Chapter 2
Tears shimmered in her eyes, but she held them back, voice trembling. “Mr. Mitchell only took that from you so I could have a safe delivery–and so you two could get back to how you were. He’s been looking after me, but his heart’s with you. I know that.”
Esme didn’t even bother pretending to care. “It’s just us here. You can drop the act. Years ago, Liam gave you fifty million to disappear, but you still showed up, pregnant and all. I know exactly what you’re after.”
Joy’s tears froze on her cheeks.
“I’m done playing these games with you.” Esme handed over a divorce agreement. “If I give this to him, he’ll never sign it. You figure out a way to get him to sign it without noticing.”
Joy bit her lip. “You’ve got it all wrong. I never wanted to ruin things between you~”
“You get one chance,” Esme cut her off, her tone final. “Make it count.”
Joy stared at the papers for a long time, then finally reached out and took them. “…Thank you, Ms. Hiller. For letting us be a family.”
A family.
The words stabbed straight through Esme, leaving her breathless.
“Well, I wish you a lifetime of happiness,” she managed, voice barely above a whisper.
Back at the house, Esme dragged out a cardboard box and started packing away every little thing that reminded her of Liam.
They’d grown up together. The memories were endless.
The first thing she put in the box was an old photo album. On the very first page is a picture of them at five, Liam in a tiny suit, looking all serious as he stood next to her, his little hand secretly clutching the corner of her dress. Mrs. Mitchell had always said he refused to take a photo alone that day–he insisted on having Esme by his side.
That was the first time he’d ever shown he couldn’t let her go.
Next, she dropped in a button from their high school uniforms. On graduation day, every girl scrambled for the boys‘ jacket buttons. Esme hadn’t moved from her seat, but after school, she found his button tucked inside her desk, along with a note: Keep mine.
Even back then, he was already using his name to keep other guys away from her.
The third item was a diamond ring. The day she turned legal age, he couldn’t wait–he proposed right in front of the giant screen downtown, rose petals raining down from a helicopter as the diamond sparkled in his hand.
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Chapter 2
He slid the ring onto her finger himself, eyes full of promise. “Esme, for the rest of my life, I’m yours.”
If it hadn’t been for Joy, Esme would have believed they’d grow old together.
She let out a shaky, self–mocking laugh, tossed all the memories into the box, and then dumped it all in the trash.
The next morning, noise downstairs woke her.
She walked out to see the staff hauling in bag after bag of luxury goods–Hermès bags, Cartier jewelry, custom Chanel dresses.
Joy stood in the foyer, looking all fragile and innocent. “Mr. Mitchell, this is too much. I never wanted any of this…”
Liam gazed at her with gentle eyes. “Just take them. Being happy is good for you and the baby.”
He’d barely finished speaking when he caught sight of Esme. His face stiffened. He quickly said, “Esme, I’m sorry, I only bought gifts for Joy this time. If there’s anything you want, I’ll get it for you next time.”
Before Esme could say a word, Joy spoke up softly, “Mr. Mitchell, I already prepared the gift Mrs. Mitchell wanted most.”
She walked over and handed Esme a document envelope. Inside was a signed divorce
agreement.
Liam’s signature–bold, familiar–looked exactly like the handwriting in the love letters he
used to write her.
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