The same day Lizzie Bradford found out she had a brain tumor, Ophelia Bullock was injured on set. Without hesitation, Adrienne Lennox rushed to her side.
Entertainment news exploded with headlines about Adrienne and Ophelia rekindling their romance, painting Lizzie—Adrienne’s “official wife”—as the unwelcome intruder in her own marriage.
Lizzie and Adrienne had been childhood sweethearts, the couple everyone in town talked about. For years, people had believed they were a match made in heaven. Five years of marriage, a love story that seemed destined by the stars… or at least, that’s what Lizzie had always thought.
But now, as the pieces of her life shifted, Lizzie began to understand something she hadn’t before: sometimes, the heart wants what it wants and there’s nothing she can do to change it.
So, she let him go.
***
Twenty-four hours had passed since Ophelia’s accident. The best window for Adrienne’s PR team to act had already closed. Yet the trending news about “Adrienne and Ophelia” stayed at the top, drowning out everything else, burying Lizzie along with it.
If the headlines hadn’t died down by now, it was because Adrienne didn’t want them to.
Sitting in the empty living room, Lizzie clutched the doctor’s diagnosis, his words echoing in her mind.
“Mrs. Lennox, the tumor’s pretty large. Surgery will be tricky, but waiting for it to grow could make it riskier—it might affect your memory, coordination, or even put your life at risk. I suggest calling your husband right now so we can perform the surgery immediately.”
Lizzie called Adrienne, giving no details, only asking him to come to the hospital. He had agreed at first, telling her to wait for him.
But over an hour later, he still hadn’t shown. She called again, only to find his phone off. Finally, his assistant informed her he was on a flight to Eastport.
When she asked why he went to Eastport, the assistant simply replied, “I’m afraid it’s on the news, Ma’am. Trending all over social media.”
Sure enough, as soon as she opened her social media account, the trending number one read: An accident on set, actress Ophelia Bullock hospitalized for severe burns.
Looking at the headlines, Lizzie hugged her coat tighter around her shoulders. She realized then that winter in Westport felt colder than usual. She dialed her brother Darius, but halfway through the call, she remembered the time difference—it was still early morning where he was. She hung up.
Once home, she called Adrienne another seven or eight times, but he never picked up. Usually, she didn’t bug people if they were busy, but tonight was different. Tonight, she actually wanted to annoy him, to make him pick up and snap at her, just to acknowledge she was there. But he didn’t.
Sinking further into the couch, she felt a heavy sense of helplessness. The Bradfords and Lennoxes had a long history together and she and Adrienne had been inseparable as kids. No one was surprised when they ended up married. But Adrienne had always kept his distance. She’d figured it was just part of being so comfortable with someone, that maybe they were just an “old married couple” where affection and intimacy are part of daily life.
But today, seeing how Adrienne had dropped everything to be with Ophelia, how he ignored everything—the news, the crashing stock prices—she finally realized this so-called “familiarity” had been nothing but an illusion.
Both her in-laws had called. At first, she didn’t want to answer, but her mother-in-law, Yolanda Lennox, texted, insisting she was coming over to check on her. Reluctantly, Lizzie picked up the call. Yolanda’s gentle voice came through, “Lizzie, have you been able to reach Adrienne?”
“No, I haven’t,” Lizzie replied.
Yolanda paused. “Don’t worry about it, okay, sweetheart? You’re still the one and only woman of Adrianne. Only you are our legitimate daughter in-law. I’ll speak to Adrienne, ‘ll tell him to return immediately and make sure he apologizes to you, okay”
Lizzie forced a weak smile. She wanted to say she didn’t need an apology. This was between her and Adrienne. Her in-laws had always treated her kindly, so there was no need to vent her frustration on them. “Thanks, Mom, but you don’t need to worry. I’ll be okay. I just… I’m not sure I can face the reporters right now.”
“No, no, no, you don’t have to. We’ll take care of them. You just rest for the night, alright?” Yolanda assured her.
Not long after Yolanda hung up, Adrienne’s call came through. Lizzie answered, putting him on speaker. Shortly after Yolanda’s call ended, Adrienne finally called. Lizzie answered, putting him on speakerphone. His voice was cold, as if she were some stranger intruding on his life. “It’s late. What’s with all the calls?”
“Nothing important.”
A brief silence followed before a voice came through the phone, “Mr. Lennox, Miss Bullock is awake and asking for you.”
