He Thought I Loved Him, I Only Loved His Face Chapter 15

He Thought I Loved Him, I Only Loved His Face Chapter 15

Nora was thrilled with the photo. She posted it to Instagram immediately.

Everyone agreed it was a great shot.

The warmth in Seattle was a universe away from the cold in New York. Rowan Cross sat in his empty house and saw that photo. It hit him like a physical blow.

It burned.

Maya, in an elegant dress. Smiling. Radiant.

The man beside her, turned slightly toward her, a quiet smile on his face.

They looked close. Intimate. Anyone would assume they were a couple. Deeply in love.

“She found someone new that fast?”

“That’s why she left so cleanly?”

“Is the baby even mine?”

“Or is this some game? Making me chase her?”

The questions looped in his skull. He couldn’t think straight.

He realized he had never truly understood Maya. Not once.

The empty room pressed in on him. He missed the past.

Her in the kitchen. That soft smile while she made dinner.

Her at the door, hand reaching out. “Weren’t you leaving? What’s the delay?”

Her on the couch, dozing off, waiting for him to come home.

He was barely there back then. But she was always there. Always obedient. Always ready.

His phone rang. Snapped him out of it.

A lawyer.

“Hello. Am I speaking with Rowan Cross? The divorce agreement you and Maya Vale signed has been legally executed. When convenient, please come in to finalize the division of premarital assets and joint property.”

“Divorce?”

Rowan felt his blood reverse direction.

“You’ve made a mistake. When did she divorce me?”

“She can decide a divorce on her own?”

The lawyer’s tone stayed calm.

“Mr. Cross, please don’t get agitated. While you weren’t physically present, the divorce proceeded with your consent.”

Rowan’s mind flashed to that phone call. The one from Maya. That day.

The call he’d brushed off with irritation. That was her asking him to agree to the divorce.

His face—always cold, always composed—shattered.

He cut the call. Sat on the floor. Started drinking. Glass after glass.

Why did she divorce him?

She was already planning to leave. All the way back then?

“Rowan? What’s wrong?”

Piper’s voice.

He looked up and saw her standing there. It surprised him.

Piper rarely came to his house. She always said it wasn’t appropriate. He was married, after all.

“Rowan, you haven’t answered my calls or texts for days. I thought something happened to you.”

She walked over and looped her arm through his. Her voice was pure sugar.

“Work’s been busy,” Rowan said, his tone flat.

He didn’t know why, but her touch made his skin crawl.

He pulled his arm free and walked to the sofa. Poured himself another drink.

Piper felt the rejection like a slap. Her hand curled into a fist inside her sleeve.

But she couldn’t read Rowan right now. Couldn’t risk a scene. She swallowed it.

She forced her voice light. “Where’s Maya? She’s not home?”