A woman in a bright yellow dress, as warm as the morning sun, stepped into the luxurious hotel with a smile she couldn't hide. The color of her dress matched her hope for the day, joyful, bright, and filled with longing. Her name was Isabelle Montgomery. She had come with a small surprise for her husband, who had been out of town for a full month, tending to the family business that was going through a serious crisis.
With the spare room key she still kept, Isabelle opened the silent hotel room door. The room was dark, illuminated only by the dim light of a wall lamp. There were no signs of life inside. She glanced at her watch, it was eleven o'clock at night.
"Not back yet?" she murmured softly, a little surprised.
Isabelle set down her bag and sat on the edge of the bed, trying to brush away the creeping disappointment. Her eyes scanned the room, searching for a trace of her husband. But what caught her attention was something else, a red velvet box, casually placed on the bedside table.
She stood up slowly, curiosity stirring inside her as she picked up the box. Her fingers brushed over the soft velvet before she opened it. Isabelle's eyes widened slightly. Inside lay a beautiful diamond ring. Stunning, luxurious and unfamiliar.
Her smile returned, gentler this time. "Is this a surprise from you in return?" she whispered softly, feeling slightly comforted.
She tried slipping the ring onto the ring finger of her left hand, but it was too small. It only slid halfway down.
"Maybe for the right hand," she said, then tried another finger. But the result was the same. Even after trying every one of her fingers, none of them fit.
Her brows furrowed. She was sure her body hadn't changed. Her weight was the same. Even the ring her husband gave her a few months ago still fit perfectly.
Click - the sound of the door opening.
Isabelle froze. Panic rose as she instinctively closed the box and looked for a place to hide. Her body trembled as she slipped behind the heavy curtain, heart pounding furiously. But there was one thing she forgot, the diamond ring was still on her pinky finger.
Footsteps entered the room. Not one pair, but two. Laughter. Unsteady steps. Small objects knocking over. Then -"Ah... darling..." a woman's voice moaned, soft yet sharply piercing.
Isabelle stood frozen behind the curtain. Her breath caught. She recognized her husband's voice, but the woman's voice clearly wasn't hers. They sounded drunk, laughing softly, whispering things she didn't want to hear.
Still, Isabelle didn't come out. She didn't want to witness the betrayal she had secretly feared all along.
She just stood there, frozen in the dark. Her body hidden behind the thick hotel room curtain, but the wound in her heart couldn't be hidden from herself. She held her breath, trying to silence the storm of emotions roaring in her chest.
The diamond ring still wrapped around her pinky now felt like a cold shackle, a symbol of unspoken betrayal. Then came the sounds. The kind that made her heart plummet instantly.
Moans, and then, "I love you, Camill... I love you so much."
That voice - her husband's voice. Isabelle was speechless. The world around her seemed to stop spinning. She clutched the top of her yellow dress, right over her chest. The tightness gripped her, pressing hard, physically painful. Her body began to tremble, not out of fear, but from being shattered.
"I'll take care of it soon. We'll be together soon."
Isabelle's ears felt like they were stabbing her from within for continuing to listen. But her body wouldn't move, trapped between wanting to run and being forced to face the truth.
"Of course, darling. I can't wait for our wedding once you're free from that woman," replied the woman called Camill, her voice dripping with seduction.
And then came the harshest blow, "Yeah. I can't stand living with that spoiled woman who can't do anything. All she does is whine like a baby, so troublesome. She's only lucky to be born rich. If not, she wouldn't have survived till now. Useless."
Isabelle could no longer stand. Her knees buckled. She slowly sank to the floor, her body leaning against the wall near the curtain. The small sound of her movement went unheard by anyone, especially the two people now drowning in lust and whispers of betrayal.
"Yes, darling... ah..." moaned Camill, followed by soft laughter and kisses, loud and clear from behind the curtain.
Isabelle's tears finally fell silent, without sobs. Just still, cold, and broken.
The person she had waited for an entire month. The person she had come to surprise tonight. The person she had trusted, loved, and fought for over the past five years. Now saw her as a burden. Someone he wanted to "let go of."
