Chapter 1: Struck Down for Refusing Divorce

Elise's POV

I caught his scent before I heard the door—citrus and fresh air mingled with something primal that was uniquely Noah.

He's actually coming home tonight. Shocking.

I didn't bother getting up. What was the point? The Noah who used to light up seeing me was gone, replaced by a stranger who either ignored me, avoided me, or exploded in rage whenever our paths crossed.

He'd been disappearing for days lately, making me almost forget I had a husband at all. Only the constant ache in my chest reminded me that I still had a mate—one who no longer wanted me.

Noah's footsteps echoed heavily as he entered the dining room. Without a word, he tossed a manila folder onto the table in front of me, papers sliding out slightly.

I looked up at him. "What are these?"

His expression was stone, his eyes cold as winter. "Sign them. They're dissolution papers. Since I never marked you, it was easy to get the Council to approve our separation."

The irony wasn't lost on me. Who would have thought his refusal to mark me would one day be used against me? The marking was the only thing we'd ever really fought about. He'd always made excuses, kept putting it off. I should have seen it for the warning sign it was, but I'd convinced myself he'd  do it when he was ready.

"You can't be serious." My voice came out barely above a whisper, tears threatening to fall, but I refused to let them.

"Dead serious. Now sign the damn papers." His fist came down on the table with such force it nearly split in two.

I flinched, bumping into him as he stood too close. This near, I could smell perfume on him, see the lipstick mark on his neck that he hadn't bothered to hide.

Disgusting. He'd come back to what we called home reeking of another woman, blatantly flaunting his affair with the same woman who'd broken his heart a decade ago.

I stepped back, meeting his gaze with defiance. "I'm not signing them."

"What did you say?" His eyes narrowed dangerously.

"I said I'm not signing them!" My voice strengthened with each word.

Noah's face contorted. "You will sign them, or I swear I will destroy you."

"Do your worst, Noah..." I straightened my spine, refusing to cower. "You can't hurt me any more than you already have."

A cruel smile spread across his face, making my blood run cold. "Oh sweetheart, that's where you're wrong... you have no idea how much damage I can still do."

He turned on his heel and stalked out of the kitchen. Moments later, I heard him climbing the stairs.

What did I do wrong? A few months ago, I was happy, content with my life. I had a loving family, great friends, and my career was thriving. I was even planning to get pregnant again. Then in the blink of an eye, everything crumbled. Vivian returned to our lives like an angry hurricane, leaving nothing but destruction in her wake.

I stumbled to my bedroom—not our bedroom anymore. Noah had kicked me out when he started seeing Vivian. Just one more reminder that I'd been replaced. I tried to sleep but couldn't. My mind raced with memories of what we once had and the crushing reality of what we'd become.

Around nine, I crept out of my room and tiptoed upstairs to Lily's bedroom. I missed my little girl so much it physically hurt. Even with the house dark, I knew every inch of her room. Silently, I made my way to her bed and sat down, gently running my fingers through her soft copper-brown curls, breathing in her scent.

Suddenly, her bedside lamp flicked on. When she saw me, her eyes widened in terror.

"GET OUT OF MY ROOM! GET OUT! DAD!" she screamed as if I was about to murder her.

Noah burst through the door seconds later, flipping on the light and scanning for an intruder only to find me. His concerned expression morphed into fury as he strode forward. Lily jumped out of bed and ran to her father, clinging to him tightly.

"Dad, she scared me. I don't want her here. Make her leave." Her entire body trembled as if she'd just encountered a monster rather than her mother.

My heart broke all over again because my own daughter no longer even called me Mom. These days, I was just "she" or "her." As if I were nothing.

Noah looked down at our daughter, his expression softening. "Go to my room, baby. I'll be there in a minute, and then we can leave."

Lily's face lit up. "Are we going to Mom Vivian's? I love staying with her!" Her voice was filled with joy.

Mom Vivian. That's what she called her now. For months, she hadn't spoken to me or let me near her. My own daughter preferred another woman over me. Just like Noah, Lily now hated me and wanted nothing to do with me.

"Yes, now go. I'll handle this," Noah said gently.

Lily smiled at her father, then shot me a contemptuous glance before leaving the room.

As soon as she was gone, Noah's demeanor changed completely. "What the hell are you doing in her room?" The gentle expression he'd worn for our daughter transformed into a lethal glare.

I stood up, sighing. "She's my daughter, Noah. I wanted to be close to her."

"She doesn't want you near her. Get that through your head!" Noah snarled.

I scoffed, anger replacing hurt. "That's because you let that homewrecker brainwash her. If you think I'm going to let her raise my daughter, you're out of your mind."

Without warning, Noah's hand connected with my cheek, the force knocking me to the floor. Pain exploded across my face as I tasted blood.

"That's the last time you'll speak about the woman I love that way." His voice dropped to a deadly whisper. He looked down at me with disgust, actually spat at my feet, then left the room without looking back. Minutes later, I heard them leave.

I sat on the floor, tears streaming down my face, my left cheek stinging and throbbing. I knew it would bruise. How could he? Those same hands had once held me, wiped away my tears, caressed me lovingly. How could he hit me?

And all because of her.