I LEFT WHEN HIS EX CAME BACK WITH HIS SON のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 101 - チャプター 107

CLARAThe second I pulled into the driveway, I killed the engine so abruptly that the car jerked to a stop before I threw the door open and stumbled out. My legs felt weak beneath me, but I forced myself toward the house as quickly as I could, fumbling with my keys until one slipped from my hand and clattered onto the concrete.I dropped to my knees to grab it, my fingers refusing to cooperate as they shook against the cold pavement. By the time I managed to unlock the front door, my breathing had become so uneven that I could barely hear anything except my own heartbeat pounding inside my ears."Mommy!"Leo came running toward me the moment I stepped inside, his face lighting up with the biggest smile. He wrapped his little arms around my waist before I even realized he was there, expecting me to laugh, or pick him up.Instead, I pulled away so suddenly that he lost his balance and stumbled backward."Mommy?"His smile disappeared almost instantly."Not now," I muttered as I hurrie

THALIAThe first thing I heard was the steady beeping somewhere beside me.It came at the same pace every few seconds, followed by the faint hum of machines and quiet voices drifting through the room. I tried opening my eyes, but everything stayed blurry for a moment before the white ceiling slowly came into focus.I shifted slightly, hoping to roll onto my side, but a sharp pain shot through my arm where the IV was taped in place. A groan escaped my lips before I could stop it, and the movement tugged at something beneath the blanket, forcing me to stay still."Easy."That voice was familiar.I blinked several times until the figure beside the bed became clear.Brandon.He was already leaning forward, the chair scraping softly against the floor as he stood. His tie was gone, the top buttons of his shirt were undone, and dark stubble covered his jaw like he hadn't gone anywhere near a razor. His eyes were fixed on me, and they looked exhausted."You're awake."He reached for the te

THALIAA second later, the door opened slowly, and Olivia stepped inside with a small smile already forming on her face.“Hey girlie—”She stopped mid-sentence.Her eyes moved from me to Brandon, then back again. Whatever she saw on my face made her smile disappear instantly.“What the hell are you doing here?”Brandon looked surprised at the harshness in her voice. “Excuse me?”“I asked what you’re doing here or are you suddenly to deaf to respond?”Brandon didn’t answer.“I’ve been coming here every single day,” Olivia continued, her voice growing firmer. “Every single day I’ve asked to see her, and every single day I was told only her spouse could come in. So imagine my surprise when I finally get through that door and find you upsetting her less than an hour after she woke up.”“I wasn’t trying to upset her.”“I honestly don’t care what you were trying to do.”The room fell quiet again.Brandon looked at me as though hoping I’d say something, but I stayed exactly where I was. I di

BRANDONFor months I’d wanted peace inside this house, but now that I finally had it, it felt empty instead.I pulled a clean shirt from the wardrobe and had just finished buttoning it when my phone vibrated on the dresser.I barely looked at it.It was probably another email from the office or an update from the legal team.The phone vibrated again.I sighed, picked it up, and glanced at the screen.Credit Alert.I frowned.Credit?My thumb tapped the notification, and the banking app opened automatically.The amount appeared almost immediately.$190,000,000.00For a moment, I simply stared at the screen.Then my eyes moved to the sender’s name.Thalia Langford.My stomach tightened.Below the transaction was a short payment description.I’ve paid my dues. Now do yours. Sign the divorce papers.I read it once.Then again.And again.The words didn’t change.My grip tightened around the phone until my knuckles turned white.“No…”The whisper escaped before I even realized I’d spoken.