Chapter 1. Past life
You there."
The voice sliced through the oppressive silence of the prison cell.
Elaine lifted her dull gaze from the cracked concrete floor, remaining motionless. Her body felt weighed down, as if gravity itself had claimed her.
"Didn't you hear me?"
She perceived the presence of the inmate before feeling the pain. BAM!
Her head was slammed against the floor, a sharp crack echoing through the cell. White-hot pain exploded behind her eyes, stars bursting across her vision. Her ears rang violently, but she didn't scream. She didn't even flinch. She simply lay there, cheek pressed against the cold ground, letting the pain pulse through her skull like a cruel reminder that she was still alive.
The floor beneath her was hard, damp, and icy. Every breath she took hurt. Her body ached in ways she hadn't known a body could ache. Her scars, and the burns on her face made her a stranger to herself. Her mind wandered through the wreckage of what she called a life, but there was nothing to cling to. No hope, no comfort, no escape.
"Acting aloof?" the inmate asked,
Around her, the other inmates reacted predictably. Some smirked, entertained by her suffering. Others turned away, indifferent. Only one woman standing a little farther back watched her with a trace of pity.
They all knew the rumors.
She had killed them, her husband's family, those innocent children, all perished in a fire she started out of spite.
She was a monster.
She was about to be hit again when a guard banged hard on the prison cell.
Inmate 517 he called out coldly, the guard crouched down to her, the moment his eyes landed on her face, he froze then he turned away almost immediately.
His jaw tightened, his nose wrinkled, disgust flickered across his expression before he masked it with indifference.
"Disgusting," he muttered.
Elaine looked up to stare at her reflection on the wall but what she saw made her skin crawl. Skin warped and uneven. One side pulled tight, with a scar that ran from the edge of her eyes to her jaw. Fire had eaten her once, acid had finished the job.
She had stopped remembering what her old face looked like a long time ago.
The guard grabbed her arm and yanked her up.
Bones screamed. Her knees buckled, but he didn't slow. Her shoulder slammed into the bars as he dragged her forward.
"You've got a visitor," he said flatly. "Lucky you."
Lucky, a part of her almost laughed, but a small part of her was filled with a little anticipation of who it was.
They reached the waiting room soon. Elaine sat down and across her, sat a woman dressed in bright colors. Elegant. Composed. Gloved hands folded neatly on the table. A face mask hid her features, but her posture alone felt familiar. The woman tilted her head. Her voice was soft. "Could you… chain her tighter?" she asked the guard. "She frightens me." The guard hummed in response and chained her again.
That voice. Elaine froze, this voice was unmistakable even if she turned to dust. It was the voice of Victoria Lynn, her supposed best friend who destroyed her life, but she was supposed to be dead, in that fire. Elaine had seen Victoria go into the house and never come out. She was even proclaimed dead. Shock gripped her, her skin crawling as she felt cold with disbelief.
Then could you give us some privacy? Victoria requested sweetly, and the guard, blushing, scampered away.
The woman reached up and removed her mask.
The world cracked. The face staring back at her was hers. Her face, the one she had once carried, now replicated, same eyes, same nose, same lips. Smooth, untouched and perfect.
Not a scar in sight. Victoria had taken her face, her identity, her life and now she sat there smiling like she had won everything. Elaine's mind went blank.
Victoria Lynn smiled.
"Oh," Hi Elly, Victoria said gently. "You look surprised. Oh right, I am now Elaine Ashford so I probably shouldn't call you that," she said with a smirk playing on her lips. Memories surged in Elaine's head violently, the fire, the acid, the betrayal, the life stolen. Rage clawed at her chest, she lunged, chains rattling violently, but the metal held fast. She could not reach her.
Victoria leaned back, calm as ever.
"Careful," she said. "You're still so… impulsive."
Elara trembled, "YOU did this," she rasped, Victoria's smile widened. mmm…but, you let me. The words were soft. Deadly.
Victoria leaned back, smiling, a cruel, satisfied smile that twisted Elaine's stomach. With a smirk on her face she looked at the privileged girl who she had always envied, when she saw how pathetic and miserable she looked now, a sense of satisfaction warmed into her heart she chuckled gleefully.
"You were always so foolish," Victoria said softly, almost sweetly. "Abandoned Adrian when he needed you. You could have had everything, power, love, security, but you chose… Peter, and now?
What about Adrian? Elaine asked impatiently, ohh Victoria smiled, "Oh Someone still cares? Well, let me update you for old times' sake, He is a quadruple now…you know and they are just about to finish him off," Victoria whispered, leaning closer, her voice almost taunting, almost sweet. "And there was nothing you could do. Nothing, though you were always too weak to stop anyone. You lost everything, Elaine, everything you cared about. And I… I took it all." Something inside Elaine snapped.
A scream tore from her throat as she ripped her hands forward. The chain broke, the table crashed. Victoria shrieked as Elaine grabbed her hair and yanked her close. Hairpins scattered across the floor. Elaine seized one and drove it straight into Victoria's neck with a perfect precision. Blood sprayed, guards rushed in, shouting. Elaine didn't stop, she stabbed and stabbed until they dragged her back, slammed her against the wall.
