Chapter 4

My hands trembled as I dialed his number. My voice came out hoarse and broken. "The foundation... you decided to rename it?"

On the other end, Landon let out a cold laugh. "Didn't you enjoy showing off at the auction?"

"If you don't want all of New York to know you couldn't even protect your own father's blessing..." His tone was cruel to the extreme. "Then get over here now and personally hand the foundation plaque to Ava at today's renaming ceremony."

In the background, Ava's soft, delicate voice drifted through the call. "Landon... is that Eleanor? I... maybe I should just leave. I shouldn't stay by your side..."

"Don't be ridiculous." His voice softened instantly. A moment later, the sound of intimate kissing came through the line. "I've already stood up for you. Try leaving, and see what happens."

The call ended at some point.

I felt like I had fallen into an icy abyss. I grabbed my keys and drove straight to the ceremony—a grand ballroom in a luxury hotel in Midtown Manhattan.

The moment I pushed open the doors, my entire body trembled.

The room was filled with reporters and elite guests. At the center of the stage stood the familiar bronze plaque: "Eleanor Children's Heart Foundation." Under the spotlight, Ava stood beside Landon in an elegant gown, unable to hide the smug satisfaction on her face.

"Mrs. Eleanor is here!" someone called out.

All cameras turned toward me instantly. Their gazes felt like needles stabbing into my skin. Whispered conversations buzzed around me.

"How pitiful—she couldn't even keep the foundation named after herself..."

"I heard it was meant as a blessing for her father. Mr. Blackwood really went too far this time."

"What can you do? The new one smiles, the old one cries. I hear the new girlfriend is very... capable."

Each word sliced into my heart like a blade.

I suddenly remembered how carefully Landon had treated this foundation when it was first established.

Back then, he held my hand and made a solemn promise in front of the media. "This foundation honors Eleanor's father and his fight against illness. It's here to help families suffering from heart disease like his. It represents Eleanor's kindness—and my everlasting love and support for her."

And now, for another woman, he had turned my father's blessing into a gift for his mistress.

Under countless watching eyes, I walked onto the stage.

Landon handed me the heavy plaque, his gaze cold. "Give it to Ava."

I took it. The icy metal numbed my fingers. I stared at the name "Eleanor" engraved on it, my heart torn to pieces.

Every eye in the room was on me, waiting for my humiliation.

I extended the plaque toward Ava.

She reached out—but the moment she took it, she "accidentally" let go.

Bang.

The plaque hit the ground with a dull crash, the edge denting on impact.

"Oh! I'm so sorry, Eleanor, I didn't mean to..." Ava covered her mouth, though a flicker of satisfaction flashed in her eyes.

The room erupted in murmurs.

Landon frowned slightly, but in the end, he only wrapped an arm around her shoulders and murmured, "It's fine. It's just a plaque. I'll have a new one made for you."

Then he turned to the media and calmly announced, "Starting today, the 'Eleanor Children's Heart Foundation' will officially be renamed the 'Ava Hope Foundation.' We hope this goodwill continues under its new name."

Flashes exploded across the room, capturing my pale face—and Ava's victorious smile.

After the ceremony, I practically fled the hotel.

The moment I got into my car, my phone rang.

"So? Did you enjoy showing off in front of the media?" Landon's voice dripped with sarcasm.

I clenched my phone, my nails digging into my palm. "Aren't you afraid I'll divorce you after this?"

His tone was calm, like he was speaking to a stubborn child. "You can't divorce me, Eleanor. As long as I don't agree, this marriage will never end."

I said nothing.

Of course he had forgotten—I held a prenup he had already signed.

When I didn't respond, his tone softened slightly. "Today was just a lesson."

He paused, then added, "I told you, as long as you stop targeting Ava, I'll come back to the family eventually."

"Your birthday is in a few days. I'll throw you a party to make it up to you."

I was about to say "No need," but he had already hung up.

Over the next few days, Ava's posts flooded my Instagram feed.

The latest showed Landon holding her on a yacht, captioned: "I said I wanted to see the ocean, so he bought me an island."

Scrolling down—

"He's allergic to cat fur, but he got me the cutest Ragdoll cat anyway~"

"My entire face fills his photo album."

If I had seen this before, it would have hurt so much I couldn't breathe.

Now, I felt nothing.

Landon had been staying with Ava lately. Occasionally, he came back home, but only to grab a few clothes. He hadn't even noticed how many of my belongings were gone.

I realized... even if I disappeared one day, he probably wouldn't notice at all.