Chapter 22

Chapter 22 1/1 The renate wought–iron gates swing open, and a sleek Maybach slowly rolled out from Inside Moore Man Sampel spotted her immediately. His pare locked with Shirley’s.

Shirley’s heart clenched rightly as it seized by an unseen hand without hesitation, she slum ed her foot down on the accelerator, swerving her car directly into the Maybach’s path to block The driver slammed on the bakes. However, uses were cut short as he recognized Shillay through the windshield. His frustration quickly dissolved into uneasy silence.

The abrupt stop had caused Sophia to hit her head against the window, and she cried out in pain Samuel’s face darkened with concern as he carefully checked Sophia over. Only after ensuring she was unharmed did he turn back to Shirley. His typically composed features were tinged with irritation “Shirley, what is in now?

Just last night, she had come to inform him about her supposed wedding, and now, hear she was again. It only confirmed his suspicion that her announcement had been al Shirley reversed her car slightly to create space, retrieved a box from her passenger seat, and extended it toward him through the open window. “This is the prosthetic leg I ordered for you last month in Newlandia. It’s already been paid for with your money.”

Hettone was can almost unnaturally so Samuelched out to take the box, but Shirley held on tightly and refused to let go.

He glanced up at her. The light from the night before had hidden her weariness, but now, was unmistalate.

Shirley had lost weight. Her face had become sharper, and her eyes larger against her pale complexion Dark circles shadowed her eyes, making her look both fragile and devastatingly beautiful. Hri gare was raw and unguarded, filled with a quot desperation that seemed to plead with him She had so much to say but no words to voice t Samuel frowned. The sight of her stirred something deep and unsettling within him “Sharlay, I’m on my way to the airport. If there’s something you want, say it now. Whatever it is, I’ll make it up to you when I get back.”

I would already be too late by the time he got back Shirley tightened her grip on the box. Yet, when her eyes shifted to the woman seated beside him, the words she wanted to say choked in her throat.

In just over a month, the woman by his side was no longer her. The man she had fought to protect for six years had chosen to abandon her. All the pain and the beartache she had worked so hard to shield him from had now been inflicted on her without mercy.

She felt agony and utter despair.

In the end, it was Samuel who let go first. He turned away and said in a cold voice, “Shirley, let’s part ways peacefully. Don’t make this harder than it needs to be. Keep the box. I don’t want it. Throw it away if you mus With that, he tapped the back of the driver’s seat. The car started moving again.

As the Maybach drow off, Shirley stood for while raising a mocking me. What had she been expecting? She already knew there was nothing left to salvage. So why did she keep humiliating herself?

She had known he would let go. She had known that even if he stayed, they could never go back to how they were before.

How could the possibly ignore the pain in her broken heart?

And yet, she couldn’t help herself. This had been their final chance!

Every time she told here is with him, her heart shattered anew. She had always acred strongly and indecently, but deep down, no one knew better than she did that she couldn’t thod her limit. This time, she was truly done! She had lost before Samuel Shirley stared at the prosthetic in her hands for a long moment before starting her car, driving to the trash bin outside Moore Manor, and tossing the box inside.

That was it nuel, I gave in my all, but you were the one who ligo From then on, may they both live in peace.

She turned to look at Moore Manor one last time. This place had once held her heart. It was filled with memories–too many memories. But from this day forward, she would never come back again