Left Behind by Her Husband, Loved by Her Son

Seven years into her marriage, her husband brought his mistress home and her son demanded a new mother.

Emery's heart felt like it had been shattered beyond repair. Without looking back, she left them behind and headed to Willowridge.

Elliot dismissed her departure as a momentary outburst, convinced their history and bond would soon draw her back.

When people asked him about it, he simply shrugged and said, "Emery’s just being her usual jealous self. She’ll come back once she cools off and everything will be fine again."

But the days stretched into months and instead of her return, he heard the news of Emery’s engagement in Willowridge.

——

“Landon, I’ve booked my ticket to Willowridge for two weeks from now. Please draft a divorce agreement for me immediately.”

While Emery spoke on the phone, her eyes rested on the young woman stepping out of the Cayenne that once belonged to her. With a steady breath, she made her decision.

Hanging up the phone, she draped a coat over her shoulders and went downstairs.

The pounding rhythm of electronic music filled the grand mansion, its firstfloor hall buzzing with people. Amid the lively crowd, Calla Daniels lounged on the sofa in a glittering black sequined dress, soaking up the admiration.

Beside her sat Elliot Carter, Emery’s husband and their sevenyearold son, Jaxon, whom Emery had carried for ten months, risking her life and raised with unwavering care.

Now, the two sat with Calla, creating a perfect family picture as if Emery had never been a part of it.

Unrelated, yet somehow connected. Calla had once been a struggling student Emery had taken under her wing and sponsored.

As Emery looked at her, memories flooded back of how this woman had slowly but deliberately inserted herself into her life.

But those memories no longer held any weight.

The air turned heavy with unease as Emery stepped down the stairs, her presence an unwelcome contrast to the lively scene below.

Maeve, Elliot’s assistant, quickly greeted her with an awkward smile. “Didn’t know you were back, sisterinlaw. Hope we’re not bothering you.”

Everyone who knew Emery was aware of her hearing impairment and the cochlear implant she wore in her left ear. She could never tolerate such deafening noise.

Before bringing anyone into their home, Elliot hadn’t even bothered to check if she was there.

Keeping a calm smile, she replied, “It’s fine.”

Neither Elliot nor Jaxon paid much attention to her presence.

It wasn’t until she reached the last step that Elliot signaled for the music to stop. “Calla got promoted today. We’re celebrating.”

His voice was cold and detached. It didn’t sound like an explanation but more like a reprimand, as if her presence had disrupted the evening.

Jaxon, meanwhile, stood protectively by Calla’s side like a loyal guard and said, “Aunt Calla is the star today, Mommy. Don’t ruin the fun. You know I can’t stand it when someone spoils the mood. If only you could be as fun and carefree as Aunt Calla.”

Watching her son, the one she had poured her heart into raising, defend another woman so passionately, Emery felt a brief flicker in her chest, only for it to fade as quickly as it had come. The time for emotional upheaval had long since passed.

She smiled, calm and composed. “As long as you’re happy. Congratulations on your promotion, Calla.”

Once her affairs were in order, she would leave the city behind, severing all ties with both father and son.

Not wishing to join the celebration, Emery slipped around the crowd and made her way toward the kitchen, away from Calla.

But Calla wasn’t about to let her go so easily. Holding a glass of red wine, she gracefully approached Emery.

“Thank you, Miss Carter. If you hadn’t recommended me to Oakridge, I wouldn’t be where I am now. Originally, Mr. Carter planned to book the top floor of the Regent for a grand celebration, but I thought that was too much. I suggested we keep it here instead. I’m sorry I forgot about your dislike of noise.”

“Since it’s such a happy occasion, Miss Carter, why not join us? Jaxon often mentions how you prefer quiet things. As a mother, shouldn’t you spend more time playing with your child and understanding what he truly wants? Don’t you agree, Miss Carter?”

Calla linked her arm with Emery, her smile wide and bright, hiding the pride and venom in her words.

A woman’s petty games; how could Elliot not see right through them?

Yet, he said nothing.

Instead, he looked at her with indulgence, then clapped his hands. “Since my wife prefers peace, let’s switch to something softer.”

The cellist quickly adapted and the gentle melody of Forest Song filled the room.