“In a minute,” he replied, hanging up without another word.
The dial tone echoed in Lizzie’s ears. Adrienne and Ophelia had dated off and on throughout college. Lizzie had liked Adrienne since she was a teenager and he knew it. Watching him with Ophelia had been painful, but she’d kept her feelings hidden.
Then, at a friend’s wedding, Adrienne caught the bride’s bouquet and turned straight to her with a proposal. Not wanting to embarrass him, Lizzie said yes.
That night, she tried explaining her feelings, but Adrienne just started pursuing her. It seemed like a dream—just like everyone expected, they got married.
She walked down the aisle full of hope, only to be met with a husband who remained emotionally distant. Life with him had become monotonous. But now, thinking back, she realized Adrienne had never truly let go of Ophelia.
So, what was she to him? A convenient stand-in? A painful ache settled in her chest as her vision blurred. She curled up on the couch, trembling. Finally, she took a steadying breath and picked up the phone, calling her brother. “Darius, I’m coming back to London in a few days.”
“Will Adrienne be with you?”
“No, just me.”
He hesitated, concern lacing his voice, “Did you two have a fight?”
Lizzie stood by the window, letting the cold air sting her face. Her throat tightened. “No… remember I’d talked about going back to grad school? It’s about time I actually did it. Adrienne’s busy; maybe he’ll come around the holidays.”
Relieved, Darius let out a breath. “Alright. Just let me know when and I’ll pick you up from the airport.”
After a few more exchanges, the siblings ended their call. Lizzie carefully folded the medical report on the coffee table and tucked it away, choosing to retreat into the silence around her.
Adrienne returned a week later, but not alone—he brought Ophelia back from Eastport and settled her in the house next door. That property had originally been a wedding gift from Darius to Lizzie. Even though it had been hers for years, she’d never lived there, only sending a housekeeper occasionally to clean it. But now, Ophelia was moving in.
In her relationship with Adrienne, Lizzie had always been submissive, so much so that she’d rarely voiced her needs. Even when conflicts arose, she would swallow her pride, choosing peace over arguments. This time, though, she wanted to ask Adrienne if he thought it was really appropriate.
But as the words reached her lips, she swallowed them back. She’d already decided to leave; why bother now?
After a moment, she looked away from him and went back to packing up her books from the bookshelf.
Adrienne noticed her distant, empty gaze and, feeling a need to explain, said, “It’s only temporary. It’s more convenient for her medical team to have her nearby.”
Facing away from him, Lizzie smirked but chose not to argue. “She can stay, but you’ll need to let Miss Bullock know. Real estate agents might be coming by soon to show the place to potential buyers, so it may get a bit disruptive.”
Adrienne’s brow furrowed. “Why do you want to sell it? Are you short on money?”
Lizzie slipped another book into the box and looked up at Adrienne. “Not at all. It was a wedding gift from my brother and it’s just sitting there gathering dust. I thought it might be better to sell it.”
Adrienne watched her, puzzled. With the Bradford and Lennox Family fortunes, there were plenty of things that sat unused. But he knew she was making up an excuse. He wanted to press her further, but Lizzie was focused on her task, clearly not interested in talking.
As he prepared to leave, Adrienne noticed her packing up the books in boxes. Initially, he’d thought she was just tidying up. “Why are you packing up these books?”
“Just organizing a bit. Thought I’d put these out in the sun for a while.”
Adrienne nodded and paused as he remembered Lizzie’s recent call. “By the way, how’s with your medical check-up? Is everything’s fine? It was all so rushed that day; I didn’t get a chance to call you back.” Lizzie paused, reminded of the tumor in her head that could burst at any moment. She gave a slight shake of her head, downplaying it.
“Nothing serious.”
Adrienne responded with a slight hum. “Well, Ophelia’s injuries are quite severe and her mood’s been all over the place. I’ll be staying over there more often.”
“Sure, take care of her,” Lizzie replied with calm indifference, showing no sign of any reaction. Adrienne didn’t press further and left for the other house.
Watching him go, Lizzie stood by the window, a small, bitter smile forming as her eyes grew misty. This house—the living room couch, the bed in the bedroom, the entryway painting, the curtains on the windows, even the spare slippers—she’d chosen each item, carefully decorating every corner with hopes for their future together. But now, every detail seemed like a cruel joke.
