Chapter 7
As soon as we walked out of Westhill Residences, Ashley’s voice was still ringing in my head.
My body gave out, and I collapsed against Jamie.
rs ago, the summer after senior year at Rosebridge University.
Twelve years ago,
My parents had planned a trip to Cedar Falls. The day before we left, I went to grab snow cones
In the two hours I was gone, everything fell apart.
es with Brandon
My father’s mistress showed up
d up at our house, heavily pregnant, and told my mom they’d been seeing each other for years.
Now that she was carrying his child, she wanted a name and a place in the family.
My mom had struggled with depression for years. That day, something in her snapped
She went to the kitchen, pulled a knife, and threatened to end it all.
My dad tried to stop her, but in the struggle, the blade hit his artery. He went down instantly, blood pouring out beneath him.
My mother laughed and cried as she cradled his body–then slit her own throat
By the time Brandon and I came back, it was too late,
He saw it first and immediately turned to block my view, shielding my eyes.
But I still saw everything
They were lying in the middle of the living room floor, next to halt–packed suitcases.
Crimson blood had soaked the hardwood, spilling all the way to my shoes.
That was the day Rachel Moore’s childhood ended.
For years, I couldn’t recover.
Brandon never left my side.
He told me I was the first and only–woman he’d ever love.
He said we’d grow from classmates into spouses, and someday, be buried side by side.
Turns out, we never made it to the grave. Love died first.
When the divorce filing finally went through, I felt lighter–like closing a door I’d been too afraid to shut.
Outside the courthouse, Brandon spoke in a low voice, “I never told Ashley about your past.
“She asked Ethan, pieced together a few things, and filled in the rest with her imagination.”
“I never hated you. I meant what I said. You were my first love. My last”
“Cut the act, Brandon.” I let out a dry laugh. “You still think you’re romantic, don’t you?”
“You think cheating on me while claiming to love me makes you less of a piece of shit?”
“Or is it just the husband–of–the–year act you’re so used to playing that you can’t stop now?”
“I wasn’t pretending! I really did love you!”
“Enough, Brandon. Stay the hell away from me.”
“Your love means absolutely nothing.”
His pupils trembled, filled with hopelessness
“One month from now–don’t forget to pick up the official decree. Noah will send the paperwork.‘
I turned and walked away.
He didn’t chase me. Just stood there and whispered a broken apology.
A month later, Brandon didn’t show up.
We’d agreed to meet at the courthouse to collect the final divorce certificate, but instead, he flew out for a business trip to Havenport.
He was stalling
Over the past few weeks, he’d been quietly trying to win me back Sending coffee. Flowers. A silver bracelet. Like we were back in college again when he used to pull every trick in the book to lift me out of the trauma of losing my parents.
This time, I refused all of it.
Then one night, at three in the morning, he showed up beneath my new apartment and called me down
He said he was worried I was struggling. Afraid I’d do something stupid.
I almost laughed.
“Brandon, just like I never truly knew you, you clearly never understood me.
“You thought I’d fall apart? But the truth is, ever since I cut you and Ashley out of my life, I’ve never been more at peace.”
The eighteen–year–old Rachel needed Brandon to protect her from the world. But the woman standing here now no longer feared the
storm.
His eyes were red as he searched my face, desperate for some crack in my resolve.
Then he lost control. He shouted like a man on the verge of collapse.
“I’m sorry! It’s me! I need you, Rachel–I can’t live without you! Please, please come back to me!”
I had security escort him off the property.
By the time everything settled down, nearly another month had passed.
Brandon was still in Havenport.
So I sent him a little gift+a snippet of the audio recording I’d captured of him and Ashley talking in the car.
He flew back the very next day.
“Rachel, let’s get this over with tomorrow,” he said. “But before that… can I take you out to dinner? Just once. One last time.”
I agreed.
Not for him—for the boy who once stood between me and death when I was too broken to keep going.
We didn’t go to a restaurant. We ate at home.
Brandon made a full spread–every dish tailored exactly to my taste.
From the main ingredient’s down to the garnish, it was flawless.
But the flavor was gone.
His phone lit up halfway through the meal.”
Ashley’s name flashed across the screen.
He panicked and glanced at me. “I’m not seeing
anymore. She doesn’t even live upstairs now.”
I gave him a neutral smile. “That’s your business. No need to explain.”
The phone kept ringing, stubborn and shrill.
I remembered Jamie telling me she’d seen Ashley at the hospital yesterday. My lips curled.
וי
“Not gonna answer? Sounds like she’s got something urgent.”
He hesitated, then picked up and put it on speaker, just to prove a point.
What came next wiped the color off his face.
“Bran, I’m pregnant!” Ashley chirped, voice brimming with joy. “Can we meet? I want to see you!”
Brandon’s expression shattered, “What the hell are you talking about?!”
Ashley whimpered at his reaction. “I’m not lying. I’m really pregnant. You forgot we after we broke up…”
“You’re kidding, right? I wore protection. That’s not possible!”
Ashley snapped back, “How would I know?! Either way, I’m pregnant–and it’s yours. Don’t even think about ghosting me again. I’ll show up at your office and tell everyone!”
A dark shadow fell over Brandon’s face. He hung up, then slowly turned toward me
I wasn’t surprised.
That’s when it hit him.
“You… did this?” he asked quietly.
He wasn’t completely stupid.
Yes, I’d poked holes in the condoms.
But if he truly
uly meant to stay away from her, none of this would’ve happened.
I didn’t bother answering, I stood up and grabbed my bag.
“I should get going. You’d better go find her before she throws a public tantrum and and makes your whole firm tomorrow’s headline.”
What I didn’t expect was for him to completely lose it–and knock me unconscious before I could walk out that door.
