Chapter 2

“Dad, you were right. I’ll never win Alexander’s love. I messed up. I want to come home,” Elizabeth’s raspy voice echoed in the empty living room. The Percy family was the wealthiest in Atlante, a dynasty of medical professionals. Her grandfather, Grant Percy, was a businessman, and her grandmother, Celine Percy, a renowned heart surgeon. Elizabeth had studied medicine under Celine since childhood; Celine always considered her a genius. They had meticulously planned her future. Declan had secured substantial assets for her, and her mother, Rose Percy, perpetually encouraged her to remain carefree. But she sacrificed it all for Alexander, now reduced to this miserable state.

Elizabeth took a deep breath, ascended the stairs, bathed, changed clothes, and applied light makeup. She then systematically cleared out her belongings. A painting of a sunset, created collaboratively with Alexander, hung on the wall behind the living room sofa. With a heavy heart, she removed the painting, tore it to pieces, and discarded it. She then placed the divorce papers—tossed at her by Alexander on their wedding night—on the table. “Alexander, just as you wished. I wish you happiness,” she murmured.

Closing the villa door, Elizabeth saw her dark purple luxury car parked outside. A young man hopped out, grinning. “Ms. Percy, finally leaving this place?”

“You got here fast,” Elizabeth replied, sliding into the driver’s seat. Felix Garcia had been her constant companion since childhood. He’d been a mischievous child, whom she’d once saved from drowning. Since then, he had remained fiercely loyal.

“Been waiting three years for this day!” Felix exclaimed, his voice brimming with excitement.

A pang of sadness struck Elizabeth. “Did everyone think I’d fail in this marriage?”

Felix fell silent, studying her cautiously. Her eyes clouded. The entire world had advised against loving Alexander, yet she had felt compelled to try. The thought tightened her chest.

They soon arrived at a tattoo parlor. Elizabeth exited the car, followed by Felix.

“Gavin, I want this one,” she said, handing the tattoo artist an iPad displaying a unique and lifelike butterfly design.

“Where would you like it?” Gavin asked. She shrugged off her coat, revealing a significant knife scar on her right shoulder.

Gavin’s eyes widened. Before Elizabeth could speak, Felix interjected, “Ms. Percy was young and reckless, all for saving some jerk.”

Gavin understood instantly. It had to be for Alexander. No one else warranted such a risk.

Elizabeth lay down and calmly instructed, “No anesthetic, just do it.”

As the pain struck, Elizabeth closed her eyes, memories flooding back to four years prior. Alexander had been kidnapped. She had ventured alone to buy him time and save him. When the kidnappers discovered her, they demanded an exchange. She agreed. She fought them off, but was stabbed in the back. Upon realizing her identity as Ms. Percy, they attempted to kill her. They bound her, attached a stone, and threw her into the sea. The water enveloped her; she choked, sank, the suffocation agonizing. Since then, she had avoided water.

By covering the knife scar, erasing the visible proof of her love, she resolved to live for herself.

Later, in the hospital, lying on the bed, she whispered, “Alexander, maybe we should end this.”

Alexander looked up, his voice soft, “What are you talking about?”

“Elizabeth loves you a lot. I don’t want to hurt her,” Esme sobbed, tears streaming down her face.

Alexander frowned, Elizabeth’s words echoing in his mind: “Alexander, let’s get a divorce.” He couldn’t comprehend her desire for a divorce. Was she trying to prove she hadn’t pushed Esme into the water by taking this drastic action?

“I’ll bring her to apologize to you later,” Alexander said flatly.

Esme’s eyes were filled with sadness and pity. “Alexander.”

“I said I’d take responsibility for you. I will marry you,” Alexander said, gently stroking Esme’s hair. Esme nodded obediently, feeling a sense of satisfaction.

How shameless of her to cling to the title of Alexander’s wife! Alexander thought, feeling irritated. He found an excuse to leave: “I have some work at the company. I’ll come back to see you later.”

As Alexander left the hospital, he received a call from Kieran Getty, president of the Getty Group, one of the four major families in Lisbun. They were childhood friends.

Kieran’s voice was languid, tinged with amusement. “How’s Esme?”

Alexander got into his car, his tone calm. “Esme’s fine.”

“Everyone went to save her. How could she be anything but fine?”

Kieran pressed, “And your wife?”

Alexander scoffed, “What could possibly happen to her?”

Kieran blurted out, “Alex, I saved your wife! Without me, she’d have drowned in the pool!”

Alex frowned, briefly recalling Elizabeth’s terrified expression. He dismissed it. “You kidding? She can dive into the deep sea. A pool can’t drown her.”

“She was faking it? Didn’t seem like it. If so, she’s a good actress,” Kieran sighed. “Elizabeth’s ruthless. Doesn’t she know Esme’s scared of water because she saved you when you were kidnapped? She still messes with you.”

Alex had married Esme because she had saved him during the kidnapping; he felt indebted to her. This news left Alex uneasy, a sense of unease settling over him. He ended the call.

Frowning, he remembered Elizabeth saying, “Alex, I’m scared of water too.”

Doubt gnawed at him. Why would Elizabeth be afraid of water?

Back at the villa, Alex opened the door and called out, “Elizabeth.”

Silence. Usually, she would rush down the stairs or be bustling in the kitchen, always cheerful. Today, an unsettling quiet reigned.

Alexander went upstairs and opened the bedroom door. It was impeccably clean. He paused. The walk-in closet was empty. Only his toothbrush remained in the bathroom.

Had Elizabeth left?