Chapter 110
Jaxon stood in front of my door, looking like a man who’d just realized he was standing on ashes after the fire had already burned everything down.”
Except this time, I didn’t feel anything.”
“Please,” Jaxon said, barely above a whisper. “Can we just talk?”
I didn’t stop walking. I didn’t soften. I unlocked the door like he was just another shadow on the sidewalk.
“You said that last time,” I said. “And the time before that.”
“I didn’t know how much I’d already lost.“”
“You didn’t lose me,” I said flatly. “You gave me away.“”
He took a step forward. I stepped inside.
“You think I chose her-”
“You did,” I snapped. “With your silence. With your excuses. With every look you gave her that you never once gave me.“>
His voice caught. “I didn’t know how to fix it.“}
“No. You didn’t want to.“\
My voice was calm. Too calm. “What changed, Jaxon? You wanted her. You got her. I’m not your second chance.”>
He shook his head slowly, his mouth opening and closing like he wanted to explain, like there was anything left to explain.”
“It’s not what I thought it would be,” he finally said. “She’s… not you.”}
A bitter laugh slipped from my throat before I could stop it. “Of course she’s not.”\
He took a step closer, and I stepped back.
“She’s chaos,” he whispered, almost like he was confessing a secret. “She’s demanding, selfish, jealous. Every moment feels like walking on glass.”
“You should’ve thought about that before you let her tear me apart,” I said. “Before you believed her lies. Before you stood by and let Jane smear me.“}
He flinched, and I knew it landed.
“I don’t hate you,” I said. “But you need to understand something. This is over. We’re over.”
His voice cracked as he tried one last time. “Megan, please. Just… think about it.”
I paused for a breath.”
Then, “Goodnight, Jaxon.“}
And I closed the door behind me without another word.
I didn’t lock it right away. I stood there for a second, fingers on the handle. Then I turned the deadbolt and walked away.”
Jaxon’s POVE
The second I walked through the door, she knew.”
I didn’t speak. Didn’t look at her. Just dropped my keys on the counter and poured a drink, shoulders slumped.
“Where were you?” Mellan’s voice was sharp, cutting through the quiet like a blade.N
I didn’t answer.
“Don’t you dare ignore me.”
“Mellan, don’t start–“[
“Where. Were. You.” Each word punctuated by the click of her heels as she crossed the room. “Did you go to her?” Silence.
I didn’t have to answer. She already knew.”
Her face twisted, rage bubbling over in a scream.}
She lunged for my phone on the table, grabbed it, and smashed it against the marble counter. It shattered on impact, glass splintering across the floor.”
“You went to her!” she screamed. “You chose her!”
I stood still, unmoving. Watching her unravel like a storm I couldn’t stop and maybe, didn’t want to.”
gave up everything for you!” Mellan shrieked. Her voice cracked, high and raw. “I gave up everything, and you’re still thinking about her!“}
She threw a glass at the wall. It exploded, the shards scattering like confetti.”
I didn’t stop her. Too tired to even say a word.”
I turned to leave, but she grabbed my arm. “Don’t you walk away from me!“}
He shook her off gently but firmly. “I’m sorry, Mellan.“}
As I opened the door, she screamed, “You’ll regret this, Jaxon! You hear me? You’ll regret this!“}
The sound of it slamming shut behind me was the only answer she got.”
–#
Megan’s POVE
Later, Elijah came by.
He brought stir–fry and a folder.
“The final filings,” he said, setting them on the table. “Everything’s clean. It’s all ready.”
“Good.”
He sat down. Took off his coat. The dog curled around his leg like we were already a little household.
We didn’t talk about Jaxon.
We didn’t talk about Mellan.\
We
Not yet.
I poured wine. He turned on jazz. We ate like it was just another Thursday.
Safe. Quiet. Familiar.
The next morning, my lawyer called.[
“You may want to sit down,” she said.
I didn’t.[
She continued. “A file from your grandfather’s estate was unsealed. Probate had been delayed due to a clause in the original trust. It’s cleared now. The inheritance is real.”
I didn’t breathe. “What inheritance?“{
“A trust fund. Shares in the Cross family company. A lakeside property under your name. It was all meant for you. Not Jaxon. Not Mellan.“Z
My pulse spiked.[
“There’s just one problem,” she added.
Of course there is.
“The signature accepting the assets wasn’t yours.”
My voice dropped. “Who forged it?”
“We’re looking into it. But the paperwork passed through Jane’s firm.”
Of course it did.
I stared out the window, knuckles tight.
They didn’t just leave me out.
They erased me.}
“Megan… this wasn’t a mistake. Someone didn’t want you to have this.”
