The Winter He Lost Her

Nick Horden was the kind of man everyone in New York’s elite circles whispered about. He was rich, reckless, and a little unhinged. But for all his chaos, he only ever cared about one person: Lisa Winters, a girl with nothing to her name, the half-starved homeless girl he once pulled off the streets. From fifteen to twenty-five, he gave her everything. His love, his devotion, and every bit of tenderness a man like him was capable of. Then one day, another woman appeared. Nick said she was different. She had been through hell, fought her way back, and refused to break. And little by little, she took Lisa’s place… Chapter 1 Nick Horden was the kind of man everyone in New York’s elite circles whispered about. He was rich, reckless, and a little unhinged. But for all his chaos, he only ever cared about one person: Lisa Winters, a girl with nothing to her name, the half-starved homeless girl he once pulled off the streets. From fifteen to twenty-five, he gave her his whole heart. He spoiled her, protected her, and made her the center of his world. Lisa loved the violin, so Nick dropped everything to travel with her overseas to study music. Even when he lost billions in the stock market because of it, he didn’t care. He expressed his love in grand gestures, sending fleets of luxury cars filled with gifts to her door and livestreaming his marriage proposal every day for 999 days straight. When his powerful family refused to accept her, he endured three days of brutal punishment to break through their rules of class and bloodline. In the end, he gave her a wedding that looked like something out of a fairy tale and made her the envy of the entire city. Now, that same man who once adored her was forcing her to kneel in the snow, dressed in nothing but a thin nightgown. All because he thought she had driven away his new lover, a woman he had known for only six months. “Baby, tell me,” Nick said from where he sat across from her, twirling a glass of whiskey in his hand. “What did you say to Susie?” His tone was soft, almost sweet, but his eyes were colder than the snow outside. It sounded less like an accusation and more like casual small talk. Lisa’s body was numb from the cold. Her teeth chattered as she spoke. “Nick, I’ve never even met Susie Sanders.” Nick gave a faint smile. “Baby, that’s not true.” He lifted his hand, and a bodyguard stepped forward with a phone. Nick pressed play. On the screen, Lisa’s younger brother lay in a hospital bed. Someone had pulled the breathing tube from his mouth. His face was turning purple, his body jerking in pain. “Nick, please,” Lisa cried, grabbing his legs. “He’s all I have left. Don’t hurt him. Please believe me. I didn’t say anything. I don’t know where she is.” Nick leaned forward and wiped her tears with his thumb. “I told you, Susie is important to me too.” His voice stayed calm and almost affectionate. “Be good. You have fifty seconds. In his condition, he won’t last more than two minutes without oxygen.” He sat back, tapping the phone screen lightly as if counting down. Lisa trembled. It felt like something heavy had slammed into her chest. He had told her before that Susie mattered, but she never really believed him. Not after everything he had done for her. Now she saw how foolish she’d been to think she couldn’t be replaced. She had only seen Susie once, at a charity auction. Susie had been working as an event hostess. When Lisa walked toward the lounge, Susie stopped her and lifted her chin slightly. “Mrs. Horden, I told you, I don’t like your husband. He’s already made my life difficult enough.” That was the moment Lisa finally understood. The “interesting little kitten” Nick had been talking about all this time was Susie Sanders. Susie was born with a weak left eye but had an incredible gift for painting. With her story of overcoming disability and her quiet brilliance, she became an online sensation. But instead of cashing in on her fame through sponsored livestreams like other influencers, she chose to live simply, working part-time and paying her way through school. She waited tables at fancy events, moving between crowds of wealthy guests who never really saw her. She was proud, confident, and radiant. And that confidence caught Nick Horden’s attention the moment he saw her. The more Susie pushed him away, the more obsessed Nick became. His pursuit of her turned into a public spectacle, something everyone in the city talked about. Lisa confronted him the same day she found out. He didn’t deny it. Instead, he pulled her into his arms and said lightly, “It’s just a game. My friends have all done this kind of thing. I just want to see how much it would take to win her over. Don’t worry, baby. You’re the only one I’ll ever love.” Lisa asked quietly, “And if I don’t accept this?” Nick ran his fingers through her hair, his eyes soft as he said, “Be good, baby. You’ll always be Mrs. Horden.” Lisa fell silent. She knew she had no power to say no. She told herself to wait, to believe that Nick would lose interest soon enough. But what she got instead were headlines about the two of them dating. Susie hadn’t taken a single cent from him. She only agreed to be with him under one condition—that they would date like a normal couple. Nick agreed without hesitation. He joined her livestreams as she painted, visited art exhibits with her, took her to amusement parks, and ate greasy street food