Her head hit concrete.
Blood streamed down her face.
Still, she fought. A guard electrocuted her, another one followed, electricity surged through her body, searing flesh, locking her muscles.
Pain consumed everything.
As darkness closed in, Elaine saw Victoria bleeding on the floor, still wearing her face.
She smiled.
At least one thing had ended.
Her body went limp as the darkness finally consumed her.
—-------
You drugged me.
The voice sliced through her, sharp, angry, hazy and intimate.
Her eyes fluttered open. Light pierced her vision. Her head spun violently, thoughts scattering like leaves in a storm. A hand gripped her neck, cold and firm. Her eyes widened. Adrian, her heart raced, what was he doing here? Where was she?
Had he rescued her, or was this a new nightmare?
"You drugged me?" the voice came again.
Drugged? She struggled to focus. Her body felt foreign. Her muscles refused to respond. Her typically sharp mind was clouded with fear and confusion. Then pain flared before she could think. Adrian's teeth sunk into her shoulder. She screamed a desperate sound that shook her to her core. Stop, she whispered.
"Now you have to pay," he hissed.
Pay? Pay for what?
Her chest heaved, her vision blurred, she tried to open her eyes to look at him clearly as this may be the last time she would see him but the boundaries of reality shattered into painful fragments. The pain was both physical and psychological, she felt so lost.
Adrian tore her clothes and entered her roughly no foreplay or anything, she flinched from pain, gripping his shoulders tightly.
"You have gotten really bold" he whispered, is it because I indulge you? She opened her mouth to say something but couldn't make a sound.
The room twisted. Her sense of time dissolved, and then darkness consumed her once more, deeper than before.
Chapter 2. Rebirth
Dawn seeped quietly into the room, pale light threading through the sheer curtains like a promise she didn't believe.
Elaine jolted from the bed, a sharp pain tearing through her lower body, her breath caught. She lay down again, still this time, fearing even the slightest movement would amplify the pain.
Silk. The sheets beneath her fingers felt cool, smooth, impossibly soft. For a moment, her thoughts scattered.
When was the last time she slept on silk?
Prison beds had been hard, scratchy, and unforgiving.
Her heart raced.
If this is a dream… Please let me stay. She whispered to no one in particular.
She turned slowly, cautiously, as if the room might shatter under her movement. Her gaze fell on the full-length mirror opposite the bed.
She froze.
The woman staring back was different. The face looked… smooth, her mind raced back to the fire, it had disfigured her face, and with Victoria making it even more unrecognisable with acid, hatred burned from her eyes at the thought of Victoria, she hoped she stayed dead this time. She stood up and walked to the mirror, the scar that ran from the corner of her eye to her jaw was gone, no hollowness in her cheeks, no lifelessness in her eyes.
It was her.
But younger, way younger.
Her hands flew to her face, smooth skin, clear hazel eyes, thick glossy hair instead of brittle and dull. She staggered, searching for proof of an illusion.
Her phone rang. It was an alarm, the sound was overwhelming. She grabbed it, her fingers trembling. She saw the date.
28th August, 2018.
The numbers burned into her vision.
2018 was five years ago.
She swayed, gripping the bedpost as reality crashed into her chest.
"No… no, this isn't possible…"
But it was.
She had been reborn.
Back to five years ago, to the beginning. Back to the time before everything went wrong, before she heeded the wrong voice.
Victoria Lynn.
Her "best friend." The memory of two days ago hit her like a tide, with Victoria whispering poison disguised as concern.
"Just drug him a little. Catch him in the act. Then ask for a divorce and you will finally get your happily ever after with Peter, Adrian can't risk a scandal coming out now so he is guaranteed to agree to your request. She did exactly that which clearly backfired. Her nails dug into her palms, anger flared, hot, consuming, almost blinding. Her chest tightened as the full memory surfaced, the drug had worked but not as she anticipated. Adrian hadn't been powerless, she had been.
Her body remembered the fear, the helplessness, how he hadn't let go even when she begged, even when darkness closed in, tears running down her face, silent and burning.
"I'm sorry…" she whispered to herself.
The door swung open, Elaine's head whipped toward the sound.
And there he was. Adrian, he stood in the doorway, impeccably dressed even at this early hour. Standing over six feet tall with broad shoulders and a powerful build in a perfect suit, he looked down at her with his cold, emerald-green eyes, a small mole just below his ear, his sharp jawline and perfect face framed by neat black hair while his thin lips remained pressed in a line of total indifference. His sharp features carved from cold precision, his eyes unreadable. His presence filled the room, suffocating her. He looked at her.
She realized, almost in a daze, that she was sitting on the floor.
"Why are you on the ground?" he asked.
His voice was eerily calm. That terrified her.
She stared at him, speechless. Tears welled up, streaming down her face.
He stepped closer.
"Crying?" His tone sharpened. "Because of last night", because I touched you?"
The accusation struck like a slap.
"No" Elaine tried to speak, but her voice cracked, breaking under the weight of memory and fear. "I… I'm sorry."
The word fell uselessly between them.
In an instant, his hand gripped her arm and yanked her up, forcing her to her feet.