After finishing with the books, she picked up her phone to call Mara for dinner. But just as she was about to dial, a call from her came in.
“Lizzie, check the news.”
Lizzie opened it to find a trending post about Adrienne and Ophelia rekindling their relationship.
She clicked into the post to find a message from Ophelia: “No matter how far I wander, my heart always returns to you.” The image showed Adrienne’s silhouette, standing over a simmering pot of soup.
The comments were a mix of delighted fans celebrating their favorite couple’s reunion and people slamming Lizzie, claiming she’d driven Ophelia away so she could marry Adrienne. Some even suggested that her abandonment was karmic justice. To them, she was the one who had separated their beloved Ophelia from Adrienne and now that he had seemingly left her, it was no more than what she deserved.
As Lizzie scrolled through in silence, Mara’s voice came through on the line. “You want to tell me what’s going on? Did you and Adrienne split up?”
After a brief pause, Lizzie replied, “Not yet.”
“Then what the hell is he doing with that woman?” Mara burst out with frustration.
Lizzie gave a small, weary laugh. “Calm down. I was about to ask you to dinner when you called.”
“You at home? I’ll come pick you up.”
Smiling, Lizzie agreed. “Sounds good. I wasn’t in the mood to drive anyway.”
Mara arrived quickly. Lizzie took a quick shower, changed her clothes, applied some light makeup and was ready just as he arrived. They went to a cozy restaurant they’d frequented over the years.
Once they were seated and had placed their orders, Lizzie looked at Mara and said, “Help me find a good lawyer. I’m ready to end things with Adrienne.”
Mara’s concern was apparent, but Lizzie brushed it off with a small smile. “I’ve got a tumor in my brain and I’ll need surgery. I’ve already applied for my visa and will head to London as soon as it’s approved.”
At her words, Mara’s eyes filled with tears. “Since when? What did the doctors say? Have you told your parents yet?” She fired off questions, her voice laced with worry.
“The same day when Ophelia had her accident. The doctors wanted Adrienne there to sign, but he was rushing off to find her. The surgery’s risky, so I need family by my side. I’ll head home to have it done.”
Tears started streaming down Mara’s face. “Forget about him. No one is worth going through this alone. I’ll going with you.”
Lizzie gently wiped her tears, offering a comforting smile. “I’m okay, really. Don’t worry about me.”
When Lizzie returned home after dinner, Adrienne was sitting in the living room.
“Where were you?” he asked.
“Out for dinner with Mara,” Lizzie replied, setting down her coat, bag and shoes before taking a seat across from him.
“Adrienne, we’ve talked for years about making a wish trip together. Think you could go this year?” Lizzie asked, referencing the trip to Lhasa.
She’d once heard that couples facing tough times needed to go on such a journey to pray with sincerity and resolve the hurdles in their relationship. Adrienne had always dismissed it as nonsense, never taking her seriously. Now, with Lizzie bringing it up again, Adrienne sighed. “How many times did I tell you that kind of things aren’t real? Besides, with Ophelia in this state, there’s no way I can go. Not until after the New Year.”
His response didn’t surprise her, but he’d never even offered to go “after the New Year” before. In the past, she’d probably be thrilled, planning the tickets and itinerary. But now, she only responded with a quiet “Alright” and nothing more.
Adrienne was growing increasingly uneasy with Lizzie’s silence; she seemed like a stranger these days. His gaze swept over the room, feeling as though something was missing. “Did you take down our wedding photo?”
“Yeah, just giving the frame a clean. It looks a bit dusty.”
Adrienne was scrolling through her phone, both of them sitting in silence. Lizzie stood up, heading upstairs to freshen up.
After showering and drying her hair, she came out to find Adrienne sitting at the edge of the bed, holding her phone.
“Mara called. She said she got the lawyer. She’ll send you the details soon.”
Lizzie's expression faltered slightly. She wasn’t sure if Mara had said anything else. She gave a soft hum in response and noticed Adrienne was staring at her, as though trying to read her every thought.
“What do you need the lawyer for?”
Lizzie sighed, instinctively lowering her gaze. She calmly applied some essential oil to her hair.
“Helping out a friend.”
“You could've use Hodge. Why bothering Mara to get you one?”
Adrienne’s voice was cold. Lizzie responded, “I’m not really close to him. Besides I didn’t want to involve anyone from the company.”
The excuse felt surprisingly convincing and Lizzie almost surprised herself with how smoothly the words came out.
