Chapter 21
Chapter 21
Her mind had snapped.
When she claimed she was pregnant, he lost it completely, and in a fit of rage, he beat her mercilessly.
Amanda was badly injured and miscarried right then and there.
William was arrested for intentional harm.
When Savannah told me, a wave of deep emotion swept over me.
“I never imagined two people who once loved each other could end up like this.”
Savannah, however, shook her head.
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“This isn’t love. They‘ re two soulless creatures. When things are good, they‘ re perfect, but when they go bad, they tear each other apart.”
“Thank God I got out when I did,” I said, a wave of relief washing over me.
Savannah shifted the conversation.
“Even though William‘ s a jerk, his feelings for you are real. He regrets what he did and is trying to win you back.‘
“If I’d known it would turn out this way, I’d never have gone down that road.”
“Exactly. So don’t waste any more sympathy on him.”
Before hanging up, I said firmly, “Savannah, I
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don’t want to hear about their mess anymore. I’m done with it.”
“Got it. I won’t bring it up again.”
Savannah agreed a smile in her voice.
And just like that, another birthday came.
This time, it was Lucas who spent my birthday with me.
There were flowers, gifts, and, most importantly, his presence.
A warm feeling of happiness returned, the kind where you close your eyes, make a wish and blow out the candles with the one person who truly matters.
The best gift Lucas gave me wasn’t just a box tied with a ribbon; it was my mother‘ s
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company.
At last, it was mine again.
At first, my father had fought me on it.
He tried to pull the father–daughter card, hoping to tug at my heartstrings.
When that failed, he turned to threats, even saying he’d die if I didn’t give in.
I didn’t budge.
In the end, the pressure crushed him.
Broke and desperate, he thought of his old lover and their illegitimate daughter.
He went to their tiny rented apartment, begging for a roof over his head.
But age and poverty had caught up with him,
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and he was swiftly shown the door.
Lucas asked me what I intended to do with
him.
I paused for a moment, then arranged to send him to a nursing home.
That was the end of our father–daughter bond.
After handing me the gift, Lucas hesitated, a nervous glint in his eyes, before pulling out a red envelope.
“Could you give me something in return?” he asked shyly.
I took the envelope and saw the new wedding date Grandpa had set.
The last date had come too soon, and Lucas,
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sensing I wasn’t ready, had quietly asked Grandpa to cancel it.
Now, a year later, Grandpa had chosen a new date.
I stared at it, quiet, my gaze drifting downward.
Lucas‘ s smile faltered, and a hint of nervousness crept into his voice.
“Avery, it’s okay if you‘ re not ready. I can talk to Grandpa and push it back another year.”
I shook my head, my resolve firm.
“No, I want to get married now. Let’s do it right here.”
Lucas hesitated, his expression softening
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before he suddenly bent down and swept me
off the sofa.
His breath grazed my ear as he kissed me, his lips warm and urgent.
As he kissed me, he began walking toward the bedroom.
“I knew you’d be like this, Avery.”
My cheeks flushed with heat, and I pushed at his shoulders, stammering, “I didn’t!”
He gently lowered me onto the soft bed, his tall frame following as it pressed against me.
His breath was close, a tantalizing whisper against my skin.
“Avery, really?”
“No…”
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“Hmm?”
His fingers traced the curve of my cheek,
sending electric jolts through me, making my pulse race.
The softness of his touch matched the
smoothness of his voice.
“Avery, tell me, is that really true?”
“Y–yes…”
I turned my face away, feeling a wave of embarrassment.
He smiled softly, his hand gently turning my face back toward his, his eyes full of
tenderness.
