The Wife They Sent Away

The mid-morning sun poured through the tall windows of the Vale mansion, casting long beams across the grand hallway.Elara stood before the mirror, adjusting the collar of the dress her mother had chosen.It was unmistakably Alessia’s style, elegant, fitted, carefully structured. The fabric hugged her frame just as it was meant to, tailored to match her sister’s usual silhouette.But it still felt unfamiliar. Not because it didn’t fit. But because it wasn’t hers.She smoothed the fabric once more, her movements controlled. Every detail mattered. Every gesture mattered.In a few hours, she would meet Adrian Wolfe, the man she was meant to marry. The man expecting Alessia. Not a stranger. Not her.Her mother’s reflection appeared behind her.Solen Vale stepped forward, hands clasped neatly, expression calm and exact.“Remember,” she said, her voice steady, “you are Alessia Vale. Speak as she speaks. Move as she moves. Do not hesitate.”A brief pause.“This is not your life,” she added

A few hours after Elara left, Adrian was still buried in work and hadn’t eaten lunch. The rush of meetings had slowed, leaving the office quiet. At his desk, he reviewed a report on his laptop, barely noticing the time passing.On the small table near his desk sat the lunch Elara had brought earlier.He had ignored it for hours.The insulated containers remained exactly where she had left them. For a long time, Adrian didn’t even look in their direction. He had already said what needed to be said.Throw it away. That should have been the end of it.Thomas had stepped out briefly to deliver documents to another department, leaving Adrian alone in the office.After a moment, Adrian leaned back slightly in his chair and glanced toward the table. His eyes rested on the containers for a second longer than necessary.It wasn’t appreciation. It was curiosity.With a quiet exhale, he stood and walked over. His movements were slow, casual, as if the act meant nothing. He opened one of the cont

A week passed, and Adrian did not return to the mansion.The house continued its routines as usual, but the absence was noticeable. His room remained untouched. His study stayed quiet. The staff spoke less than usual, careful not to speculate openly.Life in the mansion moved forward with the same calm efficiency, but everyone could feel the difference.One morning, Thomas arrived again.Gloria opened the door and greeted him politely. “Good morning, Mr. Thomas.”“Good morning,” he replied with a brief nod. “I’m here to collect another set of clothes for Mr. Wolfe.”Gloria stepped aside. “Of course.”Elara happened to be passing through the hall when she heard the conversation. She paused for a moment before stepping forward.“Good morning, Thomas.”Thomas straightened slightly. “Madam.”“Is Adrian... well?” she asked calmly.Thomas hesitated. His expression remained professional, but it was clear he was choosing his words carefully.“He’s been busy with work,” he replied after a mome

A few weeks after Adrian returned home, the Wolfe household was thick with tension. The news of him and Lillian still lingered, and Augustus Wolfe, Adrian’s grandfather, was not pleased. One morning, Adrian received the summons.“Go to the Wolfe estate,” Augustus commanded over the phone. “Bring your wife. Now.”Adrian hesitated, his mind still tangled with Lillian, who had consumed most of his time and attention. Yet he could not refuse his grandfather. With a reluctant sigh, he returned to the mansion, collected Elara, and together they drove to the estate.Upon arrival, the atmosphere was charged. Augustus sat upright on the sofa, cane resting by his side, flanked by Adrian’s parents, Victor and Margaret. Servants moved silently in the background, careful not to disturb the storm brewing in the room.“Sit,” Augustus instructed sharply. Both Adrian and Elara obeyed, settling into the plush chairs.“So,” Augustus began, cane tapping lightly against the floor, “that woman is back agai

Lillian’s games had escalated. She whispered rumors, planted subtle lies, and manipulated every situation to make Elara look incompetent, or even jealous. When Adrian was away, Lillian acted high and mighty, pressing Elara into uncomfortable positions. She twisted words, pretending to be offended or humiliated, making Adrian angrier with his wife.It didn’t take long for whispers to spread. Social circles, the hospital staff, even social media picked up the tension. People began talking: The Wolfe heir humiliates his wife. Divorce rumors swirl.Back at the Vale mansion, the family couldn’t stay quiet. Elara’s mother, Solen, called right away. “Come to the mansion, and bring your husband,” she demanded.But just as Lillian recovered enough to leave the hospital, her doctor advised a short break. “A few days out of town will help,” he suggested. Lillian seized the opportunity. Adrian, not wanting her to disappear again, suggested they go to a resort outside the city. She agreed, delight