CEO's Caged Ex-wife

Chapter 2 You Used Her

-Flashback-

"Florrie, do you regret marrying me?"

Nathan, dressed in a sharp black suit, stood before Florence, who was radiant in her white wedding gown.

Florence, looking every bit like a fairy, gazed back at him with bright, clear eyes that reflected his perfect silhouette. She smiled softly, her voice steady as she declared, "No regrets. Florence will never regret marrying Nathan. Never."

-End of Flashback-

"Nathan, now I regret it."

The rain that had poured all night finally cleared by morning, leaving the sky a pure, washed-out blue. The afternoon sunlight streamed through the window, falling on the pale hospital bed where a frail figure lay. The luxurious, cold room was eerily quiet, devoid of any visitors.

Florence stared out the window, her once-bright eyes now dull and lifeless.

"Both are married into wealthy families, but the way they're treated is worlds apart."

"Exactly! Ms. Howard's had it rough. Her husband's gone, and now she's lost her baby too. They say the good ones always suffer, but with both Brooks brothers doting on her, she's clearly not the average woman," the other nurse replied, her voice hushed.

These two nurses whispered as they pushed a medication cart into the room.

"Though I heard Ms. Howard fell down the stairs because of..." The first nurse gestured subtly toward Florence lying in the bed before continuing, "...which led to the miscarriage."

The second nurse's eyes widened in realization.

"No wonder! Their rooms are right next to each other, but Ms. Howard's room is packed—Mr. Brooks stayed all night, and there's also Mr. Samuel, Madame Brooks, Mr. Brandon, Mrs. Brooks, and a bunch of servants. Meanwhile, this room is completely deserted."

"Alas, wealthy families are obsessed with status. Lady Eleanor is the Howard family's crown jewel, while the younger one... well, she was once the Miller family's daughter, but now that the real heiress has returned, she's just a foster child with no real claim."

The two nurses were deep in their gossip when a soft voice interrupted them.

"Is there really a crowd in the next room?"

They froze, turning to see Florence awake, her gaze fixed calmly on the window.

When they didn't respond immediately, Florence slowly turned to look at them. Her face was pale, devoid of any color, and her eyes were eerily calm, as if nothing could shake her anymore.

"Well?"

The nurses exchanged uneasy glances before nodding reluctantly.

Florence lowered her eyelids, then turned back to the window.

The nurses approached quietly, checking her blood pressure, temperature, and overall condition. Throughout the entire process, Florence remained unnervingly still, as if the person being examined wasn't her at all.

"Lady Florence, the miscarriage has harmed your uterus, and with the cold you've endured, it's probable that getting pregnant again will be challenging."

One of the nurses said gently, though she knew how cruel these words were to a woman who had just lost her child. Last night, Florence was rushed into surgery, covered in blood. They almost thought she wouldn't make it. From emergency to the ward, no one from the Brooks family showed up—not even to arrange her room.

Florence didn't react, her gaze still fixed on the window. The title "Lady Florence" made her heart ache. The memories of the cold mansion and the blood-soaked rainy night flooded back, and Florence closed her eyes in pain.

It wasn't until much later that she opened her eyes again, gazing out the window. The sky was gradually darkening. Humans were such contradictory creatures. She knew full well that Eleanor, the woman who had everyone's love and attention, was in the next room. She knew her husband—the man she loved—was by Eleanor's side. Yet, she still wanted to see for herself.

Maybe she wanted to see if Nathan would be as cold and heartless to Eleanor as he had been to her.

Maybe she wanted to see if witnessing Nathan's tender care for another woman would finally make her give up.

The hallway was empty, save for faint voices coming from a nearby room. Eleanor's room was easy to find, which was just next door. Weak from the miscarriage, Florence leaned on the wall for support as she slowly made her way to the room.

The luxurious room had two doors with nearly transparent glass panels, allowing her to clearly see the two figures inside.

The familiar figure stood by the bed—the same figure who had held her countless times. But now, the woman in his arms wasn't her. It was Eleanor, the woman Nathan called his sister-in-law.

Eleanor's frail body leaned against Nathan's chest, her arms wrapped around his waist as she sobbed softly, her voice weak and pitiful.

"Nat, don't blame Florrie. I'm sure she didn't mean any of this. She's just... pitiful. You married her to put Michael's mind at rest, to convince yourself to move on. She always believed you loved her, but in the end... you used her."

Florence's steps faltered, her mind going blank as she stared at the two figures embracing.

At that moment, it felt as if the world had disappeared, leaving only her alone. Eleanor's words echoed in her ears like a curse.

"You married her to put Michael's mind at rest... She always believed you loved her, but in the end, you used her."

"In the end, you used her..."

Florence's mouth opened, but no sound came out. She clutched her chest, the pain unbearable. Tears streamed down her face as she tried to leave, but her feet felt like they were rooted to the ground.

Meanwhile, Eleanor's low voice continued to drift out from the room.

"After nearly dying, I've realized how precious life is. My child isn't gone—he's just gone to keep Michael company."

"Nat, my child is gone, and so is Florence's. There's nothing standing between us anymore."

"I don't want to waste any more time. Let's be together."

As if sensing something, Nathan glanced toward the door.

Through the clear glass, he saw nothing but an empty hallway. He quickly looked away, unaware that Florence was curled up on the floor just outside, biting her lip to stifle her sobs.

Tears fell to the ground, a lonely and desolate sight. Florence finally forced herself to stand and fled the hospital.

In a dark, secluded corner behind the hospital building, Florence crouched on the ground, biting her lip to suppress her cries. Her nails dug into her arms, leaving bloody scratches as she tried to numb the pain in her heart.

"It hurts so much, Nathan!"

"Why are you doing this to me? Why?"

It took a long time for Florence to calm down. The night air was cold after the rain, and she stumbled out of the hospital in a daze. But she hadn't gone far when the headlights of a car suddenly illuminated her from behind.

Screech!

A black car pulled up beside Florence, and several burly men in dark suits stepped out.

Before Florence could react, a black cloth was thrown over her head, and a sharp pain shot through her neck. Then, everything went black…