On the surface, Elliot’s gesture seemed considerate toward Emery, but deep down, he hadn’t spared a thought for her feelings. If he had, he wouldn’t have invited so many guests to their home for this celebration.

Jaxon, now intrigued, jumped off the sofa. “Mommy, stay! Aunt Calla is going to teach me to play cards!”

When he mentioned “cards,” he was referring to poker, a game commonly played in the Pinecrest City. But as the future heir to the Carter Family, Jaxon was too young for such games; something the family patriarch had made clear.

Emery’s gaze automatically flicked to Elliot. He said nothing, his attention still on Calla, amusement dancing on his face.

Since Elliot was unconcerned, Emery saw no reason to speak up.

She had no interest in being part of another petty struggle between two women fighting for attention, only to please the strange desires of these two men. Lifting her hair, she revealed her bare ear and said, “Sorry, without my cochlear implant, I can’t really hear what you’re saying.”

With that, she shook off Calla’s hand and turned away.

The sudden force sent Calla stumbling and she collapsed to the ground. Her wine glass shattered, the sharp shards leaving small scratches on her arm.

The room fell into stunned silence and the eyes of everyone in the room turned to Emery, their disapproval clear.

Seeing Calla injured, Elliot quickly sprang from the sofa and lifted her in his arms. “Emery, have you lost your mind? Even if you didn’t want to celebrate with Calla, there’s no need for violence. You’re disgusting!”

Emery couldn’t hide her surprise at how such a simple act had thrown Elliot into a rage. Sometimes, she wondered; was it because he loved Calla so deeply, or was it because he thought so little of her?

Either answer was equally ironic.

Emery tilted her head, meeting Elliot’s gaze. “The police station is always open. If you’re so worried about her, why not take her to the hospital? You’d better hurry, or her wounds might heal before you can do anything about it.”

Her response took Elliot by surprise, but when he saw Calla’s pained expression, he held back from snapping. Instead, he carried Calla gently out to the car.

Jaxon rushed after them, pausing only to shoot Emery a look of pure hatred. “You’re the worst mommy ever! I hate you!”

Hate? Emery felt a bitter taste rise in her throat.

Wasn’t it just the same feeling that twisted inside her when she looked at everything around her?

But she didn’t have to endure it much longer.

As father and son left, the once lively atmosphere of the house quickly fell into a heavy silence.

Keeping her composure, Emery offered the guests a calm smile. “Just a minor accident. Please, make yourselves at home. Maeve, take care of everyone.”

With that, she walked toward the kitchen as though nothing had happened. She spotted a beautifully wrapped box in the corner, picked it up and made her way back to her room, gliding past the crowd.

Inside the box was a cake.

Emery had two birthdays: the day she was born and the day she was adopted by the Carter Family.

At five years old, she had been trafficked to the Pinecrest City, where she met Elliot, who had also been abducted.

Together, these two children, both barely in double digits, found the strength to survive the horrors of human trafficking by depending on each other.

Later, the police in the Pinecrest City solved the human trafficking case, but no leads on her family surfaced.

At Elliot's insistence, the Carter Family took her in and named her Emery, meaning "brave ruler," for she had the power to tame the onceuntamable Elliot, turning him into a man who could be controlled.

From then on, Elliot kept the tradition of celebrating her birthday twice a year.

But today, he forgot. He was too caught up in celebrating with someone else.

After finishing her cake, Emery quietly removed all the wedding photos and family portraits from the bedroom, feeding them into the shredder. She had already made up her mind to leave; there was no point in holding onto the past.

Once the photos were gone, she packed her things and moved them into the study next door, leaving behind only the jewelry and gifts Elliot had given her over the years.

For now, she couldn’t bear to see his face every day.

The study, a space she had once insisted on keeping, now became her sanctuary. She had planned to use it for work, but life had kept her tangled up in Jaxon’s needs and daily duties.

Ironically, it was now the place she would retreat to before leaving the Pinecrest City for good.

Pushing aside the whirlwind of thoughts, Emery took a bath and then settled into bed. Despite her efforts to find rest, she tossed and turned for hours, her mind racing, until at last, sleep claimed her, but it was a restless one.

In the dead of night, Elliot returned home alone.

When he saw the empty bedroom, a mocking smile tugged at his lips.

