All Chapters of The Heiress He Thought Would Stay: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

On the third day of Sienna's trial run, the Ashfords held a family dinner.Callum's mother sent me the address and told me to bring the crest ring traditionally worn by the wives of Ashford heirs. She had placed that ring on my hand herself when Callum and I married.But I knew she had never liked me.In her eyes, Lucia Bennett had no distinguished family, no meaningful connections, and nothing that could advance her son's ambitions. If Callum had not insisted on marrying me, the ring that marked the Ashford family's future matriarch would never have reached my hand.The first time I visited the Ashford estate, his mother announced before a table full of relatives that a woman of my background could contribute nothing to Callum's career.Callum had taken my hand and answered her with quiet resolve."Lucia is the woman I'm marrying. My marriage will not become anyone's business transaction."At the time, I truly believed he would stand beside me no matter what happened.Now the memory o

On the evening of the seventh day, Callum ordered me to return to our home.[The seven days are over. Come home tonight. I ordered your favorite cake.]The message appeared while I was sitting in an airport lounge. My passport and boarding pass lay beside me, and my luggage had already been checked.Another notification arrived moments later.[Your documents are out for delivery.]At the house, champagne, cake, and streamers had been arranged for my return. The walls displayed photographs from the previous three years, showing me arguing with them, walking out, or tearing up the fake agreements that were part of the game.Callum sat on the sofa with the new divorce papers in his hand. My wedding ring lay on the table, with a pen beside it.“Will Lucia sign this year?” one of his friends asked.“She won't.” Callum glanced at the door. “When she gets here, give her the agreement.”Sienna sat in my usual place with the Ashford heirloom bracelet around her wrist.“If she really signs it, w

For the next thirty days, Callum never truly apologized.Instead, he continued to document the passing time in the group chat.[Day One. She hasn't come back.][Day Five. Her resignation is final.][Day Ten. She had everything she owned removed from the house.]At first, his friends continued to joke. Some said I had stayed angry too long. Others advised Callum to send flowers and give me an excuse to return with my pride intact.But he still refused to accept that this was not an argument in which he only had to wait for me to yield.[She won't throw away a seven-year marriage.][She'll change her mind before the final hearing.]On the twentieth day, Callum sent me a photograph of the primary bedroom. The pale blue sheets were gone, and our wedding portrait had been rehung above the bed.[The room is back to normal.]I did not respond.On the twenty-fifth day, he sent the new version of Ashford Group's anniversary film. Every photograph from the company's founding years had been resto

Callum waited outside Marcelli Group headquarters for three hours.By the time my meeting ended, the night wind had drained the color from his face.The moment I stepped outside, he hurried toward me."Lucia, we need to talk."One of the guards moved forward. I raised a hand and signaled him to stop."Business hours are over. Mr. Ashford and I have nothing professional to discuss."The words Mr. Ashford stopped him in place. In seven years, I had never addressed him that way.Callum held out a document.It was a newly produced history of Ashford Group. My name had been restored to its rightful place as cofounder. Behind it were an equity compensation agreement and an offer for me to return."The company needs you," he said. Then, more quietly, "I need you too."I did not accept the papers."If the company lacks a director, hire one. Whatever you need personally is yours to resolve."His face went pale."I know I was wrong. I was simply too sure that you loved me. My parents had a terri

Two years later, I separated Marcelli Group's legitimate shipping and risk-management operations into a company of my own.The Marcelli family provided the initial resources, but I personally earned every contract, every shipping route, and every vote of confidence from the board.There was no red carpet or elaborate ceremony on opening day.My team bought a cake and gathered in the conference room to celebrate. Written across the top were the words:[Lucia, welcome back to your own life.]I studied them for a long moment, then smiled and blew out the candles.Over the years, Callum occasionally sent things through intermediaries.The first year, he sent the new company history containing all the photographs that had once been removed.The second, he returned the work journals I had left in our house.This year, there was only a card.[Happy anniversary.]The words had been crossed out. Beneath them, Callum had written:[I'm sorry. I forgot we no longer have an anniversary.]I replaced