All Chapters of He Couldn't Quit Her, So I Left Him Nothing: Chapter 11 - Chapter 14

The two weeks before the court hearing passed in a blur as I threw myself into getting my dessert shop ready.I'd loved baking since high school, but Ryan never had much of a sweet tooth and rarely bothered to taste anything I made. After years of that, even I'd started to believe I simply wasn't very good at it.It wasn't until I moved out and rented a small apartment of my own that I started baking again. I gave some of my desserts to the neighbors, and the response was so positive that, for the first time, I seriously considered opening a shop of my own.The storefront I found was small and tucked deep inside a side street, with a coffee shop right next door.Unfortunately, the coffee shop was barely hanging on. From what I'd heard, it probably wouldn't survive much longer.When the owner found out I was planning to open next door, she even tried to talk me out of it."If you can still change locations, do it now. Seriously. There's almost no foot traffic here. On a good day, we're

I poured Ryan a glass of warm water.He held the glass between both hands, looking hesitant. Several moments passed, and he still didn't say anything.Eventually, I spoke first."You're not here to ask me where Winnie is, are you?"I haven't had any contact with her in a long time, and after everything that's happened, I'm certainly not going to do anything to her because of you. "So if you're here hoping I'll tell you where she went, you've come to the wrong person."Surprise flickered across Ryan's face.Apparently, he hadn't expected that to be the first thing on my mind.His hand tightened around the glass, trembling slightly."Shay, you've got the wrong idea. I don't think you had anything to do with it."I saw Winnie when she left."Ryan closed his eyes, and a faint, bitter smile touched his lips."I asked her why she was leaving. She shoved me to the ground and told me that if I wasn't going to leave her any money when I died, then why should she waste her time taking care of a