He knew Emery was upset, throwing her little tantrum, but he wasn’t the young man who once panicked at the sight of her tears.

With a sharp bang, Elliot flung open the study door, only to find that Emery wasn’t sitting in there waiting for him, anxious and expectant, as he had imagined.

She rubbed her tired eyes and spoke with surprising calm, “Wrong room. The bedroom is next door.”

A surge of frustration rippled through Elliot. He marched toward the bed and grabbed her wrist. “You just can’t stand seeing Calla happy, can you? You had to embarrass her in front of everyone, didn’t you?”

Emery couldn’t help but laugh, though it was more bitter than anything. “Elliot, today isn’t just Calla’s big day…”

Elliot froze, the weight of her words slowly sinking in. It was then that he remembered; it was also Emery’s birthday.

A moment of unease flickered across Elliot’s chest, but it quickly faded, replaced by a surge of anger over Calla’s injury. “So that’s what this is about? If you want a present, just swipe my card at the mall. Calla never had a birthday like yours. Can’t you give her just this one day?”

His tone turned cold. “Don’t think hiding in the study will scare me. If you plan to stay here, then you better stay for good. And you’ll apologize to Calla tomorrow, or I won’t stop Jaxon from turning against you.”

He tightened his grip on her wrist until her face lost its color, then let go with a forceful shove. He stormed off, his anger trailing behind him.

As his figure disappeared down the hallway, Emery’s lips twisted into a laugh.

The marks on her wrist were bright, mocking, as if to remind her of the hold he still had over her.

Once upon a time, she would have been angry beyond words.

But now, all she felt was the hollow ache of years spent in his shadow; twentyfour New Year’s Eve spent with him, watching the fireworks over Pinecrest City and all of it slipping away like sand through her fingers.

At eighteen, Emery’s heart began to stir with a feeling she had never known. On a yacht, beneath a sky lit up by a dazzling burst of fireworks, Elliot gently took her hand and promised her a lifetime together.

The fireworks had been so breathtaking, and in that moment, she had never imagined that love, so sincere, so bright, could fade away just as quickly as the sparks in the night sky.

With the Carter Family’s encouragement, she naturally married Elliot and by twentytwo, she had given birth to their son, Jaxon, a child she cherished more than anything in the world.

During childbirth, Emery had suffered an amniotic fluid embolism, narrowly escaping death after a full blood transfusion. At that time, Elliot had stayed awake for three days, terrified that even the briefest moment of sleep could mean losing her. Once he was sure she was out of danger, he collapsed in exhaustion, as if he'd escaped a disaster.

Later, in a drunken haze, Elliot confessed, "If I had known the risks, I would have rather you never had children. That was the first time I truly understood regret."

But Emery never regretted it, not even for a second. Jaxon was the living proof of her love with Elliot.

When Jaxon was three, he had promised that he would take care of her, side by side with Elliot, when he grew up. With the boundless love of both father and son, how could she have ever felt regret?

Now, looking back, it all felt like a cruel joke.

She had long sensed the growing distance between Elliot and Calla.

Calla was a student she had helped and after graduating, she joined the Carter Family's Oakridge Group.

At first, Emery didn’t give it much thought. She had sponsored many students over the years and several, like Calla, had gone on to work at Oakridge.

But as Elliot came home later and later and the familiar scent of Calla’s gardenia perfume lingered on him more often, something began to stir in her gut.

When the truth finally hit, that Elliot was having an affair, Emery was shattered. At that moment, she brought up divorce for the first time.

If even the love they had shared so deeply could be betrayed, what else was there to hold onto? A dog who pledged loyalty to anyone wasn’t worth keeping.

But Elliot refused. He shoved her against the desk, his touch unnervingly intimate, his words cold.

“Calla won’t take your place as Mrs. Carter. You’re not a little girl anymore, do you still believe in fairy tales? You’ve been with the family since you were young. If we divorce, where would you go?”

“And Jaxon... He’s finally getting a heart. Can’t you see the timing? Must you be so selfish now?”

For Jaxon’s sake, Emery swallowed the sharp pain, letting it settle in her throat like a bone that couldn’t be dislodged, too painful to swallow, too stubborn to spit out. She continued playing the part of the loving wife to Elliot, even as the weight of her heartache grew heavier with each passing day.

