As the rain beat down on her car's windshield, Elle hardly noticed. The storm inside her raged much more fiercely than the city outside, which was a jumble of lights and shadows.

After more than an hour of driving in a circle, she eventually pulled into a driveway she knew well. The front door opened as soon as she left, and in the faint light of the porch, a worried face emerged.

"Elle?"

Regina "Rei" Castillo spoke in a quiet, wary tone.

Elle attempted to reply but was unable to do so due to the lump in her throat. Her lungs were squeezed until she could hardly breathe as her body shook and the weight of everything pressed against her chest.

Rei's expression changed from worry to urgency. As soon as the dam finally broke, she gathered Elle into an embrace without saying another word.

The tears Elle had been suppressing finally came out as she sobbed into Rei's shoulder. Anger-filled tears. of treachery. Of heartache.

Gently, Rei ushered her inside and shut the door. She led Elle to the couch and said, "Sit." "I'll get you some water."

Elle didn't object. The strain of her feelings exhausted her body, causing her to collapse onto the soft cushions. Elle wiped away her tears by the time Rei came back with a glass of water, but her eyes were still swollen and red.

Sitting next to her, Rei observed her patiently and quietly. "Tell me everything."

Elle's breath came out shakily. "Rei, I should have anticipated it." Her voice barely reached a whisper. "Perhaps I did. Perhaps I simply didn't want to believe it.

Rei furrowed her brows. "Believe what?"

"That I was never truly loved by Marco.. The words left a bitter taste on her tongue.

Rei leaned back and let out a breath. "Elle—"

Elle went on, her voice getting louder, "I spent years by his side." I believed that we were a team, supported him, and helped him build that business. However, I ultimately served only as a stepping stone. He obtained the status and power he desired, and after I became useless, he replaced me.

Rei grabbed Elle's hand and gave it a firm squeeze. "You were never merely a stepping stone. Elle, you built everything he owned. You created him. And now? He will lose everything.

Elle shook her head. "That's irrelevant. He never loved me, and nothing I do will alter that.

A thin line formed on Rei's lips. "Are you certain about that?"

Elle scowled. "What do you mean?"

Leaning forward, Rei lowered her voice in a conspiratorial manner. "I think Marco is about to experience a harsh awakening." Bianca may have won this battle, but is the war truly over? It's far from finished.

Elle gave a sour sneer. Bianca prevailed because Marco allowed it. "Rei, he humiliated me while he was standing there. He exposed himself to the public. He wouldn't have done that if he had ever loved me, even a little.

Rei let out a sigh. Elle, I'm not standing up for him. You deserve so much better than this bastard. However, I also know men like Marco. They believe they can have it all and are untouchable—until they learn they can't."

Elle didn't answer.

Elle, you said it yourself. Marco adores authority. However, what do you suppose will happen when Bianca discovers Marco is not as strong as she initially believed? There was a dangerous edge to Rei's voice. "Is love her true motivation?"

She blinked.

Bianca had humiliated her tonight, but the way she flaunted her pregnancy and her possessiveness toward Marco was a victory. Marco had fallen for her, but for how long?

Rei grinned when she noticed Elle's change in expression. "I had the same thought. Bianca isn't here for Elle's sake. She is here to gain influence, wealth, and power. And when does she begin to lose control of that? You won't believe how quickly she will turn on him.

Elle sat motionless, taking it all in.

Rei might have been correct. Bianca's victory might not last.

Rei leaned in. "And that's where you come in."

Elle raised her head. "What do you mean?"

Rei had a cunning smile. "You won't just sit there and let them take advantage of you. You will fight back. You put a significant amount of effort and dedication into establishing Navarro Group. You won't simply give it to me, will you?

Elle's breathing steadied as she wiped away the last of her tears.

No. She wasn't.

Marco was mistaken if he assumed she would leave quietly.

She didn't want to lose herself, even though she might have lost the man.