I shook my head, stepping back. “So that’s it. You’d rather believe her than me.” I slid my wedding ring off my finger and held it up between us. “Fine. Believe her. Think whatever you want.”
The metal hit the floor with a sharp clink and rolled away.
Adrian’s eyes darkened. His hand moved before I could react. Another slap—harder, angrier.
“Don’t you dare walk away from me!” he yelled. “Who is that man, huh? Who is he?”
“There’s no one!” I cried, tears streaming. “You’re insane!”
He ignored me, grabbing my arms and shaking me roughly. Pain shot through my shoulders. “You think you can make a fool out of me? Embarrass me in front of my family?”
“Adrian, stop—”
But he didn’t. His rage blinded him. Every breath came sharper, every movement more violent.
And then—
“Adrian!”
Seraphine’s heels clicked against the floor as she barreled in, grabbing his arm and yanking him away. “What are you doing? Why are you hurting her?”
Her voice trembled, just enough to seem sincere.
I staggered back, clutching my arm. “Why?” I gasped. “You told him I was cheating when I wasn’t!”
Seraphine blinked, eyes wide in mock shock. “What? Wait—this is a misunderstanding! I just said you were close to that client! Adrian, you misunderstood me!”
“Liar!” I lunged, tangling my fingers in her perfect hair and yanking hard. “You wanted this! You wanted him to hate me!”
Seraphine shrieked, grabbing my wrist. “Let go of me!”
Adrian tried to separate us, shouting both our names, but chaos had already taken over. Shouts, struggles, things clattering to the floor.
Seraphine shoved me, I shoved back. Her nails raked my face, and in a flash of fury, I slapped her.
“You ruined everything!” I screamed. “You took everything from me—”
“Stop it!” Adrian barked.
But neither of us listened. Years of buried hatred poured out—every lie, every betrayal, every false smile.
And then I heard a small, trembling voice.
“Mommy Vivienne, stop!”
My heart froze.
Elias.
He stood near the doorway, eyes wide with fear. “You’re bad!” he cried. “You’re always shouting! I hate you!”
“Elias—” I tried to reach him.
He pushed forward, small hands trying to wedge between us. “Leave Mommy Seraphine alone!”
His push caught me off balance. My heel slipped on the edge of the carpet. The world tilted.
I reached for something—wall, railing, anything—but found only air.
And then I fell.