Ellie Armstrong POV:
The wrought iron gates of the Hopkins Estate loomed ahead, a familiar, imposing silhouette against the twilight sky. It had once been my home, the grand, opulent cage where I' d lived a life I no longer recognized. Now, it belonged to Carter and Alexandrea, a gilded monument to their betrayal.
I parked my sputtering electric scooter outside the heavy gates, its humble presence a stark contrast to the gleaming luxury cars parked within. As I approached the entrance, a burly security guard stepped out, blocking my path.
"State your business," he grunted, his eyes sweeping over my faded clothes with open disdain.
"Carter Hopkins is expecting me," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. It felt strange to say his name, a bitter taste on my tongue.
The guard scoffed, a sneer twisting his lips. "Mr. Hopkins? Expecting you? You must be mistaken. The staff entrance is around the back, cleaning crew comes in at six." He gestured vaguely with his thumb.
I glanced down at my worn-out boots, scuffed and caked with mud and grease. They looked exactly like they belonged on a cleaning crew. The irony was a bitter pill.
"He told me to come," I insisted, my voice gaining a hint of steel. "Tell him Ellie Armstrong is here."
The guard let out a harsh laugh, a booming sound that echoed in the quiet evening. "Ellie Armstrong? The ex-wife? You think Mr. Hopkins would let a tramp like you waltz through the front door?"
Just then, the smooth purr of an engine broke the silence. A sleek, black Bentley glided up behind us, its headlights piercing the gloom. The driver' s side window hummed down, revealing Carter's face. Five years had etched new lines around his eyes, but the arrogant confidence remained, untouched by time or conscience.
The guard' s demeanor instantly shifted. He straightened, his sneer replaced by an obsequious grin. "Mr. Hopkins, sir! Just dealing with a… misunderstanding."
Carter's gaze, cold and distant, swept past me without a flicker of recognition. He didn't even look at me, not really. He looked through me.
"Let her in," he commanded, his voice sharp, impatient.
The window slid up with a silent hiss, and the Bentley glided through the opened gates. I followed in its wake, feeling like a stray dog allowed to trail its master home.
As I stepped into the vast, cavernous living room, the mournful strains of a piano drifted from within. It was Chopin's Nocturne in E-flat Major, Op. 9, No. 2 – the third movement. My favorite. Or, it used to be.
The playing was hesitant, riddled with wrong notes, struggling to capture the delicate beauty of the piece. Alexandrea. Of course. She was sitting at the grand piano, clothed in a shimmering emerald green gown, her back to me. The piano itself, a magnificent Steinway, was my wedding gift from Carter, a symbol of our shared passion, now defiled by her clumsy touch.
"Ugh, this piece is impossible!" Alexandrea whined, abruptly stopping, a discordant clang echoing in the elegant room. "How did you ever play it, Carter? Ellie used to make it sound so effortless, like breathing." There was a venomous undertone to her words.
Carter, having shed his jacket into a waiting maid's arms, turned. His eyes, dark and sharp, finally landed on me, standing awkwardly in the entryway. His brow furrowed instantly, a wave of disgust washing over his face.
He took two steps towards me, then stopped, his nose wrinkling almost imperceptibly. He took another step back, as if a foul odor had just reached his nostrils. He pulled a crisp white handkerchief from his pocket and pressed it to his mouth, his eyes narrowed.
"What in God's name are you wearing?" he spat, his voice laced with contempt. "And you reek of… motor oil. Do you deliberately try to look pathetic, Ellie? Is this your grand revenge? To show me how far you've fallen?"
I stood rooted to the spot, my worn boots just shy of the plush Persian rug. I refused to cross that threshold. This wasn't my home anymore.
"This is how I live, Carter," I said, my voice flat, devoid of emotion. "It's called life. It happens when you don't have a trust fund and a powerful ex-husband to bail you out."
