Chapter 9 A month later, they found me.
Iâd sold all my shares, using the money to buy a small house in a city I loved. My days were peaceful â tending to my garden, brewing tea, living at my own pace.
Until Callum burst through my gate, a wearyâlooking Mila at his side. They rushed toward me as if nothing had changed, arms outstretched for an embrace I easily avoided.
âAria, I finally found you,â Callum breathed, his practiced sincerity making my stomach turn.
âWhen you disappeared, the company was in chaos. I know you must have been forced to sell the shares. I donât blame you. We can still be a family if you come back.â
Callum wasnât stupid â he knew Iâd sold the shares deliberately. But his need to paint me as a victim rather than acknowledge my agency was telling.
âThere is no âwe,ââ I cut in sharply. âWe never married. At best, we were dating, and now weâre done. Those shares were your compensation. You betrayed me, so I struck back. Weâre even now.â
I looked down at Mila â the daughter Iâd carried for nine months, the child Iâd poured all my love into. But her lies had poisoned even that. Iâd learned the hard way that sharing blood didnât guarantee loyalty.
It hurt, of course. But what was left except our biological connection?
Callum kept shaking his head, eyes wet, insisting we werenât finished. I simply showed them out.
Mila, stubborn as ever, shouted from beyond the gate: âYouâre so heartless, Mom! Youâre nothing like Aunt Sophie. I shouldnât have come!â
âIf you love Sophie so much, let her be your mother then.â
Mila fell silent for a moment before spitting back: âFine! I will make Sophie my mom!â
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The Ruined Bride of Velvet Nights