Chapter 2

I went straight back to the villa after leaving the café.

Big, cold, and quiet as always.

Sometimes I wondered why we even needed all these people around, the bodyguards, the maids, the housekeepers. What were they protecting, cleaning, or serving? I was the only one who actually lived here. Occasionally Henry, when he wasn't at school.

And Finn? Finn showed up maybe seven days out of the whole damn year. If that.

I wandered through the halls, heels echoing against marble floors.

I passed the garden I once designed myself, every flower chosen to match Finn's taste.

I peeked into his room. The one where I set everything up to make him stay. The room where I tried to trap him with a child.

Memories hit me like a punch to the chest. The woman I used to be would've clung to them. But not anymore.

I'd already signed the divorce. I had no business staying here.

It was time to prepare for leaving.

I started packing. Quietly. Until the housekeeper suddenly popped into the room, acting like I was some maid breaking the rules.

"What are you doing in here?" he asked, frowning. "You know you're not allowed in Mr. Gallagher's room without his permission."

He knew how little I mattered in this household. He'd always taken advantage of that, talking down to me when Finn wasn't around.

I turned, sharp. "Do yourself a favor and leave me alone."

When he didn't back off, I dropped everything and walked into Henry's room instead.

It still smelled like him. Still had that boyish mess everywhere, books, shoes, scattered Legos.

And on his bed sat the teddy bear I bought for him last year.

I still remembered that day.

He looked at the bear, then frowned and said, "That's not the one I wanted."

He didn't even touch it.

But then Finn said, "Madeline picked that out."

Henry's whole face changed. He hugged the bear tightly and slept with it every night since.

That moment crushed me.

I didn't know whether to be grateful Finn convinced him… or broken because my son only accepted a gift once he thought it came from another woman.

I picked up the bear. Just held it.

I didn't plan on taking much with me, but this? I wanted this. I needed the reminder.

Suddenly, I heard his voice, sharp and angry.

"Put that down! That's from Madeline!"

I looked up and saw Henry in the doorway, eyes burning. And behind him, Finn.

No Madeline. Just the three of us.

It was so rare, us in the same space.

"Where's Madeline?" I asked before I could stop myself.

Finn frowned. "She told me to spend more time with Henry. So I did. What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in your room?"

Henry stepped in, arms crossed. "Yeah! Why are you in my room, touching my stuff?"

"I wasn't throwing anything away," I said, tired. "It's a teddy bear. I bought it for you."

"I don't care!" he yelled. "I don't want you here!"

I flinched. But I held my ground.

"Henry… I'm your mother."

"No, you're not! Not really! I don't even wanna live under the same roof as you!"

Finn stepped in. Quiet. Still. Cold.

"Let's go," he told Henry, and grabbed his hand.

He paused at the door. Looked back at me.

"Jillian," he said. "Stop acting like a child. And don't put this on Madeline."

Then, just as he was about to leave the room, he reached into his jacket and tossed me a card. It landed at my feet.

"You can stay. Break whatever you want. Just… keep it down."

Then they left.

I stood there, staring at the card. A million-dollar limit. Not even close to the card he gave Madeline.

But back then… in my old life… I would've seen that card as something more. A sign that he still cared. That there was hope.

Now?

Now I knew better.

I let the tears fall. Just for a minute.

Then I wiped them away, threw the card across the room, and whispered to myself:

"Don't worry, Finn. I won't make noise again. Not ever."

***

Since that day, I started changing.

That morning, my body automatically told me to cook Henry's favorite, pan-fried fish with lemon and dill. But I stopped myself. Sat down in the living room with a book instead.

After a while, one of the maids peeked in, hesitating.

"Um… ma'am, are you not cooking breakfast today?"

I slammed the book shut harder than I meant to.

"What, we've got ten people on staff and no one knows how to make breakfast?"

She jumped. "Sorry, I'll take care of it."

When Henry came home from school, I didn't go to his room to check his homework.

Didn't help him with his assignments like I always did.

Didn't ask if he needed help with downloads or supplies.

I let him walk right past me. Didn't say a word.

He played video games all night. I heard it through the walls.

But I kept to myself.

Four days passed like that. I just waited for my lawyer to finalize the property split.

I didn't cry. I didn't talk. I didn't try.

On the fifth day, Henry broke.

He called Finn. I heard him sobbing through the thin walls.

"Dad, I can't take it anymore. I need to move out! Jillian's being awful to me, she's trying to hurt me!"

Finn showed up the next day. Stormed into the villa.

"You're still his mother, Jillian," he said sharply. "I don't care what Madeline told you, you've got responsibilities."

Before I could answer, Henry tugged at his sleeve, still crying.

"Dad, please stay with us for a few days. You'll see it. She's trying to hurt me!"

Finn glanced at me, then back at Henry. "Alright. I'll stay. But Jillian, don't go overboard."

Henry wiped his tears and perked up. "Can we ask Madeline to move in too? She's way better than her!"

Finn didn't answer right away. Just looked at me. Waiting.

I met his eyes. Cold. Steady.

"Then invite her," I said. "I'm fine with it."

His eyes widened a little. "You sure?"

"100 percent."

Henry was already dragging him toward the door. "Let's go! I wanna tell Madeline the good news!"

They left the villa. Finn glanced back at me once, briefly, then got in the car with Henry.