Gemma pushed past the Elliotts standing in the doorway and went upstairs without another glance.
Long after she disappeared from sight, the Elliotts downstairs still stood frozen, unable to process what they had just heard.
Jeremy frowned deeply, his voice uncertain. "Did she really say that? Did Gemma just say she wants a divorce?"
Averie shook her head in disbelief. "She only came back to this family six years ago, but the whole city knows how obsessed she is with Brendan. I would believe something impossible before I believed she would divorce him."
Darwin adjusted his glasses as a thought crossed his mind. "I see what she's doing."
He spoke with quiet confidence, as if the answer had already become obvious to him. "This act is meant to make Brendan feel sorry for her."
So that was the reason.
That strange behavior Gemma showed earlier suddenly made sense.
The tension in the room faded almost immediately. When their eyes shifted toward the staircase she had taken, the only emotion left was disdain.
Sallie lowered her head while her fingernails pressed hard into her palms. How dare she talk to her like that!
Robert's voice broke the silence. "I'd like to see how long she can keep pretending," he said through clenched teeth. "Prime would be hosting a party tomorrow evening, and she is absolutely not going. Darwin, make sure Brendan knows that."
His tone carried open contempt. "An event like that has no place for someone like her. The entire upper circle of Olnstead will attend. More importantly, that legendary figure Death is rumored to appear. The gala was arranged to welcome her return."
He then turned toward Sallie, pride visible on his face. "Our family only received an invitation because of you, Sallie."
A cold snort followed as his gaze drifted toward the door. "Gemma has no one to blame but herself. Missing something like this is exactly what she deserves."
...
Gemma had barely settled onto her bed when her phone buzzed with a new message.
It came from Plume. "Boss, tomorrow night on the top floor of Prime. We're holding a welcome back banquet for you. If you have time, please come."
A faint crease formed between Gemma's brows. Events like that had never appealed to her.
Still, six years had passed since she last saw them. The thought behind the arrangement mattered. After a moment, she sent back a brief reply. "Okay."
The following afternoon, Gemma walked downstairs wearing a red evening gown.
The rest of the Elliott family had already gathered in the living room. Everyone was dressed formally and preparing to head out. Casual conversation had filled the room moments earlier, yet the instant they noticed Gemma moving toward the door, the voices stopped.
"Hold it." Jeremy lowered his champagne glass and stared at her with a frown. "Where do you think you're going dressed like that?"
Gemma continued walking as though he had never spoken.
Robert stepped forward and blocked her path. He spoke with a mocking tone. "You caused that disaster yesterday and still plan to go out today? Guess the lesson didn't stick."
Sallie approached with gentle steps and said softly, "Gemma, Mom and Dad are only thinking about your future. You should stay home for a few days and reflect on your behavior. It's better than going out again and... mixing with the wrong crowd again."
Averie's expression tightened with disapproval. "After bringing embarrassment to this family, you still want to show yourself in public?"
Jeremy's gaze hardened with frustration. "Go back upstairs. You will stay there until the Edwards family decides how to handle you. Then you can come down."
In their minds, Gemma leaving the house right now meant only one thing. She was preparing to do something humiliating just to keep holding on to Brendan.
Everyone knew how Gemma used to act whenever she tried to win Brendan back. She had embarrassed herself more than once.
Surrounded by looks of ridicule and contempt, Gemma raised her eyes. Her expression remained calm and impossible to read.
"My plans don't concern any of you," she said in a steady voice. "Step aside."
Robert laughed sharply, disbelief written across his face. "Not our concern? You carry the Elliott name. When you humiliate yourself, you humiliate this family." His tone hardened as he continued, "And besides, there's an important event tonight. We're not letting you ruin it."
Those words seemed to trigger a thought in Sallie. She quickly moved closer and caught Gemma's sleeve. "Gemma, please stop making this harder than it needs to be," she said gently. "Tonight isn't the right time for this. Mom, Dad, and the Edwards family are doing this for your own good. Tonight's party is a welcome back celebration-for Death. The most influential people in the country will attend. With your reputation right now, if you show up, people will only laugh at you."
"Death?" Gemma reacted for the first time.
A small smile appeared on Sallie's lips. "You've heard of her too? She's Eighwell's strongest female warrior, the ace commander of the Dominion, the most powerful woman alive. She's the only person I've ever truly admired."
Robert immediately cut in, "That's right. We only received an invitation because Sallie met someone connected to Death while she was overseas. Otherwise, people at that level would be completely out of reach for families like ours."
Sallie lowered her head modestly. "That's so sweet of you to say, Robert. I was simply fortunate enough to meet a remarkable friend."
Jeremy cut the conversation short with an impatient gesture. His eyes showed clear disgust when they landed on Gemma. "Why are you even explaining any of this to her? Someone like her will never be part of that world. We're leaving now." His tone turned sharp as he faced Gemma. "As for you, go back to your room and stay there until I say otherwise."
Everyone expected Gemma to turn around and walk back upstairs.
Instead, she reached the door and pulled it open.
A breeze lifted the loose strands of hair across her forehead. She turned slightly, allowing half of her face to be seen. A faint smile curved at the corner of her lips.
"Well," she said.
Her voice was quiet, yet every trace of smug confidence vanished from the faces behind her.
Then she delivered the rest. "I'm going to that party too."
The words settled over the room like a sudden weight. Silence followed. Shock spread across the Elliotts' faces.
The invitation Sallie held slipped from her hand and struck the floor with a sharp sound.