"Is this another trick?" your last trick didn't work and so you want to try another?he demanded, eyes darkening. "Do you want a divorce so badly?"
His fingers tightened around her neck, not enough to choke, but enough to remind her of her vulnerability, of who was in charge.
"Too bad," he said quietly. "I don't plan on letting you go, Not in this lifetime."
He hurled her onto the bed.
The silk sheets tangled beneath her as his weight pressed down, stealing her breath. Panic clawed at her throat, sharp and suffocating but she suppressed it, barely.
She stilled.
Inside, her mind screamed.
His face loomed close, voice low and threatening.
"And if you ever pull a stunt like that again," you know trying to send me to some other woman's bed, he said, emphasizing every word, "I will fuck you senseless again and again and ensure you never leave this room."
I am sorry, Elaine whispered causing Adrian to freeze.
"What?" he asked?
Her heart pounded so loudly she was convinced he could hear it.
"I am sorry" she said again, this time louder. Adrian looked at her deeply, his cold eyes reflecting her face as if trying to bore a hole through them, and then he pulled her face close, his thin lips almost meeting hers, their breath intertwined and she could smell the pine scented cologne he always used. Oh how nice he smelt she thought sheepishly as she closed her eyes in anticipation and maybe a slight fear of what was going to happen next.
Then…
He withdrew. She opened her eyes, confusion clearly swirling in them. He stood up, straightened his suit and looked at her deeply again.The absence of his weight felt as overwhelming as his presence. She lay frozen, staring at the ceiling, tears silently soaking her hair and then the sheets. This was just the beginning, she thought,
and this time, she was not the same woman anymore and she promised to make things right.
Chapter 3.
"Come down for breakfast."
Adrian's voice sliced through the quiet of the room like a knife. He didn't wait for a reply. He didn't look back. The door clicked shut behind him. Elaine remained on the edge of the bed looking towards the door long after he had left.
Her heart raced, but her mind was frighteningly calm.
This was before everything went wrong, there was still time, time to change everything and of course get her revenge.
She stood slowly and began taking off her clothes, she looked at her reflection again and smiled slightly before entering the bathroom to take a bath, after her shower, she walked to the closet, inside lay dozens of clothing from current collections of different brands showing how much love and care she received, she cursed herself again for being a fool and went in to pick a dress.
In her past life, she would've chosen dark colors, outfits that screamed distance and defiance. She had known that Adrian preferred soft fabrics, muted tones, a femininity that didn't challenge his authority, so she had always consciously chosen the opposite. Today, however, she reached for a simple, light floral dress with a butterfly hem, gentle around the edges. Picking flat shoes, she allowed her long, silky black hair to fall free, securing it with a hairpin.
When she descended the stairs, the dining room was already set. Adrian looked up, and frowned.
She caught the brief pause, the flicker of confusion in his eyes before his expression smoothed into indifference.
Good, she thought.
He knew she knew his preferences. That was precisely why she had never dressed this way before. Every outfit she had previously chosen had been an act of defiance.
So why this change?
She took her seat calmly, lowered her gaze, then looked up at him.
"Let's eat," she said softly as she took her seat quietly beside him. The table was filled with food, soft bread, scrambled eggs, sausages, fruit, and two cups of tea but the silence made it hard to breathe.
Elaine was the only one moving.
She picked up the serving spoon and gently placed eggs onto Adrian's plate.
"I don't like eggs," Adrian said suddenly, Elaine stiffened in surprise but was quick to react as she placed sausages on the plate she quickly replied "I know you don't like sausages either, this plate is for me" Adrian hummed indifferently as he reached for a plate but Elaine grabbed it first, putting some toast and some fruits and arranging them neatly, as if she had done this many times before.
"You didn't eat much last night," she said softly. "You should eat well today."
Adrian looked at her deeply but did not respond. He only glanced at his plate, then at her hands. His face remained calm, cold even, but inside, he was watching everything.
They started eating, Elaine tried to get more eggs but couldn't reach the bowl, before she could try again, Adrian picked up the bowl, and placed it closer to her. He did it without a word, without expression.
Elaine looked up at him and smiled brightly.
"Thank you, hubby."
Adrian froze.
The spoon in his hand stopped midair.
Hubby?
Elaine had never called him that. Not once. She usually avoided him, avoided meals, avoided even looking at him. Yet here she was, smiling, serving him food, acting like a loving wife.
He slowly calmed down, his face blank. He said nothing.
He enjoyed it. The warmth. The attention. But he refused to show it. His silence made him seem distant, but his eyes never left her.
Elaine reached for her cup, her fingers brushing against his hand. It was light, almost accidental. She smiled again.
At that moment, the maid hurried in.
"Sir," she said nervously, "Miss Julia is here."
Adrian frowned. "Tell her to wait in the living room."
"Yes, sir."
But before the maid could leave, the door flew open.
Julia burst into the dining room, her face tight with anger. Her voice was loud and sharp, her eyes red, her face filled with anger.
"So this is where you are!" she shouted, pointing at Elaine. "Sitting down and eating like nothing happened?"
"Julia," Adrian said calmly, "reduce your voice."
She scoffed. "Why should I?"
Adrian did not raise his voice. He did not argue.
