Chapter 8
Landon, as Xandra’s guardian, was contacted by the police
station.
After all, he had adopted her years ago.
He looked at me with guilt in his eyes.
1/4
Greene Holdings had severed ties with him, and now, Carter Enterprises was just another ordinary company—no longer the powerful force it once was.
Darren had also paid the price for his disloyalty.
He really had been with Xandra.
Now, he was a shadow of his former self, spending his days drinking away his misery at home.
Zane was supporting me, his eyes fixed on Landon with a deep, chilling coldness.
Landon’s gaze fell to my slightly rounded belly, his shock evident.
“Hannah, you…”
I nodded slightly. “Call me Mrs. Rhodes.”
Chapter 8
That was it–I’d completely cut ties with him.
He shook his head, a bitter smile curling his lips.
He knew it. We could never go back to what we once were.
2/4
Darren’s life ended quickly. He was buried in the same cemetery as Lillian.
When I went to visit Lillian’s grave that year, I saw Landon again.
Seven years had passed, but he had changed so much.
He was barely forty, yet his hair had turned graying, and he looked so thin, his back hunched with a kind of loneliness that made him seem much older.
When he saw me and Zane, a touch of bitterness crossed his
face.
“Darren… he knew he’d wronged you. He spent his days
drinking at home. His condition worsened, and he passed away early.”
He didn’t tell me, though, that before he died, Darren had held on to our old photos and the ring.
He had cut his own wrist with a broken bottle.
Landon’s face tightened as he looked at Zane, conflicted.
Chapter 8
3/4
“Mom…” From a distance, my daughter Mia Rhodes and son Lucas Rhodes ran toward us.
“Mia, slow down!” Lucas said, concern written all over his face as he watched his sister.
Landon looked at Mia and Lucas, and I knew he was seeing them as a reflection of the past–of the family we once had.
But everything was different now.
Finally, he turned his gaze back to me, his lips parted as if to say something, but in the end, only one thing came out.
“Goodbye, Hannah. I wish you happiness.”
I nodded slightly and, with Zane, took Mia and Lucas‘ hands as we left.
Zane’s eyes were filled with tenderness as he watched me, and his voice softened with emotion.
“When I first saw you at the auction, I knew it was love at first sight. I looked into your background and even suggested a marriage alliance to the Greene family. But then I found out you had someone you loved, so I let it go. I know this whole thing sounds ridiculous, but Hannah… I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Even if this feels absurd, I will spend my whole life proving to you my sincerity.”
I smiled as I took his large, warm hand, and replied with two simple words, “Me too.”
Chapter 8
That was it–I’d completely cut ties with him.
He shook his head, a bitter smile curling his lips.
He knew it. We could never go back to what we once were.
2/4
Darren’s life ended quickly. He was buried in the same cemetery as Lillian.
When I went to visit Lillian’s grave that year, I saw Landon again.
Seven years had passed, but he had changed so much.
He was barely forty, yet his hair had turned graying, and he looked so thin, his back hunched with a kind of loneliness that made him seem much older.
When he saw me and Zane, a touch of bitterness crossed his
face.
“Darren… he knew he’d wronged you. He spent his days
drinking at home. His condition worsened, and he passed away early.”
He didn’t tell me, though, that before he died, Darren had held on to our old photos and the ring.
He had cut his own wrist with a broken bottle.
Landon’s face tightened as he looked at Zane, conflicted.
1
Chapter 8
“Mom…” From a distance, my daughter Mia Rhodes and son Lucas Rhodes ran toward us.
3/4
“Mia, slow down!” Lucas said, concern written all over his face as he watched his sister.
Landon looked at Mia and Lucas, and I knew he was seeing them as a reflection of the past–of the family we once had.
But everything was different now.
Finally, he turned his gaze back to me, his lips parted as if to say something, but in the end, only one thing came out.
“Goodbye, Hannah. I wish you happiness.”
I nodded slightly and, with Zane, took Mia and Lucas‘ hands as we left.
Zane’s eyes were filled with tenderness as he watched me, and his voice softened with emotion.
“When I first saw you at the auction, I knew it was love at first sight. I looked into your background and even suggested a marriage alliance to the Greene family. But then I found out you had someone you loved, so I let it go. I know this whole thing sounds ridiculous, but Hannah… I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Even if this feels absurd, I will spend my whole life proving to you my sincerity.”
I smiled as I took his large, warm hand, and replied with two simple words, “Me too.”
Chapfer 8
With those words, Zane’s smile grew, as though the ice had melted away.
4/4
The lights in the distance flickered on, and the warm summer evening breeze felt so comforting.
Hand in hand, we walked, with Mia and Lucas‘ laughter echoing behind us.
We could hear their voices, light and full of joy, as we made our way home, the sound of their happiness guiding us forward.
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