at roadside stands. He brought her to events, held her hand in public, and posted photos of them together like an ordinary boyfriend showing off the girl he adored. Every post was a knife to Lisa’s heart. She cried, she begged, she even asked for a divorce. Nick never took her seriously. He only said lazily, “Don’t cry, baby. I like it when you behave.” Lisa tried to convince herself to stay calm. She forced herself to believe that he would get bored eventually and come home. But now, Susie had suddenly blocked him and disappeared after mentioning that she had met with Lisa. Lisa knew it was a provocation. She hadn’t done anything wrong, but Nick didn’t believe her. “Baby,” he said, his voice soft as silk, “still not talking? Your brother doesn’t have much time left. Ten… nine… eight…” He leaned closer. His breath was warm against her ear, but it made her shiver even more. “I’ll tell you,” she gasped, her voice breaking. “I told her to stay away from you. To stop bothering you.” The words came out strangled, each one cutting her from the inside. For the first time, she lied to him. Her vision blurred as tears filled her eyes. Her hands slipped from his arm until they hung limply by her sides. Nick looked at her, broken and trembling. He brushed her cold cheek and said softly, “Good girl. Don’t act on your own again. Think about your brother next time.” Lisa nodded mechanically. The warmth in her chest had turned to something hollow and sharp. Her body swayed, the world spinning around her. Just before she collapsed, she felt a sudden warmth spreading between her legs… Just then, one of Nick’s men rushed into the room, panting as he spoke. They had found Susie. She was at a community center, teaching a group of disabled children how to paint. The man hesitated before adding, “But Mrs. Horden told her not to see you again, sir. She said it’d be better if you stayed away.” Nick’s expression brightened instantly. He ignored the last part completely. Without a second thought, he ordered his team to push Susie’s name to the top of the trending searches online, flooding social media with praise about her kindness and beauty. As for Lisa, who was still lying on the ground, he didn’t spare her a single glance. “Nick… my stomach hurts…” she gasped, reaching out toward his back. But he was already walking away, his figure fading into the snowy distance until she could no longer see him. Once inside the car, Nick made a call. “Lock her in the meditation room,” he told the butler. “She needs time to reflect.” The butler looked at Lisa’s collapsed body in the snow, a pool of red spreading beneath her. “Sir, Mrs. Horden seems to be miscarrying. She’s losing a lot of blood.” Nick’s face darkened instantly. His voice turned cold. “She was pregnant? How disobedient. That child was never supposed to exist.” The butler let out a quiet sigh. He didn’t dare argue. Following orders, he had Lisa carried to the meditation room. The pain eventually jolted her awake. It felt as if her body was being torn apart from the inside. She could feel life slipping away. She dragged herself to the door and banged on it with all her strength, her voice hoarse and desperate. “Please, let me out! Take me to the hospital! Save my baby!” “Nick, please… save our baby!” Her cries echoed in the empty hall. After what felt like forever, the butler’s voice came from the other side of the door. “Mrs. Horden, this child isn’t part of Mr. Horden’s plans. Without his permission, no one can take you to the hospital. You should calm down and stay here to reflect.” Lisa felt her strength drain away. She sank to the floor, trembling. Nick’s cold indifference replayed in her mind, breaking her completely. All she had ever wanted was a child, one that belonged to the two of them. But because he didn’t want it, she had no right to carry it. Now, for the sake of another woman, he had locked her away, ignoring her pain and her cries for help. Lisa clutched her stomach, wanting to cry but unable to make a sound. The pain came in waves, sharp and unbearable. Her vision blurred, her body weak. Just before she passed out, she whispered faintly, “Nick Horden, the baby’s gone… and I don’t want you anymore.” Chapter 2 When Lisa finally woke up, she was already in the hospital. Her hands trembled as she touched her flat stomach. A wave of grief washed over her. The baby was gone. And she knew, deep down, that her marriage to Nick had ended too. The door opened. She turned her head and saw Nick walk in, his fingers tightly interlaced with Susie’s. Susie’s expression was icy, her eyes slightly red. She glared at Lisa with barely contained anger. “Mrs. Horden, I’ve already stayed away like you wanted. Why did you send people to threaten my parents? Can’t you control your husband, so you take it out on us instead?” Lisa froze. She didn’t even understand what was happening. Her first instinct was to look at Nick. But his gaze never once met hers. It rested fully on Susie, soft and admiring, as if she were something precious. Lisa’s heart clenched. He used to look at her that way too, with warmth and tenderness that made her believe she was his whole world. She could still hear his voice saying, “My dear wife, you’re the best. No one else compares to you.” Now, he couldn’t even spare her a glance. A bitter smile tugged at her lips. She ignored Susie and asked quietly, “Nick, why didn’t you save our baby?” “You should be