(Lina)
I sat in my room, the curtains drawn tightly against the night, staring blankly at the stone walls that seemed to close in around me. The room that I choose now felt like a prison. My heart ached, my mind numb, but the sounds drifting down the hallway from Nicholas's room pierced through the numbness like a knife.
In my memory from Isabella it wasn't the first time. It wasn't even the second or third. But tonight, something broke inside me.
The unmistakable sounds of Nicholas and Elara echoed through the castle walls, their laughter, the soft murmurs, and the intimate noises that made my stomach turn.
I gripped the edge of my chair, my knuckles white, my body rigid as I tried to block it out, but I couldn't. It was always like this when Isabella was alive—he never even bothered to hide it anymore. The betrayal was a daily reality, something I'd learned to live with, but today, it felt unbearable.
My fists clenched in my lap, my breathing shallow, the anger building until it filled every inch of me. How could I have let it get this far? How could Isabella allowed herself to become this—someone who sat quietly while her husband openly flaunted his infidelity?
The realization hit me hard. I wasn't going to live like this anymore. I couldn't live like this anymore.
Enough was enough.
I stood up, feeling determined. My heart raced as I paced the room, the need to escape burning inside me. I had to get away—from him, from the lies, from the humiliation. But how?
Nicholas wasn't going to let me go easily. I knew that. He thrived on control, on having the upper hand, and leaving him would mean a fight—one that I wasn't sure I could win. But even if it meant going through hell, I would fight him. I'd rather face that than spend another day being cheated on, lied to, made a fool of.
I stopped pacing and stared at my reflection in the mirror. I wasn't going to be weak anymore. I wasn't going to let him walk all over me. I was done pretending everything was fine.
The next day, after a sleepless night of planning and bracing myself for what was to come, I reached out to a lawyer. I'd heard about him through whispers in the court—a man who was discreet, who didn't ask too many questions, and who could handle sensitive matters like this. I needed someone like that. I couldn't risk word getting out before I was ready. Nicholas had eyes and ears everywhere, and the last thing I needed was him finding out before I could make my move.
The lawyer arrived at the castle that afternoon. He was a tall man, with a calm demeanor, and he carried himself with a quiet confidence. He addressed me formally, as Princess Isabella. It was a title I had come to despise. It felt like a shackle—a reminder that in Nicholas's world, I was nothing more than his possession.
"Your Highness," The lawyer said as he sat across from me at the large oak table in the private study, his voice careful and respectful. "If you're certain about this course of action, we can proceed. However, divorcing someone of Prince Nicholas's status will be… challenging."
"I don't care about the challenge," I said, my voice steady, though my heart was racing. "I need out. He doesn't love me. He never has. And I'm tired of pretending I love him."
The lawyer nodded, flipping through the paperwork he'd brought. "Understood. But you must be prepared for a fight. Prince Nicholas… he won't take this lightly."
I clenched my jaw, my fingers tapping against the smooth surface of the table. "I know. But I don't care anymore. I'm ready for whatever he throws at me."
As we went over the details—assets, the process, the timeline—I felt a small sense of relief. It wasn't much, but it was something. The divorce papers were ready, and all I needed now was Nicholas's signature. I could already imagine the explosion that was going to follow when I presented them to him, but for the first time in a long time, I felt like I had the upper hand. It gave me strength.
We were wrapping up the discussion when the door to the study suddenly flew open, slamming against the wall. I jumped, my heart racing as Nicholas stormed into the room. His eyes immediately locked on the lawyer, then shifted to me, narrowing in suspicion.
"What the hell is going on here?" He demanded, his voice filled with anger.
I straightened in my chair, meeting his gaze without flinching. I had expected this, had prepared for it, but my body still tensed under his glare.
"We're discussing our divorce," I said calmly, though inside I was nervous. "It's time, Nicholas."
His eyes flashed with something—shock, maybe—but it was quickly replaced by a sneer. He glanced at the lawyer, then back at me, his lips curling into a bitter smile. "Divorce?" He scoffed, taking a step closer to the table. "Are you out of your mind?"
I stood my ground, my heart pounding in my chest, but I didn't back down. "No. I'm not. I'm done, Nicholas. I want out."
His fists clenched at his sides, his face growing darker with every passing second. "Is this about him?" He pointed at the lawyer, his voice dripping with accusation. "You're cheating on me with him, aren't you? Is that what this is?"
I stared at him, stunned for a moment by how quickly he turned the tables, but I didn't let him get to me. This was typical Nicholas—deflecting, making himself the victim.
"I'm not cheating on you, Nicholas," I said. "But even if I was, I'd have every right after what you've done."
He ignored my words, his sneer deepening. "You're not leaving me," He said, stepping closer, his voice low and threatening. "You're my wife. You're trapped with me for life, Isabella. You're not going anywhere."
With one swift motion, he reached for the divorce papers on the table and ripped them in half, then again, tossing the pieces to the floor as if they were nothing.
"This means nothing," He said, his voice hard.
I stared at the torn papers, my chest tightening with anger and frustration. The audacity of him to act like he still had control over me—like I was some puppet he could manipulate forever. He had always been like this, always believed that Isabella was his property. But I wasn't.
"You think you can control me forever?" I asked, my voice low but firm. "You think I'm just going to stay here and let you ruin my life?"
He crossed his arms over his chest, a smug smile playing on his lips. "You don't have a choice."
I was about to drop the final bomb, the one thing I knew he couldn't talk his way out of.
"I do have a choice, Nicholas," I said, stepping closer to him, refusing to look away. "And I'm making it right now."
I paused, watching the confusion flashed across his face. He had no idea what was coming.
"I heard you," I said, my voice stronger now. "I heard you and Lady Elara last night. I know what you've been doing."
His face paled, the smugness disappearing in an instant. "What are you talking about?"
"I heard you," I repeated, my words sharp. "I heard you with her. And I'm done. I'm done pretending, done trying to make this work. I want a divorce, Nicholas. You can tear up the papers all you want, but this marriage is over."
His face twisted with rage, but I didn't back down. I wasn't afraid of him. I wasn't going to live in his shadow like Isabella. This was my life, and I was finally taking it back.
Now, it was his turn to face the truth.