Chapter /N
Thinking back on that sentence now, Sara felt a chill slither down her spine. It was as if something essential life–swiftly, violently and without warning.
was being yanked out of her
Francis, standing nearby, began to fidget when she remained silent for too long. Panic started to creep into his voice.
“Sara… you’re not blaming me, are you? I didn’t mean for things to turn out this way. I really had no choice. I missed Elise my daughter. You have no idea what these ten years have been like for me…”
His words were laced with desperation, but Sara wasn’t listening to his excuses anymore.
She slowly turned to face him, her eyes cold and sharp. “Francis, are you hiding something from me?”
There was a fleeting flicker in his gaze–guilt. It lasted less than a second, but Sara caught it with surgical precision. Yesterday, when Francis returned, she had been overwhelmed with emotion. Getting back the man she’d once loved better judgment. But now, with her thoughts clearer, the inconsistencies began to surface.
ad clouded her
Ten years ago, Oliver had just graduated–young, in experienced and far from powerful. Even if he had blackmailed Francis back then, it was laughable to think that a few harsh words could scare the future son–in–law of the Roger Family into vanishing without a trace. It didn’t make sense.
The Roger family had enough influence in Riverford to squash a hundred Olivers if they wanted to. Francis, of all people, knew that better than anyone. So if he ran–it wasn’t out of fear. It was out of guilt.
Sara slowly closed her eyes, pressing back the waves of emotion clawing at her. When she opened them again, they unclouded.
Were calm,
That’s enough, Francis. I’m tired. Go home for now–Mom and Dad are waiting. I’ll come get you after I’ve taken care of things.” Francis hesitated. His lips parted like he wanted to argue, to justify himself, but her frosty expression made the words die in his throat. He turned and left without another sound.
As his footsteps faded, Sara picked up her phone and dialed her assistant. Her voice was steady, but the edge in it was razor–sharp. “Find out everything. What happened ten years ago? Where did Francis go? Why did he run away from the wedding? I want names, dates -every single detail.“>
***S
Meanwhile, I had no idea what was happening back home.
The moment I landed in Verdana, I dove headfirst into work with Albert’s team. No breaks. No distractions. Just task after task at a breakneck pace.§
Even though I hadn’t been physically present these past years, I had kept up with the project data. I slipped into the workflow as if I’d never left. The team welcomed me and for the first time in years, I found a rhythm that belonged entirely to me.”
No Sara. No Elise. No ghosts.
It felt like I was rediscovering myself–who I used to be before the compromises. But back home, Sara was unraveling.
She hadn’t gone to work for days. She hadn’t checked in on Elise either, leaving the little girl entirely in the care of the nanny. Most of her time was spent locked in her room, curtains drawn, phone off. Her condition was worse now than when Francis had first left a decade ago.”
A full week passed before she finally called her assistant again–and this time, she asked for Francis.
He arrived beaming, thinking her call meant she had softened. That perhaps she missed him. That maybe Elise had asked for him.
“Sara, you finally called. Is there news about Ollie? That’s great if there is. I’ve been so worried these past few days. Where’s Elise? I want to see her…”
But he didn’t get to finish.
With no warning, Sara reached out and clamped her hand around his chin, her nails biting into his skin. The sudden force cut his sentence short, his eyes going wide.
“Sara–what are you doing? It’s me–Francis. I’m your Francis. You’re scaring me…”
Her grip didn’t loosen. If anything, it tightened.}]
“Scared?” Her voice was low, trembling not with fear but fury. “You actually know how to feel fear?“}
Her eyes blazed, face ghost–white with rage. “Ten years ago, you abandoned me and Elise to elope with some whore. You didn’t care whether the Cole Group lived or died. And now you want to act like the victim? Like someone wronged you?“}
Francis’s face turned pale. He opened his mouth to deny it, but she wasn’t done.
She shoved him hard. He stumbled, fell backward onto the floor.
A thick stack of papers landed on his chest with a heavy thud.
“Take a good look,” she spat. “All the information I dug up–where you went, who you were with, how you lived.”
She took a step closer, towering over him. “Eloping must’ve been sweet, right? Must’ve felt like freedom. Meanwhile, Elise and I were just abandoned cargo. A man like you–you don’t even deserve to be called human.“%
