Too Late To Love Her

“I never knew she was the third party all along.”

“She used her wealth to snare him. Everyone knew the Wesley name was sinking fast and they were going bankrupt. Zane was desperate and had to marry her and what she offered. Isn’t it obvious she has a noose around his neck?."

“No wonder he follows her around. She took advantage of him.”

“The wedding happened so quickly. The paparazzi caught poor Sasha crying at the airport the day she left the country. But now I heard Sasha is back—richer and better than ever. I heard Melissa boasting to her friend that her brother was about to be rich and swimming in cash again.”

“I like that. Let’s see how that spoiled Elenora handles it when he dumps her on her ass,” the girl said, and her friend burst into laughter. “We all know Zane detests her.”

“I always thought she had class and was graceful. I didn’t expect her to be such a parasite. That’s pathetic.”

“Shhh, the walls have ears now,” they giggled.

I listened to the gossip. A tear broke free and slipped down my cheek, but I wiped it away furiously and straightened my spine.

I couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh as I saw Zane’s figure disappear, his car zooming out of the driveway.

So this was what I got after loving Zane?

After five years of marriage, it all came down to this—it turned out to be a cruel joke.

And everyone had known all along. Everyone but me. Now I was the image of disgrace and ridicule.

I picked myself up from the floor, the broken pieces from the glass still embedded in my hand.

I grabbed my keys and walked out of the house, heels clicking against the marble, my jaw set with resolve. “Nathan? Where did my husband go?” I asked Zane’s driver.

“Ma’am, I… I don’t…”

I was fed up with the lies around me.

“I pay you, but you’re lying for him? You have two minutes to say the truth or you lose your job,” I threatened.

“He’s with Miss Taylor,” Nathan confessed. “At St. Joseph’s Hospital.”

Without a word, I cranked my car and sped out of the driveway, tearing through the dead of night like a storm, heading to the hospital.

The ER was quiet and empty.

I walked down the hallway and there they were—Zane had his arms around Sasha, cradling and holding her as she laid her head on his chest.

“Zane?” My voice came out in a weak whisper.

A smug smile spread across Sasha’s face while Zane froze.

“Hello, Elenora. Took you long enough,” the petite girl said, folding her arms with a sickly sweet smile.

Zane protectively stepped in front of Sasha to shield her from me, and it made my heart twist with ache. A tear escaped.

His jaw ticked in anger. “What are you doing here? How did you find out I was here?."

I raised my still-bleeding hand. “Thanks to your dear sister.”

He frowned.

“You know you shouldn’t go around blaming people for nothing.” His tone was sharp. The anger in his voice was impossible to miss.

He opened his mouth to continue, but Sasha beat him to it.

“Melissa is just a kid. You should be patient with her. Why are you dragging her into this?” Sasha said sweetly.

I almost laughed out loud.

Melissa? A kid? She was only two years younger than me. Why, then, was everyone expecting me to be the adult in the situation?.

“And what does this have to do with you?” I asked Sasha coldly, my eyes flickering to hers—entwined with Zane’s—holding his tightly.

But my heart didn’t ache anymore. I was just… over everything.

As I made to walk past them, Zane suddenly grabbed my hand. “What’s with your attitude, Elenora? Apologize to Sasha. Now.” His tone was threatening.

Ignoring the dark look in his eyes, I met his stare, hoping to feel even the slightest spark.

Nothing.

“Give me one reason why I should apologize?” I asked him challengingly.

“Because Sasha is right. Melissa is just a kid. Why are you trying to antagonize her? This is our personal issue. Don’t bring her into it,” he paused. “And can you have no compassion? Don’t you know Sasha was just harassed at the airport? She’s still recovering, and you’re making it worse by talking to her in that manner. Apologize. Now!”

He pulled Sasha closer to him, the fury in his eyes looking like it was about to spill out.

So that was it?

When Sasha got hurt, Zane became mad with concern and almost fell apart. But when it was his own wife being drugged at her birthday party, he played along just to humiliate and steal from me?.

Zane didn’t care about my pain.

I looked at Sasha, whose doe eyes had watered and were almost spilling. She deserved a round of applause. What a performance.

I clenched my fists in anger and yanked my hand out of his hold with all my might.

“You should focus on giving her therapy to overcome the trauma of being harassed by airport security and worry less about how I talk to her. Leave me out of your circus!”