By the time Lizzie returned downstairs, Adrienne had already showered. She lay down and he followed soon after, but the moment they settled into bed, Lizzie didn’t even bother with her phone. She turned her back to him and lay still, silent.
Things felt different now. It wasn’t the same between them. Ever since he returned from Eastport, Lizzie had seemed distant. There was an awkwardness between them that hadn’t been there before. He turned to face her, reaching for her waist, pulling her gently toward him.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” he asked softly.
Lizzie stiffened slightly and Adrienne felt it. His mind raced as he realized they hadn’t been intimate in a long time. He moved closer, but Lizzie turned toward him and gently pushed him away.
“I’m tired. Let’s just sleep," she said, her voice quiet.
Adrienne lay back down, but a question lingered. “Are you mad about Ophelia?”
Lizzie pulled the corner of her lips into a tight smile. “Why should she be mad? Was she supposed to get angry at a tool being used?
“No.” She paused, adding, “Why would I be mad?”
The words hit Adrienne harder than he expected. Of course, she had every right to be upset—he had been spending so much time with Ophelia, even having her stay next door. Lizzie should be angry.
But she wasn’t.
Adrienne felt a knot tighten in his chest, his confusion growing. He didn’t understand Lizzie anymore.
“She’s an actress. This kind of scandal could destroy her career. There’s nothing between us. Don't believe what those people are saying.”
Lizzie recalled the post Ophelia had made and Adrienne’s words confirmed he’d seen it. But the fact that he didn’t stop her, making it like he was allowing it. When the media went crazy over the rumor that Lizzie had stolen Adrienne from Ophelia, Adrienne didn’t say a word. Now, what did the post mean?
“What did they say?” Lizzie asked, her tone flat. “I’ve been too busy, I hadn’t had time to check on the news.”
Adrienne let out a small sigh of relief.
“Well…it’s nothing. Just go to sleep.”
Lizzie closed her eyes, but Adrienne lay awake, restless. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. After a while, he slipped out of bed and headed downstairs. Passing the study, he pushed the door open, only to stop short when he saw the box in the corner had been sealed shut.
He froze when he saw the books Lizzie had organized were in a cardboard box in the corner, tightly sealed with tape. Then he noticed the photo frame from their wedding, lying at the bottom, but the photo was missing. He stood there stunned, processing everything that had been saw, before finally reaching for his phone. Ignoring the fact that it was midnight, Adrienne immediately called his assistant.
“Do you have Lizzie’s medical report?”
Colton Riggs' voice came through the phone, groggy: “Yes, sir, I have it.”
“Send me a copy,” Adrienne replied.
Once the call ended, Adrianne’s phone buzzed with a new message. It was Lizzie’s physical exam report. Everything seemed normal—aside from some mild anemia and a vitamin D deficiency. Adrianne knew Lizzie didn’t spend much time in the sun, so that wasn’t a big surprise. He felt a wave of relief that there was nothing seriously wrong with her health.
The next morning, Lizzie woke up to find Adrianne still at the house. Adrianne had always been a workaholic, even with Ophelia around, so seeing him here now, especially in the morning, was hard to believe.
When she came down the stairs, Adrianne quickly ended the call he was on and stood up from the couch.
“I’ve booked us a flight to Lhasa this afternoon. Pack your things. We’re leaving for the airport soon.”
Lizzie raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by the sudden announcement.
Seeing her reaction, Adrianne added, “I just realized our wedding anniversary is coming up, so I thought we could take a short trip there to celebrate. We’ll be back before the New Year.”
Lizzie didn’t want to ruin the mood by asking about Ophelia—about what would happen to her if they leave her. Over the years, Lizzie had always been the one to plan everything—birthdays, anniversaries, even casual dates on weekdays. Whenever Adrianne had time, he’d spend it with her, but when he didn’t, Lizzie was left to figure things out on her own.
So hearing this sudden plan was like being hit by a thunderbolt—it was so out of the blue that it left her confused.
Was this guilt talking? Was this related to what happened last night? Lizzie couldn’t help but wonder. She took a deep breath and decided to go along with it, taking as the farewell trip.
After breakfast, Lizzie went back to the room to pack. The weather was cold, so she packed warm clothes and a few things she might need in case of altitude sickness. She packed quickly and before long, the driver was there to take them to the airport. Lizzie checked in, handed over her boarding pass and they moved through security without any problems. With time to kill before boarding, she decided to grab a coffee.
