Chapter 2: The Heartbreak of Ellis

Easton believed the kidnapping involved both her and Victoria, yet he didn’t care about her at all. He didn’t even mention her name; all his focus was on Victoria.

“If you harm her… I will find you no matter where you hide and tear you apart! I will make sure you pay the…”

His voice remained calm, filled with confidence, with no trace of panic. Ellis felt her heart shatter into pieces in that instant. She realized she had never truly mattered to him. Despite being his wife for three years, she was no match for his ex-fiancée.

Though both were kidnapped, Easton ignored her entirely. He quickly agreed to the ransom, concerned only for Victoria, while she felt like nothing more than a joke.

Once the call ended, Nolan wasted no time in sending over the payment details. During the wait, Victoria carried herself with the arrogance of a wealthy heiress, negotiating with the kidnappers. As long as she was unharmed, she assured them that, in addition to Easton’s money, the Brooks family would also give them a large sum.

Driven by greed, the kidnappers turned their attention to extorting the Brooks family. Meanwhile, Ellis stayed unnaturally quiet. On the outside, she seemed calm, but inside, her spirit had already crumbled.

Half an hour later, after receiving both payments, Nolan signaled his accomplice to proceed. The man grabbed a club they had prepared in advance. Ellis, seeing the man standing behind her with the club raised, was overtaken by terror. In a trembling voice, she barely managed to speak, “Are you going to kill me?”

Before she could finish, a heavy blow hit the back of her head. Ellis woke up an unknown amount of time later, her head pounding with pain. It was pitch-black around her, with a horrible stench in the air. Was I dead?

Shaking in fear, Ellis moved her hands and realized they were still tied up, confirming she was still alive. As her vision adjusted to the darkness, she saw that the kidnappers and Victoria were nowhere in sight. What was going on?

At that moment, a glaring light suddenly flickered on. “Mrs. Hudson is here!” Who said that? Has Easton finally come to rescue me?

Ellis, filled with hope, tried to stand but couldn’t due to her bound hands and feet. Seeing her struggle, the man holding the flashlight rushed over, helping her up and asking, “Mrs. Hudson, are you alright?”

“My head hurts,” Ellis replied. She didn’t recognize the man, but since he addressed her as Mrs. Hudson and untied her, she assumed he was here to rescue her. “Are you one of Easton’s men? Is Easton here? Where is he?”

“I’m Mr. Easton’s bodyguard. He’s here, he… he’s…” The bodyguard’s hesitation made Ellis uneasy. “What happened? Did he get hurt fighting the kidnappers?” she asked, her worry growing.

“Uh, Mr. Easton is outside. Let me help you out.” The man’s reluctance to answer made Ellis frown.

As they stepped out of the abandoned warehouse, Ellis saw an open field with many parked cars. A black Bugatti with the license plate A999999 stood out. It was Easton’s most frequently used vehicle. “Is Easton in the car?” she asked.

Before she could get a response, her eyes were drawn to a couple standing not far away. It was Easton and Victoria, locked in an embrace! Victoria had her head nestled in Easton’s chest, her arms clinging to him. Easton stood there, his lips moving as he spoke to her. His normally cold expression was softened by the night, filled with a rare tenderness. They looked like a couple deeply in love, with Easton soothing his scared lover.

Around them were police officers, doctors, and members of the Brooks family, all looking concerned. The scene hit Ellis with unbearable force, shattering her fragile hope.

Easton might have overlooked me, but in the end, he showed up to save me. Maybe he cared about me just a little, right? But the brutal reality was clear. Easton hadn’t come for her at all. She was merely an afterthought, an extra in his rescue mission for Victoria. From the start, she had only been Mrs. Hudson in name, never truly in Easton’s heart. It was obvious who Easton truly loved.

Ellis’s heart felt as though it was being slashed to pieces, and tears shimmered in her eyes. The bodyguard holding Ellis noticed her reaction and understood why she felt this way. After all, Ellis was Easton’s rightful wife, Mrs. Hudson. Yet Mr. Easton was holding another woman, paying no attention to his wife at all. How could she not be affected? It was only natural for her to feel devastated.

The bodyguard quickly stepped in to distract her. “Mrs. Hudson, just wait here. I’ll call the doctor to check on you.” But Ellis didn’t hear his words. Her mind was flooded with a single thought. Both Victoria and I were kidnapped, yet all the care and focus were directed toward Victoria. What was left for me?

Chapter 3: The Final Straw