Chapter 2

2.

Minutes ticked by as Silas stared at the divorce papers.

I remembered those terms clearly.

To make a clean break from the Montgomery family, I had chosen to leave with nothing.

My parents' inheritance was enough to keep me comfortable for the rest of my life.

But why did he look so furious?

"She really thinks this will make me soft enough to chase after her?"

Silas let out a cold laugh and ripped the papers in half.

"Tell her to stop these games. She's not a teenager anymore."

Those torn papers felt like hands ripping my heart in two.

Every word out of his mouth was a needle, mocking me for being "not young anymore."

He had forgotten every promise he made at our wedding.

He had forgotten saying, "Estelle is always right, no matter what. I believe in you."

A man's promises are as fragile as glass, and Silas was no exception.

"Sir, lunch is served."

A voice called out from downstairs.

Silas rubbed his temples and walked out, running into his mother.

"Silas, Autumn's leg is hurt. Carry her down for lunch."

We had an elevator and a wheelchair, but Silas was willing to do anything for Autumn.

He never had any patience for me.

He was always picking at my flaws.

I used to wonder why he didn't just refuse his grandmother's request.

She loved him; she wouldn't have forced him to marry me if he had truly fought it.

He was powerful enough to say no.

Why give me hope if you never loved me?

I really thought my childhood crush had come true.

I lived in a bubble of happiness, ignoring my mother-in-law's disdain.

But in the end, I was nothing compared to his first love.

The three of them sat in the dining room.

Silas placed Autumn gently into her chair.

"Wow, all my favorites!" Autumn chirped, looking at Silas.

"Thank you for remembering what I like."

His mother beamed. "You two were together for so long. Some things stay in the heart forever."

"Mom, let's not talk about the past," Silas interrupted.

He frowned at the gourmet spread on the table. "Who cooked today?"

The butler, Arthur, stepped forward. "The new chef, Kevin. Is something wrong?"

"It looks different from before. Forget it, you can go."

Throughout the meal, the two women chatted happily.

Silas only took a few bites, looking like he was chewing on cardboard.

Floating above, I felt a twisted sense of satisfaction.

Silas was a notoriously picky eater.

I had spent years studying under top nutritionists just to make sure he ate well.

I used to wake up at dawn to go to the local markets for the freshest ingredients.

Only through my persistence did his appetite ever improve.

His mother noticed he wasn't eating much and huffed.

"Silas, do you have no appetite? Estelle is really something else. She knows you only like her cooking, yet she's still hiding out somewhere."

"It must be my fault," Autumn said, her voice dropping.

"Estelle is probably upset because of me. Maybe I should call and explain?"

"I don't need her. Let her play her games until she's bored," Silas snapped.

He forced a few more bites down, trying to prove he didn't need my cooking.

"Why don't I make something for you? You used to love my Truffle Omelet."

Autumn saw his indifference toward me and smirked.

She had the maid push her to the kitchen, and soon, she brought out a dish for Silas.

I watched him eat every single bite of her cooking.

I couldn't help but let out a ghostly, mocking laugh.

So that was it.

When we first got married, he always begged for Truffle Omelets.

I thought he just liked the dish.

He was just using my skills to taste his memories of Autumn.

I was the fool who lived in a lie until it killed me.

Autumn looked at him expectantly.

"Silas, my ballet troupe has a rehearsal today. Can you take me?"

"Is your leg okay?"

"It's just a bit swollen. I need to be there to supervise them."

The moment I had truly decided on divorce was three months ago.

Autumn had brought her team back to the states for a competition.

Silas claimed he was working late, but he was with her.

If someone hadn't sent me photos, I would have believed his lies.

Silas could never say no to Autumn.

Now, I just prayed my body would be found soon.

I wanted to go find my parents in the afterlife.

Why was the universe so unfair?

I had given my life, yet my soul was still tethered to Silas.

I was a prisoner in his shadow.