Chapter 4Erased

I met his furious gaze. "You said it yourself. When it comes to talent, Lila is better. An instrument like that deserves a true artist."

His anger faltered. "How did you...?"

"The broadcast was everywhere. I saw it on the screens in the city square."

They were his own words, thrown back in his face. He had no comeback. "But that doesn't mean you just give it away! It was our anniversary gift!"

I offered a thin, empty smile. "And?"

He froze. "Jenna... what are you saying? Are you trying to leave me?"

"I told you from the beginning," I said softly. "If you ever fell in love with someone else, I would leave you forever."

He suddenly laughed, a harsh, grating sound. "Go on, try it. Everything you are in this world, I gave you. Where could you possibly go without me? Don't forget, Jenna. This marriage ends when I say it ends. You can't divorce me without my consent."

But he was wrong.

Because my name isn't Jenna Hayden. My name is Elara Vaughn.

And my marriage to him was never legally valid.

"Don't even think about leaving me," he said, his voice dropping to a low, menacing command. "You stay here, in this house, and be a good little wife. I'll give you everything you could ever want. Remember that."

I smiled. A real smile this time.

We'll see about that.

For the next four days, I systematically erased every trace of myself from that house.

The clothes in good condition were donated to charity. The old ones, I burned in a small, contained fire in the backyard.

I closed every social media account associated with Jenna Hayden. I went to the records office and officially relinquished the identity.

And George would never notice.

He and Lila were gone, jetting off to Singapore to celebrate her victory. Singapore was like their second home; they flew there at the drop of a hat.

Three days until my departure.

Lila sent me a picture. It was of a little girl, happily eating a snack.

Her daddy made her the biggest candy apple today, just because his little princess asked for it~

This wasn't the first time she'd sent things like this, but I'd never understood the context. The girl... what was her connection to them?

This time, however, the photo was a clear close-up. And my blood ran cold.

The little girl was a perfect, miniature blend of George and Lila.

She was their daughter.

So that's why he never wanted to have children with me.

How utterly, pathetically laughable.

Two days until my departure.

George threw an eight-million-dollar fireworks show for Lila.

Eight million dollars, just to see me smile, her message read. He said it was worth it.

The display was beautiful, I'm sure. He'd once promised to watch fireworks with me, a promise he never kept.

And now, he never would.

One day left.

This time, there was no picture, no text. Just an audio file.

I pressed play. The sounds of their lovemaking filled the silence of the room—his low, sensual groans, her high, breathy moans.

I listened to the whole thing, then just smiled faintly. I placed the phone on his desk, next to a sealed envelope.

Slinging my only backpack over my shoulder, I walked out of the 'home' I had lived in for eight years, and I didn't look back.

My ride was already waiting, a line of men in sharp suits standing discreetly at the private terminal.

Just as I was about to board the jet, my burner phone rang. It was George.

Hey, honey. I'm back from my trip. I'm on my way to pick you up for dinner.

He was back, all right. Standing not fifty feet from me, with Lila and their daughter in tow.

I kept my voice even. Dinner isn't for another hour. Can you make it?

He was laughing, bending down to tie the little girl's shoelaces. As he opened his mouth to reply, I saw Lila lean in and press a lingering kiss to his lips.

"Honey," she purred, "you promised you'd take Nina and me to the amusement park first. And we have to get her back to Singapore tonight. We're running out of time."

"Daddy, please?" the little girl pleaded. "I wanna go to the park!"

A moment later, a text from George came through. Elara, something came up at work. Let's reschedule dinner for three days from now.

A genuine, liberating smile spread across my face. I switched the phone off for good.

Sliding on a pair of dark sunglasses, I walked towards the jet, my security detail flanking me. We brushed right past George.

He paused, a flicker of confusion on his face as he turned to look at my retreating back.

"That's weird," he murmured. "That woman... she looked a little like Elara."

Lila laughed, pulling at his arm. "Don't be silly. Someone that important, with bodyguards? Since when is Jenna Hayden a VIP?"

George chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, you're right."

He scooped up his daughter. "Alright, Nina, let's go! To the amusement park!"

As my plane taxied onto the runway, a calm, professional voice came over the cabin speakers, a sound I hadn't heard in eight years but recognized instantly.

Vaughn Jet-1, this is the tower. You are cleared for takeoff. Welcome home, Ms. Vaughn. Have a safe flight.