Selena's legs trembled as she stood in the sitting room, staring at the man she had called her husband for four long years. Jack. The man whose presence had once felt like safety, like warmth. Now… he was cold, distant, and merciless. Her heartbeat raced in a rhythm of panic and disbelief.
"What… what did you just say?" Her voice wavered, almost a whisper, her eyes searching his expression as if it would change the cruel words he had just spoken.
Jack's gaze remained sharp, his face expressionless, perfectly sculpted in the way that made him look untouchable. "You heard me clearly," he said, his voice calm yet piercing. "Let's divorce."
Selena froze. The words echoed in her mind, louder and heavier than anything she had ever imagined. Divorce? After four years of marriage, after all the promises and laughter, after the nights she had thought were theirs alone?
"W-why?" she stammered, her throat tight and dry, every syllable catching in panic.
Jack's eyes darkened slightly—not with anger, but with the cold finality of someone who had already decided the course of their life. "Why? Are you really asking me why? Selena… you are nothing. And you will continue to be nothing."
Her breath hitched. Nothing? The weight of his words sank deep into her chest, stabbing at her heart like icy shards. But beneath the sting, a flame of defiance ignited. She lifted her chin, tears brimming in her eyes, but her voice held a firmness she barely recognized in herself.
"Really, Jack?" she said softly, biting her lip to keep it from trembling. "You really think I will be nothing without you? You are cruel… but your words, they're even crueler. Fine… let's divorce. It's better for you to be with Aria anyway."
Jack's lips pressed into a thin line. "Shut up. You are in no position to talk about Aria," he snapped, walking toward the massive oak desk with a deliberate, intimidating calm. He placed a pen and a divorce agreement in front of her, the paper glaringly white, almost like a challenge. "Sign it."
Selena hesitated. Anger, humiliation, and confusion swirled inside her. The pen felt heavy in her hand, as though holding it meant surrendering not just to the divorce, but to every memory, every dream they had shared. She closed her eyes for a moment, recalling the first day they met—the way he had smiled at her, the way she had felt seen and cherished. How had it come to this?
Opening her eyes, she gritted her teeth and took the pen. "Fine… I'll sign it," she said, letting the ink mark the end of their life together.
Jack's eyes did not soften. He pushed the paper aside, his movements precise, deliberate. "I've already arranged everything. A villa, a car… that should be enough for you."
Selena shook her head, anger bubbling beneath the surface. "Forget it. I don't need your money or property." Her hands gripped her bag as she turned toward the door. "I should get going."
Jack, watching her leave, felt an unexpected ache twist in his chest. He shook his head, convincing himself that it was nothing—he had only ever liked Aria, never her. And yet, as she disappeared from the doorway, he couldn't deny a flicker of regret.
Flashback: The Early Days
Selena remembered their early days vividly. She had been captivated by his charm, the way his laughter could light up a room, the way he had made her feel like the only person in the world. She remembered the first time he held her hand, the quiet nights they had spent talking about dreams, and the laughter that had once filled this very sitting room.
Back then, she had believed in forever. She had believed in him. And now, standing in the aftermath of betrayal, all those memories felt like cruel taunts.
Selena finally found herself in a small, cozy room with a bright-faced woman in her twenties, sitting comfortably with a warm smile that contrasted sharply with Selena's stormy mood.
"Finally," the woman said, tilting her head in relief. "You're free, Selena. But… how could that bastard divorce you without even giving you a proper settlement? You did the right thing by leaving him."
Selena shook her head. "He did offer a villa and a car, but I refused. I don't need his charity."
The woman's eyes widened. "Smart. But now… divorced and broke, how do you plan to survive? You know how hard life is for divorced women here. Jobs, respect, everything—it's not easy."
Selena's lips pressed together. "I know. That's why I'm going abroad. I've been deciding this for days, and I've made up my mind."
The woman nodded. "Well… at least you're taking control of your life. Have you heard the news? Jack and Aria… they're announcing their marriage soon."
Selena's fingers tightened around her bag strap. She bit her lip slowly, feeling the bitter sting of betrayal. "I'm okay," she said softly, though her heart ached.
"Alright," the woman said, smiling gently. "Let's prepare for your trip."
Selena frowned slightly. "Wait… you're coming with me?"
"No," the woman said, shaking her head. "I just wanted to see you off."
Meanwhile, Jack sat in his study, glasses perched perfectly on his nose as he scribbled notes in a leather-bound book. Every line of his jaw, every curve of his cheekbone exuded the kind of effortless elegance people envied. A knock on the door broke his concentration.
"Sir, I have something to report," said his secretary, Martin, stepping in hesitantly.
"Go on," Jack replied without looking up.
"It's about the investigation," Martin began cautiously. "I discovered that it wasn't Selena who drugged you that night… it was Aria."
Jack froze. The pen in his hand quivered. "What… what did you just say?"
Martin nodded. "It's true, sir."
Jack's hand slammed onto the desk, making the papers jump. Rage, shock, and something he didn't want to admit—pain—flooded through him. "Go… find Selena. Bring her here. Now."
Martin bowed slightly, swallowing hard. "Yes, sir."
At The Airport
Selena waited at the airport, her heart thumping in a rhythm that matched the announcements echoing through the terminal. People bustled around her, unaware of the storm brewing in her chest. She glanced at her ticket repeatedly, wishing the flight would arrive faster.
"Selena," a voice called. She turned to see two men in black suits approaching, their expressions unreadable, bodies imposing and trained. They moved with precision, as if every step had been choreographed.
"What… what are you doing?" she asked, furrowing her brow.
"We were told to take you back," one said, his voice firm but calm.
Selena's heart skipped. "By… who?"
"Mr. Jackson," the man said, his gaze unwavering. "He ordered us to bring you back."
Her hands clenched. A storm of confusion, anger, and fear swirled inside her. She had not expected this. "What is he trying to do?" she thought. If she resisted, she knew he wouldn't hesitate to act.
A deep inhale. She straightened her back, drawing herself into a stance that said she was ready to face whatever came next. "Okay… let's go," she said softly, her voice firm with resolve.
The two men flanked her as they moved through the terminal. Selena's mind raced. Was this some twisted attempt at control? Was he trying to make her dependent again? Her pulse quickened as she scanned the crowd, every passerby a potential obstacle, every glance a potential threat.
She remembered Jack's cold smile, the way he had placed the divorce papers in front of her like a challenge. And yet… there was something in his eyes—something unreadable, something dangerous. Maybe this was his way of keeping her under his shadow, even after years apart.
Selena's gaze hardened. She would not be broken again. Not by him. Not by anyone. She had plans, dreams, and a strength they could not yet see. And as the security men guided her toward a sleek black car waiting outside, she felt the stirrings of a fire she hadn't known existed.
The doors opened with a sharp click. She stepped inside, feeling the leather seat beneath her and the weight of fate pressing against her chest. The engine roared to life. The city blurred past the windows.
Her mind was a whirlwind of thought: memories, fear, anger, and determination. And amidst it all, a single thought burned brighter than any other: I will not be anyone's pawn. Ever again.