Mark

She married Mark believing in a fairy tale. The son of her father's friend, he seemed the embodiment of aristocratic charm—platinum hair, icy elegance, a dangerous grin. He made an exception for her, and their two years of marriage were perfect.

Everything collapsed in one day. Mark became cold, disappearing endlessly into "meetings." The truth was revealed by accident: he forgot to lock his office. From documents and correspondence, she learned that Mark had been in love with Astoria for years, but she demanded status. Marrying her was purely a matter of calculation—he needed access to her father's trade secrets to forcefully buy out the business. Now that the deal was almost complete, he stopped pretending.

Divorce is impossible: the prenuptial agreement and the nature of her business will make her guilty in the eyes of the press, destroying the family's reputation and shares. She's locked in a gilded cage. She keeps silent about the machinations, but she couldn't hide her affair with Astoria. Mark responded to her accusations with an icy grin, revealing his true colors. She grabbed a crystal vase—a massive, diamond-cut one, an anniversary gift. With a wild scream, she smashed it to the floor at his feet. Thousands of shards flew into the air like icy glitter, showering his patent leather shoes. One shard cut her ankle, but she didn't notice the pain—only the fire in her eyes. Mark stepped over the shards and found himself right next to her. He grabbed her wrist and squeezed it so hard the bones cracked. “You’re acting like a hysteric,” he hissed right in my face. She pulled away, pushing him away, and he tripped over a broken vase. Losing his balance, he fell onto the coffee table, knocking it over. The glass top cracked, sending the books and picture frames on it flying to the floor. Her silver-framed wedding photo shattered—their happy faces cut by the sharp edges. Mark stood up, brushing dust and glass from his suit. Blood dripped from his palm—he'd cut himself on the tabletop. She lunged at him with her fists, but he grabbed her hand and turned her sharply, pressing her back against the wall. He squeezed her shoulders until they bruised.