rabella?" Adrian asked, rai
wed as she tried to sp
!" Serena cried, but only Arabella noticed the curl at the corner of h
ena is right. You should be thanking her for clea
dated to over a month
an...I'm more heartbroken that you
her wipe out the fake tears that she alway
her lower l
ne hell of a smart lawyer. There's
e mine," she scoffed,
g her message, n
down. There was no trace of any messa
he message?" Serena
Ms. Shaw actively worked for her-there was no need to
ally unbeatab
ge my mind today," Adrian interrupted her
t divorce and full custody..." Her voice brok
his lips. "Axel gets to come back home to live wit
abella's cheeks faster tha
until he's 18," Adrian continued, dawdling over th
aptop, trying his best to be nonchalant
ading, "Arabella, please don't let
d her gaze, si
y reflected in her own eyes, sharp
eak, but her stare
quickly moved back, unsure why
from his laptop as Arab
abella said firmly,
ment written all over her fa
, she quickly added, "Uh...Ax
will protect Axel at all costs," A
too. I don't have to promise
m once I'm gone, and you'd blindly believe her like the fool
t was all he could do as she picke
elt a strange lightness, as
expecting to see relie
His eyes fixed on the signed p
ow. All your insecurities abou
t the signature-her name in black ink
. His fingers cur
an who'd gotten exactly what he
ys wanted this divor
, tears blurred her vision as she looked
Can I at least...see
dn't hesi
e you're far away from him that he comes b
le, ignorin
a smile, holding his gaze one last time. "Yes, it was my fault I fell in love with you.
ust for a second before she composed herse
amed, veins throbbing in her neck. "Was that a m
ed, glistening as if he were holding back tea
you for ruining my life." Arabella st
r phone pinged, and Adrian's voice
unt." His voice softened, almos
he could pay her to disap
isting in
d. Almost threw i
to survive...to c
blood money an
ain, "Live a goo
thmarks on her shoulders th
made her heart race n
n't stop crying, letting the pain spill ove
n't remember paying the driver o
er-final, hollow-before her knees gave out and she s
st time she wou
im-from the expensive jewelry to the small hair brooches he had
now only burned her skin. She took o
alizing she had never used it since m
m. She could almost see him
hey clutched the blanket,
him. Her shoulders curled inward, each breath splintering
ers clung in a crooked line-pirates, planets,
ed her forehead into the mattress, remembering him crawling o
She refused to b
er hand brushed somethin
ote
n for his 21st birthday eight years ago. "You may need a p
yes and dusted it of
e in Axel's room so he
she didn't need reminders
top caught her e
rst li
s it is to admit, I am
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