Chapter 80
Aveline’s POVE
Wiley’s expression darkened slightly before he spoke in a calm voice.
“Who said I never loved my son? If I didn’t, why would I have let you give birth to him?“>
Then he added, “But I’m not here to fight you for custody… because I’m not divorcing you.”
I didn’t understand what he meant. ‘He doesn’t love me. He doesn’t love our son. But he won’t divorce me?‘
Before I could ask, he continued, “I know you’re still mad about me choosing Severine. But there was nothing between us, I swear. I just felt sorry for her and wanted to help! But I promise–from now on, I won’t have anything to do with her.
“Besides, I’m handing over everything I own to you. I’ll give you and our son the best life possible.”
Wow. He clearly thought I was just making some drama like all it would take was a few sweet apologies and promises, and that just like that, I’d come around.
His tone was still so condescending, like he had everything under control.
But this bastard’s wrong!
No matter what he offered, I was never going back to him–with or without my son!}
I didn’t want to argue anymore. I just turned around, holding Beau’s hand, and walked away.
But Wiley wasn’t having it. He really dared rush over and block our path.}
“Aveline, fine–leave me if you want. But the kid’s still young. You really want him growing up in a broken home? Why would you make him suffer through the same pain you did?“}
When I was five, my parents divorced.
My mom raised me alone, juggling jobs, carrying the weight of everything, sometimes even putting up with gross men who harassed her.
I know what it’s like to grow up in a single–parent home.
But even that… was way better than growing up around someone who doesn’t love you!!
My son must’ve sensed what I was thinking because he stepped forward and shoved his father aside, shielding me.”
“So what if it’s a single–parent family? As long as Mom’s with me, that’s enough! At least I don’t have to watch my father pick someone
else’s son over me!”
Wiley was stunned. For a second, he had nothing to say.
And we didn’t give him the chance. Beau and I jumped into a cab and left Wiley standing there alone.}
I thought that was the end of it. But the next few mornings, we found Wiley waiting downstairs.
Every time I came down with my son, Wiley would walk over and gently take Beau’s hand.
“Let me drop him off.”
Before I could say no, Wiley would already put Beau in the backseat of his sleek Maybach and drive off.
Day after day, that was his way of squeezing time in with our son.
And little by little, my son started warming up to his father. Beau wasn’t pushing Wiley away like before.
Wiley noticed the shift and doubled down. Besides driving Beau to and from school, he even hired a private chef to cook meals–for our son and for me.
During the holidays, Wiley would take Beau to amusement parks and zoos.
I was scared Wiley would take my son to the Rourkes’s estate behind my back, so I had no choice but to tag along.
Wiley even started posting pictures of our son on his socials like he was trying to document everything.
Of course, it didn’t take long for Severine to find out. She couldn’t stand it, so one night she called me in complete hatred.
“Girl, you really think Wiley’s doing all this because he loves you and your kid? Oh, don’t flatter yourself. Wiley has always loved me! Even your marriage to him? Well, what? It only happened because I told him to.”
1 blinked in confusion. “What’s that supposed to mean?“>
She could tell from my tone that I was rattled, and that made her even more arrogant.
So she spilled everything.
And when I finally understood the whole, ugly truth…
It felt like the sky had collapsed.
I already knew, as a matter of fact, that Wiley didn’t love me.
But what I hadn’t realized? ‘Even from the start, I was just a pawn–someone he used to get revenge for his first love?!
Severine kept going, trying to rub it in, telling me to take a hint and leave Wiley for good.
I didn’t say a word. I just hung up–and sent the recording of our call straight to Wiley.
He replied almost instantly.%
[Aveline, I can explain everything. I’m coming over right now.
I didn’t reply. I didn’t open the door.
What I didn’t expect was that he’d actually wait outside my apartment all night.
as still there–looking exhausted, standing in front of me, like he hadn’t slept a second.
7:45 PM dd.
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