Her sacrifices, however, led to nothing but more heartache, like the photo in Jaxon’s cherished diary, a snapshot of him, Elliot and Calla smiling too closely together.

The diary entries only deepened the wound, chronicling their “happy” moments as a family of three.

“Today, Dad introduced me to an auntie named Calla. Auntie Calla is so much fun! She played with me all day and took me to a night market. She even lets me eat street food, unlike Mom.”

Emery remembered that day well. After their trip to the market, Jaxon fell ill with gastroenteritis and a high fever that lasted three days. Neither father nor son mentioned the truth to her; she assumed it was just a reaction to his condition and stayed by his side without question.

By the time his fever broke, she had lost weight from the stress, but Jaxon was better and that was all that mattered.

“Auntie Calla let me skip my least favorite piano class and even bought me a new gaming console. She said I could come over anytime to play.”

“Today is Auntie Calla’s birthday. I secretly bought her a ruby brooch. I hope she likes it.”

Emery recalled that brooch, he one Jaxon had purchased. When the driver mentioned it, she assumed it was a gift for her. But to her shock, it was for Calla’s birthday.

The child she had risked her life to bring into the world remembered Calla’s special day but not hers. A deep pang of failure struck her. Had she failed as a mother?

The final entry in the diary hit Emery like a bolt of lightning. [Sometimes, I really wish Auntie Calla could be my mom.]

Seeing how much both Elliot and Jaxon adored Calla, she made up her mind, if they wanted each other so much, then they could have each other. She didn’t need either of them anymore.

Elliot had always thought she couldn’t survive without the Carter Family, which was why he’d acted so carelessly. But he had forgotten that before her marriage, she had been the top graduate of the design program in Evergreen University. If it weren’t for her obligations to him and Jaxon, she could’ve easily shone on her own.

That night, Emery slept soundly for the first time in ages. Perhaps it was the peace that came from her decision to leave. Her sleep was undisturbed, calm and dreamless all the way until morning, until Elliot’s call woke her up.

“Why haven’t you been answering your phone? Did you know Jaxon was admitted to the hospital?”

Even without seeing his face, Emery could hear the frustration in his voice. She held the phone away from her ear, recalling how Jaxon hadn’t returned home the previous night. She already knew where he’d been.

“Didn’t you leave him at Calla’s house last night? With her there, what could possibly go wrong?”

Elliot was taken aback. Usually, when it came to Jaxon, Emery reacted quickly and emotionally, even over small things. But now, she was eerily calm. His voice softened. “Calla didn’t know Jaxon’s allergic to mangoes…”

“Calla didn’t know? And you, his father, didn’t know either? Jaxon’s had allergy tests before and mangoes weren’t classified as highrisk. Since Calla already took him to the hospital, there’s nothing more to worry about. Or is it Calla you don’t trust?”

Before he could reply, Emery hung up.

Listening to the cold dial tone on the other end, Elliot’s face darkened, a knot of unease tightening in his chest.

Jaxon was the child Emery had risked everything for. His fragile health, due to his congenital heart condition, had made him more delicate than other children his age. Emery had sacrificed her career, poured her heart into caring for him and had been his constant, never once shirking the responsibility.

Yet now, hearing that Jaxon was in the hospital, Emery seemed indifferent, unmoved.

Elliot couldn’t quite place the strange feeling settling in his gut. But then he remembered their argument just the night before over her forgotten birthday and he dismissed his worries. She was probably still angry.

He knew her well, after all, they’d grown up together. She loved him, didn’t she?

He recalled the time they had been kidnapped as children when Emery had taken a blow to the ear, protecting him, enduring the pain until they were rescued. After all they’d been through, how could something as trivial as this cause her to pull away?

Reflecting on their shared history, Elliot felt a sense of relief wash over him. Emery was likely just blowing off steam over his affair with Calla. She would never leave him, or their son. He was certain of that.

Turning off his phone, Elliot spoke to his assistant. “Send the latest runway pieces to the house. Also, pick out a pink diamond jewelry set to match.”

It was his way of extending an olive branch. Women outside needed softening and so did the ones at home.

He hadn’t meant for their marriage to fall apart, not if she understood her role and knew when to step back.

