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CHAPTER 17%
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He slowly lowered the fist he’d raised to strike back, eyes wide as he turned to me.”
“Is that true? Lauren… we’ve been apart for less than a month, and you’ve already agreed to marry someone else?“{
His voice cracked on the last word, and for a moment, he looked like a lost child.
Looking at his hurt expression, I didn’t bother telling him that the night I found out about Victoria’s pregnancy, I had already said yes to Marcus’s heartfelt proposal over video call from across the ocean, a man who had loved me quietly since we were young.
Instead, I lazily leaned against Marcus’s broad shoulder, a subtle smile tugging at my lips. I gave a soft “Mhm” in response.
Alexander’s expression crumbled into complete disbelief.}
“Have you lost your mind?” he asked, his voice trembling with desperation and rage. “You’re still my wife! I never agreed to a divorce. And now you’re throwing yourself at another man? How dare you do this to me?!“}
How dare I?
I tilted my head slightly, blinking slowly, genuinely amused at his audacity. After everything he had put me through, he still thought he had the right to control my choices.}
“Does your consent really mean anything to me?” I asked calmly. “Alexander, you think far too highly of yourself.“}
His face went white, then red, then white again. “Lauren, you can’t be serious about this. You barely know him!“}
“I’ve known Marcus longer than I’ve known you,” I replied. “And unlike you, he’s never lied to me. He’s never cheated on me. He’s never made me feel worthless.”
can change!” Alexander shouted, his composure finally breaking completely. “I told you I sent Victoria away! I got the tattoo! I bought you the necklace! What more do you want from me?“}
“Nothing,” I said simply. “I want nothing from you anymore, Alexander.“}
The word ‘nothing‘ seemed to physically hurt him. He actually staggered backward as if I had slapped him.”
“You don’t mean that,” he whispered.}]
“I do.” I stood up straighter, feeling stronger than I had in years. “Let me say it one last time–you mean nothing to me now. We are truly, completely over.”}
“Lauren, please…”
But I had already turned away from him without a second glance. My fingers laced tightly with Marcus’s, and we resumed our quiet moonlit conversation as though nothing had happened.
Alexander stood there for several more minutes, breathing heavily, waiting for me to look back at him. But I didn’t.”
“This isn’t over,” he said, but his voice lacked conviction now. “I’m not giving up.“}
Neither Marcus nor I responded. We simply continued talking quietly about our wedding plans, our voices carrying just enough for Alexander to hear every painful detail.}]
No one knew when Alexander left the estate that night.
No one cared, either.
But he didn’t return to America as I had hoped. Instead, within a week, I learned that he had bought a high–rise apartment near the vineyard, one with a clear view of our estate.
His days became routine. Remote meetings with his company back home in the morning, followed by drives to our estate gates in the afternoon.
Each time, he brought a different bouquet of flowers or a gift. A first edition book of poetry I had mentioned loving in college. A vintage art set like the one I had used as a student. A music box that played the song from our first dance.
Things I had once mentioned in passing during our nine years of marriage. Things he had never given me when it might have mattered.
But I never acknowledged him.
The estate staff would collect whatever he left at the gate and dispose of it. I made it clear that nothing from Alexander was to reach me.
And I certainly didn’t change my plans because of him.
Marcus and I continued our life together. We were happy in a way I had never been with Alexander.
Nine years of a humiliating, imbalanced marriage had taught me one valuable lesson: A woman should never bend her life around a man who doesn’t value her.”
The world was vast, and my only job was to make myself happy.”
As for Alexander, I figured the only reason he hadn’t given up was because his grandfather couldn’t bear to see him fail. I imagined the old man had instructed his grandson again and again to win back my forgiveness, not understanding that some things couldn’t be fixed.
So I made the call myself.
I phoned Alexander’s grandfather and calmly told him that I now had a fiancé and a new life. I explained that Alexander’s pursuit was pointless and painful for everyone involved.]
I asked him not to let his affection for me become a reason to force his grandson to stay in England, wasting his time and mine.
The old man was quiet for a long time after I finished speaking.
“Lauren,” he said finally, his voice heavy with sadness, “I always hoped you two would find your way back to each other.“>>
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“Some things can’t be fixed,” I replied gently. “Some damage is too deep.”
“I understand,” he said. “I’ll speak to Alexander.“N
But even after that call, to my surprise Alexander remained.
He stopped bringing gifts after a while, but he didn’t leave. Every morning when I looked out my bedroom window, I could see his car parked in the same spot near the estate gates.
Sometimes I would catch glimpses of him walking along the country roads, always keeping his distance but never quite disappearing. Marcus suggested we call the police, but I refused. Alexander wasn’t technically doing anything illegal. He stayed on public property, never tried to enter the estate, never approached me directly.
He was like a ghost, haunting the edges of my new life but never quite solid enough to confront.
For an entire month, he continued to wait outside the gates of the estate just for a single glimpse of me, from behind a tinted car window.&
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