Chapter 20
The Alex back then had been just as distant. Gabriella had been willing to forgo a wedding and honeymoon. As long as she had a marriage certificate and a ring, that was enough.
Yet, faced with a woman like her, Alex had handed her a signed divorce agreement and coldly said, “I know you have feelings for me, but there’s someone I love.
“I only married you because my family pressured me to settle down. I’ve already signed this agreement. Whenever you decide you want out, just sign it, and you’re free to go.”
He had said it so matter–of–factly, as if she meant nothing at all. Perhaps he had never imagined that one day, the one begging to reconcile would be him.
As time passed, the tables had turned. Now, Alex finally understood what Gabriella must have felt back then.
With that in mind, he let out a self–deprecating chuckle.
Wait, that didn’t seem right either. Gabriella would never have been heartbroken. Divorce was a hassle, after all.
She had only agreed to marry him to repay the Palmers for funding her education, tying herself to him out of obligation. Since he had given Gabriella an easy way out, she should have been relieved.
Alex’s lips parted slightly. He had so much to say, but his throat tightened with bitterness, trapping the words inside.
From the very beginning, both he and Lucas had been outsiders in Gabriella’s world.
Lucas, on the other hand, refused to give up. He pressed, “Mom, do you really not want me anymore?”
However, at that point, Gabriella was growing impatient. Without hesitation, she took Stephen’s hand and stood up, ready to walk past the father and son.
In the next second, Lucas threw himself at her feet. Wrapping his arms and legs around her, he burst into tears.
“Mom, I know I was wrong! I was terrible before. I didn’t treat you well. Please, give me another chance. I swear, I’ll take good care of you from now on. Just don’t leave me, please!” Right then, Alex stepped forward to block her path. His eyes were tinged red as he pleaded, “Gabby, it was my fault. I didn’t know how to handle my feelings, and I kept hurting you, thinking you’d always love me.
“No, that’s not it. I don’t think you ever loved me, did you? Grandpa told me everything later. You only married me because you felt like you owed my family.”
He fought back tears, his eyes reddening with each passing second. Then, he continued, “Gabby, Lucas and I really screwed up. Can you forgive us? Just give us one more chance. You don’t even have to love us. As long as you’re willing to come back, we’ll do whatever it takes to make it up to you.”
Lucas nodded vehemently and chimed in, “Mom, remember the safe you gave me five years ago? I finally found the key and went through the contents.
“You even wrote numbers on them. They were all birthday gifts you prepared for me in advance, right? I only took one out each year, just like you wanted. You still care about me, don’t you? Please, come bome with us.”
He blinked back tears as he spoke, looking both pitiful and aggrieved.
The mention of the safe made Gabriella freeze. She had thought she had thrown everything away.
Yet, as she searched her memory, she realized she had only assumed the key was lost. So, she hadn’t bothered discarding the safe. It wouldn’t have mattered, anyway.
She had never expected that Lucas–the same boy who had thrown the key away–would one day search for it.
While Gabriella was lost in thought, Stephen spoke up.
“Are you seriously ignoring ine? How dare you think you can just steal my woman right in front of me! Alex Palmer, I don’t know where you got the idea that I’d put up with this,” he said sharply
Still, Alex showed no intention of acknowledging Stephen. His gaze remained locked on Gabriella, waiting for her answer. At the same time, his heart pounded with anticipation and fear. After all, Stephen had always been his enemy. So, what did it matter if he hated Alex even more now?
There was only one thing Alex wanted now—Gabriella.
Besides, Alex was certain Stephen had known exactly who he and Lucas were to Gabriella when he started pursuing her.
As the two men remained at an impasse, Gabriella looked down at Lucas. He was still clinging to her tightly, his eyes brimming with desperation.
Chapter 21