asking yourself why you got pregnant without my permission,” he said coolly, his voice sharp enough to cut through the air. “So in this marriage, I don’t even have the right to want a child?” she asked, already knowing the answer. Nick didn’t hesitate. “That’s right.” His tone carried the authority of a man who expected absolute obedience. Tears blurred Lisa’s vision. Her chest felt heavy, her heart breaking all over again. “I didn’t come here to talk about your baby,” Susie interrupted, crossing her arms. “Mr. Horden, you promised to handle this. I want an explanation.” Nick gently patted her back to calm her, then turned to Lisa with a cold, chastising look. “Lisa, you pushed Susie away and threatened her parents. You owe her an apology.” Lisa’s pulse quickened. “I didn’t do it. I won’t apologize.” Nick’s eyes darkened. “Still causing trouble?” “I really didn’t,” she insisted, shaking her head. His expression turned even colder. Without another word, he waved toward the door. Two bodyguards stepped inside. “Are you going to apologize yourself,” he asked, “or should they help you?” Lisa’s heart stopped. She met his eyes, searching for even a trace of the man she once loved. There was none. He turned slightly. “Help her,” he said flatly. Cold terror ran through her. She had lost. The bodyguards dragged her out of bed and forced her to bow her head. Her voice was hoarse and shaking. “I’m sorry.” When it was over, she bit down on her lip until she tasted blood. Nick looked at Susie, his tone suddenly soft again. “Will you accept her apology?” Susie nodded but lifted her chin, her expression firm. “Mr. Horden, thank you for everything, but this is over. My parents would never let me be someone’s mistress, and I won’t let them suffer because of me.” Nick’s lips curved faintly. “That’s easy to fix. Then you won’t be the mistress.” He pulled her closer into his arms, took out his phone, and called his lawyer. “Draw up the divorce papers. Give Lisa one hundred million.” Lisa stared at him in disbelief, her heart feeling like it was being torn apart piece by piece. The man who had once risked his life just to marry her was now divorcing her for his mistress. Nick tilted Susie’s chin up possessively. “Once the divorce is finalized, you’ll be my only girlfriend.” Susie wrapped her arms around him, her voice sweet and steady. “Then I’ll give you one chance. If you ever betray me, I’ll walk away without hesitation.” As she said it, she glanced at Lisa from over Nick’s shoulder, a smug smirk flickering across her face. Nick smiled softly, his eyes full of affection for the woman in his arms. Hand in hand, they left the room together, leaving Lisa sitting alone on the floor. She watched them go and let out a quiet laugh. It started small, then grew until tears blurred her vision. She was laughing and crying all at once, the sound hollow and painful. Not long after, Nick’s lawyer arrived with a folder in hand. “Mrs. Horden,” he said politely, “Mr. Horden asked me to have you sign the divorce papers. He also wanted me to tell you that this isn’t real. He says once he’s had enough fun, he’ll come back. You two will remarry and start over.” He placed a black card and an envelope on the table. “There’s a hundred million in this account. Your wedding anniversary is in two weeks. Mr. Horden hopes you’ll take a short trip after that, give him some private space. But don’t worry, he said he’ll remarry you once you return.” Lisa stared blankly at the papers. Did Nick really think she couldn’t live without him? He was wrong. She once couldn’t leave because she loved him. But now, she no longer wanted to. Without a moment of hesitation, Lisa signed the divorce papers. Then she took the card and the plane ticket, ready to walk away for good. Chapter 3 Over the next few days, Nick paraded Susie through every high-profile event in the city. She refused designer gowns and diamond jewelry, choosing instead to wear simple dresses in soft neutral tones. Her long black hair was always either straight or tied up in a clean ponytail, and she never wore makeup. In a world obsessed with glamour, she became the picture of effortless purity. Nick adored her publicly, calling her unique and irreplaceable. Soon, socialites and heiresses began copying her understated style, and designers started creating new collections inspired by her image. To treat Susie’s weak eyesight, Nick spent tens of millions flying in the best specialists from around the world. The doctors couldn’t reverse her condition, but they found ways to keep it from worsening. When they told him there was no cure, Nick lost his temper so badly he nearly injured his own eyes, claiming he wanted to “share her pain.” Meanwhile, Lisa lay alone in her hospital bed, scrolling through her phone as endless headlines flashed across the screen. Photos of Nick and Susie smiling together, interviews filled with affection and praise. Each one felt like another cut to her chest. She realized then that Nick’s love wasn’t unique. Everything he had once done for her, he could just as easily do for someone else. Later that afternoon, Lisa went to visit her younger brother, who had been in a coma for three years. He had been hit by a car on his way to school. Nick had flown in a world-class medical team back then, saving the boy’s life, but only barely. Her brother never woke up. Machines and medicine were the only things keeping him alive. Lisa