Chapter2 Weston Vale chuckled lightly at Jewel Whitmore's condition, his voice as smooth as glass. "Jewel, don't be ridiculous. Without us, where could you possibly go?" Grayson Sloane frowned, his tone low and stern. "Jewel, you've been an orphan since birth. In this world, the only people you can rely on are me and Weston. We'll pretend we never heard your childish words today." Jewel stared at the two men who had once loved her so deeply. Her heart bled in silence. So this was how they saw her, helpless, dependent, trapped in their hands. That was why they dared to act so ruthlessly. But what they didn't know was that only yesterday, Evelyn Whitmore had found her, claiming to be her mother, and offering to take her abroad, to restore her rightful place in the Whitmore lineage. Jewel had been hesitant then. But now, in this moment, she realized Harbor City held nothing worth staying for. "Here's the divorce agreement. Sign it." Weston slid a contract across the table. His own name was already scrawled across the page. Jewel's fingertips traced the inked letters, Weston Vale. The sight stabbed her heart like a thousand needles. How ironic. Over a decade ago, when she had first entered the Sloane household, it was Weston who had clasped her hand and told the world, She's the girl I'm going to marry. I'll take care of her. Grayson had solemnly declared before everyone, She is my most beloved sister. And now, it was the two of them, her husband, her brother, who had picked up the knife and severed every tie between them. Swallowing the ache in her chest, Jewel signed her name without hesitation. Ivy Sloane's lips curved in triumph. She handed Weston a small velvet box, her voice dripping with sweetness. "Weston, this is a gift to celebrate your divorce. I hope you'll like it." Weston didn't even look at the box. His voice was cutting, glacial. "Your wish is granted. Now get out of the Vale Estate. Remember this, you're only Mrs. Vale in name." Ivy only smiled, ignoring his indifference. She slipped her arm through Grayson's and walked away, radiant with satisfaction. The moment she left, Weston's demeanor softened. "Jewel, everything just now was for show. No matter what, you're my wife." He reached for her, but as he drew close, Jewel caught the faint scent of white musk perfume clinging to his suit, the same fragrance Ivy had been wearing only moments before. Disgust surged in her throat. She tore away from him and ran to the bathroom, retching violently. When she finally returned to the living room, she froze. At some point, Weston had opened Ivy's gift box. Inside lay a toy, one Jewel instantly recognized. In the scandalous clips Ivy had once sent, she had used that very thing as a stand-in for Weston. Bile burned Jewel's throat again. But instead of tossing it away, Weston carefully, almost tenderly, put it aside for safekeeping. Jewel's heart turned to ice. He had once despised Ivy, every time her clips appeared, he would curse her as filthy, sneering "whore," and immediately change phones just to erase her stain from his life. But now, the same "filth" sat in his hands, and he cherished it. Jewel suddenly understood. the man who had once sworn she was his only choice... had already changed. She turned sharply, seizing the moment while Weston wasn't watching, and slipped upstairs to make a call. "I'll go abroad. I'll restore my name." On the other end, Evelyn Whitmore gasped with joy. "Darling, truly? That's wonderful news! And Weston? Grayson? Will they be coming with you?" Jewel thought of Weston's careful hands holding Ivy's sordid gift, and of Grayson's cold, condemning stare. Her chest ached as if cut open by blades. "I have no husband. No brother. A month from now, once the divorce is finalized, I'll leave them all behind."