After all, it was just a brief affair, a small distraction. And besides, he wasn’t the one who’d made the first mistake.

That afternoon, Emery went to the hospital.

No matter how she felt, Jaxon was her son, the child she had nearly lost her life to bring into the world. Seeing him was the least she could do.

Inside the VIP ward, Jaxon was curled up with Calla, his face glowing with joy as he held a tablet. He didn’t look like a child who should be in the hospital at all.

When Emery walked into the room, Jaxon didn’t even bother to look up. Instead, he simply turned the volume of his game up louder.

Calla smiled, her expression playful but taunting. She reached out to pat Jaxon on the shoulder. “Jaxon, your mom’s here. Don’t be rude. Have you forgotten everything Auntie Calla taught you?”

Immediately, Jaxon dropped his tablet, his face shifting into the obedient expression he knew was expected.

It was a deliberate move from Calla, pushing Emery to the sidelines and making her feel like a stranger in the room.

A wave of regret washed over Emery. With both Jaxon and Elliot so cold and indifferent, she wondered why she had bothered to come at all.

Placing the container of chicken soup on the table, Emery spoke, her voice flat. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll leave.”

Her detachment only seemed to fuel Jaxon’s anger.

He jumped off the bed in a flash. “I don’t want your soup!”

His face flushed with frustration, leaving Emery momentarily speechless.

She had always taken such care of Jaxon. Since he was three, she had made it her mission to prepare nourishing soups for him every week. She’d adjusted recipes, added extra ingredients and even continued the ritual when she was sick herself.

But now, the little boy who used to smile and say, “Mommy’s the best!” after finishing his soup was gone. How had he turned into this ungrateful child?

Seeing Jaxon’s outburst, Calla quickly grabbed the thermos with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Well, since Jaxon doesn’t want it, Miss Carter can take it back. He’s not feeling well, after all. It’s only natural for children to be a little temperamental at times.”

She added, as if to ease the tension, “Don’t worry, Jaxon just had the Fish Tacos I made. I made sure he wouldn’t go hungry.”

Fish Tacos? The words hit Emery like a cold slap. Her gaze flicked to the empty bowl on the table and a chill ran through her.

Jaxon had always despised fish. The mere scent of it had been enough to send him running for the door. For years, Emery had never once served fish at the dinner table, even though it had been one of her favorites, all to avoid upsetting him.

Yet here he was, eating Fish Tacos made by Calla.

Emery’s mind raced. Was it the fish Jaxon hated, or had it always been her, the mother who had sacrificed so much for him?

Sensing the shift in the air, Calla pushed the thermos toward Emery again, her gesture seemingly innocent. But as Emery reached for it, Calla let go of the thermos too soon.

It tumbled to the floor, spilling the hot soup with a violent splash. Emery instinctively recoiled, narrowly avoiding the scalding liquid.

Calla didn’t miss a beat; her voice was smooth but biting. “Miss Carter, there was really no need to let go so suddenly, was there? If you didn’t want it, you could have just said so.”

Jaxon immediately sprang to his feet, his small body blocking Calla like a fierce little protector. “Don’t bully Auntie Calla! If you keep doing that, I’ll tell Daddy to divorce you!”

The word divorce fell from his lips with a surprising force and Calla couldn’t hide the smirk that tugged at her mouth.

Emery didn’t even flinch at the spectacle. She knew the game Calla played all too well and had no interest in being part of it. Without a word, she turned and walked out of the ward, her steps steady, refusing to look back.

But Calla, never one to let an opportunity slip, followed her into the corridor. She blocked Emery’s path with a sly smile.

“Seeing Mr. Carter and Jaxon both on my side must sting, doesn’t it? A smart woman knows when to let go. Clinging to the title of Mrs. Carter isn’t always as glamorous as it seems.”

She leaned in, voice dripping with malice. “Let me tell you something. I knew Jaxon was allergic to mangoes. I just wanted to see if Mr. Carter would blame me for something so trivial.”

The words hit Emery like a slap in the face. She couldn’t believe Calla would go so far as to risk a child’s health to test Elliot’s loyalty. Her composure, always so steady, shattered in an instant. Without thinking, she slapped Calla across the face, the sound ringing in the quiet hall.

