Chapter 69
Elodie’s POV~
“It’s nothing, Grandma. Really. I just didn’t want to go back right now and I miss you so much.” I tried forcing a smile to my lips but failed woefully and saw as my grandmother kept searching my face and then pursed her lips as though she had found out the lie.
Nodding without saying further, she turned and walked away. And me? I simply released the deep, painful sigh I was holding back in.
Liora must have had the time of her life with Sienna over the weekend.
I knew because she didn’t call. Didn’t text. Nothing.
Not even a goodnight message.
By Monday, I’d stopped checking my phone every five minutes and just went to work like everything was normal.
It wasn’t. But I was getting good at pretending.
The day passed in a blur of meetings and code reviews, and by the time evening rolled around, I was exhausted, not physically, just… emotionally drained.
Cara called just as I was packing up. “Dinner? My treat. You look like you need it p>
She wasn’t wrong.
We went to a nice place downtown, one of those restaurants with mood lighting and cloth napkins. Cara kept the conversation light, work gossip, some drama with her neighbor, anything to keep me distracted.
I appreciated it more than she knew.
Halfway through dinner, I excused myself to use the restroom.
The hallway was quiet, dimly lit. I was almost to the bathroom door when I saw him.
Harrison.
He was walking toward me from the opposite direction, and for a split second, our eyes met.
I kept walking. Didn’t slow down. Didn’t acknowledge him.
Just walked right past like he was a stranger.
But I felt him stop. Felt his eyes on my back.
I pushed through the bathroom door and let it swing shut behind me, my heart pounding for no reason I wanted to examine.
When I came out a few minutes later, I half-expected him to be gone.
He wasn’t.
Harrison was standing exactly where we’d passed each other, like he’d been waiting.
When he saw me, he turned slightly. “You’re eating here p>
His tone was odd. Not hostile, exactly. Just… curious. Like he genuinely wanted to know.
“Yes,” I said flatly. “Do you think I’m stalking you, Mr. Crane p>
He blinked, caught off guard. “That’s not what I meant p>
I didn’t care what he meant. Didn’t want to stand here making small talk with one of Dante’s friends—one of the people who’d made it clear I was never good enough.
“Excuse me,” I said, moving to step around him.
This time, he didn’t try to stop me.
I walked back to the table where Cara was waiting, my hands shaking slightly as I picked up my water glass.
“You okay?” she asked, frowning.
“Fine. Just ran into someone I know p>
“Someone you don’t like, from the look on your face p>
“Something like that p>
We finished dinner quickly after that, and Cara mentioned she wanted to stop by a jewelry store to pick up a birthday gift for her mother.
“Come with me?” she asked. “I need a second opinion p>
I nodded, grateful for the distraction.
The jewelry store was upscale, all glass cases and soft lighting. Cara immediately gravitated toward a display of jade necklaces, her eyes lighting up.
“These are gorgeous,” she breathed.
The store manager came over with a smile. “Those are part of our premium collection. Would you like to try one on p>
Cara was about to answer when the door chimed behind us.
“Hello, I’m here to pick up an order,” a male voice said.
I froze.
That voice.
“Ah, Mr. Brown!” The manager’s smile widened. “Of course, let me get that for you right away p>
I turned slowly, already knowing what I’d see.
Logan Brown. Sienna’s father. The man who’d destroyed my mother. The man whose betrayal had ripped my family apart.
My father.
He was walking toward the counter, his attention on the manager until his eyes landed on me.
He stopped mid-step.
“Ely?” His voice was uncertain, like he couldn’t quite believe it. Then, more confident: “Ely, is that you p>
I stared at him, my throat tight.
He looked older. Grayer. But still polished, still refined, still the same man who’d walked out on us like we meant nothing.
“Are you here to order jewelry?” he asked, taking a step closer.
I didn’t answer. Couldn’t.
“Mag, please p>
I turned my face away sharply, focusing on Cara instead. “Are you sure about this one? Or do you want to look at the others p>
Cara was staring between us, clearly confused. She leaned closer and whispered, “Who is that p>
I didn’t respond.
Logan’s expression shifted, hurt, maybe. Or guilt. I didn’t care which.
But he didn’t leave.
Logan just stood there, staring at me with those eyes that used to read me bedtime stories, and asked softly, “Mag, how have you been lately p>
My hands clenched into fists at my sides.
I bit down on my lip hard enough to taste blood, then finally turned to face him fully. “What do you want to say p>
“I His voice got even softer, like that would somehow make this easier. “Ely, do you have to speak to your father like this p>
‘ Your father p>
Like he had any right to that title.
“And how exactly should I speak to you?” My voice came out cold. Dead.
“Your father knows he’s made mistakes in the past, but Elodie you have to understand, I’ve always had you in my heart. Always p>
I laughed. Actually laughed. It sounded harsh and broken even to my own ears.
“Oh, you’ve always had me in your heart? Is that why you let Sienna get close to my husband? Why you stood by while she wormed her way into his life? While she took everything from me? Tell me, Father, how exactly does that show you’ve always had me in your heart p>
“Elodie He frowned, and I saw frustration flash across his face. “I understand your feelings, but Sienna and Dante, they genuinely love each other. Love can’t be forced, so why are you p>
“Right. Love can’t be forced.” I cut him off, my voice shaking now. “So your affair back then was perfectly justified, wasn’t it? And now Sienna’s just following in her mother’s footsteps, proudly playing the mistress. Like mother, like daughter p>
Logan’s face darkened. “Elodie! When did you become so bitter? So extreme p>
“Extreme?” I stepped closer, and he actually backed up. “What would you prefer? Should I just divorce Dante immediately and make it easier for Sienna? Would that be less extreme for you p>
“That’s not what I p>
“Logan, what’s going on p>
A woman’s voice interrupted us.
I turned to see Tracy, Logan’s sister-in-law, walking into the store with a younger girl. Sophia, Sienna’s cousin.
Tracy’s eyes landed on me, and her smile was warm but pitying. “Oh my goodness, isn’t this Elodie? It’s been so long! You look even more beautiful than before p>
“Mom Sophia whined, clearly unhappy about the compliment directed at me.
I could see the jealousy flickering in Sophia’s eyes as she looked me over. But then her expression shifted, like she’d remembered something that made her feel superior again.
Probably thinking about how Dante preferred her sister over me.
Logan looked at Tracy, seeming caught off guard. “Sister-in-law, what are you doing here p>
“We hadn’t seen you in ages, so we came to visit,” Tracy said pleasantly.
Then Sophia’s eyes landed on the jewelry box the manager had set on the counter. Her face lit up with obvious delight.
“Oh! Is this the anniversary gift you had custom-made for Auntie?” she asked loudly, making absolutely sure I could hear every single word. “It’s absolutely stunning p>
Logan smiled, looking proud. “Yes, it is p>
“You’re so thoughtful,” Sophia gushed, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. “Every single year you prepare such expensive, beautiful gifts for Auntie. You always give her the most wonderful surprises. You’re so good to her p>
Each word was a deliberate knife aimed straight at my heart.
Anniversary gift. For Sienna’s mother. For the woman he’d left us for.
While my mother had died heartbroken and alone, Logan had been buying expensive anniversary presents for his mistress-turned-wife.
My throat felt like it was closing up.
Logan chuckled, clearly pleased with himself.