He frowned. "What is this?"
"Hospital release forms," I lied smoothly.
Only then did he really see me—the bruises, the bandages. His face flickered with something like guilt. He signed without hesitation.
"Darren, baby Alex won't stop crying!" Sally called from the nursery.
He shoved the papers back into my hands and rushed to her.
I looked down at his signature, my lips curling in a bitter smile.
Because he didn’t know he had just signed away two things. My resignation from his company. And our marriage.
When he finds out, it’ll be too late.
ELIANA
My belongings from the office arrived in a stack of cardboard boxes not long after.
I was a talented biomedical engineer, handpicked by my father to lead the company's new R&D division. But Darren had systematically sidelined me after seizing control.
I began packing the gifts Darren had given me over the years into boxes. Jewelry. Designer bags. Trinkets. And the likes.
Darren walked back in then, his forehead creased in confusion.
"What's going on?"
I didn’t even look at him. "Throwing away some old stuff."
He picked up one of the office boxes, dismissing it with a half-smile. "Oh... these things? I'm happy you're coming to your senses. It was always a waste of time. You'd go nowhere with it."
As he moved to wrap an arm around me, I stepped back.
“Don’t.”
He blinked. “What’s wrong?”
I lifted my chin, voice flat. “What’s wrong is that I was beaten half to death in jail while you sided with Sally. You didn’t even notice the bruises. You’re not blind, Darren, just heartless.”
His jaw tightened, but then he crouched down, attempting softness. “I’m sorry that happened. But you didn’t have to steal from me. My success is your success. You know what? I’ll even give you a new position in the company. A chance to redeem yourself.”
“Anything you want,” I murmured, forcing the words out. They tasted like poison.
Sally appeared in the doorway just then.“Darren, the baby’s crying. Can you come help with the bottle?”
He went instantly, as if she’d pulled a string.
She lingered a moment, her gaze flicking to me. “You know, I was thinking—you’d make the perfect godmother to Alex. Practice for the children you’ll never have.”
Her laughter echoed as she sauntered off.