Chapter 2

My head buzzed violently. Did my mother, in his eyes, not even measure up to Cassidy’s dog?

Without warning, Cassidy reached for the urn in my arms.

“She’s already dead. Instead of letting it go to waste, why not use it to nourish Sunshine?”

Instinctively, I dodged. My elbow accidentally grazed her cheek.

Cassidy shrieked and collapsed into Archer’s arms, clutching her face as if I had struck her with force. “It hurts!”

A blaze of fury flared in Archer’s eyes.

He caressed Cassidy’s cheek gently, then glared at me, teeth clenched. “You’re a vicious woman, just like your mother!”

Vicious?

That once-handsome face now looked twisted and ugly, making my stomach churn.

“Archer, if my mother hadn’t thrown herself off that cliff to save you from those thugs when you were kidnapped, you would’ve been dead long ago!”

“She spent the rest of her life paralyzed because of that fall, and now you and this woman pushed her to her death!”

I pointed at Cassidy, clinging to him like a leech, as scalding tears hit the floor.

My stomach twisted. The baby kicked so hard I nearly collapsed from the pain.

A flicker of hesitation flashed in Archer’s eyes.

“Elise…”

Cassidy suddenly turned on me, eyes blazing.

“That old woman was just a lowly maid! She gave up her legs so you two could eat well, live comfortably under this roof, and even let you marry Archer and enjoy a life of luxury.”

“You should be grateful! But instead, you twist Archer’s emotions, what a scheming woman you are!”

Archer’s face darkened instantly, as if he could tear me apart with just a look.

“Do you want me to rip my heart out to prove it to you? I already gave you the title of Mrs. Monroe, why can't you just be satisfied?!”

Just one sentence from Cassidy, and he already believed my mother and me were nothing more than manipulators.

The nearby servants started whispering behind their hands, casting strange looks my way. Even I found it laughable.

He truly believed I was clinging to status, but did he ever realize that in these past few years, as his family crumbled, I was the one bringing in billions in business?

My defiance only enraged Archer further. He waved his hand coldly at the bodyguards.

“Throw her into the basement. She can come out once she’s learned her place.”

His tall figure vanished from sight. I curled up in the shadows, clutching my mother’s urn, every breath tearing through my chest like glass.

I was locked away for two full days and nights. Not a single servant offered me so much as a sip of water.

Then, a faint sliver of light crept through the door.

I looked up and saw little Dorian stepping down the stairs, holding a piece of bread in his small hand.

My sweet baby.

I staggered to my feet, my cracked lips barely lifting into a smile as I reached for him, but he flinched, dodging my embrace.

His eyes drifted from my dirty hands to the urn I held. “Give it to me.”

“What?” My smile froze mid-air.

“Give me the urn, and I’ll give you the bread. If not, you can starve here.”

I stared at his small, indifferent face, so eerily similar to his father’s, and my heart turned to ice.

“How can you say that? I’m your mother. That urn holds your grandmother’s ashes.”

But Dorian’s face remained blank, as if carved from stone.

“Only someone noble like Cassidy deserves to be my mother. You, the daughter of a maid, don’t belong in this family.”

I couldn’t believe such words had come from a seven-year-old.

“Dorian, who taught you that?”

The pain in my chest was so sharp, it felt like it would rip me apart. Starving and enraged, my vision blurred into darkness.

Before I could get any words out, the urn was wrenched from my arms.

“No—”

I clung to it with all the strength I had left, unwilling to let go.

“Don’t take my mother away, Dorian!”

“Cassidy’s dog is dying. She’s cried for two days. I don’t want her to be sad.”

So, you’re not worried about my pain? Is that it?

Ignoring my desperate pleas, my son pried my fingers open and snatched the urn from my grasp.

His little shoes, polished and perfect, crushed the bread he’d discarded as he turned away.

It felt as though a part of my heart had been torn out.

Fine. If you want to scatter your grandmother’s ashes to the wind. Then, I no longer wanted you as my son.

Chapter 3

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself lying in a familiar bed, far calmer than Archer had expected.

He sat at the edge of the bed, his long fingers brushing the strands of hair from my forehead, his voice softer than usual.

“I didn’t expect you to be pregnant. Since that’s the case, let’s forget about what happened that day. From now on, be good and don’t throw tantrums.”

