Selene pressed her lips together, trembling.
“I... I...”
But no words came out.
The air in the room grew suffocating, thick with tension, while Jaxon’s piercing cries continued to echo.
Virelle only found it irritating.
Without another glance, she reached into her bag, took out a document, and handed it to Grayson.
“Right. This is the request form to upgrade my grandfather to a VIP ward. Sign it.”
Virelle’s cold demeanor left Grayson momentarily stunned.
“Virelle, do you really have to force me to sign this right now? Our son is still crying, can’t you comfort him first?”
The look in his eyes carried disappointment, as though he were staring at a heartless mother.
Virelle merely gave a faint, indifferent shrug.
“Isn’t Selene already comforting him?”
“Besides, you promised to move my grandfather to a VIP ward. Are you planning to go back on your word?”
“If you don’t have the ability to do it, then you shouldn’t have promised in the first place.”
Her sarcasm ignited Grayson’s temper. He snatched the document from her hand and signed it without even glancing at its contents.
Virelle watched him intently.
The moment she saw his signature fall onto the divorce agreement she had slipped beneath, her breath caught in her throat.
Her gaze trembled slightly, her lips parting.
It was over.
At last... it was truly over.
“Is that enough now? Go comfort our son. He’s crying himself hoarse.”
Grayson shoved the document back to her, frowning in irritation.
But Virelle remained indifferent.
“I told you, Selene is already comforting Jaxon.”
“If you want, go comfort him with her. After all, you are his father.”
“Stop pushing your responsibilities onto me all the time.”
With that, she turned and walked upstairs.
Behind her, Grayson stared after her in a daze.
There was something off about Virelle today.
As if she had completely become a different person.
…
After going upstairs, Virelle did not allow herself any idle time. She quickly sorted through and packed the items she had already sold, preparing to send them to their new owners.
As for the things that were outdated, no longer trendy, or difficult to sell, she tossed them all into another box. Naturally, she had no intention of taking along anything Grayson had given her once she left.
While carrying the boxes downstairs to arrange for express delivery, she unfortunately ran into Grayson.
“What is it, Virelle?”
Grayson frowned at the cluttered boxes in her arms. The moment he caught sight of the handbags, shoes, and clothes he had once bought for her inside them, his expression darkened with displeasure.
Virelle, however, was only momentarily stunned before quickly replying,
“Oh, just some old things.”
“I don’t use them anymore, so I’m planning to donate them to an orphanage, for people who actually need them.”
After saying that, Virelle no longer bothered to care about Grayson’s reaction. Brushing past him coldly, she walked straight ahead.
That evening.
Virelle had originally intended to continue handling the paperwork for selling the apartment, but Grayson forced her out of the house to attend his mother’s birthday party, Talia Mercer’s.
“We need to look like a happy family, Virelle.”
“Besides, if you don’t go, then don’t blame me for refusing to pay your grandfather’s fifty thousand dollars in hospital fees and medication costs this week.”
Grayson no longer bothered to pretend, openly threatening her instead. Virelle’s hands clenched tightly.
At that point, those expenses already amounted to nearly all the money she had managed to save and earn from selling her belongings. If Grayson refused to cover them, she would practically be left with nothing if she had to pay for everything herself.
In the end, it was only a party. She could just endure it as if she were deaf to everything around her. Gritting her teeth, Virelle finally agreed.
What she didn’t expect was that Selene would be going along as well.
When they arrived at the Rose residence, the lights blazed brilliantly, and the banquet hall was already crowded with guests.
Still sulking at Virelle, Jaxon let out a cold snort and ignored her completely, walking straight toward a maid and ordering her to take him upstairs to play.
Virelle didn’t react. She simply placed the gift she had prepared on the table and was about to hand it to Talia. But the moment she parted her lips.
“Selene, it’s been so long since you last visited me. I’ve missed you so much.”
Talia walked past Virelle as if she didn’t exist and went straight to Selene, taking her hand with warmth and affection.
Under her enthusiastic welcome, Selene smiled sweetly.
“Aunt, I’ve missed you too.”