When she came back, however, Adrianne was nowhere to be found in the waiting area. At first, Lizzie thought maybe he had stepped away to use the restroom, so she waited calmly. But as boarding time drew nearer and Adrianne still hadn’t returned, Lizzie decided to call him.
When the phone picked up, Adrianne sounded out of breath. “Lizzie, I can’t make it. Just go without me. I’ll pick you up in two days.”
Lizzie froze, her hand shaking around her coffee cup.
“Why?” her voice barely above whisper.
“It’s Ophelia... she… she tried to kill herself.”
Lizzie’s mouth went open and she couldn’t find the words. She hung up the phone and boarded the plane to Lhasa alone.
While she was there, Lizzie visited the prayer wheel and made a wish—but it wasn’t the wish she had always hoped for, the one where she and Adrianne would grow old together. Instead, she found herself wishing for her own safety and health.
She didn’t contact Adrianne again while in Lhasa and he didn’t reach out to her either. He had promised to pick her up, but days passed with no word.
By Christmas night, their fifth wedding anniversary had come and gone and still, no calls, no texts—nothing. The trip had ended and their anniversary had passed. Lizzie wasn’t surprised. She didn’t hold much hope in the first place, but after five years together, her heart felt like it had been stabbed with a thousand needles—the pain was sharp and overwhelming, making her hard to breathe.
After returning from Lhasa, Lizzie went to see a lawyer Mara had recommended.
Since Lizzie wanted the divorce to happen as soon as possible, the lawyer suggested she talk to Adrianne first, have him sign the divorce agreement and then they could proceed with the paperwork. The division of property could be handled later.
Lizzie hesitated, the weight of her decision pressing down on her. Was now really the right time to bring up the divorce? The idea of facing the entire Lennox Family felt overwhelming—especially her in-laws. Mr. and Mrs. Lennox had always been kind to her, almost like second parents. She couldn’t help but wonder how they would react if they tried to persuade her to stay. She wasn’t sure how she would handle that kind of confrontation. She felt emotionally drained, every fiber of her being stretched thin from everything that had happened. The idea of hearing them out, of having to explain herself, was more than she could bear.
Finally, her voice broke through the silence. “What if I give you full authority? You talk to Adrienne to get his sign about the the divorce and I’ll come back to complete the paperwork. Does that work for you?”
Belinda, the attorney, didn’t answer immediately. She simply studied Lizzie for a long moment, her gaze calm and focused. Then, she nodded.
“Yes, we can do that. But I’ll need you to sign a power of attorney form and the contract,” she said, her voice as steady as her gaze.
Lizzie signed the papers, her hand shaking slightly, but she didn’t let it show. Once it was done, Belinda led her out of the office. They barely made it past the front door when the mob descended.
Milk tea, coffee and bottles came flying out of nowhere, splashing onto Lizzie’s head and shoulders. She froze in shock, her heart racing. She stood there, stunned, unable to process the sudden assault.
“You shameless homewrecker!” one of the girls screamed, her face twisted in anger.
“Rot in hell!” another shouted.
“Stay away from our idol’s man, you awful witch!” someone else yelled, her voice thick with hatred.
The insults rained down from every direction, sharp and unforgiving. Then, without warning, one of the women shoved Lizzie. She stumbled back, losing her balance and fell to the ground, the impact jarring her body and sending a shock of pain through her side.
“Hey! Stop it! What the are you doing?” Belinda’s voice cut through the chaos. She had turned back just in time to see Lizzie fall and without a second thought, she rushed toward the scene, pushing her way through the crowd of angry women.
“Security! Call the police!” Belinda shouted as she reached Lizzie’s side. One of the guards quickly pulled out his phone to call for help, while another rushed to assist.
Lizzie sat there, drenched in spilled drinks, her hair matted and tangled, her face pale and defeated. She felt humiliated, small, the weight of the world pressing down on her shoulders. Belinda helped her up, her voice sharp with authority as she confronted the women.
“What is wrong with you people? Do you realize that public assault is a crime?” she demanded, her tone cold and commanding.
The leader of the group sneered, her expression full of righteous anger. “A crime? We’re just giving her what she deserves for everything she’s done to our idol.”
“Your idol?” Belinda scoffed. “There are hundreds of idols in this country, girls! Is it Ophelia Bullock?”
