Chapter 10
The second Mia spun around and saw Julian standing there, she collapsed to the floor like someone had cut her strings.
Lily, scared shitless, started bawling her eyes out and reached for Julian, wanting him to pick her up.
But the man who’d doted on her for two years shoved her to the ground like trash.
“I’m not your fucking dad. Get the hell away from me.“[]
The hallway erupted into total chaos.
I was about to call the cops when hotel security showed up out of nowhere.
They dragged all three of them out, and the hallway finally went quiet again.
The second I slammed my door shut, I sent the video I’d just recorded straight to my lawyer.]
I couldn’t care less whose kid Lily really was–all I needed was proof Julian had screwed around during our marriage.]
Three days later, Julian and I were signing divorce papers.
Looking at that divorce papers, I couldn’t help but smirk.]
From now on, I was just me, living my life on my own damn terms.]
As I was walking out, Julian called after me.]
“Elena, everything was my fault. Let me be the one chasing after you from now on, okay?“]
“Not a chance in hell. All you need to do is take care of Mia and Lily. Stop bothering me.”
“Julian Thorne, have a nice life.”
As I turned to leave, I felt my lips curl into a smile of pure relief–finally free.
Julian deserved to be stuck with a kid he never asked for. He made his bed–now he could fucking lie in it.]
After that shitshow at the hotel, Julian took Lily for a paternity test.[]
The results? The kid wasn’t even his.[]
Mia hated his guts–no way in hell she’d have his baby.
That night they spent together? They literally just crashed in the same bed, nothing more.
But drunk–ass Julian didn’t know that and thought he’d forced himself on her.
When he tried confronting Mia about it, she’d already skipped town with the kid.]
But the court decision couldn’t be changed.]
With no other options, he had to sign the divorce papers.[]
Watching him standing there in the sunlight looking like absolute garbage, I couldn’t help but laugh as I walked away.
That night, I headed back to my mountain village and jumped back into teaching for the rest of the year.
Time flew by, and my two–year teaching gig was wrapping up.
Since some city slicker was being transferred in, Neil’s forest firefighting job ended early too.
During our time together, we’d gotten pretty damn close.
Neither of us had made a move yet–we were still in that awkward “are we dating?” phase.
Just when I thought it’d take forever for us to get our shit together, the day before I was supposed to head back to the city, my students dragged me to the village’s grain–drying area.
The place was decked out with a red carpet and a tall backdrop with little prayer notes stacked in front.
Neil walked out from behind the backdrop carrying roses.
The second he dropped to one knee, everyone in the village lost their minds.
for me, everything went dead silent.]]
I cleared his throat and said, “For three years, I watched you hurting, and all I wanted was to hold you tight. Now I’ve finally grown a pair and I’m asking you to marry
I love you, and I want to take you home–to make sure you never cry again…“)
rs hit me like a truck as I shakily reached out my hand.
- s. Hell yes.”
m that moment on, I wasn’t flying solo anymore.]]
With everyone cheering around us, the sky grew darker.
1 and I cuddled up on the drying ground, staring up at the stars.
Jou when everything was perfect, some asshole had to crash the party.
lena, I’m here. I’ll stick by you from now on.”
–“0
Julsan’s voice cut through our moment like a chainsaw.
The bulldozed his way between us with this crazy look on his face, shoving Neil aside.[]
Weil, you’re bailing tomorrow. Elena will be back with me after that.“]
Nel and I exchanged glances, looking at Julian like he had two heads.]
I waved my hand in front of his face, making sure the diamond caught the light]
your former bestie, Neil would love your congratulations.“[]
Juban froze. The darkness on his face flickered for just a second before it disappeared, replaced by this smug ass look as he raised an eyebrow at Neil
As long as you haven’t tied the knot, I still have a shot. Especially since you’re skipping town. Time will tell.“]
Secing Neil about to blow a gasket, I quickly jumped up and wrapped my arms around him.]
I gave Julian the coldest look I could muster.]
“Tm bouncing tomorrow too. You’re the only loser staying behind.“]
With that, Neil and I walked away, leaving Julian standing there like an idiot.]
1
From then on, we never crossed paths again…
