CHAPTER 1 Broken

1924, Sussex. Andrea, the Duchess of Sussex, settled into the plush cushions of her brougham, a warm shawl wrapped around her against the damp chill of the day. Outside, the rain tapped a steady rhythm on the carriage windows as they left the familiar streets of Kensington behind and ventured into the Sussex countryside. Along the way, she watched the scene outside transform. Pedestrians hurried by, their umbrellas bobbing like boats on a rainy sea. Some sought refuge under awnings or the shelter of shop entrances, while others braved the elements, their coats turned up against the drizzle. The air inside the carriage was filled with the faint scent of damp wool and the earthy aroma of rain-soaked earth. The sound of the horse's hooves clopping on the wet road provided a steady, reassuring backdrop to the journey. As they traveled further into the countryside, the landscape became a blur of green fields and hedgerows, punctuated by the occasional village or lone farmhouse. Smoke curled from chimneys, a sign of warmth and life amidst the gray day. Eventually, the brougham arrived at her husband's manor. The rain had eased, leaving behind a sense of freshness in the air. Andrea stepped out onto the gravel drive, her boots crunching on the wet stones, and looked up at the grand facade of the manor. The Footman, Albert, a stalwart lad with a kind demeanor, curtseyed gracefully as he pulled out her luggage. 'Thank you, Albert,' she said, her smile radiating warmth. 'Your wish is my command, your grace,' Albert replied, pausing to tug on a particularly stubborn box. 'Forgive my uncouth manners, your grace; A warm good afternoon to you. Might there be any chance I could assist you further?' 'Why, yes, of course. My husband... erm... The Duke, where is he?' 'The Duke is in the study, your grace, attending to some matters of estate,' ––Albert said, informing her. The duchess nodded, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. He'd love it, it's his favourite colour as well. The duchess continued on her way, her heart full of anticipation at the thought of surprising her husband with the thoughtful gift she had brought for him. Nearing the study, she could hear the faint sound of papers rustling and the scratching of a pen. She paused for a moment to compose herself, smoothing down her dress before gently pushing open the door. Inside, the Duke was seated at his desk, engrossed in his work. He looked up as she entered, his expression icy and indifferent. 'What are you doing here?'–– he asked, his tone cold and unwelcoming. 'I've come home… ,' the duchess replied, trying to keep her voice steady despite the chill in the air. '... I thought I'd surprise you for your birthday, and our anniversary' The Duke's face darkened, and he stood up abruptly, towering over her. 'Fredrick, today marks our third wedding anniversary, and this is the gift I prepared for you.' Andrea held the meticulously crafted gift she had spent months making at the handicraft club, and approached the tall, handsome man. She raised her gaze cautiously, then quickly lowered it, a blush creeping up to her ears. In the discreetly luxurious gift box lay a tie, with light-colored lines crisscrossing over a dark background. Glancing at it briefly before looking away, his attitude extremely disdainful as he spoke, 'This tie is really ugly, I don't like it at all.' As Fredrick's words fell, the blush on Andrea's face vanished in an instant, replaced by a pallor. She subconsciously rubbed her fingers, only to feel the pain from the pricks she endured while making the tie, a pain that seemed to spread throughout her body, bringing with it a sense of clarity. She bit her lip, forcing back the tears. Seeing that Fredrick was wearing a similar tie to the one she had given him, Andrea felt as though she had grasped at a straw of hope and hurriedly said, 'But you've always worn this type of tie. I thought you liked it.' Fredrick remained unfazed, his magnetic voice delivering words that shattered Andrea 's heart. 'Yes, I used to like it, but from the moment you gave me this tie, I stopped liking it. Everything associated with you makes me feel nauseous. I won't be using this type of tie anymore.' As he spoke, he forcefully tore off the tie and threw it to the ground without a second thought. Tears welled up in Andrea's eyes, her body trembling slightly, and she couldn't hold onto the gift box anymore, dropping it to the ground with a loud thud. Seeing Andrea's tears, Fredrick furrowed his brow in disgust. 'Crying again, all you know how to do is cry. It's really annoying. Are you planning to run to Grandpa and complain again? If it wasn't to make Grandpa happy, how could I have possibly married you?' 'The incident three years ago, saving Grandpa, was just a ploy by you, wasn't it? Your aim was to marry into my family. How could you be so scheming?' 