?Chapter 499:


    Irene had loved Bertram since they were young, enduring countless humiliations just to be his wife. The thought of losing him now was unbearable. Besides, without her ce at Bertram’s side, her dreams of bing the Evans family’s most honored woman would crumble. Everything she’d worked for would vanish. Desperate, she lied. “Bertram, I swear, I would never think such a thing.”


    Bertram let out a cold, bitterugh. “Irene, I’ve seen through you ages ago. The only reason I kept quiet was for our sons. But my patience has its limits. Don’t test them.”


    Fear kept Irene silent. She lowered her gaze and bit her lip, not daring to meet Bertram’s eyes.


    Bertram wasn’t finished scolding her. “From here on out, behave yourself. If I catch you plotting again, there won’t be any mercy next time.”


    Without waiting for her response, Bertram turned around and left.


    Tears welled up and began to slide down Irene’s cheeks. In a moment of impulse, she called after him, “Bertram! After all these years, what have I ever meant to you?”


    Bertram stopped and nced back. “Haven’t you always been my wife?”


    Her pain spilled over. “Being your wife feels like nothing but suffering!” Her voice trembling, she choked out, “I feel utterly lonely without your love, Bertram!”


    Bertram’s expression hardened. Only scorn showed in his eyes. “You forced my first love out of the picture and manipted your way into this marriage. You knew the price you’d have to pay. All of this was your doing, Irene. You don’t get to y the victim now.” With those words, Bertram strode off, not once ncing back.


    Left alone, Irene broke down, her sobs growing harsher as resentment simmered beneath her grief. When her tears finally stopped, she wiped her face, her eyes taking on a cold, determined light. If Bertram’s affection was out of reach, she’d pour every ounce of herself into securing her son’s future within the family.


    Meanwhile, Elliana had guided Cole back to his room. Once they were inside, she looked at him with concern. “You’ve only just woken up. Your body is still weak, and it’s not good for you to get so worked up. Punishing Carter and rence must have taken a toll. Come on, let me help you lie down.”


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    She reached out to assist him, but Cole’s expression remained unchanged. “About the divorce,” he said quietly, “Do you have any other conditions?”


    Elliana’s hand hung in the air, caught somewhere between reaching and retreating. For a moment, all she could do was stare at Cole in his wheelchair, blindsided by the suddenness of his demand. After everything he’d done to protect her, divorce was thest thing she expected.


    Deep down, Elliana already knew the truth—Ruben had told her as much. Cole was doing this for her own good. But she truly disliked the way he was handling things. Whenever trouble came knocking, he locked his heart away, shutting her out without so much as an exnation. She despised how he pushed her aside and left her in the dark. She was never the type to crumble under hardship. She never wanted a love built on secrets or soft lies—she wanted honesty, even if it hurt. Tell her the truth, and she would decide for herself whether to stand and fight or walk away.


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