"Go to the living room," he said coldly. "Wait there until we finish breakfast."
Julia laughed at first, clearly not taking him seriously. But then she met his eyes.
The coldness in his gaze wiped the smile off her face.
She froze for a second. Her lips tightened, even she was scared of this second brother of hers. Without another word, she turned sharply and stormed out, her steps aggressive, her anger barely contained.
The room fell silent.
Adrian picked up his cutlery and continued eating as if nothing had happened.
Elaine did the same but she could barely swallow two bites.
Her mind desperately tried to remember what happened a day before. She remembered walking into the restaurant and seeing Julia laughing with a man.
At first, Elaine planned to leave but then she saw the man's face. She clearly remembered seeing the man earlier at the mall with his arms wrapped around a pregnant woman, she remembered clearly because the woman was causing a scene, scolding a sales person for bumping into her. The man desperately tried to calm her down and Elaine remembered thinking how unfortunate it was for this man to be with the pregnant lady, but when she saw the man laughing so sweetly with Julia, anger burned through her, she didn't expose the truth. She had only walked up to the table and cursed him out.
She had told him he was reaching above his league. That he was trying to climb the social ladder. She insulted him until his face went pale, then she left.
Back at the dining room,
Elaine pushed her food around her plate, her appetite gone. Adrian ate in silence beside her,
The silence between them was heavy.
Chapter 4. Julia Montclair
Adrian looked at her again and noticed how uninterested she was with the food . He put down his cutlery and stood up. Elaine snapped back out of her thought and looked up at him
"You done" he asked
"Huh" Elaine replied clearly haven't gotten herself yet
"If you're finished, then let's go."
Elaine sipped water and smiled sweetly, extending her hand toward his.
Adrian hesitated slightly before clasping hers.
"Hubby, I didn't do anything wrong," she assured him, "I swear that man's not a good person."
He merely tightened his grip, saying nothing.
They soon arrived at the living room to find Julia pacing, impatience rolling off her.
Julia, Elaine started, "I am sorry about yesterday but I didn't lie, "I saw something earlier."
Julia crossed her arms. "Here we go."
"Earlier at the mall," Elaine continued, "I saw him with another woman. She was pregnant.
Julia rolled her eyes. "So?"
"So?" Elaine repeated softly. They looked intimate.
"Doesn't matter," Julia said coldly, could have been his sister, why would Nicholas want to deceive me, he doesn't even know who I am. He doesn't know I'm a Montclair."
Elaine's chest tightened. "That doesn't change what I saw."
Julia stepped closer. "You're jealous. Admit it."
Elaine shook her head
Julia stepped closer again, just admit that you are…
"Enough." Adrian snapped
His voice was calm, but sharp enough to cut.
Julia turned to him. "You're still taking her side?"
"You're being disrespectful," Adrian said. "Apologize."
Julia stared at him as if slapped. "To her?"
"Yes."
Julia laughed in disbelief. "So who am I to you now? Your sister or nothing?"
"She is my wife" Adrian replied coldly
Apologize. He said again
Julia laughed angrily as she grabbed a vase from the table, and smashed it to the floor.
The sound echoed.
Elaine flinched.
Adrian immediately pulled her into his arms, his hand settling firmly on her waist. Elaine stiffened in surprise, then slowly relaxed, a strange warmth spreading through her chest at the quiet way he chose her without words.
Julia reached for another vase.
Adrian spoke calmly, without raising his voice.
"If you break another one, it will be taken from your allowance."
Julia froze.
Her hand trembled. Slowly, she placed the vase back down.
She stared at them, then laughed bitterly. "Fine. I'm sorry."
The words were forced.
Elaine stepped forward. "I'm sorry too," she said. "But I didn't make up what I saw."
Julia glared at her. "You're unbelievable."
"Then you can test him," Elaine said quietly.
The room went silent.
Julia's eyes darkened. She cursed under her breath and walked out.
Elaine stood still, her heart racing. The driver stepped into the house and bowed slightly.
"Sir, the car is ready."
Adrian released her, he picked up his coat from the chair, his expression unreadable as always, and headed toward the door.
Elaine reacted without thinking.
She followed him quickly, her steps light but hurried. As Adrian slipped his arms into his coat, she reached out and helped him adjust the collar, her fingers careful, almost gentle.
"What time will you be back?" she asked softly.
Adrian's body stiffened.
His gaze darkened as he looked down at her. Suddenly, he grabbed her hands on his collar pulling her closer just enough for his words to sting.
"Why?" he asked coldly. "Can't wait to run to your lover?"
Elaine froze.
The warmth left her face instantly, her body going stiff in his grip. Her eyes widened, shock flashing through them before she could hide it.
Adrian saw it.
And he misunderstood it.
To him, her stiffness was guilt.
His grip loosened at once. His face hardened, disappointment flashing briefly before it vanished behind anger. Without another word, he turned and walked out.
The door closed behind him.
Elaine stood there for a long moment before letting out a slow, tired sigh.
"It's fine," she murmured to herself. "This is nothing compared to how I treated him before."
At least he reacted, she thought. At least he cared enough to be angry.
That was progress.
