Chapter 5

"Is this how the Cole family raised you to behave, Elena?!"

With that, Julian grabbed Chloe's hand, walked out of the house, and drove away.

My mother looked at me, her eyes filled with rage and heartbreak.

I smiled weakly. I couldn't even cry anymore.

Our massive wedding photo still hung prominently in the living room. In it, I was smiling so brightly, believing I had run straight into a lifetime of happiness.

It took me seven years to realize that some fairy tales are just horror stories in disguise.

I packed up only my personal belongings, leaving behind everything Julian had ever bought me.

I grabbed a pair of scissors and sliced the wedding photo right down the middle, separating Julian and me forever.

When I arrived back at my parents' house, my father didn't say much. But his eyes were red.

"Sweetheart, I've already wired back every single penny Julian spent to pay off our debts years ago."

"Your mother and I are still here. Don't be afraid."

Hearing my father's words, the emotional dam inside me finally broke. I sobbed uncontrollably in his arms.

Later that evening, Julian sent me a message after finding the messy house.

"Elena, how old are you? Still playing the runaway card? Grow up."

My heart was already dead, yet his words still felt like a physical stab.

Suddenly, my phone lit up with a notification. It was a rejection letter from the company I had interviewed with. But just yesterday, HR had told me to expect an offer letter.

I took a cab straight to the company's office.

There, in the lobby, I found Chloe sipping a latte.

She looked at me, her eyes dripping with pure condescension.

"Surprised? Even if it's not Julian's company, he still has the power to get me hired over you."

Suppressing my tears, I called Julian.

"Why did you give Chloe my job?"

There was a long silence on the other end.

"Stop making a scene, Elena. With your Butterfly Skin, what kind of work can you even do? Chloe was just laid off and desperately needs this job."

"She's not like you, who only knows how to live off my money."

My hand holding the phone lost all its strength and dropped to my side.

Chloe smirked, leaning in close.

"Want to know why Julian was so shocked when he heard you were pregnant?"

"Because he's been slipping birth control pills into your food every single day."

"He only wants babies carried by me. He's terrified you'll give birth to a freak just like you."

"And your miscarriage back then? He spilled that water on the floor on purpose. He hated touching your bruised, hideous body."

Chloe laughed wickedly. Her words froze me in place like an icy bucket of water.

I had truly believed he loved me back then.

But he had already checked out of our marriage long ago.

My mind went completely blank. I clenched my fists so hard my nails cut into my palms.

Chloe let out a sinister chuckle. "Want to see who Julian really cares about?"

Before I could react, she clapped her hands, and a group of hired thugs burst into the office.

"Take her," she ordered.

I fought back with everything I had, but their brutal grip only caused my fragile skin to tear and bruise instantly.

The office was crowded, but not a single person stepped in to help me.

My phone, lying on the floor, buzzed with a text from Julian.

"Elena, once you're done throwing your tantrum, come home."

I let out a bitter, lifeless laugh.

With my neck bruised and swollen from their rough handling, I was dragged to a shady VIP lounge at a local bar.

A group of men surrounded me, forcing alcohol down my throat.

Julian, having somehow gotten word, burst into the room. When he saw me being held down and forced to drink, rage flared in his eyes.

But right then, Chloe wailed from the couch.

"Julian, save me!"

Julian saw Chloe, who was also being held by some men. He froze, his steps toward me halting instantly.

He hesitated for a fraction of a second, then looked at me.

"Elena, just hang in there for a moment!"

He lunged at the men touching Chloe, screaming, "Get the hell off her! Don't touch her!"

Chloe was bleeding from somewhere, and Julian's hands began to shake with panic. Without a single backward glance, he scooped her up and ran to his car.

I screamed his name, but he never turned around.

The men in the room turned back to me. One of them aggressively ripped the buttons off my shirt. The sheer force left deep, horrific purple bruises all over my skin.

But as they stared at my body, which was rapidly turning black and blue from the minor struggle, they stopped.

"What the hell is wrong with this woman?"

"We barely touched her and she's already covered in bruises. This is bad luck. Let's get out of here!"

For the first time in my life, I was grateful for my Butterfly Skin.

I pulled out my phone with trembling hands and called my lawyer.

"Send the divorce papers to Julian."

I gently touched my belly. Julian had been drugging me with birth control, so conceiving this child was a miracle. I couldn't let him hurt this little life.

The next morning, I boarded a plane to Europe with my parents.

Julian, I hope we never meet again in this life or the next.