People said I had ruined Audrey's reputation while trapping Hayden in a marriage he never wanted. And no matter how much I denied it, no one believed me. Their judgment was set in stone.
The aftermath was even worse. Audrey attempted suicide multiple times. Each time, Hayden was the one by her side, never leaving her for a second. The once proud prince of Havenford humbled himself, kneeling before her again and again, pleading with her just to stay alive.
In the end, Audrey chose to live but refused to remain in Havenford, the place that had brought her nothing but heartbreak. With the Ross Family's support, she left for another country, far away from all the pain.
After Audrey was gone, Hayden changed. He no longer spoke of love, no longer smiled. He sank into silence, his grief turning to cold hatred. Then, in the cruelest way possible, he married me—not out of affection, but as an act of punishment, using every opportunity to make my life unbearable, as if avenging Audrey through my suffering.
I had once believed that time would change things. That one day, Hayden would finally see the truth—that I was not the villain he thought I was, that I would never sacrifice another woman's dignity for my own gain. But I had been naive. Terribly naive.
I placed my hand over my lower abdomen, feeling the faintest trace of warmth where life had begun to grow. Lifting my gaze, I met Hayden's eyes and spoke with unwavering clarity. "Hayden, I agree to the divorce. I won't continue down this path."
For the briefest moment, something flickered in his eyes—hesitation, uncertainty—but it was gone in an instant, replaced by the same cold indifference.
"The moment the court opens tomorrow morning, we're getting divorced," he declared, his voice sharp with finality. "If you dare go back on your word, I promise you'll pay a painful price."
A hollow laugh escaped me. "This time, even if you beg me, I won't change my mind. I'm determined to end this marriage."
"You'd better mean that," he scoffed before turning on his heel and walking out of the villa.
The sound of the door slamming shut echoed through the empty space and with it, the last of my strength drained away. My legs gave out and I collapsed onto the sofa.
The floor heating filled the room with warmth, but I still felt unbearably cold. Curling up, I shut my eyes, but the numbness only deepened.