Chapter 9
I put up a gravestone for my dead child while I was abroad.
He didn’t even have a name because Milton and I had planned to wait. until he was one year old to give him a good name.
So, I named him Zephyr.
The name was from Greek mythology; it means a soft west wind.
Because I hoped he would be like the eternal wind–free, gentle, and far- reaching.
I began working at an orphanage.
Seeing the children here, I often thought of my lost son.
If he were still alive, he’d be almost one by now.
The thought made tears fall without warning.
A little boy ran over and wiped my tears away.
“Don’t cry.”
I smiled and patted his head, assuring him I was fine.
A news notification popped up on my phone.
It said that the Shaw family had completely taken over the Loyden family‘ assets and that Camryn was no longer the rich young lady she used to be.
Milton wasn’t going to let her go that easily.
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Chapter 9
He exposed the illegal sources of the Loyden family’s wealth, and Camryn’s life was ruined–her family was destroyed.
Meanwhile, Shannon had been placed in Milton’s parents‘ care.
Milton never went to see them again.
I turned off my phone, no longer interested in the news from home.
That day, a little girl at the orphanage was finally adopted.
Her new parents were both teachers, gentle and easy to get along with. They genuinely loved children.
I prepared a lovely lunch and a small doll for her, wishing her a happy future and a healthy life as she grew.
She kissed my cheek.
“I’ll miss you. Goodbye.”
Then, she leaned in close and whispered in my car, “By the way, there’s a guy behind you who’s been watching you for a long time.”
I froze. Just then, I heard a voice behind me.
The voice felt like it came from another lifetime, sending chills down my spine.
“Lauren.”
I turned around. Milton was standing there, looking lost.
He seemed uneasy, even more so than usual.
I didn’t want to deal with him, so I turned and walked away.
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But he quickly stepped up and grabbed my hand. Passersby started to glance our way.
“Lauren, please, just let me talk to you.
“Just for a moment.”
I couldn’t believe how humble he was acting.
I couldn’t bring myself to refuse, so I agreed to sit down with him at a nearby café.
Only then did I truly look at him.
It had been so long since I last saw him, and he was no longer the sharp, polished man I once knew.
His chin was rough with stubble, and his face showed the weariness of someone who’d been through a lot.
Dark circles under his eyes made it clear he hadn’t been living well.
He stared at me for a long time before choking out, “Lauren, I’ve been looking for you for so long.”
I just stared back, unable to find the words. So, I lowered my head and stayed silent.
The sight of me not speaking seemed to crush him.
He managed a bitter smile.
“Are you doing well here?”
I didn’t understand why he’d ask that.
After a deep breath, I quietly replied, “Milton, that doesn’t seem like something you should be asking.”
Suddenly, he tightened his grip on my hand, looking as helpless as a
child..
“Can we start over? Come back with me. Let’s be together again… ”
I pulled my hand away and interrupted him.
“But our child is gone.
“The damage is done. No matter what we do, we can’t go back.
“You turned our relationship into an unsolvable deadlock.”
Tears slid down his cheeks as he looked at me, almost in despair.
“Lauren, do you have no feelings for me anymore?
“Not even a little?”
I shook my head, and he didn’t say anything more.
Milton’s tears continued to fall on his face.
He couldn’t have been unaware of my coldness. He knew better than anyone how resolute I was.
He smiled through his tears, but there was nothing but bitterness in it.
He pulled out the divorce papers, but my name was missing from the signature line.
“Lauren, this is what you deserve.
“If this is what you wanted, I’m giving it to you.”
I took the papers. It stated that all his assets were now under my name.
Without hesitation. I signed my name on the dotted line.
After a brief silence, I quietly said, “Milton, let’s say goodbye here.”
After taking Milton’s assets, I donated everything to the orphanage and charity organizations.
But Milton still wouldn’t let go, constantly calling me.
I finally changed my phone number and moved to a new address. It brought me some peace.
But because I lost a kidney, life became more inconvenient, and my health deteriorated.
I went to the hospital, where the doctor told me to wait for a match.
A few days later, the doctor told me that someone had donated a kidney to me for free.
I was surprised and asked the doctor who it was because I wanted to thank them personally.
But the doctor said the donor refused to reveal their identity, so I had no choice but to accept it without knowing who it was.