“Who else?!” the girl retorted, her arms crossed defiantly.
Belinda raised an eyebrow, a knowing look crossing her face. “Did Ophelia send you?”
The girl stood even taller, her posture full of self-righteous indignation. “She’s too kind-hearted to stand up for herself. That’s why she’s miserable. This bitch has been tormenting her for years, but we won’t let her get away with it anymore.”
“Our Ophelia has suffered enough because of this witch!” another girl chimed in, her voice full of venom.
Belinda smirked, unimpressed. “Well, let’s see if Ophelia shows up to bail you out at the police station.”
At that moment, the police arrived and the crowd began to scatter, their rage fading in the face of authority. Belinda quickly took Lizzie back to the office, helping her clean up as best as she could. Lizzie’s body felt like it was made of lead, every movement exhausting. They made their way to the station and on the way, Belinda checked her phone. The video of Lizzie being attacked had already gone viral, flooding her social media feeds with hate-filled comments.
Lizzie’s eyes narrowed as she scrolled through the posts, her heart hardening with each hateful word she read.
“Ms. Sawyer,” Lizzie’s voice was icy, the resolve in her words as sharp as a blade. “I’m authorizing you to handle this as well. I want to file a defamation suit against everyone with more than five hundred shares or likes on those posts. And as for the ones who attacked me today? No settlements. I’m pressing charges against each and every one of them.”
Belinda nodded without hesitation. “Don’t worry, Miss Bradford. I’ll take care of everything.”
At the police station, Lizzie was barely holding herself together. The exhaustion was overwhelming and she could feel every ounce of energy being drained from her. After giving her statement, she slumped back in the chair, completely drained.
“Are you okay, Miss Bradford?” Belinda asked, her voice gentle, yet laced with concern. “Do you want me to drive you home?”
Lizzie shook her head, her voice distant. “Thanks, Ms. Sawyer, but I’ll walk. I just... need some time to clear my head.”
Belinda gave a quick nod. “I understand. Just take care of yourself.”
After watching Lizzie leave, Belinda sent a quick text to Mara:
“Lizzie Bradford is at my place. She doesn’t look well. I offered her a ride, but she wouldn’t take it. Do something about it.”
Mara, who had been in a meeting, read the message and replied almost immediately:
“Got it. I’ll check on her in a minute.”
As soon as Mara ended the chat with Belinda, she left the meeting room and dialed Lizzie’s number.
When she picked up, Lizzie’s voice sounded light, almost playful. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me, just get back to work. We’ll grab dinner when you’re done.”
Mara couldn’t help but smile at the sound of her voice. “Lizzie, let’s ring in the New Year together this year,” she said, her tone sincere, yet full of a quiet anticipation.
Without skipping a beat, Lizzie’s reply was warm, unhesitating. “Alright, but you better not be working overtime.”
Mara chuckled. “I won’t. I’ll just bring my work home with me.”
Lizzie snorted, a soft, affectionate sound that made his chest tighten with something he couldn’t quite name. “Alright, get back to your desk then. I’m fine, really,” Lizzie added, as if to reassure her once again.
Back at the office, things were beginning to unravel for Ophelia. The video of Lizzie being attacked by fans had gone viral and now she was the top trending topic. Elaine Coleman, Ophelia’s manager, had come to meet with her to discuss the fallout and Adrienne, who’d been quietly sitting by, looked far from calm.
Elaine, trying to stay composed, addressed the situation first. “I’m so sorry, Ophelia...and Lizzie, for what happened. This isn’t your fault.”
Adrienne’s eyes were glued to his phone, the image of Lizzie—covered in spilled drinks, surrounded by chaos—on his screen. His face went pale as he pressed his lips together, his expression hardening.
“When did this happen?” he asked, his voice tight.
Elaine hesitated, glancing at him nervously before answering, “About an hour ago. Those girls are still at the police station right now.”
Adrienne didn’t waste another second. He immediately dialed Lizzie’s number, but it went straight to voicemail. His jaw clenched and without saying a word, he stood up, grabbed his jacket and stormed out of the office, heading straight for his car.
Ophelia, who’d been sitting silently, watched him leave with a mixture of concern and something darker. She turned to Elaine, her voice low and cautious. “Elaine, this is too risky.”