sat beside him and held his hand, tears stinging her eyes. “Carl,” she whispered, her voice trembling, “I’m leaving soon. But before I go, I’ll take you somewhere new.” She paused, looking at his peaceful face. “I used to think Nick was my happiness, but I was wrong.” The words poured out of her in a rush. The pain, the betrayal, the exhaustion she had been carrying for years. She stayed like that until well past lunchtime, speaking to him as if he could still hear her. When she finally stood up, she wiped her tears, gave him one last lingering look, and quietly walked out of the hospital. Lisa’s first stop was the records office, where she filed paperwork to change her and her brother’s name and start the process of moving abroad. She paid for expedited processing that would be completed within a week. Next, she went to the private villa Nick had given her — the one he used to call her sanctuary. She gathered every luxury gift he had ever showered her with, contacted an auction house, and arranged to sell them. Then she visited a small law firm to transfer the property back to Nick’s name. Finally, she returned to their old home. In the stillness of the house, she pulled out the things she had once made for him by hand. They were simple, sentimental gifts — nothing valuable — but Nick had once treasured them as if they were priceless. Now she tossed them into the fire one by one. The flames rose higher, and in the shifting glow, flashes of their past came back — his laughter, her smile, the way they had once believed their love could survive anything. But happiness, she realized, was as fragile as glass. When the fire finally burned out, so did everything they had been. At some point, tears blurred her vision. She wiped them away, turned around, and froze. Nick stood in the doorway, his expression unreadable. Susie stood beside him, cool and composed. “What are you burning?” Nick asked. Lisa hesitated, then answered quietly, “Just some things I don’t need anymore.” Nick nodded casually. “Find the emerald bracelet I gave you. Give it to Susie.” Even though she had told herself she no longer cared, her heart twisted. That bracelet had been a family heirloom, traditionally reserved for the first daughter-in-law. And now he was giving it to another woman. Her fingers trembled slightly, but she managed a calm nod. “Alright. I’ll get it.” They were divorced now. The bracelet no longer belonged to her. Susie followed Lisa upstairs. As she looked around at the rows of designer dresses and glittering jewelry, envy flashed in her eyes before she quickly hid it behind a neutral smile. Lisa retrieved a polished wooden jewelry box and handed it to her, unaware of the cold glint in Susie’s gaze. “Lisa,” Susie said with a sneer, “you’re divorced. Why are you still here? Don’t you have any self-respect?” Lisa glanced at her calmly. “You don’t need to worry about me. I’ll be gone soon.” “I don’t need your pity,” Susie snapped. “You didn’t give me anything — I earned this myself. No one will stand in my way.” Her voice hardened, her polite façade slipping away. She pulled out the bracelet, threw it to the floor, and shoved Lisa hard. “Ah—” Lisa screamed as she tumbled down the stairs, her head hitting the steps. Blood streamed down her face. Susie quickly sat down, grabbed a shard of the broken gem, and slashed her own leg. “Mr. Horden! Help! Lisa’s hurt!” The crash brought Nick running. He took one look at the scene — the blood, the shattered jewelry — and his expression darkened. But instead of rushing to Lisa, he walked straight past her and lifted Susie into his arms. His gaze landed on the blood running down Susie’s leg. “She did this to you?” Susie nodded without hesitation, her voice calm. “I know I didn’t deserve the bracelet,” she said softly. “She’d rather destroy it than give it to me. I just didn’t expect her to throw herself down the stairs to frame me.” Nick glanced briefly at Lisa, then told the staff to tend to Susie’s wound. “I’ll get you bandaged first. I’ll deal with her later.” Moments later, he ordered the guards to drag Lisa to the living room. “Baby,” Nick said coldly, looking down at her, “why do you keep disobeying me? I told you not to touch her.” Lisa forced herself upright, meeting his gaze through the blur of blood. “She pushed me,” she said, her voice shaking. Nick let out a cold laugh. “Still lying? If you won’t admit your mistake, you’ll be punished the hard way.” “Nick, please—check the security cameras,” she pleaded, panic rising. “There’s no need,” he said flatly. “Susie wouldn’t lie to me. You’ve been too jealous lately. It’s tiresome.” He waved his hand, and the butler appeared, holding a leather whip. Lisa trembled. His favoritism had turned into cruelty she could no longer comprehend. The first strike ripped through her skin, and blood soaked her back. She bit her lip to keep from screaming as tears streamed down her face. Under Nick’s cold stare, she stopped begging. She simply closed her eyes and took the pain in silence. She remembered the man he used to be — the one who had endured brutal beatings from his own family just to marry her. Three hundred lashes, three sleepless nights, yet he never gave up. Even when unconscious, he had whispered her name, promising that she was the only one he would ever love. He had once said she meant more to him than his own life, that he would never let her suffer, that the world would know