'No, that's not true,' Andrea weakly retorted, but her voice fell on deaf ears as Fredrick found it nothing but annoying. Fredrick's expression turned indifferent, 'Under the guise of gifts, don't think I don't know what you really want.' The next moment, Andrea was forcefully pulled into Fredrick 's embrace. Though the surroundings grew warmer, Andrea only felt cold. The man showed no signs of stopping, and the pain, like tearing, spread throughout her body. No matter how she pleaded, the man remained unmoved, leaving her to grit her teeth in agony. Cold sweat dripped from her forehead. At that moment, a distinctive ringtone echoed. Feeling the man's body stiffen, Andrea knew he had paused, abruptly leaving to answer the call. The Duke had recently installed a private gallow where he could receive and transmit calls which was comparatively faster than telegrams. 'Hello, Camilla, why did you suddenly call me? Is something wrong?' The man's gentle voice, so different from the coldness directed at her, formed two extremes. Andrea covered her face, crying, her heart feeling like it was being twisted by needles. She knew the person Fredrick was talking to on the phone was called Camilla , another presence between her and Fredrick , one that couldn't be shaken off. Camilla was someone buried deep in Fredrick's heart, his childhood friend. They were like two peas in a pod. Not until she had traveled overseas for study. Now she had returned, and it seemed she controlled every aspect of her marriage. And her husband was the puppet. Every time Fredrick spoke to Camilla on the gallows, he wouldn't avoid her, perhaps intentionally wanting her to see. At the end of the call, Fredrick would always make a promise to Camilla , and this time was no different. 'Camilla, don't worry. I'll get Andrea to agree to a divorce as soon as possible, and then I'll come marry you!' Even though Andrea couldn't see his face, she was sure Fredrick must have said this with a smile. After hanging up, Fredrick's voice returned to its cold and indifferent tone as he faced Andrea . 'I've already printed the divorce agreement. Sign it as soon as possible. Don't make me lose my patience with you.' Andrea, feeling broken like a doll, still persisted, 'I won't get a divorce.' With a cold sneer, Fredrick spoke harshly, 'That's not up to you! Camilla's back, I'm going to pick her up. I hope you'll have signed the papers by the time I return. Otherwise, don't blame me for using force!' Fredrick quickly dressed, not sparing Andrea a glance as he prepared to leave. It was at this moment that Andrea snapped out of her daze. She suppressed the discomfort in her body and hurriedly got out of bed, desperately pleading as she followed Fredrick, 'Fredrick, don't go. I can be very obedient and well-behaved. It's not right, it's not right. Tell me what kind of woman you like, and I'll go learn. I can become the woman you like. Can we not get a divorce, please...' 'You're just a lunatic!' Seeing Andrea like this, Fredrick 's eyes filled with disdain, not wanting to be entangled with her any longer. But then, Fredrick had another interesting idea. He approached Andrea with a smile that was gentle to the extreme, only to grab her chin harshly, his voice filled with malice, 'I wish you'd just disappear from my sight forever. Would you be willing to do that? I bet you wouldn't.' Without waiting for Andrea's answer, he turned away and left. Next moment, he felt his arm being grabbed, and Andrea's soft voice came to his ears, 'If this is what you want, then I'm willing.' Fredrick's body stiffened, his eyes flashing with coldness as he looked at Andrea and said word by word, 'Andrea, do you know? You're as lowly as a dog right now, and I don't even want such a dog's life!' After saying this, Fredrick forcefully grabbed Andrea's hand off his arm and flung it away. Andrea was already feeling unwell, her legs trembling slightly even while standing, and now, being suddenly pushed away by Fredrick , she lost her balance and fell straight towards the corner of the wall. Fredrick subconsciously reached out when he saw Andrea about to fall, but then pulled his hand back. It's just a fall, and she's willing to die for him anyway, so what's the big deal about a little stumble? Besides, why was she so annoying, grabbing his arm like that? It would be best if she ended up as a vegetable! Andrea had no idea of the malicious thoughts in Fredrick 's mind, and even if she did, she wouldn't have time to care. 'Bang!' Her head hit the corner of the wall, making a sound like a door slamming shut. Fresh red blood flowed out along with a piercing pain, blurring Andrea 's vision. In that instant, as if a switch had been flipped, many fragments flooded her mind. These fragments were familiar yet unfamiliar, quickly occupying the parts of her memory that had been missing. Andrea wiped the blood from her eyes, lifted her head, and looked Fredrick straight in the eyes, speaking emotionlessly, 'Fredrick, we're getting a divorce.'