The surgery was successful, and I got a new kidney.
During my recovery, while I was picking up medication from the nurse, I unexpectedly saw a figure that looked just like Milton.
But he was stumbling, using a cane, and looking disheveled.
I didn’t think much of it. After all, it couldn’t be Milton.
On the day I was discharged, the nurse brought me a bouquet.
When I got home, I noticed a note had fallen out of the flowers.
Just then, a news headline popped up on my phone–Milton had passed away. The report said he died from an illness.
I was taken aback. The news made me tear up, and I didn’t even know why.
I wiped my tears away, shook my head, and picked up the note.
It read, “In this life, I’ve been trapped in the unsolvable deadlock between us. But as long as you’re happy and safe, I can leave in peace.”
The end.
Chapter 10
Chapter 10
Grace Parrish grew up with the Hawthorne triplets, but they were all bewitched by a girl named Arianna Lynch.
Arianna took away all of the triplets‘ love, which broke Grace’s heart.
To put her relationship with the triplets behind her, Grace married a stranger.
Outside the City Hall, Grace looked at the marriage certificate in her hands absent–mindedly.
She was married?
To a stranger she had only met once.
The certificate was fresh new. The husband’s name on it was Antonio Kaufman. That was all Grace knew about the man.
“When do you think we should hold the wedding? I’m anxious.”
Standing beside Grace, the aloof man fixed his eyes on her.
She thought about it. “In two weeks or so. I need some time to get prepared.”
Antonio smiled thinly. A tad of gentleness showed in his black and intensive eyes. “OK. You don’t have to do anything about the wedding. Just wait for me to pick you up on our wedding day.”
Grace nodded with a faint smile. “I live in the Hawthorne’s place in the Larkspur Estates. I’ll be waiting.”
Chapter 10
Antonio’s thin lips moved slightly. He seemed to have something else to say. Just then, a phone call came, and a Rolls–Royce stopped in front of
him.
“Sorry. I gotta go.”
Grace gave him an understanding look, and Antonio got into the car.
His car drove away, became a dot in the distance, and was finally out of sight.
Then, three limos in distinct styles stopped before Grace.
When the doors opened, three men got out. They differed in personalities. but looked very much alike.
Alden Hawthorne, the eldest of them, got out first. He strode to Grace with his long legs and airily pushed his gold–rimmed glasses. “Arianna is having a fever. I was taking care of her and didn’t come on time to register our marriage.”
Drake Hawthorne, the middle child of the triplets, had a slim figure and wore a black trench coat. “Weren’t you indecisive about which of us you should marry? It happens we all came late. So, let’s talk about the marriage next year.”
Bryce Hawthorne, the youngest of the triplets, was straightforward and kept a high profile. “Not next year. Give her several years so she can think it over.”
Grace shook her head, took her marriage certificate out of her purse, and smiled.
“I won’t choose from you guys because I’m married.”
The triplets froze. A trace of astonishment flitted across their eyes. They
Chapter 10
couldn’t believe their cars.
Alden squinted his cold eyes with a frown. “Grace, are you scaring us because we stood you up for Arianna?”
The smile in Drake’s eyes vanished instantly. “We look after Arianna because she saved our lives in a car accident. You know we like you. It’s always you. You’re from a powerful family. Don’t be so petty.”
Bryce pulled his tic. A tinge of cruelty was detected in his unruly face. “The whole Orlea City knows we like you. Who would have the guts to marry you except us? He would be dead meat! Grace, when did you learn how to fabricate marriage certificates?”
With that, he snatched the marriage certificate away from Grace and tore it into pieces.
He raised his hand and tossed the pieces into the air. They scattered across the ground.
Grace looked at him in disbelief. She wanted to say something but managed to keep her mood in check.
She got married today. It was supposed to be a pleasant day. Besides, it was just a marriage certificate. She could get a new one.
Grace looked at the triplets calmly. “Without the marriage certificate, my marriage still exists. My wedding is set for two weeks later. You guys are welcome to come.”
The triplets exchanged a glance. They saw disbelief in each other’s eyes.
The three of them shared the same thought. They all believed Grace was playing hard to get.
Drake took a few steps forward and declared coldly, “This trick is getting
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mes to the bones”
