The wife he tried to bury

"I want a divorce."

The words hit Elena like a slap.

She blinked hard trying to process what she just heard, waiting for Marcus to laugh, to tell her it was some twisted anniversary prank.

He just stood there, his eyes cold, staring at her like she was a stranger.

"What did you say?"

Her voice came out broken, barely above a whisper.

The champagne glass trembled in her hand and tears burned behind her eyes, but she stared at Marcus with confusion all over her face.

Over two hundred invited guests continued their celebration around them laughing,chatting and drinking across the ballroom,ignorant to her world crumbling.

Marcus didn't flinch.

"I need a divorce, Elena. I'm done with this marriage. Let's go our separate ways."

The glass slipped from her fingers.

It shattered against the marble floor, exploding into a thousand pieces.

Just like everything she had built her life around.

Shocked gasps spread through the crowd and people turned toward them.

Elena shook her head, backing away from him, unable to form words.

"No... no, please. Don't Marcus, please"

She couldn't finish it.

The words died in her throat.

Marcus's expression shifted instantly.

A charming smile spread across his face, the same smile that had made her fall in love with him.

He raised his voice to the crowd

"Everyone, I hope you enjoyed that little performance. It's our anniversary tradition. Every year, I surprise her with something dramatic."

The tension shattered.

Guests laughed, clinking their glasses in amusement.

"You got us, Marcus!"

"That reaction was priceless!"

Elena stood frozen as Marcus walked toward her and gripped her hand firmly, almost painful.

"Come with me," he whispered to her ear.

"We're going outside, keep smiling."

He led her through the ballroom, past laughing couples,past everything she had once believed was real.

Her legs moved on their own as her mind struggled to catch up.

The terrace doors slid open and cold air hit her bare shoulders.

The moment the doors closed behind them, Marcus dropped her hand like she had burned him.

Elena leaned against the railing, her chest heaving, her face still blank but tears streamed down her cheeks, ruining the makeup she had spent hours perfecting.

"Why?" Her voice cracked.

"After everything I gave you, my time, love, money and my father's company."

" I supported you through everything and you still want to leave me? On our anniversary?"

He said nothing.

He simply watched her cry, his face unreadable.

"Please," she whispered.

"Say something. Tell me this is still a joke-"

"It's not a joke, Elena." He interrupted her.

The sliding doors opened again this time

Sophia entered the balcony, her red dress shimmering under the city lights.

She pouted at Marcus and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Baby, you finally told her? Without me?"

Marcus pulled her close and kissed her forehead.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't wait any longer."

Elena's legs buckled,she slid down the railing, landing hard on the cold stone floor.

She was still recovering from the divorce shock now Sophia?

The same Sophia Marcus had introduced as his cousin two years ago.

Now everything made sense.

The late-night calls,jokes, counseling sessions in her house and the occasional visits.

Her stomach twisted.

"You" She struggled to breathe.

"You two have been"

"Together from the start," Sophia said with a laugh sharp as broken glass.

"God, Elena, you're so dumb. Did you really think someone like Marcus would fall for someone like you?" Sophia ran her hand over Marcus' chest.

Elena couldn't respond.

Her mind had gone blank.

Shattered into pieces just like her champagne glass.

Sophia stepped closer, her heels clicking against the terrace floor.

"You're so naive. You thought love was enough. You thought being a good wife was enough."

She gave Elena a cruel once-over and laughed.

"You can't even give him a child so what use are you to a man like Marcus?"

Her lips curled in an evil smile

"You're barren and worthless."

Barren?

The word slammed into Elena's chest.

She has done countless tests, in different hospitals and her results were good.

Marcus barely touches her or has time for her.

All this while,Sophia had his child.

Elena pressed her trembling hands against the floor.

She tried to stand but her legs were too weak, her breath came in gasps and the cold air felt like fire in her lungs.

Marcus looked down at her, with disgust across his face.

"Stand up, Elena. You're creating a scene."

She didn't move, she was still trying to understand what was going on around her.

Sophia reached into Marcus's pocket and pulled out a velvet ring box.

"Tonight was never your anniversary, Elena."

She opened the box.

A diamond ring sparkled beneath the terrace lights.

"It was my engagement."

Elena laughed bitterly in disbelief ,she slowly rose to her feet, staggering backward.

"No"

Sophia's smile widened.

"And honestly?"

She tilted her head.

"A divorce at your anniversary is the best gift"

Her voice dropped.

"and it was all my idea, you dummy."

Tears streamed down Elena's face as she stared at Marcus.

Her husband, the man she defended against her father's will,the man she loved despite all the pain he put her through,the man she worshiped even with his flaws.

Her voice came out raw.

"Why me?"

Marcus looked away.

That was enough to answer enough.

Something inside her snapped.

She shook her head in disbelief.

"No"

One step back.

"No."

She wiped her tears

"I did nothing wrong to you, Marcus."

Another step.

Her heel scraped the edge of the terrace.

She didn't notice.

"So why me? Where did I go wrong?"

Her voice was loud and broken

"I was a good wife despite all the"

Another step.

Marcus's expression changed,For the first time,alarm flashed across his face.

"Elena."

She laughed.

A broken sound.

"You monster."

Marcus lunged forward at her

"Elena!"

But Sophia's hand shot out and grabbed his arm making him hesitate.

That single second of hesitation would have been enough to save her.

Elena's foot slipped into empty air.

Her eyes widened as she hit the railings and her legs left the ground.

She fell.