The Belated Bride: Becoming My Own Muse Chapter 22

The Belated Bride: Becoming My Own Muse Chapter 22

“Better how?” I asked.

He looked at that line of silver thread.

“Before, it was a dress that had been waiting. Now, it’s a dress that walked away.”

I smiled and didn’t answer.

Half an hour before the show started, Christian arrived.

I hadn’t sent him an invitation.

But the Van Ness family had business ties to Ashford Group. It wouldn’t have been difficult for him to get a ticket.

He wore a black suit and carried a brown kraft paper envelope.

When he saw me, he walked over.

“Claire.”

I was in the middle of confirming the models’ lineup.

“Mr. Van Ness. If you need something, speak to my assistant.”

He held the envelope out to me.

“The divorce papers. I signed them.”

My hands stopped moving.

I looked up at him.

He seemed thinner than the last time I’d seen him. The exhaustion in his eyes was unmistakable.

“The asset division. I left it exactly as you drafted it. I only amended one clause.”

I took the envelope and flipped to the last page.

In the additional terms section, he had written: Christian Van Ness hereby transfers the Hamptons estate, held under his name, to Claire, as compensation for deficiencies within the marriage.

I closed the document.

“That’s not necessary.”

Christian looked like he had fully expected me to refuse.

“It’s not about getting your forgiveness.”

He said, “It’s just something I owe.”

I handed the document back.

“Christian. Don’t confuse what you want to give with what I am obligated to take.”

His hand paused in mid-air.

I said, “We follow the original agreement. You keep the house.”

That Hamptons estate was the place Christian had once promised to hold our wedding.

Sprawling gardens. A perfect lake view.

He’d told me to pick the flowers myself. The lighting. The guest list.

Later, after Bianca moved back to New York, he never mentioned it again.

Now he wanted to hand me the house.

But I had no desire to live inside a rotted promise.

Christian looked at me for a long moment. Then finally, he nodded.

“Alright.”

He said, “Monday. I’ll be there.”

I took the papers.

“Thank you for your cooperation.”