Chapter 4

### Chapter 4

When I came to, I was lying in a hospital bed.

The director's deferential voice drifted in. "Mr. Farley, your wife's injuries are quite serious. Several of the lash marks may scar…"

"Use the best medicine you have." Elliot's voice was cold and hard. "She cares about her looks. Don't leave a mark."

"Yes, yes. I'll see to it right away."

The director's footsteps faded off, and Elliot came in. Seeing my eyes open, he brushed the loose strands of hair from my forehead, brow faintly knit. "They just finished the dressings. Does it still hurt?"

My back burned like fire, every wound a reminder of what had happened.

But I forced it down. "Not much. If you have things to do, go on."

He didn't leave, though. He sat down at the edge of the bed, something complicated in his eyes. "My mother made things hard for you. Why didn't you call me?"

I thought of his back turned to me, absorbed in that phone call, and the corner of my mouth curved.

"You looked busy."

"I've already handled things with the family." His voice dropped low. "No one will pressure you to have a child anymore. And haven't you always wanted to go to Los Angeles? Once these next few days are over, I'll take you."

I wanted to travel to Los Angeles because it was where Zachary and I had met, where we had grown up.

Once I had let myself dream of going back there with the heart that beat inside Elliot's chest. But since he was the wrong man, that wish came undone too.

I lowered my eyes. "All right. Go and do what you need to."

Elliot's brow drew tighter. He couldn't understand why I kept urging him to go today. He was about to speak when a call came through in a rush.

"Mr. Farley, Miss Galloway scalded her hand with boiling water. Please come right away."

He shot to his feet and tossed out a hurried line as he left. "Vivien lost both her parents. I'm the only one she can rely on. I'll come see you later."

Watching him stride out and vanish through the door, I couldn't help a faint, bitter smile.

He only remembered that Vivien had no one. He'd forgotten I was alone in the world too.

All these years I'd fought to squeeze my way into his world, and in the end I hadn't earned even one honest word from him.

He didn't want to be my shelter. And now, I didn't need him to be.

For the next two days, Elliot didn't appear again. But everything he did showed up in real time on Vivien's Instagram.

He threw her a back-to-single party, hosting the country's elite for two nights of revelry, grander than our own wedding banquet had ever been.

She said she liked a place, and he spent a hundred million to buy her a seaside estate.

Every major outlet ran spread after spread of the two of them out together, the comment sections full of envy for the handsome man and his lovely match.

No one remembered that I was Elliot's lawfully wedded wife.

It didn't matter, though. In two more days, I would disappear for good.

Whoever he was inseparable from had nothing to do with me.

Two days later I was discharged, and Elliot actually showed up, in visibly good spirits. "Vivien arranged a discharge party for you. She invited quite a few friends."

I refused without a second's thought.

"There's no need. I don't want one."

In three years he had never once brought me into his circle. Now that I was leaving, there was even less reason to meet those friends of his.

But this time it was Vivien who'd suggested it, and Elliot insisted I go. I could only give in.

Before we left, I slipped into the bathroom and made a call.

"Change the location to the Farley club. Same time. We move tonight."

Elliot dressed me himself in a beautiful gown, and when we reached the club he suddenly gave a mysterious smile.

"I've got a surprise for you."

I stepped into the private room, wary, and several bottles of champagne popped open all at once. It startled me back two steps.

He caught me against him. "Don't be scared. Look."

I steadied my gaze. The room was set up beautifully, warm and elegant, and across the wall hung a banner that read:

"Happy Third Anniversary, Elliot Farley & Serena Quinn."

Something stirred in my chest, but there was not a trace of joy in my eyes.

Smiling, he opened a velvet box, and a sapphire ring appeared before me.

His eyes burned. "Serena, happy anniversary."

Years ago, when Zachary proposed, he had fastened a sapphire necklace around my neck with his own hands, and sapphires had become my favorite ever since.

Remembering the tenderness in his eyes, I smiled until mine went wet.

Under the lights, something passed through Elliot's eyes, faint and hard to catch, as if he'd been struck by how beautiful I looked.

"Serena, congratulations on getting out." Vivien came over, all smiles. "I felt terrible about smashing your photo before. Think of this party as my apology. I hope we can be good sisters from now on."

Just as she was making her false show of goodwill, Elliot's phone rang.

He turned and stepped out to the corridor to take it.

The next second, a bottle of iced champagne came down over my head.

Vivien threw aside the empty bottle, the smile gone, her face gone sharp and cruel. "You bitch. You're nothing but my stand-in, a tool for Elliot to work off his urges these past few years!"