“I knew today was your birthday, so I prepared a gift for you.”
Talia’s face immediately lit up with delight. She picked up the gift box and opened it without hesitation.
Inside was a diamond necklace from a well-known domestic luxury brand.
“How beautiful, Selene. You always choose gifts so thoughtfully, exactly to my taste.”
“Unlike some people. Married into this family for years and still doesn’t know what I like. Every gift is wrong.”
“Truly an eyesore.”
Talia let out a cold snort.
“And such a dull personality. Never even come to visit me or keep me company.”
Virelle stood there, silently enduring the gazes, the scrutiny, and the criticism directed at her.
Talia had always been like this, openly showing her dislike.
The gift Virelle brought hadn’t even been opened, yet it had already been dismissed.
Virelle let out a cold laugh inwardly.
If it had been before, she would have been hurt, and would have tried every way to win Talia’s favor.
But now, she remained silent, offering no reaction at all, as if none of it had anything to do with her.
Grayson watched her calm, detached demeanor, his brows knitting slightly as an instinctive unease crept in.
Something about Virelle... felt off.
Yet before he could say anything, she had already turned and walked out.
…
The night breeze drifted through the garden, carrying a chill, while the golden light cast a solitary shadow of Virelle.
“Virelle, your shamelessness truly broadens my horizons.”
The sharp click of high heels echoed from behind, blending with a woman’s scathing voice.
Virelle turned around, her gaze meeting Selene’s eyes, filled with hostility and malice.
“Despised by your mother-in-law, rejected by your son, neglected by your husband, and you can still endure it.”
Selene let out a cold laugh as she stepped closer, her lips curling as she looked Virelle up and down.
“Why are you still clinging to this failed marriage? For money?”
She laughed mockingly, tilting her head to one side.
“Or is it because of that sickly grandfather of yours?”
Virelle did not respond. Her hand hanging at her side had already clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned pale.
Her fingers stiffened further, her ears ringing the moment Selene mentioned her grandfather, yet she still forced herself to endure it.
There was no need to get angry at someone so shameless.
Seeing Virelle remain silent, her face paling, the smile on Selene’s lips deepened. She covered her mouth as she giggled, even giving a taunting wink.
“Don’t blame me for being harsh, but that sickly grandfather of yours is already very weak. Even with treatment, he won’t live much longer.”
She shrugged, her tone light and careless.
“You might as well give up on treatment and let him die sooner, so he won’t be such a burden...”
Smack.
A sharp sound rang out, cutting off Selene’s words.
The air seemed to congeal.
Selene’s face snapped to the side, the burning sting on her cheek driving her into a frenzy.
“You...”
“Shut up.”
Virelle’s voice was ice-cold, her gaze sharp as a blade.
“A shameless person like you has no right to mention my grandfather.”
Selene glared at her, her eyes blazing with hatred. She stepped forward, eyes wide, yet in the next instant, something shifted.
The malice vanished, replaced by panic and frailty.
“Virelle, I’m sorry, I misspoke. Please don’t be angry with me...”
Her eyes reddened as she reached out, as if to take Virelle’s hand in apology, but Virelle had already stepped back coldly.
At that exact moment.
Smack.
A resounding slap landed across Virelle’s face, her ears ringing as though something had exploded inside her head. Her cheek burned as if scalded, the faint metallic taste of blood spreading across her mouth.
Virelle slowly lifted her head.
Grayson stood before her, his chest rising and falling with anger.
“Virelle, you’ve gone too far. How could you raise your hand against Selene?”
“Apologize to Selene. Now.”
Virelle looked at him, her expression shifting from stunned disbelief to quiet despair. She stood frozen for a few seconds before letting out a faint laugh.
“Apologize? Grayson, you haven’t even asked what happened, and you’ve already decided I’m at fault?”
“Do you even know what Selene said about my grandfather...”
Her voice was hoarse as she tried to explain, but Selene had already thrown herself weakly into Grayson’s arms. Tears streamed down her face, her body trembling as though she had suffered immense injustice.
“Grayson, don’t blame Virelle. It’s all my fault.”
