Once Invisible, Now Irreplaceable

relaxed, his usually piercing eyes hidden ben

numb and battered. Hunching slightly against an invisible weight, she swept h

d the fabric, a voice cut thr

ch do y

he heat and haze of the previous night had va

ve of irony washed over her. She had been legally bound t

e a massive favor for his gr

th had offered her a lifeline: marry his grandson, Ethan Blackwood, in ex

ss. It was only after the marriage was officially regis

fe-ignored by his family and constantly ridiculed by outsiders. She never

nything," she f

mechanical. Her head throbbed, heavy and rea

you planning to stay?" Ethan

of restraint. She was undeniably beautiful. She had a

any different from the countless other

ng up against the headboard. "Don't expec

er would have lost control like that for no reason. Something was wrong

Elena thought bac

l figures. Everyone had come to catch a glimpse of th

arrive

had planned to make a brief appearance and slip away, but her fa

nity to finally speak with Ethan, w

thing had spirale

riage. So how could she possibly convince him that last night

she parted her lips t

on the nightstan

was his personal lawyer. He an

partment. She isn't there. Should I send t

t the river in the distance, his brow furrowing slightly. This wife he had bee

. So what? The Ashcroft family had weathered thei

ure she signs them." His v

. And if sh

e it with h

d her own phone. A message from her

trina asked me to check: did Ethan

froze over

age immediate

. If you can, go see your sister at the

rstood immediately. None of this was a coincidence. La

still drunk?" Her fathe

ng she was just suffering from

o, and her father, despite being overwhelmed by his business, had alway

dget later. Tell Katrina t

d his phone call, the topic now

standing by the window. Dressed in a crisp white shirt, he stood perfectly straight, as motionless

ket, she turned and walked out

s. If he found out he had just slept with the wife he so deeply despised, the situa

en did he remember the woman who had

he room was dead si

formed betwe

rded shirt still lay at the foot of the bed. The mingled sc

ain on the sheets, he almost could have convinced himself

ck sounded

a voice called

me

s secretary, Grant, carrying

the state of the room, but wisely kept his mouth shut.

er a quick shower, he dressed in th

ctful distance. Just as they were about to

t here this mornin

the room, Grant replied in a rushed, flus

o pursue the matter. If the trap had been set with such precision, whoe

n't be n

let out a shaky breath, struggling to keep her composure, before

sible. Her mind remained stubbornly fixa

aught off guard by the raw intensity of the night. Now, in the harsh light

he could have accepted losing that to him without too much difficulty... if

ri

y in her memory. That was the r

of her body reminded her of the lingering ache. Uncomfortable and restl

eir marriage

up. Her father had pulled strings to force the paperwork through despite his

at the document. After a brief glance, she tossed it back in

al, it was exactly noon. The nurses h

r head the moment she walked in. Her pale face lit up

t are you d

bly fragile, but her ton

ld him I was perfectly fine, though... And I sp

eat beside the bed, handing he

. He just really

w steps was often enough to leave her gasping for breath, and her hospitalizations were p

a small, exag

Mom stays glued to my side all day,

ser, her voice dropping to

out a new fruit milkshake shop

, flashing an almost chi

Just a little sip.

k, Elena couldn't help but give in. She

, she handed it over

, okay? Don't