The day after tomorrow marks the Howard Family’s ancestral worship ceremony—an event held once every ten years and personally overseen by the matriarch.
This would be my first time organizing it and I had poured months of work into every detail.
Even though resentment toward Bruce still burned quietly in my heart, I had no intention of abandoning my responsibilities and disgracing the entire Howard Family.
No—this ceremony mattered far more than my personal pain.
The night before the ceremony, Bruce called for me.
It was the first time he had summoned me on his own since Tessa came into our lives a year ago.
“Tomorrow is the ancestral worship ceremony,” he said plainly, without any preamble. “You should let Tessa take the matriarch’s seat.”
My mind went blank. My face froze.
Seeing my reaction, Bruce cleared his throat and continued in a patronizing tone.
“After all, the child in Tessa ’s womb is my firstborn son. Besides, she’s just a young girl—playful, maybe a little vain. She only wants to sit in that seat for a moment. She’s not trying to challenge you or anything. Don’t worry, the title of Mrs. Howard will always belong to you. No one can replace you.”
He rambled on, but I had already stopped listening.
The ancestral worship ceremony was solemn and sacred—an event watched closely by the entire family group.
And he wanted her to sit in my place, in my seat.
What did that make me?
“Elise, don’t be so quick to refuse,” he coaxed, his voice softening as though he were doing me a favor.
“Just agree to Tessa ’s request this time. Consider it a favor I owe you.
In return, I’ll grant you any wish you want in the future. Sound fair?”
He looked so sure of himself, so confident that I would say yes.
I forced a tight smile and swallowed the bitterness rising in my throat.
“Then I’ll use that wish right now—while you’re still offering it—so there won’t be any misunderstandings later.”
Bruce paused. Then, a slow, knowing smile curled across his lips.
“Alright.”
He reached out to pull me into an embrace, but I stepped aside.
“Wait here. I need to get something.”
I returned holding a document folder—neatly organized, every contract and agreement in place.
Right at the front was a love agreement Bruce had once coaxed me into signing during our passionate courtship.
He hesitated when he saw it.
But I didn’t stop to gauge his thoughts.
I flipped to the last document, opened to the signature page and handed it to him.
“Sign it.”
Bruce chuckled lightly.
“You’re still the same, Elise. No matter how old you get, you’ve always had the heart of a child.”
He picked up the pen and, without even reading the document, signed his name—neatly, decisively, just like he always had.
My hands trembled as I reached for the paper.
It was the divorce agreement.
I had braced myself for a fight—for begging, for resistance—but he signed it so easily, without hesitation.
“Elise, you didn’t need to waste your one wish on something so trivial,” he said warmly. “I’ve signed it. Go home and think of a better wish, something that will truly benefit you.”
He was always like this—always speaking from above, never seeing me as an equal.
I sneered inwardly.
‘The agreement you just signed is the only benefit I’ll ever need from you.’
“No need,” I said flatly, turning away.
With the signed divorce papers in my hand, there was no reason left to keep up appearances.
“I’ll pretend to be ill tomorrow. Let Tessa conduct the ceremony.”
My compliance caught him off guard. For the first time, I saw panic flicker in his eyes.
“Just this once, Elise,” he said quickly. “Don’t worry. The next ten-year memorial service will still be yours.”
I looked back at him, my voice calm and firm.
“The next one? It won’t be me. If she wants it, she can have that one too.”
His expression wavered.
“I’ve also prepared a gift for Tessa. I’m sure she’ll love it.”
He tried to catch up to me, wrapping his arms around me from behind. His voice trembled slightly with emotion.
“You’ve grown up, Elise. If you and Tessa can get along, I’ll finally be at peace.”
But the master bedroom was no longer mine. Tessa had taken that too.
So I returned to the guest room where I’d been temporarily staying.
I stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows, staring out at the glittering skyline.
Tomorrow, it will all be over.
After tomorrow, I will never return to this house again.
I’m going home—home to my brothers, who love me unconditionally.
