Chapter 33 Separation
In the quiet hospital room, Elsa's desperate crying seemed unbearably loud.
Alexander stood beside the bed and watched her collapse into Margaret's arms.
After a moment, he turned his face away.
Eleanor arrived in a rush just in time to see the scene.
After greeting Harold, she pushed past her own son and went to Elsa.
"Elsa, tell me how you got hurt."
Elsa forced herself to stop crying. "Mom, I'm fine. I slipped at the mall. Just a few scrapes."
Only then did Eleanor relax slightly.
Elsa climbed out of bed and took Margaret's hand.
"Dad, Mom, I want to go home."
Right now, even if Elsa sold everything she owned, she couldn't produce one billion in cash overnight to secure a divorce.
But she couldn't keep living with Alexander either.
If this continued, her entire life would fall apart, and she wouldn't even be able to work.
She had to get out of the environment that was destroying her.
Elsa's words were polite, but everyone understood what she meant.
She didn't simply miss home.
She wanted to separate from Alexander and prepare for divorce.
Eleanor stepped forward. "Elsa, if the current house is uncomfortable, you can move to Emerald Bay. It's closer to the hospital too."
Elsa shook her head. "Thank you, Mom. But I want to live with my parents for a while."
Alexander stared at her.
Then he walked closer. "Staying with them for a few days is fine. I'll come get you when you've had time to rest."
Elsa didn't argue.
Her immediate goal was simple.
Move home.
Separate from Alexander.
Margaret supported Elsa as they left the room.
Alexander followed, but Harold stepped between them.
He looked at Eleanor. "We'll take our daughter home first."
Eleanor understood that Harold was deliberately leaving half his anger unsaid in order to preserve the Horton family's dignity.
She had no power to keep Elsa here, so she could only walk them to the hospital entrance.
When Alexander saw Harold calling for a ride, he stepped forward.
"Dad, let me drive you."
The pride Harold once showed whenever he looked at his son-in-law was gone.
"No. Go take care of your own business."
Alexander had no choice but to approach Elsa.
He cautiously reached for her arm. "Elsa, it's hot outside. If you don't want to see me, I'll have the driver take you home."
Elsa didn't even raise her head.
She moved away from his hand and closer to her mother.
Alexander looked helplessly at Margaret. "Mom."
Margaret met his gaze.
Her eyes were full of accusation and restraint.
Alexander lowered his eyes and took a shaky step back.
Violet came forward carefully. "Elsa, maybe let Lucas drive you?"
A ride-share car pulled up.
Harold opened the rear door for his wife and daughter, then got into the front passenger seat.
Alexander remained on the curb, watching the car merge into traffic.
Something seemed to tighten around his chest until breathing became difficult.
Eleanor turned on him, furious.
"People always say sons take after their mothers. I've spent my life tolerating your father for the sake of this family, but at least I know right from wrong. How did I give birth to a son like you?"
After Eleanor and Violet left, Lucas dragged Alexander into his car.
The air-conditioning was strong, but Alexander lowered the window and lit a cigarette.
Lucas drove out of the hospital parking lot and stopped beneath a tree along the road.
"Still need to buy those sanitary pads? I can take you back to the mall."
Alexander turned and gave him a murderous look.
Lucas ignored it. "See? You didn't deliver them, and Serena's period somehow didn't flood the streets. Amazing."
Alexander closed his eyes, exhausted.
Elsa had always been a dutiful daughter. She told her parents good news and hid the bad.
Calling them today meant she was finally going to tell them about what she believed was his affair.
Her parents adored her.
Once they knew, they would not easily send her back to him.
When Elsa arrived at her parents' home, Margaret started preparing a room while Harold went out to buy groceries.
Elsa did her best to gather herself and help.
That evening, Harold cooked in the kitchen while Elsa and Margaret sat outside trimming vegetables.
Elsa hesitated for a long time before finally saying, "Dad, Mom, I plan to live separately from Alexander."
Harold lowered his head over the stove.
Margaret had already guessed. "Elsa, tell me the truth. Is there another woman?"
Elsa's eyes reddened again.
"His first love came back. She brought him a son. He's supporting them outside the family."
A loud bang came from the kitchen.
Harold dropped the pan and switched off the stove.
He walked out. "The Winters family may be poor now, but we're not so poor that our daughter has to endure this."
Margaret's reaction was immediate. "Divorce him. A man whose heart has changed isn't worth keeping."
Elsa looked at her parents and struggled to get the next words out.
"Alexander said he'll agree to divorce, but the Winters family has to repay one billion."
The spatula shook in Harold's hand.
Margaret gripped Elsa's fingers. "You foolish child. Why didn't you tell us earlier?"
Elsa began crying. "Don't worry. I'll find a way. I will divorce him."
Harold looked at his wife.
The middle-aged man who had spent years holding the family together couldn't stop his eyes from turning red.
Margaret silently released Elsa's hand and went into the bedroom.
A few minutes later, she returned carrying a black combination case.
She opened it.
Inside was a complete jewelry set.
Elsa stared.
The stones were exceptional imperial-green jade surrounded by diamonds. Even at a glance, the set was clearly worth a fortune.
It looked strangely familiar.
"This jewelry is an heirloom from my side of the family," Margaret said.
"It has been passed down for four generations. When the Winters family went bankrupt, your father and I sold almost everything we owned to repay debt. I couldn't bring myself to sell this. I wanted to leave something to protect you and Noah in the future."
She touched the case gently.
"Back then, after Alexander paid off the remaining Winters debts, your father and I offered this to him. He refused it. If he's asking for repayment now, then we repay him. This set is worth well over one billion. Sell it, return the money, and divorce him. Your mother supports you."
Worth more than one billion.
For Elsa, it felt like seeing light while trapped underground.
She dropped to her knees before her parents.
Her sobs bent her body forward. "Dad, Mom... I was wrong."
When she was young, she had given up the violin she loved because of Alexander.
She had even changed the academic path she originally wanted because of him.
After marriage, her life revolved entirely around Alexander. She gave up work, learned to cook for him, and studied fragrances and formulas that might help his sleep.
She had built everything around him.
And forgotten to leave any road for herself.
She had neglected her parents for years.
Now she had to sell her mother's family heirloom just to escape her marriage.
The shame hurt.
But it was also the only path she could see.
"Dad, Mom, I swear I'll earn enough one day. I'll buy this jewelry back."
She needed to sell it as soon as possible.
Then she could finally divorce Alexander.