All of Isabelle's beliefs crumbled that night.
When the moans and the sounds of passion finally faded, Isabelle slowly rose from behind the curtain. Her legs staggered, her whole body felt light, but at the same time unbearably heavy. Shock, disappointment, and heartbreak collided into one, leaving her breathless.
Before her now, two human bodies lay tangled in each other's embrace after making love. The man who had been her husband all this time, and a woman she didn't even know. They slept soundly, as if carrying no sin at all.
Isabelle stared at them for a long moment. Her gaze was empty, but filled with fury and disgust. Her hands clenched tightly, her knuckles turning white.
"I'll return you to where you came from," she whispered coldly, almost like a curse. "A poor man with nothing."
Isabelle stormed out of the hotel with quick, furious steps. Without a second thought, she booked a morning flight to New York, the location of her family's law firm, as well as the headquarters of her family's business empire.
It didn't take her long to make a decision. Her heart was set. She wanted to end it all. Divorce was the only way. And one thing was certain: Nathan Blackwell would not get a single cent from her family's hard-earned fortune.
Upon arrival, Isabelle was greeted by her lawyer, Mr. Harrington, a middle-aged man who had handled the Montgomery family's legal affairs for over two decades.
Without any pleasantries, Isabelle spoke firmly, "I want the divorce papers prepared immediately. Make sure he gets nothing. No house, no shares, not a single penny."
But what happened next made her body go weak.
Mr. Harrington's face tensed. He opened the folder in front of him, taking a long breath before finally saying,"Isabelle, I don't know how to say this gently, but... all assets under Montgomery Corporation have now been legally transferred to Nathan Blackwell."
Isabelle stared at him, eyes wide. "What do you mean?!"
"All the documents have been signed. The transfer forms, power of attorney, every legal paper is complete and valid. And they were all signed by you, six months ago."
Isabelle shook her head slowly, shocked. "I never signed anything like that."
Mr. Harrington looked at her with deep concern. "The documents are authentic, Isabelle. They went through the legal process, fingerprints, signatures, everything. I was even a witness here in this very room. Even though you weren't physically present, your husband provided a valid video showing you signing them yourself."
The world spun. Isabelle's breath caught. In an instant, everything became clear. Nathan hadn't just betrayed her love, he had stolen her entire life. A plan so carefully crafted, built on lies disguised as love, trust, and hollow promises.
Without waiting for further explanation, Isabelle stood from her chair and walked out of the office with wide, determined steps. Her face was pale, her eyes empty, but her gaze was filled with resolve. She would return. She would demand justice now.
The sky over New York that afternoon was gloomy, as if mourning with her. Even the streets seemed darker than usual. Rain poured heavily, making the asphalt glisten like a dark mirror reflecting the city lights. Isabelle got into her car and started the engine, without calling for security or a driver.
She wanted to drive herself. She needed to feel that there was still one thing she could control, even if it was just the steering wheel.
The rain intensified. The wipers moved swiftly, but couldn't fully clear the fog clouding her view. The road was slick, puddles scattered everywhere. Still, Isabelle kept going, her breath heavy, her mind in disarray, her heart shattered.
Then it all happened in seconds, from afar, another car came speeding from the opposite direction. Its headlights blazed straight into her eyes, a blinding glare that stole her vision. She hit the brakes, but it was too late.
Her car swerved. Control lost. Her body lurched forward as the car slammed into the guardrail with violent force. The sound of twisting metal, shattering glass, and then, silence.
Isabelle slumped in the driver's seat, her body limp, blood trickling from her temple. Her vision blurred, her breath shallow.
Between light and darkness, she saw something, vague shapes, like shadows from a nightmare.
Nathan, smiling. Calm and victorious.Beside him stood Camill, a satisfied grin on her face, one hand wrapped around Nathan's waist. As if they had come to witness the end of the woman they had cast aside.
Isabelle's final tear fell, mixing with the blood on her cheek.
"If I were given one more chance..." she whispered faintly, barely audible, "…I would never love him."
And in silence, the world took her final breath.