They headed for the door, but just before leaving I heard her giggle, soft and poisonous.
“Not here,” she teased. “Your wife might hear.”
Julian murmured back, “She’s blind. She won’t notice anything. Come on—three times before we go pick up our daughter.”
The door closed behind them, their laughter fading down the hall.
I stood there, cheek throbbing, heart heavier than it had ever been.
Let them celebrate. Their happiness would rot soon enough.
I lifted my phone. “Rowan, do you have the ticket?”
“All confirmed,” he replied gently. “I’m already at the airport. I’ll handle everything when you arrive.”
“Good. Tell the driver to bring the divorce papers. And don’t tell anyone where I’m going.”
“Understood.”
The driver arrived shortly after. I signed the documents, slipped my ring into the envelope, wedged it into the villa doorframe, and packed only my mother’s belongings.
At the terminal, Rowan was waiting. He took my bag and guided me through the crowds with practiced ease.
Halfway through security, my phone rang. I answered by accident.
“Elara,” Julian said, cheerful, “I picked up the baby and I’m heading back. Want me to grab anything for you?”
Silence.
“I know today was rough,” he added quickly. “Let me make it up to—”
“I want a sunflower,” I interrupted.
It wasn’t about the flower. I just needed him distracted.
“Alright,” he said immediately. “I’ll find one.”
I ended the call and handed my phone to Rowan. “Erase his contact. Block him. Then switch to airplane mode.”
The plane surged into the sky, and for the first time in months, I felt the tightness in my chest loosen.
Goodbye, Julian.
And you won’t enjoy what I’m about to do next.
Julian'S POV
The villa gates swung open as I pulled in. Seraphine sat beside me, baby in her arms, smiling like she had just won the lottery. The kid was asleep, tiny fists curled against her chest. I had one arm full of sunflowers for Elara, the other cradling two bouquets of red roses for Seraphine.
“You bought too many,” Seraphine said in that soft, almost shy voice she liked to use with me. “Elara might think you are overcompensating.”
“She asked for a sunflower,” I said. “She’ll get sunflowers. You get the roses. Fair is fair.”
Seraphine’s cheeks flushed. “You’re spoiling me again. You know I don’t need flowers to be happy. Just… you.”
I pushed the door open and stepped into the villa. Quiet. Too quiet.