All Chapters of I LEFT WHEN HIS EX CAME BACK WITH HIS SON: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

THALIAI closed my eyes briefly, already feeling the familiar wave of exasperation rise.“Dr. Carter—”Before I could finish, Adrian let out a low chuckle.I turned to him, narrowing my eyes slightly, silently warning him not to encourage her, but he only leaned back in his chair, looking entirely too relaxed.“I mean,” he said lightly, his gaze shifting to me, “it would be hard not to be attracted to someone like Thalia.”My breath caught.It was subtle. Almost careless in delivery. But there was something in the way he said it that made my heart skip in a way I hadn’t expected.After chasing Brandon for so many years and getting ignored, I’ve totally forgotten I am an attractive woman. Heat rushed to my face before I could stop it.“Adrian,” I said quickly, trying to regain control of the moment, “we are not doing this.”Dr. Carter only smiled, clearly pleased with herself.“If you say so,” she said, waving her hand dismissively.I exhaled slowly, choosing not to engage any further

CLARAI had always hated Thalia Wentworth.Not the kind of shallow dislike that came and went with time, or the kind that could be softened with distance and understanding. What I felt for Thalia had roots that stretched too deep for that. It was something that had grown quietly over the years, fed by every reminder that no matter how hard I tried, I would always come second to her in the eyes of everyone who knows both of us.She used to call me her friend.Even now, the memory made something bitter twist inside me.Friend.The word had always sounded like a lie. No, it was a lie.Thalia had been born into a world I could only stand on the edges of, a world filled with wealth, privilege, and opportunities that had never been meant for someone like me. I was just the daughter of the Langford family’s maid, the girl who lingered in the background while she stood at the center of everything.We had grown up in the same environment, but we had never lived the same life.She had rooms

BRANDONI gripped the steering wheel harder than necessary as the car rolled onto the main road.Clara knew exactly what she was doing back in the house, and I knew it too. She did not even try to hide it. The way she adjusted that nightwear, the way she stood there watching me, waiting for a reaction. It was too obvious.There was a time I would have crossed that line without thinking. I would not have needed a second invitation. I would have wanted it.But I did not move.I stayed exactly where I was, and that was the part that did not sit right.I exhaled sharply and shifted in my seat, eyes fixed on the road ahead as traffic slowed near the junction. My fingers tapped once against the steering wheel before tightening again.This made no sense.I had wanted Clara before. That was not something I imagined or exaggerated. It had been real and strong enough to survive everything that had happened between us.So why did it feel like this now?I ran a hand over my face and let out a sho

THALIAI didn’t bother with fake pleasantries.I looked away from Clara and reached for the suit again, ready to take it off the rack and move on before she turned this into something unnecessary, but her arm shot out and blocked me before I could even touch it.“I said that’s mine,” she snapped, her voice sharp enough to draw attention. “Are you deaf or blind? I said the suit is mine.”I paused, my hand hovering for a second before I lowered it slowly, then straightened and faced her fully.“What do you want, Clara?” I asked, keeping my voice even.She let out a short, disbelieving laugh and folded her arms, looking me over like she had been waiting for a chance to do exactly this.“You really are so full of yourself,” she said. “So proud, like everything belongs to you. Maybe that’s why Brandon left your sorry ass at home and came over to mine last night.”Olivia shifted beside me immediately, already opening her mouth, but I lifted my hand slightly to stop her without taking my eye

THALIAI stood just behind the stage entrance, my hands resting lightly against each other as I adjusted my grip, then released it again when I realized I was doing too much.“You’re good,” the event coordinator said quietly as she passed me. “It’s almost your turn.”I nodded once without responding, since the nerves were eating me up.On stage, Dr. Carter stepped forward, her voice carrying easily through the microphone as the room settled.“And now,” she said, glancing briefly at her notes before looking up again, “our final speaker for today.”I straightened slightly where I stood.“She is one of the brightest minds I have had the pleasure of teaching,” Dr. Carter continued, her tone steady and confident. “Her work, her discipline, and her consistency speak for themselves.”I flexed my fingers once at my side.Dr. Carter went on, listing out my qualifications one after the other, each word landing heavier than the last as the audience grew quieter, more attentive.Then she smiled.