The Ex wife he replaced is now untouchable

ELENA

FIVE YEARS AGO

“He’ll ruin your life!”

Her father’s voice echoed through the marble halls of the Cruz estate, it was sharp enough to make the staff freeze mid step. But her hands hovered around the door handle, her life packed into one pink suitcase.

“Then I’ll let him,” she said softly, “But at least it’ll be my choice.”

Her throat bobbed as she swallowed, despite how her eyes said otherwise about this so called choice.

“You’re walking away from an empire for a man with nothing to his name!?” Her father stepped forward, but a slender hand pressed to his chest, stopping him.

“Let her go, Gerald. It’s what she wants.” A calm voice, cut through the tension, it was her mother.

“She’s the heir to the Cruz Empire! I can’t watch her ruin her life for some thwart who just wants to take everything we worked for!”

“He has a dream, father! He has ambitions!” Elena fired back, her voice trembled slightly. But her father’s jaw clenched,

“No daughter of mine will fall for that ambition crap.”

She gave a soft nod, tears welled in her eyes, and then her jaws clenched in a final resolution.

“Then I guess I’m not your daughter anymore.”

The ringing of her cell phone snapped her back to reality. Her eyes darted around frantically, completely disoriented as the memory of her father’s voice still echoed in her mind.

Hurriedly wiping her hands on the napkin, she rushed toward the dining table where her phone vibrated beside the tableware she had arranged.

Her face lit up instantly, it was him.

Her husband, Jacob. Obviously he remembered, that today wasn’t just any other day. It was the anniversary of the day she said yes to him.

Tonight would be different! Maybe he’d eventually remember what they used to be.

She swiped to answer excitedly, “Honey….”

“Hey,” his voice was casual. “I’ll be home soon”

“Okay ba…” The beeping line was the next thing that followed , she lowered the phone softly from her ears, he had hung up.

Her throat bobbed as she swallowed, he might be driving. It wasn’t a big deal if he hung up on her anyway, at least he’d be home.

She adjusted the wine glasses on the table, then stepped back and scanned every detail like she did for the last four times.

It was perfect, just like last night, and the night before that and all the other nights he never came home.

Still, she set the table anyway. She lit the candles, folded the napkins and cooked his favorite meals just in case he came in at the dead of night and wasn’t too full from all the office dinner meetings he’d had.

Her eyes flickered to the soft jazz playing from the speakers, one of his expensive gifts last Christmas. They danced in this very kitchen at midnight, just them.

Her gaze drifted to the diamond wedding ring wrapped around her finger. She still wore it since five years ago, even though he hadn’t worn his in over a year.

The spoon in her hand clattered onto the table as her grip slipped. Her fingers trembled, just at the thought of it.

Then again, none of it mattered because she loved him, and because it was expected of her. Every good wife held it all together, even when it was falling apart.

She tugged nervously at the hem of the dress, his favorite color, a forest green floral dressed that hugged her body perfectly. She even opened the bottle of red wine they’d brought back from their honeymoon in Italy.

Then the elevator chimed, air trapped in her lungs instantly. She straightened immediately, brushed invisible dust off her dress. The doors finally opened with a quiet breeze, a finely polished leather shoe stepped inside.

It was her husband, he was back home.

His navy suit pressed against his broad frame, with a silk tie and the same cologne that once filled her lungs and made her weak whenever he made love to her.

With a soft exhale and a bright smile,

“Honey…”

But then, a tiny figure ran into the living room, full of energy. It seemed to be a boy, he looked four, maybe five years old. He had tousled brown hair, blue eyes and a tiny backpack slung over his shoulders.

Her heart thudded loud in her ears, louder than the jazz still playing in the background, unable to blink because the resemblance was too strong.

Then a pair of red stilettos stepped in, she blinked back repeatedly. Her knees buckled slightly, as she watched the figure moved towards her husband.

Someone she knew, his former secretary, Cassia Lin.

Elena’s gaze dropped to Jacob’s hand around Cassia’s waist,

What was going on?

Maybe an anniversary prank?

Were the cameras going to come out now? Tell her they got her good?

“Daddy!” The boy squealed, as he ran towards Jacob and tugged at his coat.

“Is this our new house?”

Elena’s feet drew back, knees weakened, as her hands searched frantically to hold the edge of the table but she hit the wine glass , it fell, shattering against her leg.

Her voice barely a whisper.

“Daddy?”