Married to Destroy You

Chapter 3

A white light pierced her beautiful eyelids that slowly opened, the person lying in the center of the room blinked, feeling the too-bright light gracing her sight as her consciousness still hovered between reality and the void.

The sound of machines beeping softly formed a rhythm that decorated the room. The white ceiling greeted her vision and the distinctive scent of antiseptic infiltrated her nose. The air in the room was cold, piercing her hot, sweaty skin.

She tried to move her fingers, but her body felt weak and her head throbbed violently.

A low moan escaped her lips, as her eyes moved to the side, capturing the sight of a room with thin curtains fluttering gently with the air conditioning, and an IV stuck in the back of her hand.

He was in a hospital?

His hand outstretched to massage his dizzy head. He tried to remember how he came to be here. Pieces of last night's events hit him like a violent wave. The dimly lit room... the sound of sighs... then her unsteady body, Joshua's cold stare... and the words of humiliation that hit her.

'I never thought you existed.' The words suddenly echoed in her head.

Her heart sank as everything that happened last night flooded into her head.

Anna blinked rapidly, cold sweat running down her temples, mixing with the feverish heat burning through her body. She wanted to move, wanted to get up, but even breathing was difficult at the moment.

"Madam, are you awake?" A soft voice sounded from the side of the room.

Anna turned her head weakly. A woman stood by the door, her face full of worry as she walked hurriedly to her side. She was her personal assistant, Elise.

"Why am I here?" Her hoarse voice slowly slipped from Anna's lips, almost inaudible.

Elise stood at the side of the bed with a pitying face. "You fainted last night, ma'am. The doctor said your body was exhausted... you had seizures and severe dehydration from the alcohol so we brought you in last night."

Anna stared at Elise in silence.

"And my husband?" Her own voice sounded foreign to her ears. Hoarse, weak, almost like it didn't belong to her. But what bothered her more was the question he had just asked. Why would he ask that? She shouldn't care. She should already know the answer. Joshua was never there for her. But still... that little part of her... the part she hated the most... still hoped.

Maybe... at least he came to see her? To make sure that his wife was still alive?

But when Elise lowered her gaze and bit her lip in doubt, Anna knew that even the smallest hope was foolishness.

Elise took a slow breath before finally saying, "Last night, Master only asked to take you out of his room, then told us to take care of you."

Anna's chest felt like it was hit by a hard object hearing that, even though she had guessed it from the start.

A cold smile graced her lips.

He had just sent a servant? Didn’t even come himself. Didn’t even ask how she was.

Her inner child laughed bitterly.

Of course he didn’t care. Anna let out a dry, humorless chuckle.

“And...” Elise hesitated, but went on. “The master said Miss Isabelle needed him so much last night... that he couldn’t take you to the hospital.”

A palpable pain slowly ran through Anna’s chest, as if an invisible hand had grabbed her heart and squeezed it.

“Isabelle…”

The name echoed in her head.

The woman who lay in her husband's bed last night. The one Joshua had allowed to sleep there—while forbidding Anna. Even when she was dying of alcohol and fever, he had chosen to stay by the other woman’s side.

A chill slithered down her spine.

Anna closed her eyes, swallowing the bitterness rising in her throat.

Stupid... she had been too stupid to hope. Her eyes blinked slowly, but they were now blank as her gaze met Elise's.

A glow of worry took over Elise’s face. She looked agitated. Her fingers, slick with cold sweat, fumbled with something hidden behind her back. Then, hesitantly, she took out a brown envelope and handed it over.

“This was sent this morning, Ma'am,” Elise said quietly, her expression unreadable.

Anna stared at the envelope with slightly furrowed brows. Her weak hands reached for it in slow motion. Her gaze scanned the name and address neatly printed on the front.

“State Court...” Anna muttered, her voice flat as she stared at the envelope. A strange feeling crept into her chest, silent and cold. Slowly, she opened the envelope and pulled out the document inside.

As her eyes caught the writing on the first page, her breath caught.

Divorce suit.

Her eyes froze over the line, her brain taking longer to truly process it.

Divorce?

Her trembling fingers turned the page, tracing the legal words that felt like daggers sinking into her body one by one.

Joshua Laurent — Plaintiff.

Anna Laurent — Defendant.

Deadline for first hearing: Next week.

The air in the room felt thin. Her hand gripped the paper tighter, the edges beginning to crinkle between her fingers. She shouldn’t have been surprised. She should’ve expected it.

But still—reading those words directly shattered something inside her.

Her lips trembled, but no sound came out.

Once again, she gripped the paper until it nearly tore, summoning the strength to speak.

“Did... she deliver this herself?” Anna asked slowly, her eyes lifting to meet Elise’s with quiet devastation.

Elise shook her head weakly. “It was his assistant who brought it this morning, Ma'am...” Her voice was cautious. “I know it’s difficult, but you need to stay calm. The doctor says your condition is not yet stable…”

Anna chuckled.

It sounded dull and hollow.

He hadn’t even bothered to hand her the divorce letter himself. How insignificant was she, in Joshua’s eyes?

Without warning, Anna squeezed the paper so tightly that the edge tore between her fingers. Her lips lifted, forming a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

So, this is how it ends?

Her gaze lingered on the now-crumpled paper.

Slowly, she raised her hand and tossed the letter onto the bedside table with a casual flick, as if it held no meaning.

But her eyes told a different story.

A faint glint flickered there.

Anna inhaled deeply, taming the slight tremble in her chest. Her fingers reached for the cell phone nearby. For a moment, her gaze fixated on the screen, narrowing slightly as it landed on a private number. Then, with effort, she tapped the screen.

The call connected after just one ring.

A flicker of emotion passed through her eyes. Not sadness. Not rage. Something colder. Deeper.

"Rafael, it’s me... I’m getting a divorce." Her voice paused.

"Prepare everything. And tell them—I’m coming back."

She ended the call and laid the phone gently on the blanket.

Her eyes shifted to the window. Beyond the sheer curtains swaying in the breeze, the sky outside had turned gray, swollen with the promise of a storm. But the one in Anna’s eyes—the one that had raged through the night—was fading now. Only silence remained.

“Miss... are you okay?” Elise's quiet concern drew Anna’s gaze. She blinked slowly and offered a small smile.

“I’m fine, Elise. After this, prepare my passport,” she said calmly. “And pack a suitcase. Just for one week.”

Shock crossed Elise’s face.

“But... where are you going?”

Anna took a slow breath, turning her gaze back toward the window. It had grown distant. Sharp. Like glass ready to cut.

“To France,” she said at last. “My mother’s family has waited long enough. Now, it’s time to take back what’s rightfully mine.”

Elise blinked fast, disbelief written on her face. “Your mother’s family? You mean... the Delacroix family?”

A smile curved Anna’s lips. It wasn’t a happy one. It tasted like vengeance.

“Yes. The Delacroix family—who believe their blood is more precious than gold.”

She paused. Let the silence stretch. Then her voice dropped, soft and sharp as a knife.

“And when they find out Joshua threw away the only heir to the name... this divorce will mark the beginning of his fall.”