Chapter 11
Madeline was finally out of the house.
“You still think Jillian’s gonna come back to you?” she said, tilting her head with that smug little smile. “Finn, you really are
hopeless. You do realize you two are divorced, right?”
Finn clenched his jaw. “That’s none of your damn business.”
Then he slammed the door in her face.
The car ride to the hospital was quiet. His knuckles were white on the steering wheel. The city blurred past, but he barely noticed.
Henry was still lying in that damn bed, too pale, with dark circles under his eyes.
“We’re gettin’ your mom back tomorrow,” Finn said gently, brushing Henry’s hair off his forehead.
Henry’s eyes lit up a little. Not much. But enough to make Finn believe this might fix something.
From my end, I already knew what he was planning. Dad told me everything after Finn left the hospital.
So I called him.
“Dad told me what you said,” I said, cold and steady. “But I already signed the papers, Finn. I divorced you.”
There was silence. Then I could hear him suck in a breath.
“Jill–”
“Don’t. Don’t try to convince me. I’ve made peace with it. I’ll take whatever comes with that choice.”
I hung up.
I stared at the flowers on the porch, my heart twisting in ways I thought I was past. I hoped he wouldn’t find me. But deep down, I knew better. Finn always got what he wanted. And he never played fair.
I was sitting outside, telling Cici a story about a fox and a swallow. She leaned against me, eyes full of wonder. Garrick was nearby, sipping coffee, watching us with that soft smile of his.
Then I heard it.
“Mom!”
My whole body froze. That voice–I’d know it anywhere.
Cici grabbed my hand. Her big eyes were already watery. “Are you gonna leave?”
I gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. “Just give me a couple minutes, baby.”
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Chapter 11
I stood up and walked toward them. Finn and Henry.
Henry ran to me first, his arms wrapping around me tight. “Mom, can we come back? Please?”
I hesitated. Then I gently pulled back and looked at Finn.
“You must’ve gotten the lawyer’s call,” I said.
He nodded. Then glanced toward the garden, toward Cici and Garrick.
“You’re here because of them?”
I crossed my arms. “Since we’re divorced, that’s none of your business, right?”
His jaw tightened. I could feel the tension in the air. It was always like this with him–tight, hot, dangerous.
“Remarry me,” he said suddenly. “I already kicked Madeline out.”
I almost laughed. “That will never happen, Finn.”
Henry’s eyes filled with tears. “Mom, you’re not coming back?”
I shook my head. “I won’t.”
“Why? I said I’m sorry, okay? Isn’t that enough?”
+25 Bonus
I crouched down in front of him. “Henry, apologies are important. But they don’t fix everything. They can’t erase all the hurt.”
Behind me, Garrick stood. Ready. Watching.
I felt Finn’s steps come closer. He wasn’t gonna let it end like this.
“You’re really choosing to spend the rest of your life with those two strangers?” he snapped.
I turned slowly. My voice was calm, but my hands were shaking.
“What exactly were you expecting from me? To just be the obedient wife who keeps her mouth shut about your betrayal? Or the pathetic mother who tries to win back her son with fake smiles while getting humiliated every day?”
He didn’t answer.
“I found something real,” I said, more to myself than him. “And I finally realized… I was never meant to be someone else’s
shadow.”
Henry looked between us, panicked.
“We need you, Mom. Please.”
I let out a long breath. “Oh, really? When you walked Madeline into the hospital, did you need me? When you defended her while I stood alone, did you need me? When you told your teachers you hated me, did you need me?”
2/4
Chapter 1
His face crumpled. “I’m sorry! I’ll never do that again. I swear! You’re my mom, my only mom!”
1 broke. Tears rolled down my cheeks. Garrick stepped forward and handed me a tissue, his hand warm and steady.
Finn narrowed his eyes. “Who the hell are you? Think you can just insert yourself into my family’s mess?”
+25 Bonus
Garrick didn’t flinch. “I’m her friend. And honestly? From where I stand, it looks like you’re the one who threw her away. You don’t get to act like the victim now.”
Their standoff was seconds from exploding. I stepped in.
“Finn, take Henry and go. This is over.”
“No! Mom!” Henry sobbed, his voice slicing through the quiet morning. Passersby started to slow down, curious.
Finn glanced around, then leaned down and whispered to Henry. “Let’s go. Now.”
Reluctantly, Henry followed him. But he kept looking back. Over and over.
I stayed in Richmond after that. With Garrick and Cici.
They became my home. My real family. Not by blood, but by choice.
I heard Finn was having some trouble with his business. Rumors said investors were pulling out, and alliances were crumbling.
Henry? My parents took him in. Gave him a stable home
One day, Dad called again. I didn’t pick up.
Garrick did.
“Hello?”
“Who is this?” Dad asked.
Garrick looked over at me, smiled softly.
“I’m family,” he said. Then hung up.
Yeah, he’s my family now.
Outside, the sun was setting behind the Richmond hills, casting long shadows across the garden.
Cici was chasing fireflies, her giggles rising like music through the open windows.
Her hair had gotten longer.
And sometimes, she’d call me Mama, and Garrick Dad.
Love rewrites those rules.
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Chapter 11
Oh, and sometimes I still had dreams about the old house.
About Henry crying in that hospital bed. About Madeline’s perfume lingering in rooms that used to be mine. About Finn.
But they faded quicker these days.
I wasn’t a pawn in someone else’s empire.
I was just Jillian.
