My ears rang. It was a long moment before I could speak.
“So… you agreed?”
Sebastian let out a soft sigh.
“Eleonora, I know Ophelia isn’t your real sister, but your parents adopted her–she’s family.”
“And it’s just a sham marriage. Once she recovers, I’ll still be your husband. You’ll still be Alexa’s
mother.”
Before I could respond, Alexa chimed in.
“Yes, Mother! Ophelia’s been feeling really down lately. You should be more understanding.”
I stared at the father and daughter in front of me.
This was the man I had loved for years.
This was the child I had raised with all my heart.
I had never wronged them. As a wife, a mother, a daughter–I had done everything
And this was how they repaid me.
But it didn’t matter anymore. If Ophelia wanted everything, she could have it.
I didn’t want anything anymore.
I looked up at Sebastian. “Alright. I agree.“/
He looked surprised. “Really?”
Without waiting another moment, he pulled the divorce agreement from his pocket and placed it on
the table.
I smiled faintly.
Oh, Sebastian… You couldn’t even pretend to hesitate.
I bit into my fingertip, pressing the blood into the signature line.
I felt no pain. But Sebastian and Alexa frowned at the sight.
Once I had sealed the document, Sebastian looked pleased, his expression solemn and sincere.
Chapter 2
“Ellie, after Ophelia is discharged, we’ll remarry. I promise I’ll never let you down again.”
He signed the papers too and sighed.
“Ellie, you’ve grown so much. I know I made mistakes before. Once Ophelia recovers, I’ll make sure you never have to worry about anything again.”
“That’s right, Mother!” Alexa piped up like a little adult. “You’re so kind to your sister. I’m proud
to be your son.”
I looked at them, heart completely numb.
Until now, I still held a sliver of hope for Sebastian and Alexa.
Now… I had none.
Death was the only thing left to look forward to.
I stood up, intending to return to my room, but a wave of dizziness struck me. I collapsed.
Just before I lost consciousness, I saw the panic on Sebastian’s face.
I woke to a bone–deep chill. I was still on the floor.
Sebastian and Alexa hadn’t even tried to move me to a bed. Instead, they were looking at me with
visible disappointment.
“Father, I told you, she’s faking it again!” Alexa frowned, eyes full of disdain. “Mother, stop being so childish. You’re making it harder for us to take care of Ophelia!”
Faking?
1
Sebastian added, his voice full of frustration: “Eleonora, please stop this nonsense. Didn’t I already say I still love you? You don’t need to pretend to faint just to test me.”
And that was when I realized it: The potion I drank–Theriac–did exactly what it promised. It
masked every symptom. For three days, I would look and feel like a normal person.
But after that? My insides would rupture. I would bleed to death.
It worked perfectly.
I forced myself to stand. “Must be a cold. I’m fine. I’ll come with you.”
“There are still documents Ophelia needs to sign.
Chapter 2
Sebastian nodded. He didn’t look the least bit surprised. Clearly, my parents had already told him.
At the hospital, Ophelia was reading in the garden.
“Ellie, you’re here!” Her face was pale, but her spirits were high. There was pride and smugness in her eyes, though she tried to hide it.
“Thank you for trusting me with your business. Don’t worry, I won’t let you down.”
“That’s right, Ellie,” my mother added with a smile. “You handle Alexa. Let Ophelia take care of everything else. Isn’t that better?”
I took out a box and removed the remaining property deeds.
“In that case, I’ll hand over the rest of my assets too. The shops, the farmland, the grain business- let her manage them all.”
“This way, I won’t have to worry about a thing.”
Everyone in the room froze.
Cha
