Chapter 1

Chapter 1

"Kaelen, are you really leaving Elias?"

In the quiet cafe, Kaelen put down her spoon and looked at her shocked best friend. Her voice was flat.

"We're divorced."

"Wait―what did you say?!" Megan nearly knocked over her cup, her voice shooting up. "You're actually divorced? Does he have any idea how much you've done for him these past three years? Even an idiot would have noticed something by now! Does he even have a heart?"

Kaelen managed a small, sad smile.

To be honest, she wasn't entirely sure if he'd actually agreed to it.

When she'd placed the divorce papers in front of him half a month ago, he was on a call. He signed them without even looking up, then rushed off before she could say a word.

He never brought it up again.

Now, all it would take was for the lawyer to file the final papers with the court, and she would have her official divorce decree.

Just as she was about to speak, a deep male voice came from behind her.

"Are you two done?"

Both women turned to see Elias, dressed in a black trench coat, striding toward them.

Still furious, Megan blurted out, "Elias, Kaelen just said you two are―"

"What are you doing here?" Kaelen cut her off, gently squeezing Megan's hand and giving her a slight shake of the head.

"The forecast said it was going to rain. I was nearby, so I came to pick you up."

Kaelen smiled, said goodbye to Megan, and left with him.

The drive home was silent except for the patter of rain against the windows.

Elias glanced at the woman he had married by accident. He moved his lips, wanting to say something, to break the tension, but the fact that he hadn't been home in two weeks held him back.

After a long silence, he finally spoke as if suddenly remembering something.

"Kaelen, what was that document you had me sign two weeks ago?"

It took him two weeks to even think of it.

Of course. He'd been spending all his time with Sylvia. Why would he care about something so trivial?

Kaelen's lips twisted into a wry smile. Just as she was about to answer, Elias's phone rang.

"Elias, I drank too much. My head hurts. Can you come get me?"

Hearing the whiny, coquettish voice on the other end, Elias's knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering wheel. His expression darkened.

"Sylvia, I've told you a hundred times, I'm married."

There was a brief silence, then, "So what if you're married? I was supposed to be the bride at that wedding."

Her careless tone finally broke him.

In three years of marriage, Kaelen had only ever seen his cool, composed side. This was the first time she'd seen him lose control.

He slammed on the brakes, the tires screeching against the wet pavement.

"Then why didn't you show up?!"

The line went dead silent.

A moment later, Sylvia's voice came back, thick with tears. "I'm sorry. I'll never bother you again."

She hung up, but Elias's face grew even darker. He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel for a long moment before finally giving in, typing out a quick message.

"Send me your address."

After he got the reply, he turned to Kaelen, his face full of apology.

Kaelen knew what was coming and spoke first. "Go on. I'll get an Uber."

As he watched her open the car door and her umbrella, a pang of guilt hit him. "I'll be home as soon as I'm done," he said softly.

Kaelen just nodded.

She stood in the rain, watching his car speed away, a storm of emotions churning inside her.

This was the seventh year she had loved Elias.

She still remembered the first time she saw him on the basketball court, a classic case of love at first sight.

He was in a jersey, sinking ten shots in a row, single-handedly breaking through the other team's defense and becoming the star of the game.

The girls next to her were screaming, telling a newcomer all about him―Elias Caldwell of the Computer Science department, a legend at Columbia University, from the prestigious Caldwell family of Manhattan's Upper East Side.

But everyone knew his heart belonged to Sylvia Belmont, his childhood sweetheart.

He would rent out all of Coney Island just to celebrate her birthday.

He would swallow his pride and beg her to take him back in front of everyone just because she blocked his number after another girl confessed her feelings for him.

He would wait for her in a snowstorm until his hands were frostbitten, even if she had just forgotten about their date to get her nails done with her roommates. He never complained.

Throughout her four years of college, Kaelen had heard countless stories of Elias and Sylvia's epic romance.

She always thought she was just a background character in their perfect love story, destined to watch them get their happy ending.

Until two years ago, when Elias, fresh out of college, couldn't wait to make Sylvia his wife.

Kaelen wasn't invited, but she went to the grand wedding anyway, under the guise of being a classmate.

The ceremony began, but Sylvia never appeared. Elias made ninety-nine frantic calls, only to receive a single text message: she wasn't ready to get married so young. She had already flown to London.

That was the day Elias's patience finally ran out.

He didn't indulge her whims anymore. He picked up the microphone.

"Today's wedding will proceed as planned. Is there anyone here who is willing to be my bride?"

Kaelen, always quiet and unnoticed, felt her heart pound against her ribs. She knew how many people adored Elias, so the moment the words left his mouth, she stood up.

That day, she changed into an ill-fitting wedding dress and married a man who couldn't even remember her name.

For the next three years, they lived together as friends, their life harmonious but empty.

Until a month ago, when Sylvia returned.

Watching Elias, torn between resisting Sylvia and being drawn to her, Kaelen knew her beautiful dream had to end.

She didn't want to be the invisible wife anymore.

In this marriage, she had never received the respect or equality she deserved.

She was done.

Standing in the downpour, Kaelen sent Elias a text.

"The document you asked about is in the glove compartment on the passenger side. If you want to know what it is, just open it."