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.

I blinked, surprised by what had just happened. My hand still felt hot after the slap.

Alexa collapsed on the ground, her face reddened from my spanking, but her smile remained chiseled on her face like a demon who had just found new entertainment.

Before I could say anything, quick footsteps sounded. I turned my head.

That person is Daniel.

Daniel stormed over to Alexa, immediately crouching down and pulling her into her arms. "Are you okay?" his voice was full of panic.

Alexa wore a fragile expression, her hands trembling as she held her cheeks. "I... I'm okay. I don't know why she's doing this, Daniel."

My eyes widened. "What's wrong with me? She insulted my mom, Daniel! She said I was useless! You think I'm going to keep quiet?"

Daniel turned his head, and the look he gave me pierced my heart. There was no affection, no care.

"Lea, you're too much!"

I was stunned, hearing the pounding.

"You hit she just because of that?!" he continued in a sharp tone. "Alexa meant no harm! Why are you always looking for reasons to hurt her?"

I laughed sarcastically. "Oh, so I'm the one overreacting? I'm the one making excuses? Daniel, you're not even listening to me!"

Alexa grabbed his hand as if she were the victim. "I don't want to cause trouble, Daniel," she said in a weak voice.

"If Lea still hates me because Ethan chose me... maybe it's better for us not to be in touch anymore," she said again.

"Watch your fake speech, demon woman!" I snapped, not accepting that Alexa would think that of me.

Daniel immediately shook her head. "No, I'm not. You're innocent, Alexa. Lea should be the one apologizing."

My heart sank. I looked at him intently, hoping to find at least a hint of doubt in his eyes.

I had known that before, but this time, the reality hit me brutally.

"I should apologize?" I smirked. "To the woman you secretly met behind my back? Who do you still love?"

"Lea, don't start again!"

I laughed bitterly. "You're right. I do have to go." I turned around, leaving them without looking back.

Arriving home, I went straight to my room and picked up the bag I had prepared earlier. I stared at the room once again, a room full of false memories.

Five years of lies.

I took a deep breath, then walked out of the house without looking back.

After checking in at the hotel, I lay down on the bed, letting the silence envelop my mind.

Until my cell phone rang.

DANIEL.

I ignored the call, but the next notification piqued my interest.

["I'm sorry, honey. I know I hurt you earlier, but Alexa is just Harris' project head. I don't want our business relationship to be damaged. I promise I'll make it up to you. Don't get mad, okay? I'll give you a gift."]

I wanted to laugh, but I was too disgusted to do so.

However, another message came in. This time it was from company staff.

"Mrs. Lea Harper, did you forget that you have a meeting with investors today?"

I stared at the screen, just about to reply that I wasn't coming, but something stopped me.

Daniel's voice. I heard it very clearly.

"I need you to contact the best medical team for Alexa. I don't care how much it costs," she told her secretary.

"But, sir, Miss Alexa's wound is only a small scratch-"

"I don't care! Just do it!"

I froze.

"And about that contract?" his secretary asked.

Daniel sighed. "Change according to Alexa's request. Whatever she wants, she gets."

I turned off the call, my fingers gripping the phone tightly.

Damn it!

Daniel and I built that company together. But he was willing to sacrifice it for her?

My blood is boiling.

I contacted the agent who helped me disappear. "Make sure everything goes according to plan."

Then I sat down, waiting for Daniel's destruction to begin.

At the Harper Enterprises Office.

Daniel was sitting at his desk when his secretary entered with a pale face, carrying a tablet in her hand.

"Mr. Harper, there's a big problem!"

Daniel frowned. "What?"

His secretary placed a tablet on his desk.

"Sir, Ms. Lea Harper has filed for divorce. And... information about she mother's death has been leaked to the media."

Daniel stood up immediately. "What?!"

But before he could respond further, another staffer ran in with a panicked expression.

The staff showed the headlines on the screen. "Sir, The plane carrying Miss Lea Harper to Korea has crashed. All passengers are confirmed dead."