she was his wife. And now, that same man was standing over her, punishing her for something she hadn’t done — all because of another woman. Nick Horden, she thought bitterly through the pain, was this really just a game to you? Chapter 4 When Lisa woke up, a full day had passed. The wounds on her back had been treated, and the pain had mostly faded. Nick sat beside her, lazily smoking a cigarette. Through the haze of smoke, his cold voice broke the silence. “Susie’s upset. You need to make it up to her.” Lisa stared at him, her face blank. “What exactly do you mean, Mr. Horden?” The title made his expression darken. He crushed out his cigarette, then brushed her lips with his ash-stained fingers. “Don’t be like that, baby. Don’t stay mad at me.” His eyes glinted with something dangerous. Lisa’s heart gave a sharp jolt. For a moment, she remembered what Nick’s grandfather had once told her. ‘Nick only loves people who obey. If you insist on staying by his side, be prepared to act like an obedient pet for the rest of your life.’ Back then, she hadn’t understood. She’d thought his grandfather was only trying to drive them apart. Now she finally knew what he meant. Nick’s love was obsessive, controlling, and selfish. He was the one in power, and she existed only as his reflection. She lowered her gaze, hiding the fear in her eyes, and nodded obediently. “I understand.” “Good girl,” Nick said, satisfied. “Prepare a solo piece. Susie wants to hear you play the violin tonight.” He stroked her hair like she was a child, then carefully applied ointment to her back himself. His touch was cold, almost clinical, and made her skin crawl. That night, Lisa put on a long-sleeved champagne-colored gown covered in crystals and diamond jewelry. The chauffeur drove her to the hotel where the banquet was being held. The event took place at one of the Horden Group’s most prestigious hotels. Nearly everyone from New York’s high society was there. Most of the women wore simple pastel dresses and light, natural makeup. In contrast, Lisa’s glamorous outfit made her stand out, and not in a good way. As soon as she walked in, whispers spread across the room. Disdainful. Pitying. Mocking. “Trying to steal the spotlight? Once a homeless, always a homeless. She looks ridiculous.” “She’s just desperate for attention now that Nick’s done with her.” “She’s not half the woman Susie is. What a joke.” Each word hit her like a blade. She remembered another banquet years ago when someone had insulted her for being a former homeless, and Nick had responded by having the man’s mouth sewn shut. He had warned everyone that anyone who dared speak against her would disappear from the city overnight. Now, with Nick no longer protecting her, those same people spoke freely, sneering without restraint. The gossip finally stopped when Nick and Susie arrived. Lisa followed the crowd’s gaze. Susie was dressed in a pale satin slip dress, her long hair tied high in a ponytail. She carried herself with confidence, her chin slightly lifted. In that moment, Lisa understood why Nick was drawn to her. Susie reminded him of who Lisa used to be, bright, carefree, and full of life. When she had first married into the Horden family, she had been like that too, radiant and bold, never ashamed of her past. But Nick had told her he didn’t like women who were too loud or too free-spirited. After they married, he had molded her into someone quiet, obedient, and restrained. Now she realized, painfully, that he had only grown tired of the version of her he had created and fallen in love with the shadow of who she used to be. Lisa’s expression dimmed, a quiet heaviness settling in her chest. The sight of everyone fawning over Susie made her stomach twist. Without another word, she turned to leave. “Mr. Horden, didn’t you say you had something prepared for me?” Susie’s sharp, confident voice rang out behind her. Lisa froze mid-step. Around them, the crowd exchanged uneasy glances, watching Nick’s face closely. No one ever dared to speak to him that way. Even when Lisa had been his favorite, she had always been careful, gentle, and obedient in his presence. But now, Nick didn’t seem the least bit bothered. Instead, a faint smile tugged at his lips as he allowed Susie’s arrogance to go unchecked. “Yes,” he said casually. Pulling Susie into his arm, he gestured for someone to approach. A waiter came forward, carrying a violin. Lisa turned around as the instrument was placed in her hands. Under dozens of watching eyes, she gripped it tightly. Her gaze drifted through the crowd until it landed on Nick, and something inside her went cold. She had once loved playing the violin and dreamed of joining an orchestra. But Nick had forbidden her from performing for anyone else, claiming her music belonged to him alone. Now, as she looked at the man who had stolen her freedom and her heart, she gave a bitter smile. So his rules only lasted until Susie came along. Lisa took a deep breath and began to play Adagio in G minor. The soft, aching melody filled the room, each note trembling with grief. It sounded like heartbreak given form. The song was her farewell. From that moment on, she decided she would never love Nick Horden again. Nick frowned slightly as he watched her. The sadness surrounding her made something inside him twist with irritation and unease. “Enough,” Susie said suddenly, her tone impatient. She stood up, cutting off the