Her cheeks warmed as another memory surfaced, Adrian pulling her close when Julia smashed the vase, his arm firm around her waist, protecting her without hesitation.
Elaine smiled.
A small, crafty smile.
She picked up her phone.
Inside the car, Adrian leaned back against the seat, his jaw tight.
Elaine's sudden change after last night replayed in his mind over and over, her softness, her smile, her unexpected closeness.
It didn't make sense.
"What game are you playing?" he muttered.
His phone pinged.
He frowned and picked it up.
Elaine, his wife.
He paused.
Their chat box was almost empty, bare, like two strangers forced into the same space.
His thumb hovered for a second before he opened the message.
Mr. Montclair, I do have a lover…
Adrian's eyes darkened.
His chest tightened
Then another ping.
He is my husband. And I do have a surprise for him tonight… that is, if he will be home before 8pm ^_^
His heart raced.
For a brief second, his fingers moved to call her.
Then he stopped.
He locked the phone and stared out the window, his expression unreadable.
Back at the mansion, Elaine imagined his face as he read her messages.
The thought made her chuckle softly.
"Serves you right," she whispered.
Her phone pinged.
Her eyes lit up as she rushed to grab it, certain it was Adrian.
But the name on the screen made her smile fade.
Victoria.
Elaine's fingers tightened around the phone. Her chest felt stuffy.
She unlocked the phone and opened the chat.
Victoria: Elly, are you free this morning, I need to see you. It's pretty urgent.
Let's meet at the café downtown. 10am don't be late.
Elaine frowned. Another message came quickly.
Her thumb hovered over the screen when another message popped up.
Victoria: Peter might be there too(^^).
Elaine froze.
Peter, the man she had once loved with her whole heart, who had only ever wanted her money and Adrian's power. How she hated them both."
"She despised Peter and Victoria, yet a part of her couldn't help but wonder what Victoria wanted this time."
Something was coming.
And she had a feeling it wouldn't be simple.
Chapter 5. Pregnant
Elaine saw Victoria's messages again but did not reply.
She stared at the screen for a moment, then placed her phone face down. A cold smile appeared on her lips.
I'll go, she thought calmly. But I'll go late.
Victoria always made her wait in the past. Elaine remembered sitting alone at cafés, checking the time again and again while Victoria arrived late with a fake apology. Today, Elaine decided she would no longer be the one waiting.
Instead of leaving, Elaine walked into the kitchen.
"I'll make dumplings," she said softly. "Adrian likes them." She giggled softly.
The moment she reached for the ingredients, the butler hurried in.
"Madam," Butler Jen said nervously, "this is servant work. You don't need to"
Elaine turned and smiled at him sweetly.
"I want to make something for my husband," she said gently.
Butler Jen froze.
He stared at her, worry clear in his eyes. The Madam Elaine he knew never entered the kitchen, let alone cooked.
Still, Elaine noticed his discomfort.
"I understand," she added kindly. Please leave one servant with me.
Butler Jen hesitated, then nodded. "Mia, stay."
A young maid stepped forward. "Yes, sir."
Mia looked very nervous.
Elaine washed her hands. "I'll prepare the filling. You help with the dumpling skins."
Mia nodded stiffly. At first, her hands shook. She kept glancing at Elaine, afraid of making a mistake, but Elaine spoke calmly, explaining each step patiently.
Slowly, Mia relaxed.
She's not scary at all, Mia thought in surprise.
When the dumplings were finished, Elaine placed them neatly into containers and put them in the fridge.
"I'll take them to Adrian when I come back," she said.
Butler Jen watched quietly. His heart felt warm.
Maybe their marriage is finally changing, he thought. I hope it lasts.
"Madam," he asked, "should I prepare a car for you?"
Elaine shook her head. "No, thank you."
She went upstairs to change.
She chose a soft pastel outfit. The fabric hugged her waist gently and flowed over her curves. It was simple but elegant, making her look warm and gentle.
She checked the mirror, she looked calm, gentle, and completely different from her usual sharp self. She smiled in satisfaction and left.
When she entered the café, she checked the time.
12:02 p.m. She looked up and sighted Victoria almost immediately.
Victoria was already standing, clearly ready to leave.
Elaine felt hatred rise in her chest.
For a brief moment, violent thoughts flashed through her mind, different ways to end Victoria's life once and for all but she forced herself to calm down.
I still have a long life ahead, she reminded herself. And I still need my dear husband to fall deeply in love with me. She thought with a smile.
I won't ruin everything for trash like Victoria.
As she approached the table, she remembered something from her past life, Victoria visiting her in prison, smiling as she said they would finish Adrian off. That memory made Elaine's heart go cold.
Victoria had a backer.
Someone powerful.
Powerful enough to bring Adrian Montclair down.
She needed to find out who it was.
Elaine walked over and waved lightly.
Victoria slammed back into her seat. "Do you know how long I've been waiting?"
Elaine smiled. "Sorry. Traffic."
The waitress came over.
"A hot coffee, please," Elaine said sweetly.
"Iced Americano," Victoria said sharply.
As soon as the waitress left, Elaine leaned back.
"You said it was urgent," she said calmly. "What is it?"
