I didn't own any of it. Every time I wore those pieces, I had to pay a hefty rental fee.
The mansion and the luxury cars? Only the down payments had been covered. The massive loans that remained were mine to pay off.
And that wasn't all. The prenuptial agreement spelled it out clearly.
As Mrs. Delgado, I was obligated to maintain the family's image and the company's reputation. I had to accompany Curtis to countless events, serve as an unpaid spokesperson for their products, and purchase designer jewelry out of my own pocket just to look the part.
The endless schedule of appearances and social obligations consumed every hour I had. My career—once at its peak—collapsed. My savings—already running thin—were bled dry.
I'd complained to Curtis before. Every time, he'd hold me close and say the same things.
"Emma, I don't want it to be this way either."
"But the Delgado family has so many moving parts. I can't override what the board decides."
"Just bear with it a little longer. Once I've taken full control of the family business, I'll make it up to you for everything you've sacrificed."
I endured it for three years.
Three years of pouring out my heart, giving everything I had.
And what did I get in return? My family destroyed. My reputation in ruins. And thanks to Curtis's scheming, a mountain of penalty fees I'd never be able to climb out from under.
All that talk of love. All those promises of devotion.
From the very beginning, it had been nothing but a scheme to drain me to the bone.
I couldn't hold it together anymore.
I fled to the bathroom and sobbed, letting the running water drown out the sound.
When I finally looked up, Margot was standing right in front of me.
She was dressed head to toe in designer couture, and her eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
"Emma. You heard our little conversation just now, didn't you?"
"Heartbreaking, isn't it? So painful, and there's not a single thing you can do about it."
"Here's some friendly advice—just be a good girl and divorce Curtis."
"You've still got a bit of fame left. Do some trashy films, find yourself a sugar daddy. You might actually pay off those debts someday."
"But if you wait until your looks are gone and they throw you out on the street? Life's going to get a lot harder."
She knew exactly where to hit. She understood my pain.
Every word was a knife twisting into my deepest wounds.
When I didn't respond, she leaned in closer.
Her voice dropped to a whisper only I could hear—soft and venomous, like a devil in my ear.
"Oh, and there's something else you don't know."
"I'm the one who drafted your prenup. And your family's bankruptcy? That was my design too."
"So don't even think about getting rid of me."
"I'm nothing like you, some pretty face with nothing behind it. I'm the one who deserves to stand beside Curtis in the end."
That vicious look on her face—it brought back the memory of my father's eyes in his final moments. Hopeless. Defeated.
I couldn't hold back anymore. My hand flew before I could stop it.
The slap had barely landed on Margot's cheek when a force shoved me hard to the side.
Curtis had appeared out of nowhere, positioning himself between us like a shield.
His face was full of concern as he examined the faint red mark on her skin. Those eyes that had once looked at me so tenderly now barely concealed his rage.
"Emma, what the hell are you doing?"
"Apologize to Margot. Now."
"Do you have any idea what this looks like if someone sees? You're damaging the company's image!"
He was worried about Margot. He cared about the company.
He didn't notice—or didn't care—that something inside me had already turned to ash.
I pulled myself to my feet. The words came out through clenched teeth.
"Curtis. I want a divorce."
Divorce.