music. “This is too depressing. You’re the one who filed for divorce, not me. Stop acting like the victim.” Her words were sharp and calculated, disguised as careless honesty. Lisa met her eyes briefly but didn’t respond. She lowered her gaze in silence. Susie’s smirk faltered. Her jab had landed on air, leaving her frustrated. She turned toward Nick, her voice trembling with feigned hurt. “Mr. Horden, did you bring her here just to humiliate me?” The room fell silent. Everyone was waiting, holding their breath. Nick Horden was not a man who tolerated disrespect especially not in public. Chapter 5 A moment later, Nick let out a soft laugh. He touched Susie’s cheek and said gently, “Don’t be upset. I’ll give you the first dance tonight.” Susie turned her face away, pretending to be annoyed, but she still took his hand and followed him into the ballroom. Lisa lifted her eyes and watched them step onto the dance floor together. To her surprise, she felt strangely calm. She packed up her violin and quietly turned to leave. But she hadn’t taken more than a few steps before several women blocked her way. Before she could speak, they dragged her toward a quiet corner. “Well, if it isn’t Mrs. Horden. Oh wait,” one of them sneered, “you’re not that anymore, are you? Do you remember my hand?” She raised her left arm. Her wrist ended in a stump. “All I did was brush against you once, and Nick had my hand cut off.” Another woman stepped forward and ripped off her mask. One side of her face was disfigured, the skin scarred and pale. “And me. I said you weren’t that pretty, and your man poured acid on my face.” A third woman glared at her with hatred. “My company went bankrupt because I said you used to be a beggar.” Lisa’s chest tightened. She knew exactly who had done these things. Nick had destroyed them to protect her. His love had been obsessive, ruthless. Now that he no longer cared for her, she was the one paying the price for his cruelty. “What do you want from me?” she asked, trying to pull away. One of the women grabbed her hair and slapped her hard across the face. “We’re going to make you look just like us. Let’s see if you still think you’re good enough for Nick Horden then.” “Miss Sanders said whoever makes you suffer the most will get her favor with him,” another hissed. “Susie Sanders?” Lisa’s eyes widened. In that instant of shock, they pinned her down to the floor. Rough hands gripped her face. They slapped her again and again, then pulled out a handful of long needles. One woman held her hands down while another drove the needles deep beneath her fingernails. Lisa screamed in agony, the sound muffled as someone clamped a hand over her mouth. The pain shot straight through her nerves, tears spilling down her face as her body trembled violently. While they were switching places, she gathered what little strength she had left, shoved one of them away, and stumbled to her feet. She ran blindly toward the exit, but her heel caught on the carpet. She fell forward, crashing into a towering champagne display. The glasses shattered with a deafening crash, and the entire room went silent. Red wine and blood mixed on her dress as she lay among the shards. “Miss Winters, is this some kind of pity act?” Susie’s mocking voice cut through the murmurs as she walked over. “Susie Sanders, you sent them,” Lisa hissed through clenched teeth. “Me?” Susie smiled faintly, looping her arm through Nick’s. “Why would I bother? I have a career and a man who loves me. What do you have that’s worth destroying?” Lisa froze. Every part of her life—her success, her comfort, even her pride—had once come from Nick. Without him, she truly had nothing. She gave a weak laugh, her eyes filling with tears. “You’re right,” she whispered. “I have nothing left.” The next second, one of the women lunged forward and shoved Lisa back onto the shattered glass. Nick frowned slightly but didn’t move. Lisa gasped, her whole body trembling as pain shot through her. “Don’t pity her,” one of the women shouted. “She tried to bribe us to hurt Miss Sanders, and when we refused, she pulled this stunt to make it look like Susie was behind it!” The women who had attacked her stepped out one after another, accusing her of staging everything to frame Susie. “I didn’t,” Lisa said, her voice breaking, but no one believed her. She had become the target of every hateful gaze in the room. “You vile woman,” someone hissed, throwing a glass of wine at her. “Nick doesn’t want her anymore. She’s just a worthless beggar trying to act important.” “Go crawl back to the gutter where you came from. You’re nothing but a bitter, jealous ex-wife trying to ruin their happiness.” The insults came harder, louder, followed by more wine glasses smashing near her feet. Everyone knew by now that Nick no longer cared about her. Without his protection, they could finally unleash their resentment. Every person who had once feared him now took revenge on her instead. Lisa’s gaze drifted across the sea of angry, indifferent faces until it landed on Nick. He sat there calmly, his eyes cold and distant. There was no sympathy in them—only faint irritation, as if she were an inconvenience, as if her pain were nothing more than another disruption to his evening. In that moment, the pain in her body faded beneath something worse. Her heart felt like it was being ripped apart. His silence was the final betrayal. He had sworn that Susie was