Chapter 54
Jason, Lily, and Noah were gone. They had packed up and moved into their newly bought mansion–a home filled with luxury, laughter, and a future that didn’t include me. They had left me behind without a second thought.
It should have broken me. Maybe a part of me had broken. But as I sat in the empty living room, staring at the divorce papers I had rewritten myself, something inside me hardened.
I wasn’t going to fight for a marriage that was already dead. I wasn’t going to beg for a son who had already chosen another mother. I wasn’t going to cry for a family that had never truly loved me.”
No. I was going to disappear. And one day–I would return as someone they would all fear.}
With Ethan’s help, I moved in silence. I made sure the new divorce papers were finalized–taking nothing from Jason. Not a single cent. I wouldn’t owe him a damn thing.”
Then, I did something even more drastic. I reached out to an underground contact Ethan’s colleagues had helped me find–someone who could provide me with what I needed. An unclaimed corpse. It had belonged to a woman of similar build and age–another forgotten soul discarded by the world.”
I dressed the body in one of my favorite dresses. Then, with shaking hands, I placed my wedding ring on its finger. And finally–1 unclasped the delicate gold necklace Jason had given me when he still loved me. The one I had cherished even after everything. The one Noah used to tug on as a baby while giggling, his small fingers tracing the pendant.
“Mommy, I like this! Is this magic?”
“No, sweetheart,” I had laughed. “But Daddy gave it to me, so it’s special.”
“Then it’s magic!” Noah had grinned, curling up in my lap.”
A lump formed in my throat. That was years ago. Now, Noah clung to Lily instead.”
I draped the necklace around the corpse’s neck, swallowing the pain. It was done. The woman on the bed was no longer a stranger. She was Emma Romano.
That night, before I set the house ablaze-
I picked up my phone with trembling fingers, hesitating only for a second before dialing Jason’s number.
Ring.
Once. Twice. Three times. No answer.
Of course. I already knew why. My mother had told me everything when she called me earlier.
“Oh, Emma… I didn’t know how to tell you, but Jason, Lily, and Noah… they left for Paris this morning.”
Paris.
A honeymoon for Jason and Lily. A family vacation for my son–without me. A sharp, hollow ache spread through my chest, but I crushed it down.
I called again. And again. Still, no answer.
Finally, I opened my messages and began to type.”
To Jason Romano
“Thank you for teaching me the most painful lesson of my life. Thank you for showing me how little I meant to you. Thank you for making it so easy to let go. Congratulations on your new family. I hope Lily makes you happier than I ever could.“}
I hesitated, then added one final line.
“Goodbye, Jason.“%
Then, with a steady breath, I pressed send.
That was the last message he would ever receive from me.”
I made sure the flames consumed everything. The memories. The pain. The Emma Romano that had been discarded like trash.2
As the fire spread, I stood outside in the shadows, watching the flames engulf the place I had once called home.
The laughter that once filled these walls was gone.
Noah used to run through those hallways, calling my name in excitement.
“Mommy! Mommy, look at me!”
He used to crawl into my lap, his small arms wrapping around my neck as he whispered, “I love you, Mommy.” But now–now he was in Lily’s arms.
Now he called her Mommy.”
Now he loved her more 2
A sharp, hollow ache spread through my chest, but I crushed it down. Emotions had no place in my new life.
By the time the fire department arrived, it was too late. The body inside was burned beyond recognition. And just like that–I was dead. The next morning, the news spread like wildfire.
JASON’S POVE
The next morning, the news spread like wildfire.
****
JASON’S POV
The private jet touched down smoothly, and I rolled my shoulders, cracking my neck as I stepped off. The trip had been good. No bullshit No drama Just business and pleasure.
Lily was glowing, still high off our honeymoon. Paris had suited her–designer clothes, fancy dinners, the whole fucking dream she’d always wanted She clung to my arm like the perfect little trophy wife, soaking up every second.#
Noah had been happy too Kid didn’t hesitate to call her Mommy. Didn’t even fucking look back. And for the first time in years, I felt something close to peace.
Emma was gone Not dead, of course–just out of my life. The past. A fucking ghost. She’d served her purpose, and now she was just another chapter I had no reason to reopen N
As my car pulled up to the estate, I exhaled slowly, rubbing my temples. My phone buzzed in my pocket. I ignored it. Business could wait. It buzzed again And again N
I sighed, pulling it out, ready to snap at whoever the fuck was blowing up my line. Dozens of missed calls. A shit ton of unread messages V
I frowned, scrolling. Most were from unknown numbers. Some from business associates. But one message caught my eye.
Emma Romano.N
My grip tightened around the phone as I opened it.N
“Thank you for teaching me the most painful lesson of my life. Thank you for showing me how little I meant to you. Thank you for making it so easy to let go.“N
“Congratulations on your new family. I hope Lily makes you happier than I ever could. Goodbye, Jason.“W
A strange fucking feeling settled in my gut, something sharp and off. But before I could process it, Lily grabbed the remote and turned on the TV.8
The news anchor’s voice filled the room.N
“Emma Romano, Former Wife of CEO Jason Romano, Found Dead in Fire.“N
