Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Goodbye

Emily's POV

I looked at Lucy for a long moment before turning back to Gregory. "You really believe I can't give you a child?" I asked quietly. 

He didn't answer, his silence told me everything I needed to know. A bitter smile appeared on my face. After everything we had been through together, he had chosen to believe someone else without even talking to me. 

"Did she tell you that?" I asked, looking at Lucy. 

She folded her arms and smiled. "Does it matter who told him? The truth is the truth." 

I laughed once, but there was no happiness in it. "The truth?" I repeated. "You stole my husband and you're standing in my house talking about the truth?" 

Lucy's smile disappeared for a second before she looked away, Gregory stepped between us. "Enough. I'm tired of arguing, signing the papers and leaving."

I looked down at the divorce papers in my hands. Just this morning, I had imagined placing Gregory's hand on my stomach and watching his face light up with happiness. Now those same hands were holding the papers that would end our marriage. I wanted to tell him about the baby, I wanted to throw the hospital report in his face and make him regret every word he had just said. 

But when I looked at him standing beside Lucy, I stopped myself. If he could replace me this easily, then he didn't deserve to know not today, maybe not ever. I picked up the pen from the table Gregory watched me without saying a word. Lucy stood beside him with a satisfied smile. My hand shook as I signed my name across the last page. The moment I finished, I placed the pen on the table and pushed the papers toward Gregory.

"Are you happy now?" I asked.

 Gregory picked up the papers and glanced at my signature before placing them back into his briefcase. "I'll have my lawyer handle the rest." 

His calm voice hurt more than if he had shouted at me. Four years together, and that was all he had to say.

 I nodded slowly. "Fine."

 I turned around and walked toward the stairs. Neither of them tried to stop me. I entered our bedroom and closed the door behind me. For the first time that evening, I allowed the tears to fall.I looked around the room that had been my home since the day we got married. 

Every picture on the wall, every piece of furniture, every little memory suddenly felt like it belonged to someone else. I wiped my face, pulled a suitcase out of the closet, and started packing only the things that truly belonged to me.

Almost thirty minutes later, I zipped my suitcase and looked around the room one last time. There wasn't much left to take because most of what filled the house had been bought by Gregory. My eyes landed on the framed wedding picture beside the bed. I walked over, picked it up, and stared at our smiling faces. We looked so happy that day we had promised to stay together no matter what happened.

 I held the frame for another second before placing it back exactly where it had been that version of us no longer existed. I picked up my suitcase, took one last look at the room, and walked downstairs. Gregory was already sitting in the living room while Lucy rested comfortably beside him. Neither of them looked surprised to see me leaving,I walked past them without saying a word and headed for the front door.

I opened the front door and stepped outside without looking back. The evening air brushed against my face, but it did nothing to calm the pain inside me. I pulled my suitcase down the front steps and walked toward the gate. Every step felt heavier than the last. This house had been my home for four years, yet I was leaving with just one suitcase and a broken marriage. 

I still couldn't believe how quickly everything had changed. Just a few hours ago, I had been planning the happiest surprise of our lives. Now I was wondering where I would even sleep that night. I reached the gate and stopped for a moment to wipe my eyes. 

"It's going to be okay," I whispered to myself. "You have to be strong." Then I tightened my grip on the suitcase handle and continued walking.

Before I could take another step, a long black Rolls-Royce pulled over beside me. I frowned and took a step back. The rear door opened, and an elderly man in a dark suit got out, his hair had turned completely gray, but he stood straight with a calm expression. 

He looked at me carefully before asking, "Excuse me... are you Miss Emily?"

 I stared at him in confusion. "Yes... I am." 

The man smiled with relief, as though he had been searching for me for a very long time. He gave me a small bow before reaching into his coat and taking out a large sealed envelope.

 "My name is Thomas," he said. "I've finally found you." 

My brows drew together. "I'm sorry, but I think you've mistaken me for someone else." 

He gently shook his head. "No, Miss Emily. I've been looking for you for many years."

He held the envelope out to me. I didn't take it. "What is this?" I asked cautiously. 

Thomas looked at me with eyes full of respect. "Everything you need to know is inside." 

I looked at the envelope, then back at him nothing about this made sense. I had never seen this man before in my life. 

"Who sent you?" I asked. 

Thomas smiled faintly before giving the answer that made my heart stop. "Your grandfather."

 I frowned immediately. "That's impossible." My voice came out almost as a whisper. "My grandparents died years ago." 

Thomas slowly shook his head. "No, Miss Emily, one of them is still alive... and he's been searching for you for the last twenty years.”