just a fling, but here he was, letting her and everyone else destroy her piece by piece. Everyone around her was shouting, but Lisa could only see him. The light in her eyes dimmed until there was nothing left—just emptiness. Suddenly, it all felt pointless. The anger, the explanations, the humiliation. None of it mattered anymore. She no longer wanted to be the proof of Nick and Susie’s love, no longer wanted to be part of this cruel story. Bracing herself against the pain, she pushed herself to her feet. Nick didn’t stop her. She began to walk toward the door, limping with every step. The glass shards beneath her heels cut deeper with each movement, but she didn’t slow down. She just kept walking—away from the ballroom, away from Nick Horden. Chapter 6 Lisa went back to the hospital and spent three hours having every shard of glass removed from her body. After a few days of rest she was discharged, but she still had things to take care of. She withdrew cash from the bank and contacted a tiny, little-known rehab clinic out in the country. She offered to fund repairs and buy a new ventilator if they would take her brother and treat him in strict confidence. The director agreed. Once she and her brother had new legal identities, they could sign the transfer papers. Lisa knew she could not move him on her own, but she made sure he would never run out of money. She went back to the hospital to tell him the plan. In the corridor outside his room she saw a caregiver struggling with a middle-aged couple. The woman stood with her back to the door, blocking it. “Miss Winters, you finally came,” the caregiver cried. “These people are trying to take Mr, Winters’s machine.” Lisa pushed through and demanded to know what they thought they were doing. “This is a hospital. Who gave you the right to come in here?” The woman sneered and shoved Lisa away. “Who do you think you are? Everyone knows the Horden family threw you out. I had my son wait for a ventilator. My son needs that machine to live.” Lisa stumbled and nearly fell. She looked up and met Susie’s triumphant gaze. “You look pathetic,” Susie called, folding her arms. “You cannot stop my parents. That ventilator is mine.” “Help them,” Susie ordered. Her hand went to Nick’s guard. The men moved in and began unhooking the tubes and lines from Lisa’s brother. “No, stop, he will die,” Lisa shouted. She pushed through and threw herself between them and her brother, arms spread to shield him. “Get away. Don’t touch him.” Susie’s mother suddenly dropped to the floor, clutching her chest and crying out. Susie rushed over, face full of concern, then turned angrily to Lisa. “Why did you push my mother?” she accused. “Mr. Horden sent us to move the equipment. If you have a problem, take it out on me not on my parents.” “My chest hurts,” Susie’s mother moaned, holding her hand to her sternum. Nick walked in at that moment and saw the commotion. He glanced at Susie. “What’s going on?” he asked, a note of annoyance in his voice. Susie lowered her eyes and stepped back. “We do not need that machine after all,” she said, sounding regretful. “My brother’s injury is not that bad. We can manage without it.” “Miss Winters has been aggressive. She pushed my mother twice,” Susie’s mother cried. “We cannot accept her behavior.” Nick’s face went cold as everything clicked into place. He looked at his guards. “You couldn’t even hold one woman?” he asked, voice flat. Some of the men had hesitated earlier and held back from hurting Lisa. Now, seeing Nick displeased, one of them grabbed her arm and dragged her aside. “Nick, stop them, please!” Lisa screamed as the guards yanked the ventilator from her brother’s bedside. Her voice broke, raw with desperation. “Nick, tell them to leave. Don’t touch him! Without that machine, he’ll die. Please!” Nick’s face darkened. Her shouting grated on him. To him, she looked wild, hysterical—nothing like the composed wife he had once trained her to be. “Lisa,” he said coldly, “you’re being disobedient again. Is this how you abuse the power I gave you? Maybe I haven’t disciplined you enough.” The words hit her like a slap. She froze, trembling, unable to form a single sound as she watched Nick’s men carry the ventilator out of the room. She stumbled to the floor but pushed herself up immediately, rushing to her brother’s side. His face had turned purple from lack of oxygen. She hit the emergency call button again and again, but no one came. Then a horrifying thought struck her—Nick had ordered the doctors not to respond. “Doctor! Please, help!” she cried. “Someone, please! I’ll pay… anything! Just save my brother!” Her voice echoed down the empty hallway. No one answered. The elevator wouldn’t move, frozen on the first floor. She ran for the stairwell, tripping, tumbling down several steps, but she didn’t stop. She ran down one floor after another. Five in total before she finally found someone. By the time she brought a doctor back, it was too late. Her brother was gone. Lisa stood beside his bed, staring blankly at his lifeless face. It felt as though her soul had been ripped from her body. Her lips moved, but no sound came out. She finally understood that when pain reaches its limit, even tears won’t fall. She regretted everything. She regretted ever going home with Nick. And most of all, she regretted ever loving him. Chapter 7 Lisa gently pulled the white sheet over her brother’s body. Only then