7
“We’re here.” I snapped back to reality, realizing the car had pulled up outside my apartment building. As I stepped out, he followed. My suitcase was in his hand; he showed no intention of giving it back.
We entered the elevator and went up to my floor. At my front door, he didn’t step inside. “Layla, want to open a law firm with me?”
was surprised he’d suggest such a thing. After marrying Connor, I’d stopped practicing law. As Mrs. Walker, it wasn’t appropriate to be in the public eye frequently or to do anything that might tarnish the Hayes or Walker family names. For years, I’d just managed small businesses, gradually forgetting I was once a law student. The moment Jackson brought it up, I admit, my heart stirred.
Chapter 1
12:29
But I quickly dismissed the idea. “I’m an amateur now. I’d only drag you down.” Jackson had thrived over the years, a rising star everyone in the legal world was betting on. At parties, old classmates spoke of Jackson with envy: “Jackson Reed, the hotshot partner, is earning seven figures a year, pushing for eight. You folks dragging the industry down should really reflect on yourselves.”
Jackson didn’t see it that way. “You can do it, Layla. You always could.” He reminded me of our campus days, of my fierce competitive spirit, of the times I’d corner-
ed him in debates, leaving him speechless. “Layla,” he said, “since you’re starting a new life, why not take one more step forward?”
His words swayed me. As I approached thirty, I found the courage to live for myself.
The following days, my life became a blur. I was out early and home late every day. It was exhausting, but I felt an unprecedented sense of fulfillment. It wasn’t until
I received a call from Grandpa Walker that I realized a whole month had simply vanished.
“Layla, what have you been so busy with lately? Why haven’t you
come to see your grandpa?” The Walker family elders had always been kind to me. Grandpa Walker
especially so. There were no granddaughters in this generation of the Walker family, and Grandpa Walker would have showered me with everything good.
I explained I’d been busy with work. He said, “Day after tomorrowin
is Grandpa’s eightieth birthday. Don’t forget. Oh, and your grandmother ordered a custom gown for you, sent it to the estate. When you have a moment, see if it fits.” I nodded repeatedly, chatted a bit more, then hung up. The estate Grandpa Walker mentioned was
the Walker family’s wedding gift to Connor and me, quite a distance from the city center. For convenience, we usually stayed at The Bayview Lofts.
After work, I drove back to the estate to pick up the gown. Divorce was one thing, but showing respect to elders was another. Arriving at the house, I headed straight
for the walk–in closet. The housekeeper said my gown had been put away there. The walk–in closet was in the master suite, but for convenience, there was a separa-
te door to it from the hallway.
Just as I reached the door, the master suite door swung open without warning. Chloe Davis appeared before me. Seeing me, she recoiled like a startled rabbit, looki- ng flustered. “Ms. Hayes?”
I nodded, not intending to linger, and continued walking. I hadn’t taken two steps when Connor’s lazy voice drifted from behind me: “Who are you talking to…” His
voice suddenly cut off. I felt a hot gaze on my back. I turned, nodding blandly at him. “Just came back to pick up the gown Grandpa sent.”
Connor’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Did you get it?”
“I’m just going to,” I replied.
I entered the walk–in closet and found the gown in the bottom drawer. Without lingering, I quickly left. But as I reached the turn in the staircase, Connor called out.
“Layla, next time you plan to come here, give me a heads–up.” He leaned against the railing on the second floor, his shirt unbuttoned haphazardly, revealing clear
scratches and hickeys. “Chloe is sensitive. You showing up like this makes her very uncomfortable.”
I pursed my lips. “While I understand your urgency, we’re not divorced yet. If this gets to the family estate, it’ll be difficult for you to explain.” Before he could speak, I
added, “Tomorrow is the day we finalize the divorce. Don’t be late.”
