Chapter 7
What a fool he was. Why didn’t he have the courage to take responsibility?
Tears fell from Brent’s eyes, landing on the glass of the wedding photo.
Meanwhile, Shalane stared at him in shock, blood slowly trickling down her face.
Galvin and Devin rushed in, their cries piercing the air as they threw themselves at their
mother.
Galvin stepped in front of her protectively, baring his teeth at Brent.
“You’re not my dad! You’re a bad man! When I take over the family business, I’ll kick you out onto the streets so you can eat garbage!”
Brent froze, unable to believe those words had just come out of his own child’s mouth.
This was the child he had poured his guilt and affection into.
For the first time, he looked at the two boys and felt like he didn’t know them at all.
Taking a deep breath, Brent spoke slowly.
“Shalane, take the kids and go back to London. Don’t come back. I’ll send you living expenses every month, but I’m reclaiming the company shares. My lawyer will handle the paperwork.”
Shalane shot up from the couch, eyes wide with fury.
“Brent! Those shares belong to Galvin and Devin! You have no right to take them back!
“You were never there for them, never acted like a real father. This is the least you owe them! I won’t let you take away their future!”
Brent studied her carefully.
Once upon a time, she had told him that all she wanted was for their family to be together. That the company and the villa–none of it mattered.
But now, the first thing out of her mouth was the shares–demanding why he had no right
to take them back.
Not once did she say she wouldn’t leave.
Not once did she say she wanted to stay.
Something in his chest twisted.
Shalane must have sensed the shift in Brent’s expression. Her voice softened immediately.
“Brent, I just want what’s best for the kids. They’ve already suffered so much growing up without their father. If you take everything from them, people will look down on them!” Galvin, always quick to pick up on cues, immediately latched onto his father’s leg.
“Daddy, my classmates always say I don’t have a dad. They bully me.
“But now that they know I’m the young heir of the Ceppetellis, everyone wants to be my friend! I don’t want to go back to London now!”
He tilted his head up, eyes full of pitiful innocence.
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Catching her mother’s signal, Devin followed suit, clinging to Brent’s other leg.
Brent looked down at the two children.
For the first time, he regretted having them.
Not because they existed–but because Shalane had raised them to be like this.
They had lost their innocence long ago.
Closing his eyes briefly, he exhaled before looking up at Shalane again.
“The children are innocent. I’ll take care of them. You–go back to London.”
Shalane’s expression twisted for a brief second before she forced herself to plead.
“Brent, I love you so much! I gave up my career for you! I stayed home, took care of our children, waited for you–how can you be so cruel and leave me all alone?”
Brent’s gaze turned ice–cold.
“Shalane, I never asked you to wait for me. I never asked you to give up your career.
“Do you remember our original agreement?”
Shalane’s eyes flickered with panic.
Of course, she remembered.
Back then, she had sweet–talked him into having a child, promising that she would raise the baby alone and never interfere in his marriage.
She had thought that, over time, her words and the children would wear him down. She had thought that eventually, he would get rid of Camryn–the useless, barren wife.
Shalane hadn’t expected him to care about Camryn so much.
Shalane hadn’t expected that, as soon as Camryn left, he would freak out and start pushing her out instead.
She wasn’t going to let it end like this.
Forcing herself to look hurt, she wiped at the corner of her eyes and turned toward the door.
“Fine, Brent. I’ll do as you say. I’ll go back to London and never return. Galvin and Devin are yours now. Take care of them from now on.”
With that, she turned and walked toward the door, dabbing at her eyes.
Galvin and Devin immediately threw themselves at her, wailing, “Mommy, don’t go!”
Chapter 8
