Chapter 11
Anne took a deep breath.
Through her tears, she continued. “Veronica almost killed Mrs. Lavirins’s grandmother! She lied to the old lady, claiming she was pregnant with your baby. The shock nearly killed her. And you slapped Chesca for this?”
Fabian froze.
Veronica pregnant? How could that be possible?
His gaze turned dark as he looked at Veronica. “You told Chesca’s grandmother you were pregnant with my child?”
Veronica was terrified.
She pouted pitifully at Fabian. “I was just upset! She’s always acting so superior around me, so I just… Fabian, I didn’t mean it.”
Fabian abruptly let go of her and strode toward the exit, with Veronica frantically calling
after him. “Fabian!”
But Fabian didn’t even look back.
Veronica stood stunned–This was the first time she hadn’t been able to keep Fabian by her
side.
She couldn’t accept that Chesca might have a place in Fabian’s heart. Their relationship was purely transactional, how could Fabian possibly have feelings for Chesca?
Anne spat at her in disgust before following Fabian out.
When Fabian reached the entrance, Chesca was already in the car.
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The couple face to face, but nothing like they once were.
Separated by a car window, Fabian spoke hoarsely. “I was wrong to blame you.”
There was much more he wanted to say. But he had been too hard on himself in his youth and too hard on Chesca as well, making it difficult for him to express tenderness now.
During those intimate nights recently, after Chesca had fallen asleep, Fabian would often watch her peaceful face.
He had asked himself–was there love?
He did–but not much!
Yet he knew with certainty that he didn’t want to lose her.
Chesca remained in the car.
She refused to look at him, refused to acknowledge the husband she’d shared a bed with for four years. To her, Fabian might as well have been air.
Love or hate–both were wasted on him.
Chesca stared straight ahead and spoke flatly. “You didn’t do anything wrong, Fabian. I’m the one who was wrong–the me who liked you back then.”
Then she added, voice soft but cutting, “Knowing there was no love, I still jumped headfirst into this marriage regardless of the consequences.”
“I was naive and fearless then. Now I’ve woken up.”
“Is that allowed?“,
“Fabian, don’t I have the right to see clearly now?”
Chesca’s face was calm, neither happy nor sad, as if falling in love with Fabian had
Chapter 11
happened in another lifetime, as if she was about to forget everything between them.
Fabian felt his heart lurch.
He had never been an impulsive man. Since his youth, every step he’d taken had been precisely calculated.
But now he recklessly pulled open the car door, wanting to grab Chesca’s hand, to hold her
and start over with her.
“Chesca, I’ll make it up to you!”
Chesca roughly tried to push his hand away.
“Make it up to me?”
“With what, Fabian? All I need is your signature on the divorce papers and give my peaceful life back.”
“Thanks!”
Chesca’s voice broke.
Fabian’s hand covered hers, his strength meeting her softness–his plea against her disappointment.
Chesca gritted her teeth. “Let go!”
Fabian wouldn’t release her. After fifteen seconds of standoff, he finally relented.
The black window slowly rose, separating the once–married couple into two different worlds, Chesca tilted her head back slightly, keeping her voice steady. “Go.”
The driver nodded and stepped on the gas.
The black SUV gradually pulled away, its wheels crushing the dried yellow leaves, passing
Desen’t Do Powrinds
Fabian by.
The car grew more distant…
But Fabian stood there, his face expressionless, making it impossible to guess what he was thinking.
Fabian stood at the entrance.
Veronica’s parents had rushed over. Seeing the chaos inside the manor, Mrs. Arnault screeched. “What the hell happened here? Who would dare trash the house of Leshine’s president?”
Veronica covered her face. “It was Chesca.”
Mrs. Arnault’s fury faltered momentarily, but soon she gave a cold laugh. “She won’t be so
high and mighty for long! Once Fabian divorces her, that orphan will be at our mercy.”
Her husband Draxion still had some conscience and frowned. “Stop. She’s still Fabian’s legal
wife!”
Mrs. Arnault scoffed. “Legal wife? Please. Their marriage has been nothing but a joke. If it
weren’t for-”
Draxion silenced her with a sharp commande
Mrs. Arnault stopped talking.
She called for a servant to bring ice,
she’s done to you, my poor girl. Wodenly applying it to Veronica’s face. “Look at what
can’t
st let this slide!”
“Weren’t you and Mrs. Richmond old acquaintances? If Mr. Richmond sees you as a bridge
for business, your position will be unshakable in the Elkedonia family.”
Veronica’s eyes welled with tears. “Dad, say something!”
Draxion’s face showed embarrassment.
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Mrs. Arnault glared at him, her voice turning caustic. “You can’t forget her, can you? She’s married now.”
Draxion snapped. “What nonsense are you talking?”
He felt guilty, often dreaming at midnight of his former lover and their child–the child who disappeared at age five.
Draxion had only learned it two years ago.
He didn’t dare tell his wife.
Draxion stood off to the side smoking, his eyes reddening amid the swirling smoke.
Mrs. Arnault didn’t notice her husband’s strange mood and continued nagging. “I don’t care about your past. But our daughter’s future–that’s what matters.”
Draxion took a deep drag on his cigarette.
He wanted to see her again to ask if there was any news of their daughter.
Hospital VIP ward.
Chesca sat beside the bed peeling an apple. Her grandmother kept staring at her face. Chesca touched her cheek–she had seen a doctor to make sure no bruises were visibl–and asked. “What are you looking at, Grandma?”
Her grandmother suddenly asked. “How does Fabian treat you?”
Chesca hesitated. very well.”
abian treats me
But her grandmother through her. After long consideration, she finally spoke her mind.
saw
“If you’re unhappy, then divorce him!”
“We’re just ordinary folks–how could everything go smoothly in such a prominent family?
Docen’t Do Powinnis
Chapter 11
I didn’t say anything before because I knew you loved him. But now? I can see your feelings for him have faded.”
“So just let go.”
“Grandma.”
Chesca’s voice caught in her throat. She hadn’t expected her grandmother to be so understanding.
At the door came a knock.
Chesca looked up to see Fabian standing in the doorway, his dark eyes fixed intently on her, deep and unreadable…
He seemed to have been standing there for some time, likely having heard everything.
Chesca no longer cared.
Fabian slowly entered, placing a bouquet of flowers on the table before sitting beside the elderly woman to conversation.
Having navigated the world of wealth and power, charming an old lady came naturally to
him.
Nearby, Chesca’s expression remained indifferent.
In four years of marriage, Fabian had rarely accompanied her to visit her grandmother. Love or lack thereof showed itself so clearly–yet she had endured for four years.
Looking back, she felt she had only herself to blame.
Suddenly–his voice pulled her back.
“What are you thinking about?”
