Chapter 22
Willow Creek had been drenched in rain lately, and Second Light Books had seen fewer visitors.
But every day for the past week, the same Maybach sat parked across the street–silent, unmoving, waiting.
“Emily, look at my drawing!” Ava came bouncing over with a crayon masterpiece, only to stop in her tracks when she caught the look on Emily’s face.
“Are you sad again?” she asked softly.
Emily managed a smile and took the paper. “It’s beautiful. Is this a bunny?”
“Yes!” Ava nodded eagerly. Then she twisted around and pointed out the window. “Is it because those bad people are back? Is that why you’re sad?”
Nathan appeared from the back of the store with a cup of herbal tea, calm as ever.
He stepped in front of the window, blocking the view of the street and the rain–drenched car parked across from them.
“Want me to call the cops?” he asked quietly, glancing toward the vehicle.
Through the rain–streaked window, the faint outline of two small faces pressed against the glass could be seen. Watching. Waiting.
Emily shook her head. “They’ll give up eventually.”
But then, the car door flung open.
Lily, clutching a black umbrella far too big for her, staggered through the rain toward the store. Her dress and shoes were soaked, but she didn’t stop.
She pounded on the door, crying. “Mommy! Please open up! I know you’re in there!”
“Why won’t you look at us? Don’t you want us anymore?!”
Emily gripped the curtain with trembling fingers, her knuckles pale.
Nathan moved beside her and placed a warm hand over hers.
“It’s the last time,” Emily said quietly, her voice steadying. “This ends today.”
She grabbed her phone and sent a message to the number she’d blocked for months.
Later, at Willow Grove Coffeehouse, Emily chose a window seat and waited.
Soon enough, Ethan walked in with the kids. He looked worn down, his once–crisp shirt wrinkled and stained, shadows deep under his eyes. The children looked just as pitiful–clothes dirty, faces pale.
“Mommy!” Lily ran toward her, but Emily stepped back before the girl could hug her.
“Have a seat,” she said calmly, pointing to the chairs across from her.
Ethan swallowed hard. “Emily, they haven’t been doing well. Lily’s asthma’s acting up again. They need you.”
“I know.” She pulled out a thick envelope and placed it on the table.
“These are their medical records, allergy lists, and everything I’ve noted since they were born. I’ve included th
like.”
“They’re not babies anymore. You’ll figure it out.”
Ethan’s face went pale. “What are you saying? I don’t want this–I want you.”
Emily didn’t look at him. She rolled up her sleeve instead and revealed a long scar.
growth charts and what foods they
“Remember this? Glass from the night Lucas pushed me down the stairs. Twelve stitches. While I was at the hospital alone, you were at home with Sophia, playing happy family.”
Lucas’s face turned white. “Mom, I didn’t mean to-”
Emily slowly lifted her skirt, revealing another scar down her leg.
“This one’s from when I was trapped in the elevator with Sophia. You said she needed to dance that night. So you left me behind.”
“I almost lost my leg.”
“You all keep saying it wasn’t on purpose,” Emily said quietly, her voice sharp as a blade. “But you deliberately accused me of feeding you mangoes to
Chapter 22
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Heiress sacrifices all for husband–then finds his shocking betrayal.
hurt you. You told everyone you hated me, right to my face. That wasn’t an accident. That was a chiofee.”
She turned to Ethan, eyes sharp and unforgiving. “And what about me? Do I get to say none of this was on purpose ros
Lily sobbed and clung to her arm. “We’re sorry! Mommy, please come home!”
Emily felt nothing now. No ache. No guilt. Just… quiet.
She waited until Lily’s sobs calmed, then finally spoke.
“I used to love you both with everything I had. Lily, you were barely five pounds when you were born, and I stayed by your incubator for seven nights straight.”
“Lucas, when you got bullied, I walked you into school every day. I never missed a birthday. I made your cakes by hand.”
“But love can be used up.”
“The moment you pushed me, told me never to come back, and called Sophia ‘Mom‘… something broke. This is over of us.”
She stood, leaving a few bills beneath her cup.
“I’m not going back,” she said clearly. “This isn’t about punishing you. It’s about me finally choosing my own future. I’m done letting the past drag me under.”
She turned and walked away.
“Mommy!” Lily wailed behind her. “Please don’t leave us!”
But Emily didn’t look back.
Across the street, Ava ran into her arms.
“Emily! Are you okay? Did they hurt you?”
She smiled and kissed Ava’s cheek. “I’m fine. Let’s go home.”
Nathan joined them, wrapping an arm gently around her shoulders.
The three of them walked toward the car, bathed in sunlight, whole and at peace.
Inside the café, Lily’s cries slowly faded.
Ethan stood frozen, watching Emily disappear into a life he no longer belonged to.
“Dad?” Lucas tugged on his sleeve, his voice cracking. “Is Mommy… really not coming back?”
Ethan had no answer.
For the first time, the truth was undeniable.
They had truly lost her.
Chapter 22