Elaine sighed deeply, her shoulders slumping under the weight of the situation. “This is the quickest way to get Mr. Lennox to choose between you two. You know, even though he’s with you, he hasn’t divorced Lizzie yet. If this gets out, what do you think will happen? How are you going to clean up this mess?”
Adrienne’s mind was racing as he drove toward the police station. The images of Lizzie, bruised and exhausted, wouldn’t leave his head. She’d come back from Lhasa without a word to him. She hadn’t asked him to pick her up, hadn’t called him, hadn’t said anything. And now, she was avoiding him entirely. Something had shifted and it was eating him up inside.
Before he could even make it to the station, he spotted her walking down the sidewalk, dragging a suitcase behind her. Adrienne’s heart skipped a beat as he quickly turned his car around, pulling up next to her.
“Lizzie,” he called out, his voice soft yet urgent.
Lizzie stopped in her tracks, her gaze flicking over to him. But it was like she didn’t even recognize him anymore. Her eyes were distant, unfocused—empty.
Adrienne felt his heart sink. This wasn’t the woman he knew. Without thinking, he threw the car into park, jumped out and rushed to her side. He grabbed the suitcase from her hand and placed it in the trunk of the car.
“Why didn’t you call me when you got back? I would’ve come to pick you up.” His voice was tight with worry.
But Lizzie didn’t answer. She opened the back door of the car and climbed in without so much as a glance at him, as if he hadn’t even spoken.
Adrienne stood frozen for a moment, then hurried around to the driver’s side. He started the car, glancing at her in the rearview mirror. She stared out the window, her face expressionless, her lips pale and drawn. She looked... empty. Tired. Like she’d been drained of everything.
Something was off. She’d lost weight. Her jawline was sharper than he remembered.
“Lizzie, are you hungry? Let’s grab something to eat,” he suggested, his voice gentle.
But Lizzie didn’t respond. Her voice was flat, barely audible. “Not hungry.” Then she closed her eyes.
Adrienne took a deep breath before asking, “Are you hurt?”
Lizzie slowly opened her eyes, looking sharp into the rearview mirror. He must have had seen the video. That’s why he was here, rushing to to her and acting all concern.
She was wondering if it was for her sake. Impossible. Surely, it was because the fans’ actions would reflect poorly on Ophelia, that he wanted her to drop the charges.
“If you’re here to speak on Ophelia’s behalf, save it. Those girls are going too far, they should be held accountable for what they’ve done,” Her voice was calm and unemotional and Adrienne felt a sense of strangeness.
“I’m not here to defend Ophelia,” Adrienne said after a short pause.
She replied with hum, as if she had nothing more to say to him.
They had barely arrived home, suitcases still untouched, when Ophelia appeared. Her hair was cut short, her cheek bandaged from what looked like a burn and she wore a patient’s gown, looking fragile and weak as she entered.
Elaine helped her inside with some difficulty and Adrienne rushed over—ignoring Lizzie’s presence to assist.
“Why did you come here dressed like this?”
Ophelia clasped Adrienne’s hand tightly, her voice faint. Ophelia clasped Adrienne’s hand tightly, her voice faint. “I want to apologize to your wife. I feel responsible for what they did. I should’ve managed my fans better. I can’t believe they were capable of this kind of violence.”
Ophelia turned to Lizzie with watery eyes. “Mrs. Lennox, I’m really sorry. I want to apologize on their behalf.”
Before Lizzie could respond, Adrienne interjected. “This isn’t your fault. There’s no need for you to apologize. Lizzie won’t hold this against you.”
Ophelia shook her head slightly. “Whether Mrs. Lennox forgives them or not is up to her. But I still have to apologize.”
Lizzie’s gaze shifted coldly from Ophelia to Adrienne, finally settling on their interlocked hands. Adrienne, noticing Lizzie’s stare, felt a rush of discomfort. His hand felt hot and he was torn between letting it go and holding it on.
“Miss Bullock, you are you and your fans are your fans. I don’t need an apology from you, but I won’t drop the charges. They acted recklessly and they will face the consequences.”
“Mrs. Lennox, they’re just kids. Kids make mistakes. Please, cut them some slack.”
“Why are you so insistent on letting them off the hook? Are you their parent?” Lizzie narrowed her eyes, taking a deep breath before speaking firmly. “Or… is it because you sent them?”
Her words left Ophelia pale and trembling and Elaine quickly jumped to Ophelia’s defense.