“Do you know a severe allergic reaction could be fatal?! A human life isn’t a game to play with!”

Calla’s eyes widened, shock flickering across her face. “What’s wrong with you?!”

Before Emery could say another word, Elliot’s enraged voice echoed through the corridor, booming like thunder. “What’s going on here?”

He stormed toward them, his arrival timed to perfection, as always.

“Delilah said you were at the hospital. I thought you were here worrying about Jaxon, but it turns out you’re just playing your little game behind my back!”

Calla instantly covered her face, her body collapsing into Elliot’s arms, the picture of someone wronged. “Mr. Carter, I’m sorry about Jaxon. I never meant to cause any harm. If Emery’s upset, I’ll resign right now. Whatever it takes…”

Elliot’s hand patted Calla’s back in a gentle gesture of comfort. “The one who owes an apology isn’t you.”

He turned his frosty gaze toward Emery. “After all these years, is jealousy all you’ve learned? Apologize to Calla.”

Apologize? To someone who had nearly cost Jaxon his life?

Emery’s chest tightened and her teeth ground together. “I’ll never apologize. Do you even understand why Jaxon had an allergic reaction—”

Before she could finish, Elliot cut her off sharply, “Calla already said it wasn’t intentional and Jaxon’s fine now. Are you seriously asking her to pay for it with her life?”

Even though Emery had expected this exact betrayal, the sharp pain in her chest still cut deeper than she cared to admit. She hadn’t even been given a chance to explain.

Calla lifted her head from Elliot’s embrace, putting on her bestdistressed expression. “It’s alright, Mr. Carter. Emery only acted out of concern. We don’t want to upset Jaxon anymore.”

Elliot’s features softened at her words as though someone had just turned the lights on in a dark room. “Alright, we’ll do as Calla says.”

But his gaze turned cold the moment it landed on Emery. “As for you, I think it’s time you reflect on your behavior.”

Without another word, he took Calla’s hand and led her back into the ward, leaving Emery standing there, her heart heavy.

As she watched them walk away, the storm in her chest finally broke. She turned, desperate to escape, but the crowd surged around her. The next thing she knew, she was stumbling down the steps, unable to stop herself, her knees scraping against the concrete as she fell. Her hands and legs burned with the sting of the impact, but all she could feel was the overwhelming ache of everything she’d lost.

A passerby rushed forward, his voice filled with concern. “Let me help you get treated.”

Emery waved him off weakly, her hand trembling. “No, I’m fine.”

The pain in her body was nothing compared to the turmoil in her heart.

Dazed and lost, she stumbled toward the parking lot, her mind foggy, when suddenly she collided with a warm, steady embrace.

She looked up, meeting Landon Kingston’s gaze. His eyes were dark with unspoken pain, the kind that only those who had been through their own suffering could recognize.

“This is how Elliot takes care of you?” he asked, his voice thick with anger.

Without waiting for an answer, Landon reached out as if to lift her but then hesitated, unsure what would make her feel more at ease. Instead, he moved quickly to get a wheelchair and wheeled her toward the emergency room.

The nurse was efficient, cleaning her wounds quickly and with practiced hands. “No bone damage, thankfully, but the wounds are deep. Take it easy for now. Keep them dry to avoid infection.”

Emery was barely aware of the words being said, as though she were behind a thick, invisible glass wall detached from everything. She nodded mechanically. “Thank you. And thank you too, Landon.”

Her voice was barely a whisper, drained of all its usual strength. Landon held back the words that burned in his throat but finally managed to speak. “I’ll take you home.”

Sitting in Landon’s car, Emery slowly began to collect herself. The events of the day seemed to swirl around her, but she forced herself to focus on the present. Glancing over at Landon, who sat calm and composed behind the wheel, she couldn’t help but speak. “You don’t have to stay, Landon. Go back to work. I’m fine on my own.”

Landon’s gaze flicked toward her, steady and unwavering, before he handed her a divorce agreement. “I came to deliver this. Your phone was unreachable and the housekeeper at the Carter estate said you were at the hospital.”

Only then did Emery notice the missed calls piling up on her phone. A wave of guilt washed over her and she muttered an apology. “I’m sorry, Landon. Things have just been so overwhelming lately.”

Landon shook his head, his voice calm and reassuring. “It’s nothing, just delivering a document.”