Without another glance or waiting for a response, I turned and walked out of the hospital.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Third Person’s POV

As Elenora walked away, Zane stood there, a shadow of worry flickering across his face and an unfamiliar knot tightening in his chest as he watched his wife disappear down the hallway.

This was the first time Elenora had ever talked back—ever challenged him. She was always gentle, agreeable, and submissive to him.

This time, she hadn’t cried or begged.

“Did I do something wrong?” Sasha asked in a delicate voice, tugging at his hand, her eyes brimming with unshod tears as she clung to him.

Zane turned to her, brushing a hand gently through her hair. “No, don’t overthink it. Elenora was just being unreasonable tonight. Don’t let it get to you.”

With that, he laced his fingers through hers and guided her quietly into one of the hospital wards.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Elenora’s Point of View

After the doctor bandaged my hand, I walked into the chilly night alone, pulling my jacket tighter around me as I made my way to my car. My mind spun with loud thoughts as I drove home in silence.

When I arrived, the villa was pitch black and silent. I paused in the doorway for a moment, exhaling deeply.

The man who I once believed was my safe haven turned out to be a lying, cheating, and conniving monster.

If that was how fate wanted it, I guess it was time to step away. Let Zane and Sasha be with each other—they truly deserved each other.

I took a deep sigh and began my night routine before retiring to bed with a heavy heart.

The next morning when I woke up, the other side of the bed was still cold. Zane had not returned.

As I stood up to start my day, my phone lit up with a notification. It was a message from Sasha Taylor:

You just have his name. The woman Zane truly loves is me.

Attached to the message were numerous pictures. I scrolled through them:

Zane shielding Sasha from the security at the airport, Sasha behind him.

Zane kissing her forehead.

Zane carrying Sasha into the hospital.

Zane cuddling her in a hospital bed.

Each picture was worse than the last.

The bedroom door creaked open at that moment.

“Elle, honey, you’re up early,” Zane said as he stepped inside the room, still wearing yesterday’s clothes.

I turned to face him without a single word.

Zane walked up to me and gently tucked my hair behind my ear. But as he leaned in to hug me, I saw them—

The angry, red, undeniable hickeys were like a slap to my face.

I could ignore Sasha’s taunts, but those hickeys were something else. So I pushed Zane away from me.

“What do you want?"

“My love, last night was my fault. I’m so sorry,” his voice was soft and sincere.

“Sasha had just gotten back from a long trip, and she was humiliated by airport security. She had a rough time. I was really worried about her. I didn’t mean to say those horrible things to you, okay?”

Zane took my hand gently. “Will you forgive me?” I stared at him blankly.

“You know what? I’ve arranged something for tonight, to make up for my attitude. It’ll just be a small gathering—my friends and yours. And Melissa would like to apologize.”

Zane looked into my eyes like he truly meant every word, but I felt nothing. The fire between us had died.

He smiled at me, but my mind went back to last night. After the doctor had treated me, I walked past a hospital ward when I heard Sasha and Zane’s voices inside.

“We can’t let her go like that,” Sasha had sounded anxious. “We’re running out of time.”

“What now?” Zane had asked.

“We’ll think of something to bring her into our midst again. Maybe a birthday party. Just invite her tomorrow. I’ll get you the pill you’ll spike her drink with.”

Zane didn’t even protest. “Okay, what time?”

I didn’t wait to hear the rest before I hurriedly walked out of the hospital.

Now he was back here, pretending like nothing had happened—like he wasn’t planning to ruin me.

“I don’t want to go,” I said, my voice flat.

His smile faltered, anger flashing across his face before he quickly masked it with a warm expression.

“Come on, baby, don’t be such a party pooper. I’ve already sent out the invites. Don’t kill the mood, okay?” Zane pulled me close and planted a kiss on my forehead.

I closed my eyes and sighed. “Alright, I’ll go. But I get to choose the venue."

Since he wanted me to be present in his little scheme, I also had something up my sleeve.

Zane paused and blinked in surprise. Then nodded in agreement. “Okay, send me the address and I’ll pick you up after work.” He kissed me and walked toward the closet to change his clothes.

But halfway there, he paused and looked back. “Oh, wear something dazzling tonight. It’s your 29th birthday—don’t look so miserable.”

As I watched his figure leave, I smiled to myself.

In a few weeks, I’d no longer be Mrs. Wesley.

My name would go back to being Miss Elenora Kings. And it was just a matter of time before Zane found out.

I wonder what his reaction will be when he sees he’ll get nothing from the divorce.

Not a single dime.