Tonight, Elise had only planned to drive around and clear her head, to seriously consider whether she should leave. But fate had already made the decision for her—it had taken her away completely.
Two staff members carried in an enormous bouquet of 999 roses. Kimberly’s face finally broke into a smile.
“Oh my! Drew, what made you think of giving me this?”
Andrew’s lips curled into a soft smile. “Beautiful flowers for a beautiful woman—only you are worthy of them.”
Kimberly shyly glanced at him and spoke hesitantly, “But if you’re giving me roses, what about Elise…”
Andrew cast a quick glance at his phone, still devoid of notifications, his face darkening.
“Why bring up someone so unpleasant?” He scoffed. “That sharp-tongued, venomous woman—being with her every day disgusts me.”
Elise’s soul trembled with pain so deep that her very essence seemed to shatter.
The two drank heavily during dinner, the strong alcohol eventually taking its toll. In the end, Andrew carried Kimberly to the hotel bed and gently laid her down.
As he turned to leave, Kimberly drunkenly grabbed his hand. “Drew, don’t go… I’ve missed you so much.”
Andrew froze mid-step, his deep eyes fixed on the drunken Kimberly.
Kimberly appeared to regain a sliver of clarity, closing her eyes as a single tear slid down her cheek.
“No, you should leave. You’re Elise’s husband now. If she finds out…”
Andrew leaned abruptly, his thin lips capturing hers in a harsh kiss. His sultry, raspy voice echoed beside her ear, “You're pushing me toward someone else?”
“What is Elise to me? Do you think I’m still the weak, powerless dog I was eight years ago, forced to endure humiliation?”
“I, Andrew Williams, hate nothing more than being threatened.”
A flicker of triumph flashed in Kimberly’s eyes, though her words were those of refusal.
“Drew, don’t… Elise is your wife…”
Andrew silenced her with another kiss, leaving her no room for protest—only muffled gasps and moans filled the room.
The two indulged in passion through the night, while Elise could only face the wall, covering her ears as she endured the torment of listening to her husband making love for another woman.
The summer rain poured down relentlessly, drowning out the sultry sounds from inside.
Elise couldn’t pinpoint when her relationship with Andrew had devolved into nothing but suspicion and disdain.
Just over a month ago, Andrew came home drunk after another business meeting.
His assistant had frantically called her, saying Andrew was demanding to see her.
Flattered and surprised, Elise braved a raging storm and drove over two hours to pick him up.
In the dark hotel room, Andrew kissed her feverishly, his motions urgent and forceful.
He was clearly heavily intoxicated, as though he wanted to consume her entirely.
“Ly…” he murmured repeatedly, his voice soft and hoarse.
At the time, Elise naively thought he was expressing concern for her driving through the storm to see him.
Blushing, she told him, “As long as it’s for you, it’s worth it.”
It turned out he was calling Kimberly, and not her.
The person Andrew longed to see was never her. It had always been his one true love, Kimberly.
Elise had never realized she had become someone else’s substitute.
That night had led to her pregnancy.
Despite the bitterness, Elise tried to find solace in her misery. In a twisted sense, she even felt relieved that the child hadn’t come into the world.
If it had, knowing the truth, she wouldn’t have been able to love the child at all.