His gaze lingered on Emery’s injuries, but his thoughts seemed to wander elsewhere. Deep down, he was thankful he had come today.

Back in their university days in the US, Landon had been a step ahead of Emery. He had already secured a place in the graduate program at Evergreen University while she had just begun her studies. Though they shared the same passion for debate, their paths hadn’t crossed much.

It wasn’t until much later, when Landon returned to the US as a lawyer, that they reconnected. He brought her news of her biological mother, a revelation that brought them closer.

Emery sat in silence, lost in thought, as they made their way to the Carter house.

When they arrived, Landon was taken aback by the emptiness of the sprawling estate.

Noticing his confusion, Emery shrugged lightly. “Elliot doesn’t like having people around. The housekeepers don’t stay overnight.”

Her voice was casual, but there was a flicker of something in her tone that made Landon feel a pang of sympathy.

Once he made sure she was settled in, he left to get some food.

When he returned with a table laden with Grilled Grouper with Wild Rice Pilaf and a box of butterfly pastries, Emery couldn’t help but feel a little embarrassed. “Thank you for all your trouble today, Landon. Once I’ve sorted things out, I’ll treat you to a proper meal.”

Landon smiled gently, pouring her a glass of warm water. “I’ll hold you to that. I still have work, so I’ll head back. But if you need anything, call me. If you’re feeling uneasy, I can ask Nathaniel to stay with you.”

Emery blinked in surprise. She hadn’t expected Landon to remember her timid nature from their university days. The thought brought a soft, nostalgic smile to her face.

“Don’t worry, Landon. I’m not a kid anymore.”

The timid girl Elliot had once known was long gone, buried under the weight of years of hardship.

As Landon disappeared from view, Emery sat down on the sofa, her mind still reeling from the conversation. She absentmindedly flipped through the divorce agreement while taking small bites of food.

There was no need to fight for custody of Jaxon nor any desire to claim any of Elliot’s wealth. The Carter Family had raised her and for that, she was thankful.

Just as she neared the end of the document, the sudden sound of a door creaking open shattered her focus. She looked up, startled to see Elliot standing in the doorway, his expression thunderous.

Her voice caught in surprise. “What are you doing back?”

Elliot slammed the door behind him, his stride purposeful and furious as he advanced toward her. “Was it Landon who brought you back? Emery, can you really not live without a man?”

“If I hadn’t come back for some files, I would never have known you were involved with him too.”

In a fit of rage, Elliot grabbed her face, his grip fierce. “First, it was that student you sponsored. Now it’s Landon. How many other men are you hiding from me?”

Emery didn’t flinch. Instead, she opened her mouth and sank her teeth into the base of his thumb, the sharp taste of blood filling her mouth as his grip loosened.

Her voice was low, raw. “The charity work was your mother’s trust. I’ve only met that student once. Why are you so determined to suspect me? If you don’t believe me, hire a private investigator.”

Elliot’s lips curled in a mocking sneer. “Still in denial, huh? Do you think I don’t have proof, Emery? I had Calla investigate you long ago.”

The mention of Calla’s name sent a cold shock through Emery. Suddenly, everything she hadn’t understood before began to click into place.

Elliot’s eyes then caught the divorce agreement on the sofa. His expression twisted into something ugly. “Oh, Landon the Great Lawyer, giving up criminal cases just to draft your divorce papers? It must’ve cost a fortune, huh? Or maybe... how many times did you sleep with him to get these papers?”

“Emery, you’re despicable.”

Looking at Elliot’s disheveled, menacing figure, Emery felt completely drained. The man she had once known, the one who trusted her without question, was long gone. Only the remnants of her painful past remained, a haunting shadow she couldn’t escape.

Every word he spoke pierced her like a sharp blade, leaving her soul raw and bleeding.

At that moment, she felt no desire to argue. With a heavy heart, she picked up the pen from the table and handed it to him. “Let’s divorce, Elliot. Just let me go.”

Her eyes, cold and unyielding, sent a chill through him, but his fury flared, overtaking any sense of reason.

He leaned in, pinning her beneath him and grabbed her wrists with brutal force. “Since you’re willing to trade yourself for everything else, why not see how far you’ll go to get me to sign this?”