Aurora POV:
The boiling bisque slammed into my chest and left arm without an ounce of mercy.
The extreme heat instantly burned through the expensive silk of my dress. The fabric melted, fusing directly onto my tender skin.
A muffled groan of sheer agony tore from my throat. My body trembled violently as the force of the liquid drove me back several steps until my spine collided with the edge of the dining table.
I bit down on my lower lip so hard I tasted copper, refusing to scream. It was the endurance training carved into my bones by my family.
A few stray drops of the splashing soup landed on the back of Ilene's hand. She immediately let out a bloodcurdling shriek.
In that exact moment, Ethan didn't rush toward his wife who had just taken the brunt of the boiling liquid. Instead, he spun around and pulled the screaming Ilene tightly into his protective embrace.
He frantically grabbed her hand, inspecting the minuscule red spots on her skin, and roared at the waiters to bring ice immediately.
I leaned heavily against the table. The excruciating pain made my vision blur, but the sight of them clinging to each other pierced my eyes with absolute clarity.
The literal burning of my flesh collided violently with the absolute, freezing coldness spreading through my soul.
I looked down at my chest. It was a mangled mess. The skin was already blistering, oozing clear fluid through the ruined silk.
The restaurant manager rushed into the room in a blind panic, flanked by security guards and carrying a first-aid kit.
When the manager saw the horrific state of my chest, all the color drained from his face. He rushed forward, reaching out to help me.
Ethan intercepted him. He snatched the ice pack straight out of the manager's hands and carefully, tenderly pressed it against Ilene's hand.
Then, Ethan turned his head. He looked at me with a gaze so full of impatience and coldness it felt like a physical blow.
He opened his mouth and blamed me. He demanded to know why I had to provoke a mentally fragile patient and cause such an accident.
He was a dictator. He was so accustomed to blaming others for his own lack of control.
My heart stopped beating for a full second. I opened my mouth, but I realized I didn't have a single ounce of strength left to argue with him.
I pushed away the waiter who was trying to support my weight. Using every bit of willpower I possessed, I stood up straight on my own.
The fused silk tore at my raw flesh with every millimeter I moved, sending drilling pain through my nervous system. But I kept my spine perfectly straight.
Ilene buried her face in Ethan's chest. A victorious smirk flashed across her lips before she forced out a sobbing, tearful apology in my direction.
I didn't even look at her. My eyes were locked entirely on Ethan's familiar, yet completely foreign face.
I raised my right hand. Slowly, deliberately, I slid the five-carat diamond ring off my left ring finger.
Ethan saw my movement. His brows slammed together, and he snapped at me, asking what crazy stunt I was pulling now.
I placed the ring down on top of the ink-stained separation agreement. The diamond hit the table with a sharp, final clink.
I didn't shed a single tear. The love that had burned in my eyes for five years turned into dead ash in that exact moment.
I turned my back to him. Dragging my severely injured body, I walked step by step toward the open doors.
Out in the hallway, the wealthy VIP guests from the other rooms were peeking out, whispering and pointing.
I ignored every single one of them. I kept my head held high, walking like a defeated but absolutely unyielding queen.
Ethan watched my resolute back. His heart suddenly gave a strange, inexplicable twinge, and he took half a step forward to follow me.
Ilene instantly sensed his hesitation. She let out a pathetic moan of pain and slumped heavily against him.
Ethan's footsteps halted abruptly. He bent down and scooped Ilene up into his arms.
I stepped into the elevator alone. I watched the metal doors slowly slide shut, completely severing me from that man's world.
"From today on, Ethan, you and I are dead to each other."
