But in the end, it was nothing more than a gilded cage that had trapped her.

She sat in the cavernous, pitch-black living room, the tears spilling uncontrollably down her cheeks.

Refusing to accept reality, she pulled out her phone and dialed Dylan's number.

Her hands shook violently around the device.

Her voice was choked with broken sobs.

"Dylan, please pick up."

"Dylan, answer the phone."

"Dylan, I'm begging you, just answer."

The only response she received was a cold, robotic voice endlessly repeating that the number she had dialed was temporarily unavailable.

Dylan had blocked her.

Ever since she threw her massive tantrum and refused to sign the divorce papers, he had completely cut her off.

Yet even knowing this, she refused to end the call. She sobbed hysterically into the dead line, screaming at a man who wasn't there to hear her. "How am I worse than Noreen?! I'm younger than her, I come from a better family, and I love you a million times more! Why won't you even look at me?"

"Dylan, can't you just look at me one more time?"

Across the city, Jasmine was equally drunk.

Her home wasn't empty. She had a husband and a child waiting for her.

Carman Holt was sitting on the floor, helping their daughter, Winnie, with a kindergarten crafts project. When he saw Jasmine stumble through the door, he stood up and poured her a glass of water.

"Why did you drink so much again?" Carman asked, his brow furrowing in disapproval.

Jasmine downed half the glass before glaring at him. "Do you think I wanted to?"

She immediately launched into her usual tirade, mocking Carman for his lack of social skills and his refusal to network and drink with clients.

Carman's expression hardened. Without saying a word, he turned his back on her and sat back down to help Winnie with her project.

Whenever Jasmine threw a fit, she secretly wanted Carman to coddle her.

She wanted him to beg for her attention, to make her feel accomplished and desperately needed.

But Carman's response was always this infuriating, icy indifference.

The rage inside her ignited into a blazing inferno.

But with the child sitting right there, she forced herself to swallow her fury. She

walked over and tried to hug the little girl. "Baby, isn't it time for bed?"

Winnie recoiled at the overwhelming stench of alcohol, pushing her away in disgust. "Mommy stinks."

It felt as if a physical blade had just been plunged into Jasmine's chest.

Unable to contain her explosive anger any longer, she completely lost it. "So even you despise me. now? work myself to the bone for this family, and this is how you all treat me

Terrified by her sudden screaming, Winnie burst into hysterical tears. "I hate Mommy! I hate Mommy!"

Blinded by rage, Jasmine raised her hand and viciously slapped the child across the face.

Carman never expected her to do something so insane. By the time he lunged forward to stop her, it was too late.

Winnie's wails escalated into shrieks of terror.

Carman yanked the little girl into his arms and roared at Jasmine. "Jasmine! Are you out of your mind?! What did she do to you?!"

Staring at the bright red handprint blooming across his daughter's cheek, Carman felt his heart shatter.

Jasmine had completely lost her grip on reality, screaming hysterically. "Am I out of my mind? You're all out to get me! your sister attacks me! Your entire family targets me and looks down on me, and now my own flesh and blood treats me like garbage!"

"I exhaust myself schmoozing and drinking for the sake of the company, and what do I get? No one at the office respects my authority! Do you think I don't know what they whisper about me behind my back? Especially your veteran employees! They mock me, saying I took advantage of you when you were drunk crawled into your bed, a trapped you with a baby! They say I have zero talent but still try to act like the boss! Is this supposed to be a life?!"

and

Carman had heard this exact speech a thousand times before.

He had absolutely zero desire to respond.

He didn't even spare Jasmine a second glance as he scooped Winnie up and marched straight into the bedroom.

The door slammed shut with a deafening crash.

Jasmine collapsed onto the floor, clawing desperately at her hair as she let out a piercing, deranged scream. "Carman! How am I worse than Noreen?! Why do you treat me like this?!"