His Regret, My Unbought Freedom

ie

o see me like this, broken and bleeding, a stark contrast to the perfect, untouched Harper. My eyes met his, and for a

it?" he asked, his voice softer now, almost tender. My heart gave a painful thum

want her moved to the guest house on the estate tonight. She's been th

ss's comfort. "Her stress levels are critical for the baby," he added, as if

rper. A fresh wound, a fresh betrayal. The last, fragile thread of hope snapped. It was

esperate yearning-they all coalesced into a profound sense of we

urprisingly steady, devoid of emotion. The wor

Don't say that. Not now. We can fix this. For the baby. For us." His voice cracked, a raw, desperate plea.

promise, I'll send Harper away. You won't ever see her again. I swear it." The word

ad kept it a secret, planning the perfect surprise, a joyful revelation that now felt like a cruel jok

im, pulling my hand away. My voice was a

tside was a blur, a cacophony of sounds and colors I couldn't process. My only

. I made my way to my study, my sanctuary, to collect my few personal mementos. Then I h

oom, the door slightly ajar. Each muffled sound, each whispered word, was a hammer blow to my soul, shattering the last fragments of my di

r voice sickeningly sweet. "August,

th a tenderness he hadn't shown me in months, perhaps

venomous declaration of victory. My stomach lurched, a wave of nausea washing over me. My legs, still weak from the fire, threatened to

d I couldn't suppress. It was enough.

oice now a feigned whisper o

ritation. He pulled away from Harper, scrambling to cover himself. "All

"Don't touch me," I spat, my voice raw. My legs buckled, and I leaned against the do

contorted mask of feigned innocence. "She just w

the neatly folded divorce papers. "It's exactly what I

clutching her stomach. "Oh, August, my head... the b

shed to her side, cradling her. "Harper, what's wron

. "There," he said, tossing the signed documents onto the floor. "You want your freedom? Take it

sealing me out. I stood there, utterly alone, the signed papers a crumpled testament to my insignificance. He had

el replay of our past. I dreamed of our wedding day, his eyes full of adoration, his vows ech

es for help echoing in the inferno. But his back was to me, his arms wrapped around Harper, her face smug, vict