Footsteps chord toward the door Panic surged through me–couldn’t let him catch me esdropping Without thinking, I docked into a nearly utility room, my heart pounding
Outside, aloud thusemberated through the hallway, as though someone had been showed hard against the will. Tom’s voice followed, low and menacing. “If you leave now, don’t come back and regret it later.”
“I don’t tune time for this” Gavin shot back, his voicurgent “Mandy’s depression is acting up. I’m worried something might happen to her. I need to check on her now
“Depression?” Tom sineered. “What a pathetic excuse. She’s playing you like a tool
Gavin ignored the jeti, adjusting his disheveled collar as he spoke. “Andrew saved my life. I can’t just stand by if she’s in trouble.”
Tom let out arold laugh. “If you’re so intent on repaying that debt, should go to Andrew What does a divorced woman like Mandy have to do with it?”
Gavin faltered, unable to fundaretort After anoment’s pause, he sighed and said, “Forget it. You wouldn’t understand Thave to go now Take Grace home for me
Without spering another glance at Tom’s cold and imposing expression, Gorin turned and stride away.
From the shadow of the staty room, Edelt a chill seep into my bones as I listened to hits fading footsteps.
At that moment, the silence he had left behind weighed heavier than his words.
As the sound of Gavin’s footsteps faded into the distance, I slumped against the wall, feeling an overwhichning wave of sadness surge within me.
This was then that loved for 12 years.
When I married him two years ago, that believed I was the happiest woman in the world
But now – Leralized I was nothing more than a complete joke.
Tom’s sharpice jolted me back to eyed respond, his strikingly handsome face, laced with an unnable edge of menace, appeared before me, The moment he saw my face, he drove, his expression sattening slightly
“Grace..” He quickly regained his composure, his brows knitting slightly as if plecting things other “Did you hear everything Govas and I just talked about?”
Jopened my mouth to speak, but my throat felt like it was clogged with a sponge, absorbing every word betute it could escape.
Feeling the sting in my eyes, I quickly lowered my gare, swallowing hard. After along pase, I finally managed to say, “Thank you for helping my mom move to a better room,
Tom. I really appreciate it “
“Their’s no need for formalities between iis,” Tein replied, his voice uncharacteristically gentle.
new he meant well. He had stood up for me earlier in front of Gavin, but right now, all I wanted was to find a quiet place where I could be alone and hide my sorrows
“I need to speak with the attending doctor about my mom’s condition”
As I turned to leave, searching for an excuse to slip away, a hand suddenly grabbed my wrist.
Startled, I turned around, meeting a pair of deep, dark eyes,
“What I said last time still stands,” Tom said, his tone tim
He sighed softly, shaking his head with awry smile. Then his expression turned serious, his gaze locking onto mine. “If you decide to get a divorce, I’ll help you.”
Divorce–the word struck me like a thunderclap, leaving me momentarily stunned.
In the depths of despair earlier, the thought of divorce had indeed crossed my mind.
But alongside it came a tangle of emotions–hesitation, reluctance, and pain.
Thad loved Gann fer 12 years.
Half mylde had been spent loving him.
How could let go so easily?
From the moment I married him, I knew he didn’t love me
Yet, I had naively believed that, one day, could make him fall for me.
If I divorced him now, could i truly accept it? Would I be free of regret?
And then there was the child carried–Gavin’s child
Instinctively, my hand moved to rest on my stomach. The thought hit me like a tidal wave. If we divorced, the child would forever the us together. We could never fully cutties.
But staying in a marriage like this–was that fair to the child?
And if Gavin, who had been suspected of infertility, learned that I was pregnant, he would undoubtedly fight for custody.
A chaotic stormed thoughts rushed through my mind, leaving me paralyzed with indecision.
Still, knowing that Tom was willing to stand by me gave me a sense of security hadn’t felt in a long time.
“Tom, thank you,” I said earnestly, looking up at him. “If that day ever comes, I’ll ask for your help.”
Tom’s gaze lingered briefly on my stomach, his brows knitting for the faintest moment. But when he raised his eyes to meet mine again, his face was adorned with an easy smile. “Alright”
