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At the courthouse, Briana spotted Shepard right away, who was standing at the entrance in a tailored suit, looking every inch the elite professional.
No matter how many times she saw him, his face still stunned her–chiseled jaw, straight nose, and those eyes that held the icy authority of someone born to lead.
The young boy had become a rising star in finance, now carrying himself with steady, mature confidence. He held his documents between his fingers, lifting his gaze just slightly to look ahead.
Briana walked over, and when Shepard saw her, the tension in his brow eased. Without a word, he turned and headed toward the family court filing counter. Briana followed behind.
The divorce section was eerily quiet, the air conditioning cranked so high that it chilled to the bone. The clerk took their documents. “Reason for divorce?”
The question threw both of them off. The real reason for their split was just too difficult for them to voice.
Briana spoke up first. “Irreconcilable differences.” As she said that, her fingers unconsciously curled.
Shepard glanced over and noticed dense clusters of red hives on her fingers. When he looked up, he saw similar patches around her mouth. He realized he hadn’t really looked at her until now.
Noticing Shepard’s stare, Briana dropped her head. She heard him say, “So now you’re pulling the pity act?”
Briana’s breath caught in her throat.
“You’re allergic to mangoes, aren’t you?” Shepard said, recalling last night’s cake. “Is this your way of getting my sympathy? Hurting yourself so I’ll go soft on you?”
Briana’s heart skipped at his first words because he actually remembered. But the second half hit her like a slap, making her heart go cold.
She ignored him, stared straight at the clerk, and said, one word at a time, “We’re here to file for divorce.”
“There’s a mandatory 30–day waiting period,” the clerk said, handing their documents back. “Come back after that to finalize it.”
“Understood. Thanks,” Briana replied.
Maybe because Briana was so calm and collected, the clerk couldn’t help but say, “You’re really giving up a guy this good–looking? Are you sure you won’t regret it?”
Briana smiled, saying, “I think he will.” She thought, ‘He’ll never find someone who loves him as I do.
Shepard thought Briana had lost her mind. The divorce had clearly pushed her over the edge, and she was talking nonsense. He scoffed, “Not a chance.”
He thought, I’ll regret this? I’d eat my own name first.
As they stepped out of the courthouse, the blast of summer heat instantly chased away the icy chill from
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inside. Shepard glanced over and said, “Where’s the divorce agreement? Give it to me. I’ll sign right now.”
He wanted to get it done before anything unexpected could mess things up.
Briana reached into her handbag, fingers grazing the papers. Suddenly, she froze. She’d been in such a rush in the morning that she forgot to tuck the surgery consent form in with the divorce agreement.
‘No way I can just hand him the consent form alone, Briana thought. ‘If I do, he’ll know I’m pregnant for
sure.
Shepard noticed her freeze. His tone lifted in a questioning. “Well?”
“I…” Briana said, “I haven’t finished drafting it. Just give me a bit more time.”
Shepard narrowed his eyes, mocking her. “So this is your new trick to stall the divorce?”
“Don’t flatter yourself, Shepard,” Briana shot back. “Once I’m done, I’ll bring it to you right away. I won’t hold you up.”
She turned and walked away, her spine held straight. After years of swallowing her pride in front of Shepard, now she was finally leaving with her dignity intact.
Shepard let out a snort and headed off in the opposite direction from Briana. His Maybach and his assistant, James Clarke, were already waiting at the curb.
James opened the back door. “Please, Mr. Carter.” Shepard got in, and the car pulled away.
Just as they were about to turn onto the next street, a loud clunking sound came from under the hood, and the car suddenly jerked to a stop. Shepard was thrown forward by the momentum.
“Looks like we’re broken down,” Ben Green, the driver, said, sounding nervous. “Mr. Carter, just sit tight. I’ll go check it out.”
Shepard pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose in frustration and glanced out the window. There was Briana, waiting for a bus at the curb. Just then, a black Bentley pulled up, and a man got out of the driver’s Į seat, heading straight for her.
Shepard recognized him—Henry Parker, someone from a higher year Briana had known in college. Back in the day, Henry was the student council president at Aetherton University, and Briana was his vice president.
‘No wonder she was so decisive and unfazed about the divorce. She already had someone lined up.’ Shepard thought, a surge of anger rising inside him.
He added in his mind, ‘I don’t love her and never wanted to marry her. But after being my wife for so many years, she’s already meeting up with another man right after filing for divorce? What does that make me? Just some fool?
‘So this is the so–called love she was always bragging about?‘ With the thought, he yanked at his tie in frustration.
Briana froze for a second when she spotted Henry at the bus stop. “Hey, Henry,” she blurted out.
Henry gazed at her, his voice so warm and mellow that it could melt away anyone’s worries. “Word is, you
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and Shepard split up.”
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Briana blinked, totally taken aback. ‘Wait, how does he know? Only Shepard and I should know about the divorce,‘ she thought.
Seeing the confusion on Briana’s face, Henry just smiled. “I figured it out. Vivian’s back home, so there’s no way Shepard would keep playing the happy couple with you.”
Briana fell silent.
“Briana, remember the promise I made the night before you got married? It’s still good,” Henry said gently.
Back then, Henry had told her that if she ever wanted out, if she ever got divorced, he’d be right there waiting to marry her.
Briana smiled and replied, “Henry, does this count as jumping right into something new?”
“Shepard cheated on you while you were still married, so why can’t you get a fresh start fast?” Henry said.
“But…” Briana shook her head. “It wouldn’t be fair to you.”
Briana thought, ‘I’m just divorced, and I’m also pregnant. No guy wants to play instant stepdad. Why should Henry have to pay for my mess?‘
She continued, “I don’t want to get into another relationship. Loving someone is just too painful.” She’d put up with all kinds of crap for love, and she was done.
“But Briana, if Shepard ever finds out you’re having his baby, he’ll try to take the kid from you, even if you’re already divorced,” Henry said.
Briana found herself studying Henry with a newfound intensity. ‘How does he know so much?‘ she
wondered.
“I’ve noticed you’ve been going to the hospital a lot lately,” Henry said softly. “Anyone who actually cares about you would’ve noticed.”
He mused, ‘Shepard never gave a damn about her, so he didn’t care whether she lived or died, or where
she went.’
“He…” Briana hesitated. “He doesn’t want this baby.” She still remembered what Shepard himself had told her–he hated her, and he’d hate any child she brought into this world.
“Even if he doesn’t, the Carter family will,” Henry added quietly. He knew that if Shepard found everything out, Briana’s hope of raising her baby alone was nothing but a fantasy.
Henry took a step closer, his voice gentle but unwavering. “Briana, I can be the baby’s father, at least on paper, if that’s what you need.”
“Thank you, Henry, but I really don’t want to get you involved in all this,” Briana said.
“But I’m willing to, really,” Henry replied.
Just as Briana was about to answer, a series of sharp honks cut through the air.
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The Maybach slowed to a crawl, inching forward like it owned the street. The back window rolled down, and there was Shepard, his profile all hard angles and cold edges, looking every bit as intimidating as ever.
AD