Should I thank you for being so considerate and generous?

He lifted me gently and cradled me in his arms, feeding me a spoonful of soup. “Tomatoes from Provence and top-grade beef. You haven’t eaten in days, the baby must be starving.”

I couldn’t swallow it. I turned my face away from the spoon and yanked the IV from my hand.

“Where’s my mother?”

Archer paused, his brow furrowing slightly. “Dorian’s still just a kid. He didn’t mean to steal your mother’s ashes.”

The world around me spun.

“So you really fed her to a dog?!”

“Archer, ashes mixed with dog food are so nutritious. Sunshine’s been in such good spirits today.”

At that moment, Cassidy walked in, holding the beagle and giggling.

“Elise, we really must thank your mother.”

Seeing her smug face, the last shred of my sanity snapped.

I clenched my fists and lunged at Cassidy. “Cassidy, I’ll make you die with her!”

Just as my fist was about to strike, I saw the snake-like smile curling at the corner of her lips.

She seized my hand and violently threw herself back, crashing into her own shoulder. Then, she screamed, stumbling backward and hurling the beagle out the window.

“Ah, Sunshine!”

The dog's shriek abruptly cut off, and Cassidy collapsed to the ground in anguish.

Archer rushed to her, arms wrapping around her waist, staring at me in disbelief. “What did you do? Cassidy did nothing wrong. Why are you so cruel, so venomous?!”

I shook my head in stunned silence. “I didn’t, it wasn’t me…”

He didn’t hear a word. Cradling the sobbing Cassidy, he murmured, “I’m sorry, baby, don’t cry. I’ll make sure she’s punished for this.”

He shoved past me, rushing out with her in his arms.

I dropped to my knees, my stomach churning as I vomited onto the floor.

Two maids entered, rolling their eyes at me.

“You better learn your place. Miss Trent’s birthday is in two days. Sir’s busy planning a grand party for her. No matter how much you pretend, he won’t look at you again.”

A mop smacked hard against my knee.

“Look at this disgusting mess. You’re pathetic.”

After they left, I wandered barefoot, lost in thought, stepping aimlessly into the garden. Archer and his assistant were talking by the pond.

I instinctively hid behind a tangle of vines, my heart pounding as their conversation drifted toward me.

“Tomorrow is Elise’s birthday. Since you gave Cassidy that yacht worth over a hundred million, shouldn’t you get something nice for her, too?”

Thinking of Cassidy, Archer’s voice softened like a warm spring breeze.

“Remember to cover the entire yacht with 9,999 diamond roses. Cassidy loves those.”

Then his tone turned icy.

“As for Elise, just pick something random.”

The assistant hesitated, concerned. “You don’t even remember her birthday? Aren’t you worried she’ll leave you?”

Archer snorted.

“She’s like a dog I can summon whenever I please. Why would she leave? Besides, she killed Cassidy’s dog; she’s the one who’s wrong and should be begging for forgiveness.”

My hands trembled as I clutched the front of my shirt.

It finally hit me. In his eyes, I wasn’t a lover, I wasn’t even human.

He’d forgotten my birthday. My gift could be something the assistant picked without a second thought.

But for Cassidy, he’d move mountains to make her happy.

I took a deep breath and dialed Nolan Barrett, my brother.

"Brother, end all ties between the Barretts and the Monroes. I’m ready to leave him."

Nolan's voice cracked when he answered.

"You should’ve left him and come back to France long ago. Anyone can see, he’s never loved you."

I forced a bitter smile. "Yeah. I was blind."

Just as I hung up, my eyes met Archer’s as he turned around.

He walked over, hands shoved in his pockets, his gaze sharp and suspicious.

"Who were you talking to on the phone?"

Chapter 4

I calmly looked away. “A divorce lawyer.”

His brows furrowed, but then a thought seemed to hit him. He grabbed my chin and leaned in, his voice dripping with a lazy smirk near my ear.

“Elise, you’ve been by my side for nearly thirty years. Where could you possibly go after leaving me?”

“I may have neglected you a little lately. You got jealous, and I get it. Tomorrow, I’ll accompany you to bury your mother.”

His tone was so gracious it almost made me laugh.

