The whispers weren't subtle. Elena heard every word.

"I went to university with Mr. Fischer and Ms. Miller," a man in a tailored suit said under his breath. "Back then, the way he treated her was intense. He was basically one step away from proposing before graduation."

"No wonder," someone beside him replied. "First love is first love. Wife or not, she's still the one that matters."

"And what did all her scheming to marry into the family even get her?" another person added, casting a dismissive glance at Elena. "She gave him kids and still couldn't win his heart. I'd say she's going to spend the rest of her life alone."

Elena stood there quietly. It felt as if her heart had turned to ice. It was heavy and dull, but it no longer seemed to hurt.

She took a deep breath and walked toward the elevator.

Just as the doors were about to close, a hand slipped between them.

Sabrina stepped inside in her high heels, perfectly composed, her red lips curved in a faint smile.

"The divorce will be finalized in three days," she said, meeting Elena's eyes directly. "You're going to leave like you promised, right?"

Elena pressed the button for the first floor. "Of course. I want out more than anyone."

Sabrina's smile widened in satisfaction. "Good. I'll take care of this family from here on out. Lucas and the kids never liked you anyway. Give it time, and they won't remember you at all."

Elena didn't respond, letting the elevator descend in silence.

All of a sudden, a loud crash sounded as the elevator jerked violently.

The lights went out.

Sabrina screamed and grabbed her phone. "Lucas! Help! The elevator malfunctioned!"

Elena slammed against the wall. Pain split across her forehead, and something warm ran down her face.

Some time passed before voices and footsteps echoed outside.

"Are you two alright in there?" the rescuer shouted.

"Help us! My leg is stuck!" Sabrina yelled, pounding on the door.

Metal screeched as tools forced the doors apart, and a beam of blinding light cut through the darkness.

A rescuer leaned in to check on the situation, his expression grim. "Mr. Fischer, both women's legs are pinned. We're running out of time. We can only extract one first. Who should we take?"

Through blurred vision, Elena saw Lucas standing behind the rescuer with Benjamin and Charlotte.

His gaze locked onto Sabrina, and he spoke without hesitation. "Get Sabrina out."

"Save Ms. Miller first! Hurry!" the children cried, tugging at the rescuer's sleeve.

The rescuer frowned. "Mr. Fischer, Mr. Benjamin, Ms. Charlotte, the other woman appears to be more severely injured. I recommend saving her first."

"I said Sabrina!" Lucas demanded icily.

The rescuer let out a helpless sigh and reached in to pull Sabrina out.

Elena watched as they carefully lifted Sabrina free. The elevator door, now supported by only half its frame, let out a harsh, grating creak before it gave way.

The warped metal slammed down onto her leg. Pain tore through her body so violently that it robbed her of breath.

The last thing she saw was Lucas carrying Sabrina away, with the two children cheering joyfully behind him.

Then, the darkness swallowed her whole.

When Elena opened her eyes again, the harsh white light forced her to squint. The sharp scent of disinfectant filled her nose, and the steady beeping of a heart monitor echoed beside her.

"You're awake," the doctor said. "You fractured three ribs. If you'd been brought in any later, it could have been fatal."

Elena stared blankly at the ceiling.

The final scene before the elevator collapsed replayed in her mind with cruel clarity.

Lucas had chosen Sabrina without hesitation. And when the warped elevator door came crashing down toward Elena, he hadn't even looked back.

Elena tried to shift her body, but pain radiated through her chest before spreading to her limbs.

Strangely, she couldn't cry. It was as if the pain had numbed her heart.

…

Three days later, Lucas came to pick her up.

He stood at the doorway in a crisp suit, his eyes resting briefly on the bandages wrapped around her torso.

"Sabrina still dances," he said at last. "I couldn't risk her leg."

Lifting her head slowly, Elena met his gaze.

"You'll just have to deal with the sacrifice. You're a housewife. Even if your mobility is limited for a while, it won't affect much," he stated calmly, without a hint of emotion in his voice.

Elena said nothing. It felt as if she was truly seeing the man she'd loved her entire life for the first time. His features were still as striking as ever, but in those eyes, there had never been a place for her.

"Lucas, if I had died that day, would you have cared?" she asked hoarsely.

His brows drew tighter, but he didn't answer.

Instead, he pulled out a black card and placed it on the bedside table. "Don't ask pointless questions. Consider this compensation. As long as you behave and raise the kids properly, you'll always be my wife."

Elena burst into laughter.

In her previous life, she'd carried the title of Mrs. Fischer until her dying breath, but what did that matter?

It didn't save her from loneliness, being forgotten, or dying alone in a fire.

This time, she no longer cared about being his wife.

She was going to live a better, more brilliant life, and she was going to find someone who actually loved her.

She couldn't hold back any longer and was seconds away from telling him that she was done with him for good.

"Lucas, I—"

His phone rang, cutting her off.

He answered immediately. Sabrina's voice carried through the speaker. "Lucas, the kids and I are waiting for you at the restaurant. We have a surprise for you!"

His expression softened at once. "I'll be there soon."

When he ended the call, he glanced at his watch.

"I have something to take care of. The driver is downstairs," he said, his voice devoid of warmth.

He turned and left. Elena's hands unconsciously curled into fists, but she didn't call out to him.

It didn't matter anymore.

Soon enough, he would learn from Sabrina that the divorce had already been finalized. She didn't want him anymore, nor did she want the children who treated her as a mere stranger.

"Martha," Elena said as she pressed the call button. "Have my luggage sent to the airport."

An hour later, she deleted every one of Lucas' contacts and left the black card in a drawer in the hospital room.

As the plane lifted into the sky, the sunset painted the clouds in gold and red. Elena watched the horizon, smiling faintly before closing her eyes.

In this life, she would never again compromise herself for anyone.

Those years of lowering herself for love would vanish with this flight, disappearing into the clouds forever. What awaited her was a brand-new future, one that belonged only to her.