From Neglected Wife to CEO’s Obsession novel Chapter 101

Mom always said raising someone else’s child is a thankless task. If that child grows up and leaves, well, that’s just fate. But the worst is when all that love ends up turning into resentment.

Cindy, the daughter I loved with everything I had, was never really mine.

It’s not that I let her go. She’s the one who’s choosing to walk away from me.

Kailynn passed me a tissue. I wiped my face, trying to pull myself together. My voice came out steady, even though my heart was a mess. “Cindy, you’re grown now. You know what you want. I was wrong earlier, and it won’t happen again. I won’t get in the way of your choices anymore. I won’t be your mom anymore. Don’t cry. Go home.”

I turned and walked off before I could take it back.

Remy’s voice followed me, urgent and pleading. “Avery, please, you have to believe me. There’s a reason for everything I’ve done—it was all to protect you. Give me half a year, and I’ll tell you everything.”

I stopped, a sharp ache stabbing through my chest. I looked back, forcing a cold, sarcastic smile. “What’s this, Mr. Swanson? Got your memory back? Dropping the act now?”

Remy’s face went gray and lifeless, like all the color had been drained out of him. His eyes were dark and haunted, full of pain I couldn’t even begin to understand, and the shame of being called out in front of everyone.

“Remy, whatever we had is over. Let’s leave it at that. If you won’t sign the papers, that’s fine. There are plenty of lawyers out there—I’ll find someone to take my divorce case.”

I turned away, and only when the elevator doors slid shut behind me did that burning sensation between my shoulder blades finally fade.

I held it together until I got into my office. The second I closed the door, my back suddenly felt so heavy I couldn’t stand straight anymore. I curled up on the couch, the pain in my chest making me feel small and breakable.

Cindy’s words had cut right to my core. It felt like my whole world was coming apart.

“At least it was only six years,” I tried to joke, managing a weak smile. “From now on, every six years is mine. Cutting my losses now is better than never, right?”

Kailynn hugged me tight, her eyes red and puffy. “You dummy. Those were the best years of your life, and you wasted them on people who never deserved you.”

Trying to change the subject, I asked, “So what are you doing here so early?”

Kailynn sniffed and wiped at her face. “Two things. First, after what happened yesterday—Mr. Swanson carrying you off—I needed to make sure you were safe. Second… well, you might not want to hear this.”

I frowned. “Is this about Jeffery?”

She let out a sigh. “You’re too sharp for your own good. Of course you’d guess and of course, you’re the one who gets hurt.” She patted my shoulder, forced a smile, and wiped away her tears. “Jeffery’s back and he’s serious about you this time. He found out no lawyer in Georgia Bay will touch your divorce, so he’s getting his firm’s partner office to take your case. You’ll probably hear something official this afternoon. I wanted you to be the first to know. It’s your call whether to go along with it or not.”