did she notice her shoes were gone. Her bare feet were smeared with dried blood and dirt. She sank to the floor, trying to wipe them clean with tissues, but the more she wiped, the worse it looked. The tears came without warning. Her chest tightened, and she clawed at her clothes, trying to breathe, but no sound came out. She cried in silence until there was nothing left. After a long time, she got up, went home, showered, and changed into clean clothes. She put on a little makeup. She wanted to send her brother off properly. With the death certificate in hand, she took him to the crematorium. She didn’t speak once during the entire process, moving like an empty shell. When she saw the urn, her eyes reddened, but a faint smile appeared on her face. Maybe this was better, she thought. He didn’t have to suffer anymore, and now she had nothing left to hold her here. She bought a small but beautiful plot of land and built a cenotaph for him, afraid Nick might suspect something or that her brother’s spirit would have nowhere to rest. She spent a full day and night sitting by the grave, holding the urn in her arms, talking softly about their childhood and all the things she had never said. When dawn came, Lisa left the cemetery with the urn in her arms. Back at the house, she heard muffled, breathless sounds from inside. Her hand froze on the doorknob. After a few seconds, she entered the code and walked in. The living room was a mess—clothes scattered everywhere, her favorite silk nightgown torn and hanging from the Christmas tree, empty condom boxes tossed in the fruit bowl she’d bought from Italy. The air was thick with sweat and perfume. Susie sat in Nick’s lap, her body covered in his kisses, moaning his name in a voice that cut through the silence. “Oh, Nick… that feels so good.” Lisa didn’t look at them. She walked past and went upstairs. Her heart was already dead; she couldn’t even feel the pain anymore. The sounds downstairs went on and on. Nick seemed tireless, and Susie’s cries blurred between pleasure and pleading. After what felt like forever, the bedroom door opened. Nick stepped in, freshly showered, his shirt hiding the marks on his neck. The faint scent of soap clung to him. The memory of what she had just seen made Lisa’s stomach twist. She turned away, covering her mouth as she retched. Nick’s eyes went cold. “You think I’m disgusting?” Lisa didn’t answer, but her expression said everything. He grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him. When she tried to pull away, he tightened his grip, pressing his lips against hers until she couldn’t move. “I know you’re upset,” he murmured. “I’ll make it up to you when I’m done. The divorce isn’t real. We’ll get married again. But if you keep acting out, your brother will pay for it.” Her heart stopped for a second. Her brother was already gone. Would he desecrate the ashes next? But Nick didn’t know. And now, she had no weakness left. “Nick,” she said quietly, her voice trembling, “I don’t want any marriage or promises. Just let me go. I can’t take this anymore.” His expression darkened. He brushed his thumb over the red marks on her cheek. “Don’t talk like that. Where would you even go without me? You belong here. Be good, stop upsetting me.” “You can’t live without me, and I won’t let you leave. I told you—Susie’s just a plaything. I’ll come back to you eventually. You’ll always be mine.” Listening to his twisted version of love, Lisa suddenly remembered something she’d once witnessed. Years ago, Nick had locked a man in his basement for crossing him. The man had a fear of snakes, so Nick filled the room with them until the man’s screams stopped until he fainted from terror. That was who he truly was. Obsessive. Cruel. The kind of man who would never let go once he decided you were his. Her whole body went cold. She lowered her eyes and lied to him for the second time. “You’re right,” she whispered. “I can’t live without you. I’ll behave from now on.” Nick finally looked satisfied. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he leaned down and pressed a kiss against hers. “Get some rest, sweetheart. You’ve been looking half-dead these past few days, and it’s been getting on my nerves. Our anniversary’s coming up soon, and I don’t want to see you looking like this again.” Lisa forced a small smile. “Alright.” He had been in her room too long, and Susie’s voice soon came from the hallway, sharp with irritation. “Mr. Horden, are we still going to the art exhibit or not?” Nick’s smile deepened. He tucked the blanket around Lisa, turned, and walked out, his arm sliding around Susie as they left together. Not long after, Lisa’s phone rang. It was the records office calling to say her paperwork had finally gone through. Her old identity had been officially erased. She packed lightly, taking only what she needed, then clutched her brother’s urn and walked out of the villa without looking back. She finalized her new identity and visa, opened a new bank account, and booked a one-way ticket to Russia. When the plane lifted off, a wave of relief washed over her, lighter than she’d felt in years. Holding her brother’s urn close, Lisa looked out the window at the city that had once imprisoned her. Her eyes filled with tears, but this time they carried no pain, only release. From this moment on, she was no longer Nick Horden’s possession. She had her own life now. She was finally free.