Chapter Three

“I knew she'd come back. She's probably back to her senses now.” Trisha smirked the moment she opened the door and saw me standing outside with Noah.

Behind her, in the living room, I saw Adrian's head snap up from Vivian whose lips were locked with his a second ago.

Sarah rushed over to the door. Her eyes were cold and unforgiving. “Just know that your time has passed. The only way you'd even be allowed in is if you are ready to prove that you're worthy.”

“Yes,” Adrian snapped, still reclining on the sofa with Vivian on his lap. “And you MUST be willing to submit all you have to me as your husband.”

Stifling my laughter, I pushed Trisha aside and walked into my house.

Noah walked right alongside me, holding tightly to my legs. He had barely ever been shown any affection by Adrian, hence his edginess around him.

Adrian sat upright, his eyes searching mine as he tried to read me.

Keeping my expression neutral, I stretched the folder to him. “These are the divorce papers. Sign it!”

His eyes widened. “Don't tell me you're still talking about this.”

“Yes, I am.”

His jaw clenched and unclenched, then the darkness in his eyes gazed way to a twinkle.

He grinned. “Really? Since you're so desperate, it's good riddance! I've already moved on anyway.”

Vivian waved her hand in my face. A silver, shining band sat on her finger. “My Addy-boo already proposed to me. We're getting married soon and I'll give him more worthy children.”

They shared a long kiss while Sarah and Trisha cheered in the background.

Instead of bitterness I would have felt if I was ignorant, I felt something different in my stomach. Gladness. Relief. Good riddance!

They deserved each other. Let's see their love try to survive the great freeze.

“Good for you.”

Adrian glared at me. “Thanks. But if you think I'm giving this house up, you're mistaken. Think again.”

Vivian kissed him again. “I'm sure you don't even have any money for a proper lawsuit. Best let it go.”

I smiled at them. “You're right. Have the house. The document to the change of ownership and the documents of the house are here as well.”

That caught them by surprise.

“Okay, she's definitely crazy. Wasn't she just lording it over us two days ago that the house was hers?” Trisha mumbled to Sarah in the background but I ignored her.

Adrian's shock quickly disappeared and a triumphant smirk played on his lips.

“Wise of you to back down. You never could win a lawsuit against me.”

Vivian giggled as he snuggled his face in her neck. “Exactly. She probably has no money to even hire a better lawyer.”

Adrian grabbed a pen from the table and snatched the documents from me.

“I'd read the documents carefully before signing if I were you,” I murmured.

Perhaps, I could be kind to him one last time before leaving.

But he signed quickly. “I've always wanted to get rid of you and keep the house. This makes it even better and faster. I can't wait!”

He signed every page and then snatched the house ownership documents.

“D-daddy?” Noah whispered. “W-What about me?”

He had asked me if Adrian hated him, but I had brought him here to show him that whatever was wrong was between me and Adrian. It had nothing to do with him.

Adrian stared at Noah, who clung to me, like he was a pest.

“Well, your mother has made her choice. I don't think there's any need for you to stay here. Don't worry. Since your mum left me the house, I'll consider sending child support.”

My palm connected with Adrian's cheek sharply at his cruel words. The tears that streaked little Noah's face shattered my heart.

“I brought him here to see his father but since you don't want him, this would be the last you'll ever get to talk to him like this.”

Adrian held his cheek, his expression dark. “So you brought him here to make me change my mind? You're a joker! In fact, I'll send you the papers transferring full custody to you. I don't need him.”

Noah was sobbing now but no one seemed to care. Carrying him, I pressed a kiss to his head.

“Forget daddy, honey. He might not like you, but you have a mummy and that's enough.”

“Get out of my house!” Adrian thundered.

Trisha, Sarah and Vivian mumbled in agreement.

“Gladly.”

*

“Mummy, there's nothing here. Why are we here?”

Noah's face was scrunched in confusion as we stood before the wide expanse of land.

Hot air blew sand particles in our faces. This desert was the perfect spot.

Tousling his hair, I shot him a warm smile. “Mummy's about to build you a castle.”

His face eased into a wide grin. “Really? With a playhouse too?”

“Exactly that!”

A car pulled up beside us and the contractor I hired, Mike, stepped out. He examined the land and turned to me.

“Miss, are you sure of what you're asking? We're in the middle of nowhere.”

Holding Noah's hands, I nodded. “I know.”

“You said you want…” He trailed off.

I sighed and cleared my throat. “A reinforced underground bunker. Multiple exits, air filtration, independent and backup power, temperature regulator and industrial heaters, water storage and purification, medical storage, and a large food warehouse, a geothermal greenhouse sections and multiple layers.”

“Are you building a military zone out here, miss?” He questioned.

I nearly smiled.

Of course I looked crazy. It was still 42 days to the freeze and the weather had been deceitfully nice. It was the middle of June after all.

But I knew better.

“I need it ready in one month.”

He laughed sarcastically. “That's going to cost a lot of money, miss. We're talking millions of dollars for a ten thousand cubit bunker. Reinforced structures also cost a lot and this is in the middle of nowhere. Probably -”

Ignoring him, I walked to my car, opened the booth and retrieved a large bag.

He watched me, gaping like a fish. “What's this?”

“Open it.”

He opened it and froze sharply, looking at me with twinkling eyes. Bundles of cash spilled from the bag.

“That's 20 million. Will you do it or not?”