Farewell to Love: The CEO's Desperate Chase novel Chapter 199

With the Erickson family behind her, and the certainty that she and he truly cared for one another, Emilia had once believed everything would work out in the end. But now…

Everything had changed.

Chloe's petty drama today was just a minor ripple in the grand scheme of things.

Still, it left Emilia feeling agitated.

She kept driving aimlessly, weaving through the city's streets.

Eventually, she found herself pulling up in front of a hotel.

She looked up at the third floor, where the lights shone through a window—two silhouettes moving behind the curtains. Something inside her twisted at the sight.

Her mother had been staying here lately, ever since she came to Alden City to finalize Bella's adoption papers.

Emilia was the one who found this place for her—a suite, comfortable and private.

Yet despite their blood, the bond between mother and daughter was painfully thin.

She knew, deep down, that her father's death hadn't only shattered her. It had changed her mother too.

But for a thousand reasons—spoken and unspoken—they had ended up like this.

Her phone buzzed.

She glanced down. It was a call.

Emilia hesitated a moment, then finally answered.

"Come on up. I saw your car outside." Her mother's voice was as calm as ever.

Emilia looked up, catching sight of the open window on the third floor, and the figure standing there.

"Okay," she replied softly.

She made her way up to the suite. Before she could even knock, the door swung open from inside.

Her mother—Paisley—stood in the doorway.

They locked eyes for a moment.

Neither of them said the words that hung between them.

Emilia couldn't bring herself to say "Mom."

Paisley couldn't call her "Emilia."

They stood in loaded silence. Then, Paisley quietly handed her a pair of slippers.

She got back in her car, merging once more into the city's night.

She'd thought that driving around without a destination might help clear her head, but if anything, she felt even worse.

A chill wind swept through the streets, whisking away the last fallen leaves. Emilia shivered.

Enough, she thought. Time to go home.

A hot bath, some sleep—maybe things would look better in the morning.

But as she pulled up outside her rented apartment building, she spotted Tyler's Maybach parked by the curb.

He'd found her, after all.

Even though she'd never given him this address.

But she knew—if Tyler wanted to find her, he would, sooner or later.

Emilia pushed the thought aside, parked her car, and stepped into the night.

She kept her gaze fixed straight ahead, heading for the building entrance, but Tyler blocked her path before she could make it inside.

"Emilia." Tyler called her name, taking two quick steps to stand in front of her.