He Ignored Her Love Until She Was Gone

"I'm back."

Sera Monroe stared blankly at the message on her phone.

It came from an unknown number.

She should've just ignored it, marked it as spam or something.

But for some reason, she couldn't shake the feeling that it meant something...

Knock knock.

A knock on the door pulled her out of her thoughts.

"Ma'am?"

It was Martha Whitmore, the housekeeper.

Sera put down her phone. "Come in."

Martha walked in carrying a tray. On it was a cup of honey tea.

Sera didn't even have to ask. One look, and she knew exactly who it was for.

Elliot Monroe. His throat always gave him trouble. Honey tea was his go-to.

She lowered her gaze, hiding the mess of emotions in her eyes, as Martha started talking.

"Master's sleeping in the guest room again?"

"Now don't take it the wrong way, ma'am, but as his wife, you really ought to be more... proactive. You can't just let those shameless hussies out there steal his heart."

She nodded toward the tea.

"This is from Madam Monroe. She says you should take it to him yourself."

Sera clenched the blanket in her fist, her knuckles turning white.

She knew exactly what this was about. The tea was just an excuse. What Madam Monroe really wanted was for her to go seduce Elliot.

Like some kind of whore.

Like she had to beg her own husband to touch her.

But... she couldn't say no.

She was an orphan, taken in by the Monroe family.

They raised her, paid for her schooling, gave her a job at Monroe Group, and eventually married her off to Elliot Monroe—their heir, their golden boy.

Everything she had, they gave her.

She didn't have the right to refuse.

"I get it. Leave the tea. I'll take it to him in a bit."

She loosened her grip and spoke calmly.

Martha looked satisfied. She set the cup down and left.

Sera stared at the honey tea for a long time, then finally picked it up and walked over to Elliot's room.

She knocked.

"Elliot, you awake?"

"Come in."

His voice came from inside, low and cold.

Sera opened the door and stepped in.

Elliot glanced at the tea in her hands, and a sneer curled on his lips.

"What, you trying to get laid?"

Sera's cheeks burned with shame.

She wanted to leave. Just turn around and walk out.

But... Madam Monroe's words echoed in her head.

She bit down hard on the inside of her cheek until the taste of blood filled her mouth.

When she finally spoke, her voice was flat, almost mechanical.

"Well, since you already know, maybe you should do your duty as a husband."

"You know Grandma's been wanting us to have a baby."

She set the tea down and walked toward him, hands moving to unbutton her top.

She always dressed so plain, so dull—like a nun who'd taken a vow of chastity.

But Elliot knew better.

He knew what she was hiding underneath that stiff exterior.

And the thought of her—tight-lipped and proper in public, but soft and flushed beneath him—was enough to make something dark stir in his chest.

His eyes darkened.

Sera froze, her skin prickling under his gaze like it was on fire.

And suddenly, the memory of that night came rushing back...

That one night. The only time they'd been truly together.

The heat of his body, the strength of his arms—just thinking about it made her burn.

Then, without warning, he grabbed her and tossed her onto the bed.

His body pinned her down, heavy and solid.

A flicker of hope and longing sparked in Sera's chest.

She still loved him... so much.

She wanted him to want her.

But after that night, he'd never touched her again.

Maybe tonight...

'Maybe tonight he'd come back to her.'

"Sera Monroe," he said, voice like ice, "have you forgotten who you are?"

His words hit her like a slap, dousing her in cold water.

The flush on her cheeks drained away.

"I didn't..."

"Didn't what?"

He grabbed her throat.

"You didn't trap me three years ago? Didn't force me to marry you?"

His eyes flicked to the honey tea, full of disgust.

"Same old tricks. Still pathetic."

She'd done the same thing back then—brought him a cup of tea—and everything had spiraled out of control.

His eyes were full of loathing as he shoved her off the bed.

She hit the floor hard, her knee slamming into the wood.

"Ah!" she cried out in pain.

Elliot flinched, instinctively stepping forward—but then he stopped himself, jaw tight.

Sera lay crumpled on the floor, blouse hanging open where she'd started to undress. From where he stood, he could see everything.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and his expression twisted with even more disgust.

"Get out," he snapped.

Sera felt something inside her shatter.

The open hatred in his eyes... it hurt more than the fall.

She didn't know why she kept trying.

Why she still held on.

She was just... exhausted.

She looked up at him with steady eyes, voice calm and low.

"Elliot Monroe, let's get a divorce."