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CHAPTER 11

Autor: Kimberly Ingrid
last update Última actualización: 2026-01-18 23:45:52
ESMERALDA'S POV

I'm at the penthouse when the movers arrive.

I didn't plan to be here. I came to get more clothes, some books. Things I need while staying at Lila's. I still have my key. Julian hasn't asked for it back yet.

The building doorman Marcus, who's known me for three years gives me a sympathetic look as I pass.

"Mrs. Voss."

"Hi, Marcus."

"You doing okay?"

The question is kind, but I can't answer it. I just nod and hurry to the elevator.

The penthouse is quiet when I enter. Unchanged. Our furniture, our art, our life still intact.

For a moment, I can pretend nothing's wrong. That Julian will walk through the door any minute, kiss my forehead, ask about my day.

Then I hear voices in the hallway. Multiple voices.

I freeze.

The door opens. Julian walks in, phone to his ear, not seeing me yet. Behind him—

Vivienne Laurent.

She's stunning in person. Cream cashmere, designer jeans, her pregnancy evident but elegant. Two children trail behind her a boy and a girl, maybe
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  • Ashes Of His Regret    CHAPTER 17

    ESMERALDA'S POVI don't know what day it is anymore.The weeks blur together sleeping, waking, staring at the ceiling, sleeping again. Lila's couch has a permanent dent where my body curls up every night. Every day. All the time."Esme." Lila's voice sounds far away. "Esme, you need to get up.""I am up." My eyes are open. That counts."You need to shower. Eat something. Move.""I'm fine.""You're not fine." She sits on the edge of the couch, and I can feel her worry like a physical weight. "You haven't left this apartment in ten days."Has it been ten days? Could be five. Could be twenty. Time doesn't work right anymore."I went to the bathroom," I offer weakly."That doesn't count." She pulls the blanket off me. "Come on. Up. Now.""Lila, please—""No. I've been patient. I've let you grieve. But this isn't grieving anymore. This is disappearing." Her voice cracks. "And I'm not going to watch you disappear."I finally look at her. Really look at her. She has dark circles under her e

  • Ashes Of His Regret    Chapter 16

    JULIAN'S POV"Mr. Voss, we need to discuss the document requests from your ex-wife's attorney."Richard Patterson, my lead counsel, sits across from my desk looking far too serious for what should be a non-issue."What about them?" I don't look up from the contract I'm reviewing. The Singapore expansion is taking all my attention. Esmeralda's desperate flailing is barely a blip on my radar."She's requesting access to business communications between Voss Industries and Morrison & Associates from three years ago. Specifically relating to client transfers and—""Denied." I sign the contract with a flourish. "Motion to quash or whatever you need to do. She's on a fishing expedition.""Yes, but the request is quite specific. She seems to have some preliminary evidence—""She has nothing." Now I look up, irritated. "David Morrison ran a failing company into the ground through his own incompetence. If his bitter daughter wants to blame me for his business failures, that's her problem, not m

  • Ashes Of His Regret    Chapter 15

    CELESTE'S POVI'm having tea at the club when Margaret Pierce slides into the chair across from me, her face alight with gossip."Celeste, darling. I heard about Julian and that Laurent girl. How exciting!"I smile, the practiced expression of a woman who's perfected social graces over sixty-two years. "Yes. Vivienne is lovely. Perfect for him.""And the baby! How wonderful. You must be thrilled.""Thrilled" doesn't begin to cover it. Finally—FINALLY—the Voss name will continue with proper lineage. A child from good stock, raised with appropriate values.Not like the disaster Julian's first marriage could have produced."It's a blessing," I say smoothly. "Julian deserves this happiness.""And what about... well, the first wife?" Margaret leans in, voice dropping. "I heard she took the divorce rather hard."Esmeralda. The name leaves a sour taste."These things are always difficult. But Julian made the right choice. Sometimes marriages simply don't work out."What I don't say: Thank Go

  • Ashes Of His Regret    Chapter 14

    DAMIEN'S POVI'm late for a meeting when I almost kill her.The car tears around the corner I'm going too fast, I know, but the investor presentation starts in ten minutes and I can't afford to be late—when she steps off the curb without looking.No warning. Just suddenly there, directly in my path.I slam the brakes. The car screams, tires screeching against asphalt. I swerve hard, missing her by inches.My heart hammers against my ribs."Jesus Christ," I breathe.She's frozen in the middle of the street, eyes wide, pale as death. Like she doesn't even realize she almost died.Someone's screaming a woman on the sidewalk, probably the friend who was calling to her.I should drive on. Should get to my meeting. This isn't my problem.But something makes me stop. Makes me roll down the passenger window and lean across the seat.She's still standing there, trembling. Lost.And then I see her face.Really see it.Those eyes. That bone structure. The way she holds herself even in shock.My

  • Ashes Of His Regret    Chapter 13

    ESMERALDA'S POVI wake up to Lila sitting beside the couch, watching me with worried eyes."Morning," she says softly."What time is it?""Almost noon. You slept for sixteen hours."I don't remember falling asleep. Don't remember anything after the crying stopped.The divorce papers are on the coffee table. Julian must have had them delivered while I was asleep.There's a note attached in his assistant's handwriting: Mr. Voss requests that these be signed and returned by end of business today. If you have questions, please direct them to his attorney.End of business today. Not even a personal message. Just instructions from his assistant."Are you going to sign them?" Lila asks.I stare at the papers. At the space where my signature should go."I don't have a choice, do I?""There's always a choice.""Not really." I sit up slowly. Everything hurts. "Patricia said the prenup is ironclad. I have no money to fight it. Julian's already moved on. He's living with Vivienne, raising her ch

  • Ashes Of His Regret    CHAPTER 12

    ESMERALDA'S POV I can't leave. I know I should. Know I'm only torturing myself by staying. But my feet won't move from this spot on the sidewalk across the street from the building. I watch as more furniture is carried out. The dining table where we hosted our first dinner party. The couch where Julian proposed. The bookshelf I spent weeks organizing. All of it disappearing into trucks. My phone rings. Lila. "Where are you? I thought you were just grabbing clothes." "I'm still at the penthouse. Julian's here. With Vivienne. They're moving her in." "What? Esme, you need to leave—" "I can't." My voice cracks. "I can't leave, Lila. This is my home." "It's not your home anymore. Come back here. Please." "I will. Soon. I just..." I trail off, watching as a new delivery arrives. A crib. White and expensive and perfect. For Vivienne's baby. "I have to go," I whisper. "Esme, don't do anything—" I hang up. The sky is darkening. Hours have passed. The movers are finishing up, tru

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