Victoria sighed dramatically. "My mother is sick," she said. "She needs money for treatment."
Elaine almost laughed.
In the past, she would have believed this immediately. She would have handed Victoria money without question.
But she knew better now.
Victoria's mother was perfectly healthy.
The waitress returned with their drinks, as she placed the coffee down, Elaine moved her foot slightly.
The waitress tripped.
The hot coffee spilled all over Victoria.
"Ah!" Victoria screamed. "Are you blind?!"
The waitress bowed repeatedly. "I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!"
Victoria opened her mouth again "you must be"…
"Stop," Elaine said calmly. "It was an accident."
Victoria stared at her in shock.
Elaine had always supported her, always helped her bully others.
Victoria had planned to use Elaine's power to get the clumsy waitress fired.
But Elaine only smiled and took a sip of her coffee.
Victoria swallowed her anger and stood up. "I'll go clean up."
When Victoria left, Elaine smiled and took out her phone.
She typed quickly.
Hubby, it's 1 p.m.
7 hours to your surprise.
I miss you so much (◍•ᴗ•◍)❤
Elaine giggled quietly.
When Victoria returned, she went straight back to the money talk.
Elaine waved it off. Another time.
Victoria's eyes narrowed. Something felt wrong.
"Elaine," she asked cautiously, "are you okay?"
Elaine paused. "I'm fine," she replied lightly. "Just stressed."
Victoria studied her face closely, suspicion growing.
Then she casually said, "Oh, by the way, what about yesterday's plan, did it work and the paper I gave you yesterday? Did you put it in Adrian's suit?"
Elaine froze.
Her heartbeat spiked.
That paper.
She had put it there.
"What paper?" Elaine asked carefully.
Victoria smiled. "Nothing serious."
But Elaine remembered.
Today, Adrian was signing a huge contract with a top company in Switzerland.
Elaine stood up abruptly. "I need to go."
Victoria called after her, but Elaine didn't stop.
Outside, Elaine waved for a cab, angry at herself for refusing butler Jen's suggestion for a car.
"Montclair Group," she said urgently.
The driver nodded.
"Can you drive faster?" Elaine asked.
The driver laughed. "Chasing a cheating partner?"
"Yes," Elaine replied. "Yes!"
The driver stepped on the gas.
Inside the cab, memories flooded her mind.
In her past life, this contract had failed and after this, Adrian became distant. She thought it was because she had drugged him. She didn't care. She cursed him for acting so possessive and controlling.
Then Old Mr. Montclair sent guards. Adrian has been away, they took her away. She was locked in a basement, fed once a day, forced to work on a farm for eighteen hours daily.
Adrian found her three days later.
She was almost dead.
The car stopped.
Elaine rushed inside the company.
The front desk staff tried to stop her.
"Madam"
She ignored them and ran to the private elevator.
The staff panicked.
"If she causes trouble during the meeting, we're dead!"
One of them called upstairs.
Lucas answered.
"Mr. Lucas," she said quickly, "Madam Elaine is coming up. She looks… serious."
Ok Lucas answers and hangs up.
Lucas sighed. "I'm not paid enough to handle this family drama," he muttered.
The elevator dinged.
Elaine walked out.
"I need to see my husband," she said urgently.
"He's in a meeting," Lucas replied calmly. "Please wait in the lounge."
"I can't."
She saw Adrian through the glass conference room.
She shouted, "Hubby!"
Lucas blinked. "Madam, it's soundproof."
She saw Adrian reach into his jacket to pull out his handkerchief, but instead, a piece of paper fell out directly at the foot of Mr Fernandez. Elaine reacted quickly, darting past Lucas, entering the room, leaping into Adrian's embrace while stepping on the paper with her shoe. "Hubby!" she exclaimed. Adrian looked down at her, a look of confusion crossing his face. "What are you doing here?" he whispered, Elaine knew she needed to act swiftly, as Adrian's next words could result in her being escorted out.
"I'm pregnant," she blurted out! The room fell silent, all eyes on her as Adrian's expression shifted to one of shock.
Chapter 6.
The room went silent.
For a moment, Adrian thought he had misheard.
Pregnant.
The word echoed in his head, loud and sharp, like glass breaking.
He stared at Elaine, standing in his arms, her face tilted up toward him, eyes wide and shining. His body reacted before his mind did, his hand tightened around her waist, instinctive, protective. Then reality crashed down.
They had only been married for six months.
Six months, and in those six months she hadn't allowed him to touch her, heck she didn't even want to be in the same space with him. Every time he tried to get close to her she would act like he was some sort of plague so he stopped trying. His thoughts froze for a moment.
The night he was drugged was the only time he had been intimate with her so where was this baby from?
His expression darkened.
His arms were still around her, but his body had gone stiff as tension filled the room.
"Come with me," Adrian said quietly. "My office."
Elaine's breath caught.
She shook her head quickly and leaned closer, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I can't."
His eyes darkened. "What do you mean you can't?"
She didn't answer. She only glanced down for half a second.
Adrian followed her gaze, and saw the paper under her foot.
Before he could speak, Mr. Fernandez cleared his throat."Well," the older man said with a polite smile, clearly sensing the tension, "perhaps this is not the right time. We can take a short break".