“I was only asking about her grandfather’s health. I didn’t expect her to get angry.”
Selene choked out each word, her tears soaking into Grayson’s shirt, making his gaze grow even sharper.
“Virelle, you’ve gone too far.”
“What else is there to deny?”
“Apologize to Selene. Now.”
So it was like this again.
Every time Selene stirred up trouble, a few tears were enough to make everything Virelle’s fault.
Virelle was already tired of explaining.
Her heart turned cold as she lifted her gaze to the two people in front of her.
One always fragile, the other always protective, a scene so familiar it almost made her laugh.
“Apologize?”
Her voice came out dry, before curling into a mocking smile.
“Grayson, I told you before, Selene was the one who insulted me first.”
A trace of ridicule flickered in her eyes.
“Besides, I slapped Selene, and you slapped me back. That makes us even.”
“If you want me to apologize to Selene, that’s fine.”
“You apologize to me first.”
Her provocation completely ignited Grayson’s anger, driving him into a rage.
“Good. Very good, Virelle.”
He roared.
“Maids!”
The maids appeared immediately, her expression serious as she received his order. His voice remained icy.
“Lock Virelle in the storage room.”
“Without my permission, no one is allowed to let her out.”
In an instant, the blood in Virelle’s body seemed to freeze. Her face turned deathly pale, her breathing constricted as though being strangled.
Her lips trembled, turning faintly purple, her breath caught in her throat.
“Grayson, you can’t do this, I...”
Her voice turned hoarse, but the maids had already stepped forward. Their hands were like iron clamps, gripping her tightly, leaving no room for escape.
“Grayson, don’t...”
“Ah, I feel dizzy, Grayson.”
Selene suddenly cried out, her body going limp as she collapsed. Grayson immediately abandoned Virelle and turned to catch Selene.
Then, seeing Selene trembling and complaining of weakness, he hurriedly lifted her into his arms and rushed inside, without sparing Virelle even a single glance.
Virelle’s heart went still. She stood frozen like a statue, her eyes stinging.
The maids pushed and dragged her toward the storage room. She struggled, but couldn’t break free.
Tears blurred her vision, yet she forced herself to take a deep breath.
Virelle, don’t cry over that bastard anymore.
Bang.
The door slammed shut behind her, and darkness crashed down.
“Young mistress, young master said you should stay here and reflect on your mistakes.”
“When you realize your fault and admit it, we’ll let you out.”
In the darkness that seemed to swallow everything whole, Virelle heard the cold voices. She stood there blankly for a few seconds before her breathing began to falter, as if something were lodged in her chest, cutting off the air.
Her body gave out, and she slid weakly to the floor, gasping in panic.
Her heartbeat pounded heavily, so violently she felt as if her chest might shatter.
“H-help, someone...”
She shrank back, curling into herself, her voice as faint as a whisper of wind.
Memories surged like a rising tide.
A winter night, a pitch-dark room, her small figure curled on the floor.
No one came. No one saved her.
Only distant laughter from outside, mingling with her own panicked sobs.
Virelle hated the dark.
And even more than that, she hated the feeling of being abandoned.
“Help...”
Virelle slammed into something with a loud crash.
Fragments shattered across the floor, some slicing into her hand with a sharp sting. Blood was probably flowing, but she couldn’t even see it, only a bone-deep cold spreading through her body.
Something wet smeared across her palm, stinging enough to make her frown.
Her vision blurred. In her panic, Virelle forced herself to crawl forward, searching for a way out, yet she could no longer tell which direction she was moving in.
All around her, nothing but suffocating darkness.
“Help... is anyone there... please...”
Her ears rang as dizziness and nausea surged over her, leaving her body weaker with every passing second. Her voice trembled, hoarse and broken.
The sound echoed back at her, but there was no reply.
The darkness seemed to devour her inch by inch, like a monstrous thing closing in.
Her hands groped blindly, her nails scraping harshly against the floor, producing a grating sound. Pain spread through her body, and suddenly, her vision went black.
Her consciousness began to fade, the sounds around her drifting farther and farther away.
And then, everything was swallowed by complete darkness.
