Before leaving the house, I had warned myself to be strong. Crying over a piece of trash like Jackson wasn't worth it.
But the moment I heard the gruff warmth of my father's voice, the dam broke.
"Dad..."
My throat tightened. My voice came out thick with unshed tears.
He sighed, his tone softening into that familiar indulgence he reserved only for me. "Forget it. It's not too late to turn back now that you've learned your lesson. Your mother and I have already prepared a banquet to announce your return. It's in a week. Come home."
I nodded obediently, though he couldn't see me. "Okay. Thank you, Dad."
It took until today for me to truly understand one simple truth: no matter what happens, there is only one man in this world who will love and protect me unconditionally.
That man is my father.
...
The news of my return banquet dropped the moment I stepped through the door of my family home.
As the only child of the capital's top power, my return was destined to make waves. Everyone with even a shred of status began making preparations, desperate to curry favor with the elusive Henson heiress.
At the same time, another piece of news began circulating—Jackson Sharp and I were divorcing.
Jackson was a rising force in the capital, someone not to be underestimated, so the dissolution of his marriage was equally explosive. To make matters worse, Amy Kemp was secretly leaking the fact that she was pregnant with his child.
Jackson's circle of rich friends began whispering, trying to verify the rumors.
"Is it really a divorce?"
"No way. She's such a sensible woman. Sure, she doesn't have much status or background, but she handles everything perfectly—even the mistresses. How could he bear to let go of a wife like that?"
"It has to be fake, right? Is sister-in-law playing hard to get again? Jackson, just coax her a bit. Though, I have to say, you've been playing too hard lately. How could you let another woman get pregnant?"
Unfortunately for them, Jackson responded to none of it.
Instead, after discovering I had blocked and deleted him on everything, he went into a frenzy, using every means available to track me down.
It couldn't be denied that he had feelings for me. That was why he had never brought up divorce himself.
But his scumminess and moral rot were just as real. He would always be blinded by hormones and novelty, entangling himself with other women again and again.