Chapter 4

Sebastian looked like he'd been struck by lightning. He froze completely.

He snatched the phone out of my hand and hurled it at the floor.

The screen shattered instantly.

"I refuse!"

His eyes were bloodshot, wild like an animal driven to rage.

"Elodie, don't you dare think about leaving me! You still owe me. What gives you the right to talk about divorce?!"

"You hurt Evie, and you haven't even apologized to her! You're not going anywhere!"

He lashed out with the cruelest words he could find, trying to hide the sheer panic underneath.

[I can't get divorced. I'd rather die than get divorced.]

[If she leaves, what's the point of any of this?]

[I'd rather we tear each other apart. I'd rather she hate me. I'm keeping her by my side no matter what.]

I watched him fall apart, cold and unmoved.

Without my phone, I didn't even have a way to argue back.

But I knew. My mind was made up.

Ten years of loving him in silence. Three years of marriage. It was over.

I spent a month in the hospital.

For that entire month, Sebastian never left my side.

He canceled every social obligation and moved his desk into my hospital room.

He clumsily taught himself how to make me chicken soup, how to peel apples for me.

The cutting remarks stopped. When he spoke, there was even a careful, almost pleading softness to his voice.

If I hadn't known the truth, I might have actually been moved by how devoted he seemed.

But I could hear his thoughts.

Every day, the same loop played inside his head — guilt, fear, obsession.

[She finished half a bowl of chicken soup today. Does that mean she's forgiven me a little?]

[Why won't she look at me? Is she planning how to leave?]

[I need to upgrade the security at the villa. I can't let her run.]

I watched his one-man show with cold, detached eyes.

A month later, I was discharged.

Sebastian drove me back to that villa — the one that felt like a cage.

He took away my passport and my ID. He even unplugged the router.

He watched me like I was a thief he couldn't take his eyes off.

Evelyn came by once.

She had a small bandage on her hand. Her eyes swept over the thick gauze wrapped around my neck, and a flicker of satisfaction crossed her face.

"Ellie, I'm so sorry. If it weren't for me, none of this would have happened to you."

"Seb does care about you, you know. Don't be angry with him — he just gets so worried about me sometimes."

Every word was a claim. Every sentence was a knife sliding between my ribs.

I sat in my wheelchair and looked at her, my face completely blank.

Sebastian walked in just then, carrying my medication. When he saw Evelyn, his brow furrowed hard.

"Who let you in?"

Evelyn bit her lip, her expression wounded. "Seb, I just came to check on Ellie…"

"Get out." Sebastian's voice was ice.

Evelyn stared at him in disbelief. "Seb, are you seriously snapping at me?"

Sebastian ignored her. He walked straight to me, crouched down, and his tone shifted — suddenly, impossibly gentle.

"Ellie. Time for your medicine."

Evelyn stomped her foot and ran out in tears.

But Sebastian's thoughts gave away exactly how irritated he was.

[Why is Evie showing up now of all times? What if this sets Elodie off again?]

[I've worked so hard to keep things calm. I'm not letting anyone ruin that.]

I looked at the pills he held out to me, and a wave of disgust hit me so hard I couldn't breathe.

I swung my arm and knocked the medicine bowl out of his hands.

The dark liquid splattered all over Sebastian's shirt.

He went still.

I pointed at the door. A silent order to get out.

Sebastian's expression shifted. He forced the anger down.

"Okay. I'll go. Don't get upset — I'll have someone make a fresh batch."

He stood up and backed out of the room, looking rattled.

I knew he was close to his breaking point.

He was used to being in control of everything. Used to me falling in line.

He wouldn't be able to keep this up much longer.

I needed a chance. A chance to get out.