Chapter 4

My thumb hovered over the green answer button.

For three days, I had waited.

Three days of humiliation.

Three days of unanswered questions.

Three days of watching my name become the country's favorite headline.

ABANDONED BRIDE LEFT AT ALTAR.

BILLIONAIRE CHOOSES SOCIALITE OVER FIANCÉE.

WEDDING OF THE YEAR ENDS IN DISASTER.

Every headline reopened the wound.

And through it all...

Nothing.

No call.

No message.

No explanation.

Only his lawyer carrying a one-hundred-million-dollar settlement, as though enough money could erase betrayal.

Now my phone displayed a single name.

Adrian Thorn Calling...

My pulse pounded as I stared at the screen.

Once, seeing his name had made me smile. It meant surprise lunches, late-night conversations, or another reminder that he loved me.

Now it filled me with dread.

Before I could decide, the ringing stopped.

I exhaled slowly.

Then it started again.

Persistent.

Just like Adrian had always been.

This time, I answered.

Neither of us spoke.

Only his breathing filled the silence.

Finally...

"Evelyn."

My heart tightened.

His voice.

The same voice that had whispered promises against my skin.

The same voice that had once promised I would never face life alone.

Now it belonged to a stranger.

"Say something," he said quietly.

I closed my eyes.

"What exactly do you want me to say, Adrian?"

"I've been trying to reach you."

"You sent your lawyer."

"I know."

"You offered me money."

"I know."

"You asked me to stay silent."

Another pause.

"You proposed to another woman while I waited for you at the altar."

Silence.

"I can explain."

A bitter laugh escaped me.

"Can you?"

"Yes."

"Then explain."

Several seconds passed.

"I can't."

I frowned.

"What?"

"I can't explain everything over the phone."

"You had no problem humiliating me in front of the entire country."

"Evelyn... please."

"No."

"Please meet me."

"So you can lie to my face?"

"I have never lied to you."

Something inside me finally broke.

"Really?"

My voice was barely above a whisper.

"Then tell me something."

"I'm listening."

"Who is Vanessa Sterling?"

Silence.

"Was she your fiancée before me?"

"No."

"Your mistress?"

"No."

"The woman you chose instead of me?"

A long pause followed.

Finally, he answered.

"It's complicated."

I shook my head.

"No, Adrian."

I swallowed hard.

"It's actually very simple."

He remained silent.

"You didn't come to our wedding."

"I know."

"You let me walk down that aisle believing you loved me."

"I know."

"You kissed another woman while I stood there waiting."

"Evelyn..."

"My father had a heart attack because of you."

The silence on the other end became absolute.

When he finally spoke, his voice trembled.

"What... did you say?"

"He collapsed in the church."

"No."

"He was taken to the hospital."

His breathing became uneven.

"No one told me."

"Why would they?"

"I swear... if I'd known..."

"What?"

I interrupted.

"What would you have done?"

"I would've come to the hospital."

I closed my eyes.

"You should've come to the church."

Another painful silence followed.

"I never wanted anyone to get hurt."

"But they did."

"I know."

"You hurt everyone who loved you."

His breathing grew heavier.

"I never stopped loving you."

The words froze me.

For one dangerous second...

I almost believed him.

Then I remembered the yacht.

The cameras.

The ring.

The kiss.

Love didn't look like betrayal.

"If you loved me..."

I whispered,

"...you would've chosen me."

"Evelyn—"

"I don't hate you."

The confession surprised me.

"I wish I did."

Hatred would have been easier.

Instead, all I felt was grief.

"I just don't know who you are anymore."

Before he could answer, I ended the call.

My hands trembled as I stared at the dark screen.

Hearing his voice hadn't given me closure.

It had only made me mourn the man I thought I'd loved.

---

Sleep never came that night.

His words echoed through my mind.

"I can explain."

"Please meet me."

"I never stopped loving you."

When dawn finally painted my bedroom in soft light, I rested a hand on my stomach.

"I won't let anyone hurt you."

The promise slipped out before I realized I was speaking.

It gave me strength.

A knock sounded at my door.

Chloe stood outside carrying coffee and a paper bag of pastries.

One look at my face made her sigh.

"You didn't sleep."

"I don't think I could."

She walked inside and placed a white envelope on the table.

"I booked your ticket."

I stared at her.

"You were serious?"

"So were you."

With trembling fingers, I opened the envelope.

A one-way plane ticket.

Destination: London.

Departure: Tomorrow evening.

My chest tightened.

"I'm really leaving."

"You are."

"I've never even been there."

"I have a friend there. Amelia."

Chloe smiled.

"She owns a small interior design company. She's already arranged a furnished apartment for you until you get settled."

Emotion filled my throat.

"You did all this overnight?"

She shrugged.

"I couldn't let you face this alone."

Tears filled my eyes.

"I don't deserve a friend like you."

She squeezed my hand.

"You deserve far better than Adrian Thorn."

For the first time in days, I smiled.

It was small.

Fragile.

But real.

Maybe somewhere across the ocean, there was still a future waiting for me.

One where I wasn't known as the abandoned bride.

One where my child could grow up without scandal.

---

That afternoon, I visited my father.

He had been moved into a quieter recovery room.

He still looked pale, but he smiled the moment he saw me.

"Your old man isn't going anywhere."

I laughed softly.

"I never doubted that."

He studied me.

"I heard you're leaving."

"I'm choosing peace."

His smile widened.

"That's my girl."

I sat beside him and held his hand.

"I'll call every day."

"You'd better."

"I'll visit as soon as I can."

"I'll be waiting."

We spent the next hour talking about ordinary things—his favorite football team, my mother's terrible cooking when they were newly married, anything except Adrian.

As I stood to leave, he called my name.

"Evelyn."

I turned.

"If that man ever comes begging..."

A mischievous smile appeared.

"Make him earn the right to stand beside you again."

I smiled through fresh tears.

"I will."

I hugged him carefully before leaving.

---

By evening, my apartment barely looked lived in.

Most of my belongings had been packed or donated.

One suitcase stood beside the front door.

One handbag.

One passport.

One future waiting on the other side of the world.

I took one last look around the apartment that had witnessed both my happiest memories and my greatest heartbreak.

Then the doorbell rang.

I frowned.

No one should have known I was leaving.

It rang again.

Slower this time.

I walked quietly to the door and looked through the peephole.

My breath caught.

Adrian stood outside.

His hair was disheveled.

His expensive suit was wrinkled.

Dark circles shadowed his bloodshot eyes.

He looked nothing like the confident billionaire the world admired.

He looked...

Broken.

He knocked softly.

"Evelyn."

His voice barely carried through the door.

"I know you're in there."

Instinctively, my hand rested on my stomach.

He had no idea.

No idea the child growing inside me was his.

No idea my suitcase was already packed.

No idea that in less than twenty-four hours...

I would board a plane.

And disappear from his life.

Without saying goodbye.