A look full of affection. A look that I once thought was only for me.

Suddenly, the room felt too small. My chest and throat were tight as if I were drowning.

I felt something move inside my stomach, a small kick. I gasped.

My son.

I pressed my palm against my stomach, reminding myself that I was not alone. I couldn't give in to this feeling.

"I must be strong for the Prince, and my son!"

With renewed determination, I got up, grabbed the car keys, and rushed to the hospital.

"Her heartbeat is strong and healthy," the doctor said, showing the ultrasound screen.

"Take care of yourself, Miss Lea," he added gently. "Stress is not good for the baby."

I just smiled faintly. She doesn't know how deep the wound I'm carrying right now is.

I walked out of the hospital with steady steps, but there was one more place I had to go before I completely disappeared.

I walked into the *Harper Enterprises* building with my head held high. Everyone still treated me with rrespectwas still Daniel's legal wife on paper, though in his heart, I was nothing more than a shadow.

I walked over to the secretary's desk. "Is Daniel inside?"

The woman looked nervous. "Hmm, Mr. Harper is receiving an important guest, ma'am."

I squinted my eyes. "Who's the guest?"

She swallowed, avoiding my gaze.

*I already know the answer.*

I turned around and waited in the hallway, pretending to make a phone call to avoid suspicion. Once it was quieter, I snuck into his office.

The door is slightly open.

I stepped closer... and what I saw inside made my heart seem to stop beating.

Daniel and Alexa are kissing.

Their lips merged intimately as if the world around them didn't exist. Daniel cupped her face gently, while Alexa wrapped her arms around his neck.

My blood is boiling.

I should have stormed in, screamed, and slapped them both.

But I didn't.

Instead, I reached for my phone and took photos of them.

I held my breath, making sure they didn't notice my presence, then turned around and walked out with light steps.

On my desk, I left my resignation letter.

Surprise, my dear husband.

In the car, I opened the fake social media account I had set up and uploaded the photo. Then, I sent it directly to Ethan Harris, Alexa's husband.

Once I got home, I gathered all the things Daniel had githe-the jewelry, the dresses, the fake love letters that used to make me believe he loved me.

I brought everything to the backyard, poured in lighter fluid, and then lit a match.

The flames grew, consuming five years of my life in an instant.

I stared at the flames with a blank expression. I felt no relief, no happiness. Only emptiness.

Suddenly, footsteps sounded behind me.

"What are you doing?"

I turned around and saw Alexa.

I frowned. "What are you doing here?"

She smiled sweetly, but her eyes were full of hatred. "Just wanted to make sure you reaappeared from Daniel's life."

Then, without warning, She kicked the burning boxes.

Embers and photos flew into the air, some even hitting her face, but she didn't care.

I stared at her in disbelief. "You're crazy, Alexa!

Alexa leaned closer, then whispered, "You know what? You're a useless child, letting your mother die!"

My blood is boiling.

Before I could think further, my hand moved on its own.

I slapped her across the face, hard enough that she lost his balance.

Alexa fell directly into the flames.

I was surprised.

She was screaming, panicking, trying to get up. I could see flames on the hem of her clothes.