I Let Her Go, Now She's Unattainable

"We're ending this marriage."

A stack of divorce papers landed on the table with a careless flick, stopping right in front of Elliana Reed.

"Thirty million is more than what a top-tier maid earns, so that should be enough for you."

Elliana held a plain envelope tightly, and she kept her head lowered while the heavy text on those papers made her vision burn.

After a shaky breath, she raised her face and tried to steady herself as she took in the man whose sharp features were frozen in a cold, distant stare.

When she finally spoke, her voice stayed soft.

"Dominic, it's our third anniversary. Let's sit down and eat together. After dinner, there's something important I want to tell you."

Dominic Stanley never gave her the chance.

His impatience surfaced with a stiff frown as he interrupted. "Elliana, what's the point of dragging this out? I haven't so much as touched you in three years. What you claim happened back then is only your own version of the story. Renee is back now. She managed to get an invitation to the banquet at Vista Cay, and she actually knows Caduceus. She told me she can convince Caduceus to treat my mother during the event. You could never give me anything like that."

Each word hit Elliana with a cold force, and she felt her chest tighten.

It always came back to Renee Fowler.

The moment Dominic said her name, a fleeting gentleness crossed his otherwise distant eyes.

Softness replaced the tight line of his lips, and a gentler look surfaced.

Elliana realized, not for the first time, that she had never been on the receiving end of that expression.

A bitter smile tugged at her lips, though she tried to hide it.

Three years ago, Renee vanished the moment Dominic lost the use of his legs.

Elliana, on the other hand, stayed by his side, night after night, administering secret treatments to help heal what was broken. Even so, her devotion was outweighed by the promise of a banquet invitation and a handful of empty words.

There was something almost laughable about it all.

"Did Laurie agree to all of this?"

"Of course she did. Renee and my mother have always gotten along. Just today, she was at the house, chatting and helping with my mother's medication, and somehow my mother's health already seemed to improve. Honestly, Renee is the only person my mother ever thought of as her daughter-in-law."

He sounded almost proud as he said it, but his eyes were sharp with disdain.

A sharp ache spread through Elliana's chest, like invisible needles.

Years of cold shoulders and cutting remarks from Laurie Stanley had taught her that nothing in this family would ever change.

No matter how hard she worked or how much she sacrificed, she would never be enough for Dominic or his mother.

Maybe it was time to let everything go.

Without a word, she slid the envelope into her pocket, hiding away the single, gold-trimmed invitation to a banquet.

"All right. I'll sign the divorce papers."

Three years had passed, and that was more than enough. Staying asleep in a fading dream would not help her any longer.

Deep down, she knew she should have accepted the truth ages ago. The man who once saved her disappeared after his memory loss three years ago. Whatever piece of Dominic had once belonged to her was long gone.

For a split second, Dominic's eyes widened. He was clearly not expecting her to give in so easily.

He did not let that show for long, though. He quickly masked his surprise with a cold, weary tone.

"That's settled, then. Renee is moving in tonight, so you need to sign the documents and be gone before she arrives."

Elliana could not believe how heartless he sounded. She was left speechless.

Evening was closing in, but he would not give her even one more night.

Her silent stare made him falter for a moment. He almost looked uneasy, as if he finally realized how harsh it was to kick her out so quickly. Still, he would not soften.

"You can stay at Azure Villa in the suburbs until the divorce is finalized. I'll make sure the deed is signed over to you once everything is finalized."

A house and thirty million.

Dominic must have thought that someone like her-a woman with no family or money-would see it all as a windfall she could never turn down.

However, Elliana did not flinch. She only returned his gaze, calm and unblinking.

"You really can't wait to be rid of me, can you?"

Her calm defiance made Dominic's expression sour.

"That room never belonged to you. It was always Renee's from the start. You've just been taking up space these past three years. Did you think you could stay forever?"

His accusation almost made her laugh.

She wondered how he could twist things so easily.

It never mattered to her if she owned a villa or had stacks of money. Those things could be earned or lost and it would make no difference.

What really stung was how all those years she gave him her loyalty and care were being tossed aside without a second thought.

It was time to let go.

A part of her even felt curious about how he would react when he realized at the banquet that Renee was not the person he imagined-and that the woman he had dismissed as an outsider was the only one who could truly help his family.

A faint, mocking smile played on her lips, and that was enough to trigger Dominic's temper.

Dominic started tapping his fingers on the table, clearly trying to assert control as he glared down at her.

"Elliana, I'm warning you. If you try anything underhanded, you'll be left with nothing. Thirty million is the last ounce of respect you'll get from me. Refuse to sign, and my lawyers will handle the rest."

Elliana pushed down the turmoil inside and reached out her hand.

"Hand me the pen."

A sharp chill entered her gaze, causing Dominic to falter for a split second.

Without thinking, he reached into his jacket, retrieved a pen, and passed it over as if he had no choice in the matter.

Elliana took it, wrote her signature in bold strokes, closed the file, and slid it across the table with finality.

"That's it, Dominic. We're finished. I'll see you at the courthouse on Monday morning at eight."