Chapter 9
“Julia, don’t think that just because you’ve been married to Ryan for a few years, you mean anything.
“He and I grew up together. He’s always been mine–and I’ve always been his. We’re everything to each other. You? You’re just the extra. The one who showed up late and ruined it all.
“If I hadn’t gotten sick and been sent abroad for treatment, you never would’ve had a chance to come between us. I would’ve never let you steal him!”
Her voice dipped into a sneer. “Must be lonely in that big house all by yourself. Want to know a secret? Ryan spent the entire night in my bed.”
Ryan looked stunned.
Anger, disbelief, and raw panic flooded his eyes.
His voice cracked with desperation. “No! That’s not true! Julia, believe me —what happened was just that one time. I wasn’t thinking clearly. It was a
mistake!“.
I stared at him, emotionless. “One time, a hundred–what’s the difference,
Ryan?”
His composure unraveled by the second.
“Rachel says I’m the third wheel,” I murmured, a bitter sting building behind my eyes.
“She’s right. You both made me feel like I was never supposed to be part
of this.”
Chapter 9
His eyes went glassy, and he sat beside me, almost begging.
“That’s not true, Julia. Please. Please hear me out.”
The tears finally fell.
My voice dropped to a whisper. “I don’t want to hear another word.”
His lips moved, but no sound came.
Finally, he managed to croak, “I won’t divorce you. I’m not signing anything.”
He still didn’t get it–I was already gone.
“When you’re ready to end this, talk to my brother. He’s handling the papers.”
I walked out without looking back.
He reached for me, but his hands caught nothing but air.
Over the following days, he began showing up at my company.
Morning. Noon. Night. Three times a day–every single day. He’d sit in the lobby, Quiet. Waiting.
288 (Vouchers
Sometimes eating, sometimes working, sometimes even joining meetings like everything was normal.
But word about the gala had already spread like wildfire. Everyone in the industry was whispering about the scandal. The Morris family was drowning in it.
And now, with Ryan camped out at my office like some broken man, the embarrassment was complete.
Chapter 9
Eventually, Ronald himself reached out. He promised he’d make Ryan
sign the divorce.
But he had one condition.
