Chapter 9%
By the time Michael woke up again, it was already eleven in the evening.
Noticing a glass of water left by the bedside–courtesy of the house staff–Michael misunderstood and allowed a flicker of hope to rise. Forcing himself up despite the discomfort in his body, he staggered out of the room, determined to find Ashlyn.}
But when he finally climbed the spiral staircase to the rooftop terrace, drenched in cold sweat,}
What greeted him was a scene that nearly stopped his heart.“}
His wife was wrapped in Bryson’s arms, the two of them locked in a passionate, lingering kiss.”
A sharp, searing pain shot through his chest.
With pale lips and a furious gaze, Michael stormed forward, grabbed Bryson by the collar, and growled through clenched teeth, “What the hell are you doing to Ashlyn?!“}
At this point, he could no longer lie to himself. Bryson wasn’t just the childhood “big brother” who lived next door. Not anymore.
“Who gave you the right to touch my wife?!“}
Bryson let out a low chuckle, unfazed by the aggression.
“Your wife? Michael, have you ever truly treated Ashlyn like your wife–let alone cherished her?“>
“You–!“&
Before he could retaliate, Bryson’s patience snapped. He threw a punch straight at Michael’s left cheek.
“If Ashlyn weren’t so kindhearted,” he snarled, “I would’ve dumped you–you worthless bastard–outside the estate to be torn apart by wild wolves.”
“Listen carefully. Ashlyn is my fiancée now. No matter how shamelessly you pester her, she’ll never look your way again.“>
Michael froze.}
He slowly lowered the fist he’d raised to strike back, eyes wide with disbelief as he turned to her.
“Is that true? Ashlyn… we’ve been apart for less than a month, and you’ve already agreed to marry someone else?“}
-8
Looking at his hurt expression, I didn’t bother telling him that the night I found out about Daniela’s pregnancy, I had already said yes to Bryson’s heartfelt proposal over video call from across the ocean–a man who had loved me quietly since we were young.
Instead, I lazily leaned against Bryson’s broad shoulder, a subtle smile tugging at my lips. I gave a soft “Mhm” in response.”
Michael’s expression crumbled into disbelief.§
“Have you lost your mind?” he asked, voice trembling.
“You’re still my wife! I never agreed to a divorce. And now you’re throwing yourself at another man? How dare you do this to me?!“} How dare I?
I tilted my head slightly, blinking slowly, amused at his audacity.}
“Does your consent really mean anything to me? Michael, you think far too highly of yourself.“}
“Let me say it one last time–you mean nothing to me now. We are truly completely over.”}
With that, I turned away from him without a second glance. My fingers laced tightly with Bryson’s, and we resumed our quiet moonlit conversation as though nothing had happened.”
No one knew when Michael left the estate.
No one cared, either.!
But he didn’t return to America. Instead, he bought a high–rise apartment near the vineyard, one with a view of the estate.
His days became routine–remote meetings with his company back home, followed by drives to the estate gates.
Each time, he brought a different bouquet of flowers or a gift–things I had once mentioned in passing, things he had never given me during our nine years of marriage.2
But I never acknowledged him.”
And I certainly didn’t change my plans because of him.}
Nine years of a humiliating, imbalanced marriage had taught me one valuable lesson: A woman should never bend her life around a man. Work when it’s time to work, socialize when it’s time to socialize.
The world was vast, and my only job was to make myself happy.}
As for Michael, I figured the only reason he hadn’t given up was because Grandpa Arnold couldn’t bear to see me hurt.”
I imagined he’d instructed his grandson again and again to win back my forgiveness.
So I made the call myself.
I phoned Grandpa Arnold and calmly told him that I now had a fiancé and a new life.
I asked him not to let his affection for me become a reason to force his grandson to stay in the UK, wasting his time and mine.”
But even after that call, to my surprise–Michael remained.
For an entire month, he continued to wait outside the gates of the estate just for a single glimpse of me, from behind a tinted car window.
11:40 AM
dwes
The first one to lose his composure–was Bryson.
