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Chapter 97: Different Paths

Author: Ahsa
last update publish date: 2026-06-27 18:43:29

Leonard continued holding the ring for a long time.

The small piece of metal felt cold in his palm.

But the tightness in his chest felt far more real.

Once, that ring had symbolized a promise.

Now, it was nothing more than a reminder of everything he had destroyed with his own hands.

Slowly, he placed the ring back into its small box.

Then he closed the desk drawer.

There was nothing left to change about the past.

Only tomorrow remained.

And for the first time, Leonard had no idea what tomorrow
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  • The Wife He Abandoned   Chapter 97: Different Paths

    Leonard continued holding the ring for a long time.The small piece of metal felt cold in his palm.But the tightness in his chest felt far more real.Once, that ring had symbolized a promise.Now, it was nothing more than a reminder of everything he had destroyed with his own hands.Slowly, he placed the ring back into its small box.Then he closed the desk drawer.There was nothing left to change about the past.Only tomorrow remained.And for the first time, Leonard had no idea what tomorrow would look like.Morning arrived with a light drizzle.Leonard walked into the Ashcroft Group headquarters once again.But this time, not as the company's leader.He was simply a man finishing his final responsibilities.The remaining employees filled the main lobby.Most carried cardboard boxes containing their personal belongings.Others were handling the paperwork for their layoffs.Leonard stopped walking.His gaze swept across the faces of the people who had worked for his family for so ma

  • The Wife He Abandoned   Chapter 96: Starting from Zero

    Leonard remained standing in front of the penthouse window.The photograph of Elena was still in his hand.For years, Leonard had believed that the Ashcroft name was everything.It opened doors.It commanded respect.It made him believe he could never lose.But now...That very name had become the reason people walked away from him.He gazed out over the city of London.The lights of the buildings still glittered against the night sky.Yet there was no longer a single place that truly felt like home.His phone rang.This time, it was the company's lawyer."Mr. Leonard.""What is it now?""We need your signature.""For what?""The sale of the company's remaining assets."Leonard closed his eyes."Which assets?""Three office buildings... and the remainder of your personal shares."He remained silent for a long moment."What if I refuse?"The lawyer took a slow breath."Then thousands of employees who still haven't received their salaries will have to wait even longer."Leonard lowered

  • The Wife He Abandoned   Chapter 95: A Right He No Longer Had

    Leonard didn't answer immediately.His gaze remained fixed on the document in his hands.With every page he turned, his jaw tightened further.A custody petition.Not a request to take Ash away from the Ashcroft family.Not a request for release from prison.Instead, it was a formal petition seeking regular visitation rights with her son.Leonard slowly closed the file.Silence filled the room once more."She wants to see Ash?"The lawyer nodded."Legally, Vanessa is still his biological mother."Leonard leaned back in his chair.Tired.So incredibly tired.Because for the first time, he was beginning to understand something.Vanessa was a murderer.But she was still a mother.And unlike him—At least she had fought for her child."What do you recommend?"The lawyer hesitated."Legally speaking, the court will most likely grant at least part of her request."Leonard let out a short laugh.Not because it was funny.But because of the irony.Vanessa was sitting in prison, yet she was st

  • The Wife He Abandoned   Chapter 94: That Mean Uncle

    Elena's innocent words made Leonard stop in his tracks.He didn't turn around immediately.But his entire body froze.Because there was no hatred in Elena's voice.No anger.Only the fear of a little girl who didn't want a stranger disrupting her world.And somehow, that hurt far more.Adele gently stroked her daughter's hair."It's okay, sweetheart."Elena wrapped her arms tightly around her mother's waist."I don't like it when that man makes Mama cry."A sharp ache tightened in Leonard's chest.Because the child was right.Every time he appeared, old wounds were torn open again.Every time he showed up, there were tears."Let's go home."Sebastian's voice was calm.He picked Elena up and started walking toward the car.Elena still had her arms wrapped tightly around his neck.As if the safest place in the world was right there.Leonard watched them.And for the first time—He truly understood what Arabella must have felt.Watching someone else fill a place that should have been his

  • The Wife He Abandoned   Chapter 93: Elena Is My Daughter

    Elena's words hit Leonard far harder than any accusation he had ever faced.The little girl clung tightly to Sebastian's neck.Her face was still wet with tears.Her small body trembled.And all that fear was directed at Leonard.Not at a stranger.Not at a criminal.But at her own biological father.Leonard stood frozen in place.His gaze remained fixed on Elena.His daughter.The child who had been living only a few steps away from him all this time.The child he had seen laugh.The child he had seen play.The child he had seen calling Sebastian Papa.And now he finally knew why.Because when Leonard wasn't there—Sebastian was.When Leonard abandoned them—Sebastian stayed.When Leonard chose to slander them—Sebastian chose to protect them.Slowly, Leonard lowered his hand.He didn't even dare move closer anymore.Because the fear in Elena's eyes was too obvious.Too real."I won't hurt you."Leonard's voice was quiet.But Elena only buried herself deeper against Sebastian's shoul

  • The Wife He Abandoned   Chapter 92: Everything You Threw Away

    "...Arabella?"Leonard's voice was nearly drowned out by the sound of the waves.But it was enough to freeze everyone in place.Adele stood several steps away from him.Meanwhile, Elena was still crying in Sebastian's arms.No one moved.No one spoke.Because that one name had finally been spoken.The name that had been buried for years.The name that had been hidden for years.The name that was supposed to be dead.Leonard stared at Adele without blinking.He no longer even seemed aware that Elena had been in his arms only moments earlier.His entire mind was focused on one thing.Arabella.And the longer he looked at Adele's face—The more certain he became.Those eyes.That voice.The way she looked at him.Everything."Adele..." Leonard's breathing grew heavy. "You..."But before he could finish—Adele laughed.Not a happy laugh.Not a relieved laugh.But a laugh filled with years of pain."Finally."Her gaze never left Leonard."You finally figured it out."The words struck him h

  • The Wife He Abandoned   Chapter 1: The Night That Shattered Everything

    “Why aren’t you here yet, Leon?”Her voice carried a mix of irritation and worry through the phone.Leonard Ashcroft let out a small smile, his breath slightly uneven as he wedged his phone between his ear and shoulder while opening his car door.“Traffic’s completely jammed,” he replied, glancing

  • The Wife He Abandoned   Chapter 91: Arabella?

    Vanessa froze instantly."Leonard is looking for Arabella?"Her lawyer nodded."And that's not all."He opened several documents."He's investigating Adele as well."A wave of unease immediately settled in Vanessa's chest.Because she knew.Sooner or later, this day was always going to come.Leonar

  • The Wife He Abandoned   Chapter 90: A Greater Collapse

    Leonard's question still hung in Sebastian's office.But Sebastian didn't answer immediately.Instead, he walked back to his desk and picked up a glass of water.That only made Leonard more frustrated."You're not going to answer?"Sebastian shrugged."Answer what?""Stop playing games with me.""I

  • The Wife He Abandoned   Chapter 89: Tell Me Who Adele Really Is

    Sebastian's words echoed in Adele's mind throughout the entire night.She wanted to trust him.She truly did.Because she was tired too.Tired of keeping secrets.Tired of pretending to be someone else.Tired of carrying memories that should have died long ago.But on the other side of the city—Le

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