“But you fed her ashes to a dog. Did you forget?”

His fingers slid to the back of my neck, caressing lightly. “We’ll put up a gravestone for your memories. Consider it my birthday gift to you.”

His warm breath froze me in place.

“Spare me your fake kindness, Archer.”

“I don’t need it. I hope you, your son, and Cassidy live a long and happy life together.”

My sarcasm seemed to hit a nerve. He grabbed my hand and kissed me forcefully.

Then Cassidy’s wailing cut through the air.

“Elise, killing my Sunshine wasn’t enough? Do you want me to bury your mother with her, too? Will that satisfy you?”

Archer turned, his gaze landing on Cassidy, who was cradling her dead beagle, tears streaking down her face.

On reflex, he shoved me away, pulling Cassidy into his arms.

I gritted my teeth. "Cassidy, you threw the dog out the window yourself!"

"Enough!" Archer roared, already certain that I was the one at fault.

"Kneel and apologize to Cassidy!"

I stepped back, disbelief spreading across my face. "Never! I want a divorce, you bastard!"

His eyes flared with rage, igniting like wildfire. "Divorce? Then watch me screw someone else right in front of you!"

Ignoring my resistance, he tied my hands with vines and pinned Cassidy against the tree.

His hands reached under her skirt, tearing off her lace panties, then he undid his belt, ramming into her with force.

Bastard.

I squeezed my eyes shut, but Cassidy’s moans still sliced through the air. The obscene, sticky sounds reached my ears as I screamed and struggled.

"No, no! Archer, I hate you!"

His thrusts grew more brutal, Cassidy’s gasps growing louder.

"Archer, take it easy. Didn’t Elise satisfy you?" Cassidy’s smug gaze met mine, her eyes gleaming with triumph.

I hung there helplessly, whispering, "Let me go… please..."

Archer’s bloodshot eyes locked on me, filled with rage. "What are you? Without my favor, you’re nothing, a servant’s daughter, a bitch who licks my boots!"

"You wanted status and money, didn’t you? Don’t forget, you drugged me eight years ago to seduce me!"

Eight years ago, at a party, I found Archer drugged by someone at the pool.

I tried to get him to a doctor, but as soon as I dragged him inside, he pushed me against the wall. His hot breath closed in, and I looked at the boy I’d loved for so long and didn’t resist.

I never imagined that one night would lead to Dorian. Under his grandfather’s pressure, Archer had no choice but to marry me.

His hateful voice echoed in my ears.

"You thought having my child would elevate you? That I’d treat you well? What right do you have to leave me now?!"

But I stood my ground.

"Archer, I don’t love you anymore."

His eyes turned bloodshot. "You don’t get to decide that. The one I love now is Cassidy."

His movements grew even more savage, making Cassidy cry out for him to stop.

I don’t know how long it went on, but finally, Archer finished.

He didn’t look satisfied, only dark and brooding, glaring at me.

"Divorce? Dream on."

He untied me and carried Cassidy away, her unconscious form in his arms.

I collapsed in despair.

From the tree, a small figure slid down.

"You lowlife, you drugged my dad to seduce him!"

I looked up at Dorian’s flushed, furious face, stunned.

"Yes, if I hadn’t seduced him, how would you even exist?"

Dorian stomped his feet and shouted, "I want Daddy with Cassidy! She’s nothing like you, a gold-digger! She buys me toys and candy!"

He pointed a toy gun at me.

"I don’t want a cripple for a mom who doesn’t love me! I don’t want my classmates to laugh at me!"

The rubber bullet hit my forehead, but it was my heart that bled.

Dorian had always been frail. For him, I had given up the chance to run the family business with Nolan.

I had taken care of him day and night, even traveled to Spain to pray, crawling up a church on my knees until my forehead bled, just to wish for his health and safety.

Now, every rainy day, my knees ached unbearably, and I limped as I walked.

I had hoped he’d grow up humble and kind, not a spoiled heir. So, I had been strict with him.

But blood ties meant nothing compared to a few sweet words from another woman and some toys.

Even my ruined knees became a source of shame to him.

Fine. If you want to burn your grandmother’s ashes, then I won’t want you as my son anymore.

As Dorian watched, I turned toward the front gate, only to be stopped by the strict, towering security.