Chapter 2

Alphons Woodward was silent for a long moment on the other end of the line before it went dead. He stared at his phone, a flicker of something unreadable in his dark eyes. Eloise Bowers. He knew her, of course. She had been attached to his brother' s side for the better part of three years. A smart, composed woman from a family as respected as his own.

He also knew his brother. Holden was impulsive, driven by emotion, and tragically blind to the manipulations of those he chose to champion.

And he knew Jaidyn Albert, his fiancée. He saw the way she looked at Holden when she thought no one was watching.

"Your brother' s wedding is off. But the bride is still a Callahan."

It was a bold, almost reckless move. A move born of utter desperation or absolute conviction. Alphons found himself intrigued. He glanced at the clock. Twenty-nine minutes left.

He arrived at the courthouse with five minutes to spare. Eloise was already there, standing by the entrance in the same elegant dress she' d worn to the rehearsal. She looked pale but resolute. There were no tears, only a chilling stillness in her eyes.

"You came," she said. It wasn' t a question.

"You' re serious about this," he replied, studying her. "You' re willing to throw away three years with my brother for... this?"

"My relationship with your brother ended the moment he left me at the altar for another woman," she stated flatly. "The losses have already been incurred. The question is, are you willing to let your family' s name be dragged through the mud with a cancelled wedding, or do you prefer a simple transfer?"

He let out a short, humorless laugh. "A transfer?"

"Tic-toc, Alphons," she said, her gaze unwavering. "The clerk' s office closes soon."

He looked at this woman, who had her heart and reputation shattered just hours ago, and saw not a victim, but a queen reclaiming her board. He gave a single, decisive nod.

An hour later, they walked out with a marriage certificate. The ink was still fresh. Eloise took out her phone. She opened Holden' s contact, pressed 'Block,' and then did the same on every social media platform. She methodically erased him from her digital life.

It wasn' t long before the pounding started on her front door.

She opened it to find Holden, his face red with fury. "Eloise! Why aren't you answering my calls? I' ve been worried sick!"

"I was busy," she said, her voice cool.

"Busy? I was at the hospital with Jaidyn! You blocked me? What the hell is wrong with you?" he demanded, stepping into her foyer.

"I didn't want to bother you," she replied, her tone dripping with mock politeness. "You seemed to have your hands full."

"Jaidyn' s heart is weak! She could have died!" he yelled, his voice echoing in the large house. "She' s resting now, but the doctor said she needs to avoid stress."

"I see. So, is the wedding back on?" Eloise asked, tilting her head.

Holden' s anger seemed to deflate slightly, replaced by a patronizing gentleness. "Of course, honey. It' s just postponed. We' ll get married as soon as Jaidyn is stable. I told you that."

"No," Eloise said, the word sharp and final. "We won' t."

"What are you talking about?"

"I' m talking about us, Holden. It' s over. We are over."

He stared at her, his mind struggling to catch up. "Over? You' re breaking up with me? Because I helped Jaidyn? Are you that childish?"

"Childish?" A real smile, cold and sharp, touched her lips. "No, Holden. I' m just pointing out the facts. You made your choice in front of two hundred people. You chose her. You humiliated me, and then you sent a voicemail with the most insane proposition I have ever heard."

"You don't understand-"

"I understand perfectly. You don' t respect me. You don' t value me. And you certainly don' t love me."

He lunged forward, grabbing her arm. His grip was tight, bruising. "Who do you think you are to say that? After everything I' ve done for you!"

Eloise didn' t flinch. She looked down at his hand on her arm, then back up at his furious face. "Let go of me, Holden."

She yanked her arm free with surprising strength. "I' m not waiting for you. I' m not waiting for anything."

A flicker of panic crossed his face, real fear. He had assumed she would always be there. "Eloise, don't do this."

"It's already done."

"You' ll regret this!" he spat, his voice laced with a threat. "You'll come crawling back!"

Eloise simply closed the door in his face, the soft click of the lock echoing the final end of their relationship. She leaned against the door, her body trembling slightly, not from fear, but from the adrenaline of her own liberation.

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