Chapter 11
Cassian collapsed into the chair, the documents shaking in his trembling hands.
“Verena and Caleb… hurt Aurelia?“[]
“She knows about the baby switch?“]
He kept repeating those words like a broken record, his face refusing to accept what his brain already understood.]
Because knowing Aurelia the way he did, she’d never ask for a divorce unless something truly happened.[]
The realization hit him. He jumped up without even saying goodbye to Silas and bolted out of the room.[]
Silas watched him go, then calmly pulled out his phone and called his sister.[]
“What do you mean he won’t sign?!” Aurelia’s voice was shaking, and Silas could picture her face going pale. “Why won’t he just let me go? Does he actually think we can w work this out?”
“Silas, please, you have to help me!“]
“Don’t worry, Aure.” Hearing the desperation in her voice broke his heart. “I’ll make sure he signs those papers, whatever it takes.“|
After hanging up, Aurelia sat by the window in her Zurich apartment, feeling completely drained.]
She’d thought that leaving New York and getting away from Cassian would make everything simple. That she could just start over and be happy.
But she’d miscalculated. She never expected him to fight the divorce.[]
Why the hell wouldn’t he just let her go?]
She couldn’t get it.
He clearly didn’t love her anymore–hell, maybe he never had.]
So why was he holding on so tight?]
She was massaging her temples when she saw her son Lucien running toward her from across the room.
Ever since they’d been reunited, Lucien had been the only thing keeping her sane.[]
Even though they’d been separated for years, that mother–child bond was unbreakable.[]
In just two weeks of living together, they’d become inseparable.]
Seeing her upset expression, Lucien immediately ran to her side and wrapped his little arms around
“Mommy, what’s wrong? Did I do something bad?“[]
Those words made Aurelia’s heart ache.
Lucien had been on his own since he was a baby, growing up in that orphanage until he was four.[]
her.
Chapter 11
Reading people’s moods was survival for him–he’d had to learn how to keep the adults around him happy.
She pulled him into her lap and kissed his cheek. “It’s not your fault at all, sweetheart. There’s just a bad man who’s making Mommy upset.”
“Where is he? I’ll go punch him for you!” Lucien made little fists and started shadowboxing.[]
Despite everything, Aurelia couldn’t help but smile.[]
She made herself a promise right then: she was getting that divorce no matter what. She and Lucien deserved a fresh start, and she wasn’t going to let Cassian destroy that.
Meanwhile, back at the Thornwell mansion, Caleb was crying in the living room.[]
“I don’t care! I want Mommy’s cookies! Aunt Verena, go find Mommy! Find her right now!“]
He was shaking Verena’s arm and screaming at the top of his lungs.]
Verena’s patience finally snapped. She grabbed his shoulders and yelled back.[]
“What mommy?! Listen to me! I’M your mommy! Aurelia isn’t your mom!”
Even at four years old, Caleb understood what that meant.
Sure, he liked playing with Aunt Verena. He didn’t want his mommy to send her away.
But Verena wasn’t his mommy. Nobody could replace his mommy!]
“You’re lying!” Caleb sobbed. “You’re not my mommy! You’re Aunt Verena!”
SLAP!
Verena’s hand flew across his face with a sharp slap..
Caleb stumbled backward and fell, crying even harder.
That’s exactly when Cassian walked through the front door and took in the scene–his mistress standing over his sobbing son with her hand still raised.
He knew immediately what had happened.[]
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