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.

Chapter 5

"Without Mr. Monroe’s permission, you cannot leave."

The place where I had lived, which I thought was a happy life for seven or eight years, had finally turned into my prison.

The bodyguards even escorted me back to the dining table, their expressions full of mockery.

Cassidy was sitting in my seat.

"Sorry, but this spot has the best view of the garden. Archer said I can sit here from now on."

I looked at Archer. He said nothing, which meant silent approval.

And with that, Cassidy’s smug gaze became a clear declaration of my humiliation.

Without thinking, I raised my hand and smacked her hard across the face, freezing her and everyone else in place.

"Get up. This is my seat! No one sits here without my permission!"

If I weren’t allowed to leave, at least no one was taking my place as lady of the house.

Dorian jumped off his chair and shoved me.

"You’re bullying Sister Cassidy! You’re a bad woman!"

Archer stepped in front of the aggrieved girl, shielding her behind him, his face dark with anger.

"It’s just a seat, must you fight over it?"

I clenched my fists and stared at both of them, their faces identical as they scolded me. But I didn’t back down.

Meeting my heartbroken gaze, something flickered in Archer’s eyes. Finally, he spoke.

"Cassidy, you sit here."

Cassidy reluctantly moved to the seat across from me, though she stayed next to Archer.

I hadn’t eaten in two days. With nothing left to hold on to, I picked up my fork and took a few bites.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Cassidy slip off her shoes under the table, stretching her foot into Archer’s lap with a playful grin.

Archer’s breath hitched. He glanced at me, trying to maintain control.

"Elise, why have Dorian’s grades been slipping lately? You know how much I care about his education."

He scolded me seriously, yet his left hand remained on Cassidy’s foot, rubbing it shamelessly under the table.

Cassidy bit her lip and giggled, her eyes meeting his in a silent exchange of shared secrets.

I slammed my fork and knife down and stood up, fighting the rising nausea in my throat.

"From now on, he’ll have a tutor and a housekeeper. As the daughter of a servant, I have no right to discipline a Monroe heir."

Archer’s face darkened with anger.

"Must you be like this? Dorian is your son!"

"Is he?" I shot back, watching as his words froze him in shock. Without another word, I turned and made my way up the spiral staircase.

A sharp-witted maid quickly led Dorian away, her quick thinking sparing him from the scene.

Even the distance of the staircase couldn’t block out Archer’s crude words to Cassidy.

"Try that again next time, and I’ll screw you right on the dining table."

Back in my room, I called my personal assistant.

“Micah, sell off all my shares. Hasn’t Alfonso always wanted them? Transfer them to him.”

I owned ten percent of Monroe Corporation, a gift from Archer’s grandfather after I gave birth to Dorian.

Alfonso, who always clashed with Archer, was constantly eyeing the heir’s position. I believed this would be the perfect gift for him.

Once I finished the arrangements and hung up, I heard voices seeping through the crack in the door.

“Hmm, so what if she shamelessly seduced Mr. Monroe? She’s nothing but a cheap, vulgar woman. In the end, she’s no match for a true heiress. Serves her right!”

Yeah. I gave everything I had to prop up the crumbling Monroe family; that was my punishment.

“Didn’t she make a scene about getting a divorce today? And now she won’t leave. I mean, who would willingly give up being Mrs. Monroe?”

I sighed softly.

Yes, I should step aside.

Suddenly, a maid shrieked, “Oh my! Sir, Alfonso, you’re back from your world tour?”

Archer’s mother, Willa’s voice came next, cold as ice.

“If we hadn’t come, would you lowly gossips talk yourselves to death?”

Chapter 6

The elders of the Monroe family had returned early.

Fine by me. I opened the door, stepped out, and handed the signed divorce papers to Archer’s father, Vincent.

He studied me with a sharp, calculating gaze.

“We know everything about what’s been going on between you and Archer. Elise, don’t you realize how many women would kill to marry into the Monroe family?”

“We’ve treated you well all these years, out of respect for your mother. My son’s spoiled you, what more do you want?”

So, I was supposed to tolerate his cheating?

I took a steadying breath. “Since Archer loves Cassidy so much, let them be together.”

Willa’s sharp fingernail jabbed between my brows.

“You low-born tramp. Did you think you mattered?”

“If we hadn’t taken in you and your crippled mother, you’d be selling yourself on the street. We fed and clothed you, and now you want to disgrace the Monroe family?”

It was as if living with the Monroe family had been some grand favor.

I shoved her hand away, coldly meeting the eyes of the woman who had once been kind to me, but now, without hesitation, had turned against me.

“My mother was crippled saving your son’s life. I gave birth to a child for your useless son, continuing the Monroe family line. I owe you nothing.”

Willa leapt to her feet, her fury evident.

“Then don’t expect a single cent from our family!”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

So they were all the same.

“You think I married him for money? I don’t want your filthy wealth.”

I ignored them and turned to leave, only to find Archer’s gaze locked on mine.

With an immediate movement, he snatched the divorce papers from Vincent’s hands and ripped them apart. The pieces fluttered down like snow, drifting to the ground.

“I know I went too far in the garden earlier, but that’s only because you’ve been pushing me to the edge lately.”

“I already told you, the wedding with Cassidy was just temporary. As long as you behave, you’ll always be my wife.”

He seized my wrist, pulling me toward the bedroom.

“Elise, I’ve neglected you these past few days. Tonight, I’m all yours.”

As if he were bestowing me with a grand honor.

But who would endure watching their husband be affectionate with another woman?

Who could bear to hear their child call someone else “Mom”?

To let the world laugh at them behind their back?

I barely managed to whisper, “No…”

His mother’s irritated voice cut in.

“This woman’s an ungrateful wretch. Why are you still being so kind to her?”

Archer glanced back at me, a cruel smile tugging at his lips. “Because she gave me a son.”

As if I were no more than a vessel for bearing his child.

I struggled, but he effortlessly tossed me onto the bed, his body pressing down on mine.

In his mind, I should be honored by this.

But all I felt was dread and disgust.

After dodging his kisses repeatedly, Archer finally lost his patience, his face dark with fury.

“Look at me, Elise!”

He bit my lips violently, his tongue forcing its way inside. I bit down hard, instantly, the taste of blood filled my mouth.

Clutching his mouth in pain, he howled, but I pushed him off in panic.

He rose like a crazed beast, roaring above me.

“What do you want from me, Elise?! What will it take to satisfy you?!”

I clutched my clothes to me, my voice shaking with desperation.

“I just want to leave you!”

His fury deepened, and with a maddened desperation, he crawled over, pinning me beneath him with arms as strong as steel.

“Elise, you love me. You know you do!”

The door slammed with frantic pounding.

“Who dares interrupt me?!”

A servant’s voice trembled from outside.

“Miss Trent’s been throwing up nonstop. Do you want to check on her?”

Archer hesitated, his gaze burning into mine.

I turned my face away. “Go. Your wife needs you.”

He frowned, his voice cold. “I told you, my wife is you.”

But his hand loosened from my wrist.

“Rest well. Tomorrow’s your birthday. I’ll make time for you.”

I was exhausted. I didn’t want his company anymore.

He left in a hurry.

I curled up, burying my head under the blanket. Outside, the endless shuffling of servants made my heart race.

Suddenly, Willa’s delighted voice echoed down the hallway:

“Wonderful, Dr. Grey, thank you so much!”

“That filthy woman thought she could use a child to threaten us? Well, now we’re having another grandson. We don’t need her anymore.”