"Mr. Montclair," he said gently, "would you like us to excuse you?"
Elaine looked up at Adrian.
Her eyes were pleading.
Adrian hesitated, then turned to Mr. Fernandez with an apologetic expression.
"Yes," he said. "Please let's take a short break."
He turned to Lucas. "Make them comfortable in the second conference room."
"Understood," Lucas replied.
One by one, the room emptied.
When the door finally closed, silence rushed in like a storm.
Adrian stepped back from Elaine.
His expression was cold now.
"Is it Peter's?" he asked.
Elaine stiffened. "What?"
"The child," he said. "Is it his?"
Elaine stiffened.
"What?" Her eyes widened in shock. "Peter?" She pulled back slightly and looked at him as if he had insulted her deeply. "Why would I get pregnant for a scum like him?"
Her voice was sharp, almost offended.
Adrian froze.
That reaction… was strange.
Just three days ago, she had drugged him. She had begged for a divorce, desperate to be free, desperate to be with Peter. She had looked at him with hatred back then.
And now?
Now she looked disgusted at the mere mention of Peter's name.
Confusion twisted in his chest, but anger burned hotter.
"What are you really doing here?" Adrian asked.
Elaine blinked. "What?"
"Are you trying to stop the signing?" His gaze sharpened. "Or are you trying to delay it?"
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
"No!" she said quickly. "Of course not. Why would I do that?"
Adrian stared at her. "I don't know," he said slowly. "Maybe to give someone else a chance."
Elaine's fingers curled into fists.
She shook her head hard. "No. I would never hurt you like that. I didn't really come to do anything. I was passing by and I missed you so much so I decided to come in and I made your favourite dumpling, pork and chives all by myself. I just really wanted to see you, that's all and I am not really pregnant." she blabbered.
Adrian looked at her with a smile that was not really a smile. Staring at her long enough till she started feeling uncomfortable
"Elaine" he started "you… made dumplings?"
"Yeah" she answered, lifting her hand to show him the back of her palm. " I even had a small injury, Oil splashed on me", she said begrudgingly.
Adrian looked at the small red mark.
His brows furrowed.
Elaine had never cooked.
Not once.
Before he could question her further, a knock sounded.
"Come in," Adrian answered.
Lucas walked in. "Mr. Montclair, everything is ready." They are all waiting for you.
Adrian looked towards the door. In that instant, Elaine moved, she bent slightly, pretending to smooth her skirt, she quickly picked up the paper on the ground and slipped it into her bag. She straightened immediately, her face calm, as if nothing had happened.
Adrian saw it. He nodded once. "I'll be there."
Lucas glanced briefly at Elaine, then turned and left, closing the door behind him.
Adrian picked up his jacket. "You can wait in my office," he said calmly. "Or go home. I'll see you tonight."
Elaine smiled sweetly, as if nothing was wrong. "I'll wait for you here," she replied softly. "In your office."
Adrian studied her face for a second. That gentle smile again, he narrowed his eyes slightly as he replied, "Suit yourself," he said.
He turned and walked out.
As Adrian made his way down the hallway, his steps slowed. His mind refused to settle. Everything about Elaine today felt… off. The way she spoke, the way she acted, everything about her felt off lately.
He couldn't understand it, he wanted to know what was going on.
Three days ago, she had wanted to leave him.
Now she was cooking for him, coming to his office because she supposedly missed him.
Adrian stopped walking.
"Lucas," he said suddenly.
Lucas looked up. "Yes, sir?"
"Book an appointment with the psychiatrist," Adrian said flatly.
Lucas froze. "For… you?"
"For my wife," Adrian corrected. "As soon as possible."
Lucas was clearly surprised, but he nodded. "Yes, sir."
Adrian continued walking.
Mr. Fernandez crossed his mind. The old man was someone who hated stress and personal drama. Adrian exhaled slowly. Today's contract signing was probably ruined. It was unlikely the deal would be signed today.
Elaine grabbed her bag and headed to Adrian's office.
She walked straight into his private lounge, then into the restroom, and locked the door behind her. Her hands were trembling now. The calm she had forced earlier cracked instantly.
She reached into her bag, brought out the paper and unfolded it slowly.
It had been folded roughly, clearly meant to be opened easily. As the paper spread out in her hands, her breath stopped.
Her body went cold, her ears rang.
Elaine stared at the hand drawn picture on the paper, unable to move, unable to think. Her legs felt weak, like they might give out at any moment.
Chapter 7. The drawing
Elaine stared at the paper in her hands, her mind completely blank.
It was a hand-drawn painting.
Rough lines, charcoal and ink, but the skill was unmistakable. The woman in the drawing was naked, her body turned slightly to the side, her expression soft, almost shy. It felt deeply intimate, like something never meant for another person's eyes.
Elaine's fingers trembled.
Who is this? Why was this here?
Her heart beat faster as her thoughts raced. This paper had almost fallen out during the contract signing. If this paper had fallen from Adrian's pocket in the meeting then…
Her breath caught.
What if Mr. Fernandez had seen this?
A sudden thought struck her like lightning.
"No…" she whispered.
