The Heiress Married Her Ex-husband's Rival

AYAH'S POV

I secretly took the divorce papers to my room. So, he was planning to leave me? Don't worry. I'll make it happen. After thinking carefully, I signed them. Tomorrow, I would take them to court. I placed the papers inside the safe and hid the key beneath the carpet. When I opened the door to leave my room, I was startled to see Ethan standing there, waiting.

"It's late. Why aren't you sleeping? Come to bed with me," he commanded. Not wanting to argue, I went to our bed-but sleep wouldn't come.

"Ayah, you should apologize to Mia. She lost her baby because of you. That's serious," he continued. If I had known he would just annoy me, I wouldn't have come. I didn't answer. I pretended to be asleep. If he knew I was carrying his baby when he chose to save her... would anything have been different? I laughed bitterly at the thought.

He didn't apologize. He didn't ask. Why was I still hoping for that? He was the one who caused our baby's death.

"I know you did it out of jealousy," he said calmly. "But I hope you realize your mistake. Mia is out of your league. She's rich, famous, beautiful, talented, gentle, sweet, and knows how to captivate everyone-even in bed. And you... you're just a housewife with no assets of your own. You only have my money. We had a baby in one try, while you struggled all these years. If you had accepted that the baby was mine too, we could have been happy. Even though it wasn't yours, it was still mine. I bet Mia wouldn't mind if we raised the baby together. You want a child, don't you?"

"Did you bring me to bed just to insult me?" I snapped. He was startled, thinking I was asleep.

"No, Ayah. I'm just being honest."

This is the problem with me. I never fight back. I hardly recognize myself anymore. If this had been ten years ago, I would never allow anyone to bully me. I stood up and grabbed my pillow.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"I'll sleep in my room," I said coldly, leaving without waiting for his response. I went to my bedroom and sat in front of the mirror, feeling numb and defeated.

Maybe I should just escape it all. All my dreams... wasted. I wrote letters to my family, friends, Ethan, Bryan, and even for myself, pouring my heart onto the pages.

I paused. My hands trembled. I wrapped them around my chest, trying to calm the storm inside. I wasn't going to harm myself. I just... needed to vanish, even for a moment.

A minute later, I grabbed my phone and dialed Isaac's number. Surprisingly, he answered on the second ring.

"Can we meet?" I asked.

"What's wrong? It's so late," he said.

"So what? In front of the coffee shop we used to go to," I replied and ended the call.

I grabbed my car keys, locked the bedroom door, and hid the key inside the teddy bear inside our bedroom. Ethan was asleep. I quietly went outside and froze when I saw Ethan's mother, Lady Elodia, talking to someone near the gate.

"What are you doing here, Mom?" I asked. She looked startled. "Why aren't you inside?"

"I planned to visit, but I ran into someone. Where are you going?" she asked.

I made an excuse-that I was buying food because I didn't want to eat at home. Lady Elodia, being the considerate mother-in-law she was, didn't question me and let me go. I didn't even ask why she was visiting so late because I noticed the man she was talking to. I bowed slightly and left.

While driving, I realized my phone wasn't with me. I couldn't contact Isaac. Frustrated, I tried to stop the car, pressing the brakes.

"What the hell?" I muttered.

I pressed the brakes again. Nothing. The car didn't slow down.

"Oh no..." Panic surged. I slammed the brakes again. Still nothing.

Then, bright headlights blinded me. A deafening horn blared. A truck barreled straight toward me.

Without thinking, I swerved sharply. The car spun out of control. My head slammed against the steering wheel, vision blurring.

When I came to, the car had stopped. But my heart sank.

The edge of a cliff.

The car teetered dangerously, the front wheels barely gripping the ground.

No...

I had no energy to scream. Every slight movement made the car shift, gravel tumbling into the darkness below.

Then I saw a figure approaching.

A figure.

Relief rushed through me.

"Help me..." I whispered weakly.

The person stopped behind my car. For a moment, I thought I was saved.

But instead of helping-

The figure placed both hands on the back of the car-and pushed.

Horror exploded as the car rolled forward.

The ground vanished beneath me.

The car plunged down the cliff.

The impact was violent, deafening. Metal twisted, glass shattered. My body slammed against the seat.

Then... everything went black.