Chapter 3

A few days later, I was in my office signing contracts when my assistant rushed in.

“Ms. Vance, your husband is here.”

I hadn't been home since that night. I had cut off all contact with Alaric, focusing entirely on my work.

I rubbed my temples, feeling the weight of the sleepless nights. I had been away from the business for too long, playing the perfect housewife.

It had taken me days to get through a pile of documents that used to take me hours.

Before I could tell her to send him away, Alaric burst in, clutching a massive bouquet of red roses.

He looked at me with a smirk, throwing the flowers onto my desk and scanning me with an air of triumph.

“Seraphina, I know I messed up last time. But you didn't even remember that today is our anniversary.”

“Whatever. I’m a big enough man to forgive you. Let’s just put this behind us.”

He stood there, chest out, absolutely certain that I would fall into his arms.

I was stunned into silence.

Between the legal battles and the mountain of paperwork, the date had completely slipped my mind.

In the past, I would spend weeks planning our anniversary. I would obsess over every detail, terrified he wouldn't like his gift.

And every time, he would treat my efforts like garbage.

I remembered one year I spent months sourcing a rare gemstone to carve him a custom seal. My hands were covered in cuts from the tools.

But he didn't care. He told me Elowen’s simple text message meant more to him than my expensive rock.

“Seraphina,” he had sneered back then, “you have money, but you’ll never have a soul as precious as hers.”

But today, I had actually forgotten.

It felt wonderful. It was the ultimate proof that he no longer mattered to me.

I looked up at him, my expression blank. “Is that so? Well, I haven't found a male model to spend the night with yet, so I guess I’m behind schedule.”

Alaric’s face turned purple. He slammed his hand on my desk. “How can you be so shameless!”

“You’re my wife! Elowen had to be the one to remind me about our anniversary because you were too busy acting out. Do you even respect me?”

He was lecturing me on respect. It was beyond comical.

I was ‘shameless’ for repeating exactly what he had done. And as for the anniversary, what did I ever get for remembering it?

I didn't want to play his games. “Alaric, I told you we’re getting a divorce. Why are you here with this circus?”

He enjoyed the blurred lines between him and Elowen. I had been naive enough to think my persistence would eventually win him over.

Now, I saw how pathetic I had been.

Alaric looked genuinely confused. He picked up the roses, his voice dropping into a plea.

“Sera, it’s our anniversary. Can we please just have one night without the drama?”

I just watched him, wondering what his angle was.

“You remember, don’t you? You said you’d do anything for me.”

“Please. Don't go through with the divorce.”

He looked vulnerable, but I knew it was a performance.

If he cared about me, he would know I’ve been deathly allergic to pollen since I was a child. Bringing a room full of roses was an insult, not a gesture.

I didn't budge. “Alaric, if you didn't want a divorce, you wouldn't have crossed the line with Elowen over and over again.”

“You’re a doctor. You really expect me to believe you don't know her asthma is fake?”

Mentioning Elowen was his breaking point. In a fit of rage, he threw the bouquet directly at my face.

The heavy scent hit me like a physical blow. The thorns grazed my skin as the flowers scattered across the floor.

“Seraphina, you’re still trying to frame her even now!” he screamed.

“You’re a CEO, but you’re still just a petty, jealous woman. Why can't you let it go?”

“I’m the doctor here. I know she’s suffering. Healthy people like you are so cold-hearted. You have no idea what she goes through.”

He stormed out, leaving a trail of red petals in his wake.

I sat perfectly still. I calmly told my assistant to buy me some allergy medication and to have the divorce papers finalized.

I thought that was the end of it for the day.

But as the sun began to set, my phone rang. It was Alaric.

His voice was shaking, panicked and raw. “Seraphina, something happened to Daisy. Get home now!”