After His Public Engagement, I Resigned Chapter 09

After His Public Engagement, I Resigned Chapter 09

“Isabelle was my family’s idea. What we have is a marriage of convenience, nothing more.”

“When the company was in crisis, the Pierce family stepped in to help-that’s the only reason I

agreed.”

“Isabelle and I made a private arrangement: once the term was up, we’d both be free to marry as we

pleased.”

“All these years, I kept my distance from you because I was afraid-afraid my family/would find out and come after you.”

“I’ve cleared away every complication now. And you just left without a word.”

“I’ve spent all this time searching for you like a madman. I’m only asking for one more chance.”

I looked at him and felt only cold.

Six full years.

If there’d been some impossible reason behind it all, I could have understood. But there wasn’t.

I’d told him more times than I could count that I didn’t want to keep hiding like this.

Didn’t want to spend every day timing our comings and goings to avoid each other at work.

Didn’t want a relationship without a single photo to show for it.

Didn’t want something that only existed after dark, something that made me sick to my stomach.

And every time, he never once gave me a real answer.

He never put himself in my shoes. Not once.

Six years. Countless chances.

He had to wait until I was ready to walk away, until I’d grown to hate what we had entirely, before it finally clicked. Before the regret set in.

But love that arrives late was never worth much to begin with.

“Desmond. Do adults at least a shred of dignity when it’s over. Don’t chase me anymore.”

I turned and walked away without a second thought.

What I hadn’t expected was that the head of Ashcroft Holdings would go and rent the apartment

right next door to mine.

even transferred half the company’s board members over to run operations locally.

Every evening when I came home, he’d leave his door open, watching me walk in.

And every time, he’d stay stubbornly silent.

I pretended not to notice, kept clocking in and out, living my quiet two-point routine.

Those years of hiding had been the most miserable stretch of my life.

Why would I claw my way free just to walk back in?

Then, one rainy evening, a coworker gave me a ride home.

Desmond caught us right at the door.

He stood there like something unraveling, eyes bloodshot, blocking my way.

“Who is he? What gives him the right to bring you home?”

I stood on the stairs, my voice flat.

“What business is that of yours?”

He grabbed me, pulling me into his arms without asking.

“I can’t stand another man getting close to you.”

“Margot. I was wrong before. I ignored how you felt. If you’ll forgive me, I’ll do anything.”

“Just-please don’t get close to other men just to spite me.”

I laughed coldly and pushed him off.

“You flatter yourself. I’m not looking for a man to make you jealous. You’re not worth the effort.”

He stood frozen.

“What did you just say…”

Watching him look so stunned, I felt nothing at all stir inside me.

“I said, you have no right to control me. You never did.”

Once, I’d poured everything I had into him, while he stayed forever above it all, untouchable.

Back then I loved him, enough to accept the secrecy, the hiding, all of it.

But he’d hidden a fiancée from me for five years.

Convenience marriage or not, the damage was already done.

Nothing about it could be undone.

Not by moving in next door. Not by watching over me. Not by putting on a show of apology.

After a long silence, he finally spoke.

“Are you still upset about Isabelle? About my keeping it from you?”

“Or is it how we did things before? Whatever it is, just tell me I’ll change it, I promise.”

He still didn’t understand.

Some things, I’d already made peace with.

There was no going back.

“Desmond. I’m not angry with you. I don’t hate you, either.”

I looked him in the eye and said it plainly.

“I just don’t love you anymore.”

“You should have realized a long time ago-there’s no ‘us’ left.”

“From now on, let’s not see each other again. Take care of yourself.”

With that, I walked past him and went inside, not once looking back at whatever wreck of a look was on his face.

The next evening, I didn’t see him waiting outside.

I never found out when he moved out.

Months later, I caught his interview on the news-a full and public break with his family.

He’d donated half his shares in Ashcroft Holdings to Hopewell House.

None of it had anything to do with me anymore.

From now on, I only needed to live my life, out in the open, on my own terms.

Everyone else could think whatever they wanted.

THE END