Her hands fumbled for her phone. She unlocked it and typed quickly, her fingers stiff with fear.
Mr. Fernandez Valmount.
The results came up quickly, his life, marriage, business e.t.c Elaine quickly clicked marriage.
The screen loaded slowly, painfully slow.
Then the image of his family appeared. Him, a woman and a little girl of about twelve years old stood in one frame.
Elaine's vision blurred.
The woman in the picture on her phone who was young, elegant, gentle-looking, was the same woman in the drawing.
Mr. Fernandez's wife.
His much younger wife. Not many people had seen her but almost everyone knew that she was someone he cherished more than anything. .
Elaine felt dread crawl up her spine.
This wasn't a coincidence, this wasn't carelessness, this was clearly an attack.
If Mr. Fernandez had seen that drawing, the humiliation alone would have ended the deal. No, worse. It would have made Adrian an enemy. A powerful enemy.
Mr. Fernandez was not just a businessman.
He was deeply connected to politics, to old families, to forces that didn't forgive insults.
Elaine's knees weakened.
She slowly lowered herself to the couch, clutching the paper tightly as if it might burn her.
Is this… how I ruined him?
Is this how it happened in my past life?
Her chest tightened painfully.
She remembered Adrian's cold silence after the contract failed back then, but he never once accused her. She had thought he simply stopped caring for her and was probably tired of her.
Now she understood, he had been cleaning up after her.
Her lips trembled.
She remembered Old Mr. Montclair's punishment. Being dragged away. Locked up. Forced to work until her body broke. She had hated them all for it.
But now, Elaine laughed weakly through her tears. "That was nothing," she whispered hoarsely. "Compared to what I did to you… that really was nothing".
Her shoulders shook.
Tears spilled freely, soaking the paper in her hands. She didn't bother wiping them away. The guilt was too heavy, pressing down on her chest until it hurt to breathe.
She folded the paper carefully, as if it were something dangerous, and placed it back into her bag.
Then she stood and walked unsteadily toward the bedroom.
The moment she reached the bed, her strength left her.
Elaine curled up tightly, pulling her knees to her chest like a child. Her face pressed into the pillow, and she cried.
She cried like everything inside her had finally collapsed.
"I'm sorry," she whispered again and again, though no one could hear her.
Her tears soaked the pillow, her hair, the sheets beneath her. Her breathing grew uneven, hiccupping as exhaustion slowly crept in.
Without realizing it, she fell asleep.
Back in the conference room, Adrian returned calmly.
"My apologies for the delay," he said smoothly.
Mr. Fernandez waved a hand and laughed. "No trouble at all. No trouble."
The room fell silent.
Everyone froze.
Mr. Fernandez… laughing?
The executives exchanged shocked glances. Even Lucas looked surprised.
Adrian lifted one brow slightly.
Mr. Fernandez leaned back in his chair, relaxed. "Your proposal is very interesting, Mr. Montclair. The numbers are solid. The potential profit is impressive."
Adrian nodded. "Thank you."
"But," Mr. Fernandez continued lightly, "I do have some concerns."
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Adrian straightened. "Please feel free to raise them."
Mr. Fernandez asked several sharp questions, each one probing deeper. Adrian answered without hesitation, his tone steady, his logic clear.
As the discussion continued, Mr. Fernandez's eyes grew brighter.
He nodded slowly. "Very good."
Finally, he stood up.
"I'll have my team review the final details," he said. "You should receive my decision on the investment amount before the end of the week."
Adrian rose and extended his hand.
Mr. Fernandez shook it firmly.
As he turned to leave, he paused and smiled.
"You have a great wife, Mr. Montclair," he said warmly. "Congratulations on the pregnancy."
Adrian's smile stiffened for a fraction of a second.
Then he replied calmly, "Thank you."
Lucas escorted Mr. Fernandez and his team out.
Adrian remained behind.
His chest felt heavy.
He turned and walked back to his office. He looked around but didn't see Elaine, he then noticed the bedroom door slightly ajar. He walked towards it.
When he pushed open the bedroom door, the sight before him made him stop.
Elaine was curled up on the bed, small and fragile. The pillow was soaked with tears. Her lashes were wet even in sleep, her brows furrowed as if she were still crying in her dreams.
Adrian's heart sank.
He stepped closer slowly.
"What happened?" he murmured.
His gaze fell to her bag on the floor. Elaine shifted in her sleep.
Her brows knit together, her lips trembling as if she were trapped in a nightmare. A soft sound escaped her throat, so quiet Adrian almost missed it.
He leaned closer.
"Elaine?" he called softly.
Her lips moved again.
This time, he heard it clearly.
"Adrian… I'm so sorry…"
His body stiffened.
Sorry?
He straightened slowly, his eyes fixed on her pale face. Her words echoed in his mind, over and over, refusing to settle.
Sorry for what?
Was it because of the pregnancy lie? Or was she sorry because she really was pregnant… just not with his child?
His jaw tightened.
His gaze flicked to her bag on the floor
Or was it about the paper?
The one that had fallen from his pocket during the meeting.
The one she had stepped on.
The one she had picked up when she thought no one was watching.
Adrian's eyes darkened.
What was Elaine hiding from him?