“Mrs. Lennox, you’re right. Miss Bullock is Miss Bullock and her fans are her fans. But we really just want to apologize. Please don’t throw baseless accusations at my client.”
Adrienne frowned, stepping to Ophelia’s side. “Lizzie, Ophelia would never do that.”
Without another word, Lizzie turned and headed upstairs, ignoring them entirely. Adrienne personally escorted Ophelia back next door.
Feeling hunger creeping into her stomach, Lizzie asked the housekeeper to prepare a bowl of beef stew. Though she was hungry, her appetite felt muted. After finishing her meal, Adrienne was still nowhere to be found.
Lizzie made her way to Adrienne’s study to retrieve the house deeds. As she moved past his bookshelf, she accidentally knocked over a small bear figurine. It hit the floor, the head popping off and scattering a pile of heart-shaped notes.
Curiosity got the best of her and she picked one up, reading it.
“Day 101 since the breakup and my wedding partner isn’t Ophelia. It could be anyone and it wouldn’t make a difference.”
She opened another note.
“At Mark’s wedding, I caught the bouquet and turned to see Lizzie’s bright eyes. On impulse, I confessed, knowing she’d say yes. Even when she later pretended to be indifferent, I could tell she loved me. I played along, indulging her pride.”
“After all, she is the person my parents wanted me to marry, so I should at least put on a show.”
Lizzie’s hands shook as tears streamed down her face unexpectedly. She reached for another piece of torn-up paper. It read, “We got married just as my parents wanted and while Lizzie is thrilled, I lie next to her feeling nothing but resentment. If only it were Ophelia instead. Maybe if she hadn’t existed, my parents wouldn’t have disliked Ophelia so much.”
The note went on: “I kept my distance from her and she acted indifferently. What’s wrong with her? She is so weird.”
Lizzie quietly gathered the papers, stacked them neatly and returned them to the display piece she’d found them in, securing the head back onto the figurine as if nothing had happened. She locked her bedroom door and broke down, realizing that her years of love for him had been a joke.
Adrienne disappeared for two days. When he returned, Lizzie was unboxing a package that contained her visa. She calmly tucked it away, noticing that Adrienne barely paid attention to what she was doing.
As Lizzie was heading out with her bag in hand, Adrienne called out, “Lizzie, can we talk for a second?”
She turned, her expression cool. “What is it?”
“It’s Ophelia... she took some pills. Tried to... well, they just managed to save her.” Adrienne looked torn. “I need your help.”
Lizzie paused, then walked over and sat down, saying nothing.
“I think we should get a temporary divorce,” Adrienne finally blurted. “Ophelia needs me right now.”
Lizzie’s gaze was steady as she nodded slowly. “Alright.”
“Do we need a certificate to prove it?” she asked.
“Yes,” he muttered.
“Well, let’s go get it then.”
As they drove to the courthouse, Adrienne felt an unsettling emptiness creeping in. He glanced at Lizzie, wondering why she’d agreed so easily—why hadn’t she even asked when they would remarry. Did she trust him that much?
“It’ll just be for a while,” he reassured her. “Once she’s better, we’ll undo it.”
Lizzie just nodded, focused on her phone, booking her flight. She noticed there was a flight that afternoon at three p.m. and if they could get the divorce certificate, she could fly right away—it happened to be a non-stop flight.
The divorce certificate was processed quickly. When they walked out of city hall, Adrienne turned to her, looking slightly ashamed. “Lizzie, I’ll also need you to make a public statement saying we’ve been separated for a while. To let everyone know that Ophelia had nothing to do with our split.”
Lizzie held the divorce papers in her hand, looking at Adrienne with a soft smile that soon made her eyes sting with tears. “Okay,” she murmured.
After dropping her off, Adrienne left to visit Ophelia at the hospital, likely to tell her the good news about his now-official divorce. Lizzie had already packed her things, so she quickly loaded them into a suitcase, double-checked that all her documents were accounted for and scheduled a pickup to ship everything out.
Her friend Mara took the day off to drop her off at the airport, giving her a final hug as she headed toward security. Once on board, Lizzie opened her phone and posted on social media, tagging both Adrienne and Ophelia: “Adrienne and I have been divorced for a while. Wishing him and Miss Bullock all the best.”
The flight attendant announced they were about to take off and as Lizzie switched her phone to airplane mode, she typed a final message for the world to see: “Goodbye.”
