His Regret Bound My Ghost to His Side

Once, the love story of Elara Bennett and Silas Voss was the most dazzling fairy tale in Havenbrook.

Silas, the city's golden boy, defied all odds—family objections, social barriers—to marry an ordinary girl like her. He spoiled her rotten, turning her into the envied "Mrs. Voss."

Yet on their seventh anniversary, Silas threw a lavish birthday bash at their villa. The guest of honor? Not Elara, but his childhood sweetheart, Lila Cross.

They moved in sync, the picture-perfect couple, surrounded by admirers whispering about their chemistry.

Leaning against the bar in a plain white tee and jeans, Elara watched with icy calm.

Lila glided over, champagne in hand, her smile honeyed. "Elara, it's my birthday. Aren't you a little underdressed?"

With a wave, she summoned a maid carrying a gift box. "I had this made just for you. It's so you."

Inside lay a vulgar lingerie set—scraps of fabric barely covering anything, printed with humiliating words.

Elara arched a brow. "How fitting. Your taste is as trashy as your intentions."

Lila's face stiffened. She turned to Silas with wounded eyes. "Silas, I was just joking!"

"Elara." Silas's voice cut like a whip, his expression dark. "Apologize. Now."

"Apologize?" She let out a brittle laugh. "The only reason I haven't shoved this garbage in her face is out of respect for you, Mr. Voss."

Gossip hissed around them, laced with mockery.

"She's still acting proud? Does she think he still cares?"

"Open your eyes! Mr. Voss only has time for Miss Cross now. She's lucky he hasn't dumped her!"

"A delusional upstart. How pathetic."

Silas's gaze burned into her, his tone deceptively soft.

"Elias Bennett's next chemo payment is due, isn't it? Don't push me, Elara."

At the mention of Elias, her gaze turned stormy.

Her nails dug into her palms, but she held her head high.

"How predictable. Threatening me? Fine. If it's just a piece of clothing."

In one motion, she ripped off her shirt, revealing black lace beneath.

The crowd gasped, eyes darting away.

Without flinching, she reached for her jeans.

Smack!

A slap cracked across her cheek, snapping her head sideways. The blow split her lip, blood trickling down her chin.

Silas clamped down on her wrist, his grip so crushing it felt like he wanted to pulverize her bones.

"For your family, you'd debase yourself like this?" 

"Why?" His eyes burned with a roiling storm of fury and hatred, as if he wanted to consume her entirely.

"Sybil Voss treated you as her own, yet you left her comatose—and still refuse to admit your guilt?" 

The sting on her cheek might as well have been nothing.

Elara wrenched free, swiped the blood from her lips, and bit out each word like a hammer blow. "I did nothing wrong." 

Five years. Five endless years since that night, and no amount of pleading had ever swayed him.

The man who'd once stood against the world for her, who'd cherished her every breath, had transformed into a stranger in the blink of an eye. 

Drawing herself up, she leveled her gaze. "You stopped me from wearing that trash. So you will ensure my brother's medical fees are paid—on time." 

Not that it mattered anymore. 

Just one more month.

When she was finally free, Elias would receive that life-changing insurance payout. 

No more humiliation from these two vipers. And Elias—he'd have every resource to continue his treatment.

Chapter 2

Silas's chest rose and fell like a storm as he sucked in a sharp breath, his face twisted with rage. "Get out! I never want to see your face again!"

"Like I even want to be here?" Elara shot back, spinning on her heel and striding away without a second glance.

Alone in her second-floor bedroom, she collapsed onto the bed, but sleep was a distant dream.

The silence pressed in around her, broken only by the ragged sawing of her own breath.

Five years ago, she'd come home from work to a nightmare—Sybil sprawled at the foot of the stairs, her body pooled in a crimson puddle.

Above them stood Lila, Silas's childhood friend-turned-rival, her face ghostly pale.

Elara had lunged forward, screaming at Lila to call an ambulance.

But the other woman just curled her lips into a venomous smile. "You asked for this by sticking your nose in, Elara."

Lila vanished—only to return minutes later dragging a frantic Silas behind her.

"Silas!" she cried, voice dripping with false distress. "I saw everything! Elara was yelling at Sybil, then pushed her down!"