Alice White's heart raced as she stared blankly at the divorce papers sprawled across the polished table. The ink on the signature line was fresh, an all-too-permanent mark declaring the end of her dreams. A wave of despair washed over her as she turned to the window, where the late afternoon sun cast an unforgiving light on Jasper Beckett's silhouette. He stood tall and imposing, his back to her, projecting an aura of cold detachment that cut deeper than any knife. "I’ve signed it," his voice broke through the air, smooth yet chilling. "You should hurry and do the same. I want to finalize everything before Lia gets back." His hands were clasped behind him, a casual display of authority that stung with every syllable. Alice's world seemed to tilt. "You... you’ve already discussed everything regarding the assets before marriage," she stammered, grasping for some semblance of hope. "You don’t need to rush this. Can’t we... can’t we talk it over?" Jasper didn’t even bother to turn around, his indifference heavy in the air. "I’ll give you an additional twenty million and a villa on the outskirts. After all, leaving you with nothing would complicate the story I’d have to explain to Grandpa later." Her heart sank, feelings of betrayal twisting like daggers within her. "Does... does Grandpa know you’re divorcing me?" she whispered, trying to keep the tremor from breaking her voice. "And if he does? Do you think it’ll change anything?" The sharpness of his words pierced through her, a cold reality that left her breathless. Tears threatened to spill as Alice grasped the edge of the table, trying to anchor herself against the turmoil swelling inside. "Jasper, please, can we not get a divorce?" Finally, he turned to face her, but his gaze was a storm of emotion—both fierce and unnerving. Alice felt the familiar flutter in her chest at the sight of him, but it was mixed with a desperate fear. "Why?" he demanded, the word a bitter echo of her own heart’s plea. "B-Because I love you," she fought to hold back her tears. "I love you, Jasper. I still want to be your wife, even if you don’t feel the same." His exasperation erupted. "Alice White! I’ve had enough! Every moment in this loveless marriage has been a torment!" He threw his hands up in frustration. "You knew what you were getting into when we married. I was at odds with Grandpa, and I had feelings for someone else. Now that Lia is returning from Mosgravia, it’s time you relinquish your title as Mrs. Beckett." As his words cut through her like icy shards, Alice’s spirit crumbled. Tears streamed down her cheeks and fell onto the divorce papers—a final farewell to a future she had longed for. Jasper’s attention turned away as his phone buzzed insistently. He answered it with an unexpected warmth that was like a slap across her wounded heart. “Lia, have you boarded the plane?” he asked, his tone completely transforming. “I’m already at Solana City airport!” Lia's exuberance leaped through the phone, contrasting sharply with Alice's despair. “What? I thought you were flying tonight!” He sounded exhilarated. “I wanted to surprise you!” “Lia, wait for me. I’ll come right now!” With that, he brushed past Alice, urgency fueling his steps, leaving her in a suffocating silence. Once the door clicked shut behind him, the air felt oppressive. Alice had been holding onto a love for Jasper for a decade, investing herself in a marriage that never blossomed the way she had hoped. Now, as he raced to embrace his first love, she felt the last vestiges of her heart tearing away. She took a deep breath, shaking as the ink from his name on the divorce papers blurred beneath her tears. Later that evening, Jasper entered Seaview Manor with Liana Gardner nestled in his arms. They were a stunning couple, drawing the admiring gazes of those around them, while Alice remained isolated in the dining room, preparing dinner with trembling hands. “Jasper,” Liana said, glancing nervously at him, “you haven’t divorced Alice yet. Shouldn’t we take it slow? Alice might not react well.” “She won’t,” Jasper dismissed her concern sharply. “I don’t love Alice. We’re merely in a contractual arrangement. She knows her role.” All eyes turned to Liana, showering her with attention and concern, while Alice labored alone, her heart throbbing in rhythm with the silence engulfing her. Through the noise, Jasper caught a glimpse of Alice, her figure small against the backdrop of their home. A self-satisfied smirk crept across his face. "Look at her, still playing the devoted wife," he thought. "As if there's a chance for reconciliation. Absurd." Suddenly, the butler rushed in, breathless and flustered. "Mr. Beckett! Mr. Beckett! Madam Alice, she—she’s gone!" "Gone? When did she leave?" Jasper barked, irritation flashing in his eyes. “Just a moment ago. She didn’t take anything with her. After taking off her apron, she slipped out the back and got into a black car.” Jasper’s pace quickened as he stormed to the bedroom. Everything was untouched, save for the signed divorce agreement resting ominously on the bedside table, evidence of a broken promise. He approached the window just in time to see a Rolls-Royce disappear into the night, its headlights fading into the darkness. “So, she wasn’t willing to leave just hours ago, and now she vanishes with a stranger,” he muttered in disbelief, annoyance prickling at the back of his mind. He picked up his phone, his voice low and commanding, “Find out who owns the car with the plate A9999.” “Yes, Mr. Beckett.” In less than ten minutes, his secretary called back, "Mr. Beckett, we traced it. The car belongs to the president of KS Group." Confusion twisted in his gut. Alice? The village girl who had nothing—how could she possibly know the president of a powerful corporation? Anger surged. "Did you really divorce Alice today?" the secretary prodded, hesitating. "And why shouldn't I? What’s the problem with the timing?" Jasper’s tone grew sharp, feeling cornered. “U-Um, it’s her birthday today,” the secretary stammered, the weight of the revelation hitting harder than Jasper expected. His breath caught. Surrounded by pomp and laughter, Alice was silently shedding her past, transformed into a mere shadow of her former self. Meanwhile, in the back seat of Jonah Taylor’s Rolls-Royce, Alice sat quietly, her heart heavy, as he gently took her hand in a comforting squeeze. "When Silas heard you were coming back, he prepared a grand fireworks display to welcome you!" Jonah exclaimed brightly, but Alice could only sigh. "I'm not in the mood for fireworks," she murmured, leaning against her brother, tears pooling in her eyes once more. Then she noticed the last message on her phone, a bitter reminder from Liana. "What did I tell you? You’ll have to give me back my position after you stole it from me. Jasper is mine. Don’t even dream about getting him back!" A wry smile crossed Alice's face, tears spilling free. “Jonah, it’s my birthday,” she finally whispered, the weight of that truth crashing over her like a wave. “I know,” he said, his voice thick with sympathy. “That bastard deserves a lightning strike for choosing today to do this.” “That’s why it’s so hard to bear,” she confessed, feeling the venom of his betrayal poison her heart. “Jasper killed Alice White today.” With newfound resolve, Alice wiped her tears, her spirit igniting with the flames of liberation. "I finally get to be free. If I ever go back to that life, I’d be better off dead."