Ana's POV
Ridley bolted out so fast his wallet tumbled to the ground. Without hesitation, I crouched down and grabbed it.
Back when we first married, I'd noticed how beat-up his old wallet looked. I pinched pennies for months until I could afford a decent replacement with my own savings.
Ridley maintained that distant expression he always wore, though he did mention, "This is the first present you've bought me as my wife. I'll carry it always."
Yet the wallet in my hands wasn't mine. He'd gone back to using that battered old thing.
I flipped it open and froze—there was a photograph of Aileen and Ridley. Both looked much younger, like the shot was taken ages ago.
Aileen clung to him in a bridal gown, beaming at the lens without a worry in sight. Ridley wore an expression I'd never seen—genuine warmth spreading across his features.
Down the center, I spotted where the image had been sliced and reassembled. Ridley had cut Aileen from her wedding picture and positioned her beside himself.
My chest felt crushed under an invisible weight. That tender look on Ridley's face struck like a blade. All our time together, and we'd never taken a single proper wedding photo.
Ridley always claimed love didn't require display. Now I understood his real meaning.
He never believed I deserved to stand next to him in white. In his mind, only Aileen earned that place.
At the bottom, Ridley had scrawled "My One True Love" with a date beneath. The timing wasn't coincidental.
That day marked our wedding—and Aileen's departure overseas.
Everything clicked into place. Lying there, I released a silent, bitter laugh.
Everyone else saw me as fortunate, the woman who'd snagged the ideal husband. Reality painted a different picture—Ridley's heart had never been mine.
Evening arrived with no sign of Ridley or Hughes returning.
The ache in my chest deepened. This pathetic marriage I'd been desperately maintaining was already finished.
As twilight settled, I reached for my phone. "I've decided. I'm coming back."
Some time ago, I'd answered a call that shattered everything I knew. That's when I discovered I wasn't truly an orphan.
I hesitated, then continued, "But not until three months from now."
By then it would mark the anniversary of Grandmother Isabelle Watson's death.
Among all the Watson relatives, Isabelle alone had shown me genuine care.
Before leaving this place behind, I needed to visit Isabelle's resting spot once more.
That time would provide enough opportunity to recover my strength, dissolve this marriage, and finally escape.
——
At Parker Manor, the opulent headquarters of the world's wealthiest Vernon dynasty, a man ended his call.
Dressed flawlessly from head to toe, he stood frozen momentarily before facing his equally handsome brothers. Excitement colored his usually controlled voice. "She agreed at last. Our sister's coming home."
——
After my recovery progressed enough, the hospital released me.
Ridley's eyes reddened as he watched me struggle with the crutch.
He guided me inside the Collin residence, settled me on the sofa, and wrapped his arms around me. "Everything's different now, Ana. We'll be one happy family moving forward."
Internally, I sneered. 'Happy? After all your lies, you expect me to believe that nonsense?'
Hughes bounded over, practically vibrating with energy. "Mom, congrats on getting out!" He crashed directly onto my injured hand, sending pain shooting through me.
Hughes jumped back up, showing minimal remorse. "Oops, Mom, you all right?"
I shook my head silently. Fighting seemed pointless, but I was through with pretending.
While Ridley and Hughes settled in the living room with the television, I retreated to my bedroom.
I wanted to gather my belongings—or torch them if necessary. Looking around, though, I realized how little actually belonged to me.
I let out a hollow laugh. Typical. In this house, I'd barely made an impression, just like my role in Ridley and Hughes's lives. Expendable.
Then I noticed something crucial missing. The pendant I'd given Ridley before my imprisonment had vanished. Isabelle's pendant. The sole memento my grandmother left me, and the only valuable item in this house worth retrieving.
"Mom, Aileen's here for you," Hughes called from the hallway, jolting me back to reality.
In the main room, Aileen had already made herself comfortable, gift box in hand, grinning broadly. She looked perfectly at home, stretched across the couch, chatting as if she belonged there. Her presence seemed to brighten the entire space.
The moment I appeared, Aileen went quiet. Tension thickened the air.
When I remained silent, Aileen made an exaggerated show of shifting away from Ridley. "Ana, don't misunderstand, okay? Ridley and I are purely platonic. No need for jealousy."
Ridley's expression showed irritation. "Aileen heard about your discharge and wanted to visit. Nothing more."
I dropped my gaze, ignored both of them, and took a seat on the far stool. Arguing felt useless. Playing dumb seemed simpler.
"Ana, I brought you something." Aileen approached with the package. "I recalled how much you loved this style."
She revealed the contents—a dance costume exactly matching my old preferences.
My breathing hitched. My legs would never support dancing again. "Ms. Watson, it's useless to me now." I kept my voice emotionless.
Aileen covered her mouth, eyes darting to my legs. "Oh no, I completely forgot. That's my mistake, Ana. I'm pretty tactless, not as considerate as you ladies. Please don't hold it against me, okay?"
I managed a weak smile and finally met her stare.
Looking directly into the hatred burning in Aileen's gaze, I felt only crushing irony.
My voice stayed steady. "No problem. I stopped dancing long ago. You should keep it." The present held no meaning. Just like the son and husband I no longer desired.
Aileen chuckled and finally put the box aside. That's when I spotted the pendant around her throat, swaying with her movements.
My heart plummeted. My hand balled into a fist. Isabelle's pendant was hanging from her neck.