The Love We Missed Chapter 07

The Love We Missed Chapter 07

When I got back to Vivian’s apartment, Vivian had 

takeout spread across the island. 

BBQ ribs and craft beer–all my favorites. 

Being around Vivian always took ten years off my 

life. She knew how to flatter me, hanging onto 

every word with wide, admiring eyes. 

She gave me validation I hadn’t seen from Claire in 

years. 

She heard the door click and hurried over, slipping 

off my coat. 

“Babe, how did it go? Did she budge?” 

I kicked off my shoes and sat at the counter. 

“We worked out an arrangement. Honestly, it’s the 

only way out.” 

Vivian wiped her hands on a napkin and handed 

me a drink. “Tell me.” 

“I’ll cover the down payment tomorrow,” I said. 

“You take the title, we split the monthly mortgage, 

and it’s paid off in a couple of years.” 

Vivian froze. 

I looked straight at her. “We have ten days left 

before the court date. In this market, nobody is buying a 1.2–million–dollar house in ten days. The 

only way we close in time is if you step in as the 

buyer.” 

Her napkin dropped to the counter. 

“You want me to drop 1.2 million on your marital 

home?” 

I reached out, covering her cold fingers. “Calm down, hear me out. The house is worth 1.2 million. 

Once we clear the six–hundred–thousand–dollar 

mortgage, my half of the equity–three hundred grand in pure cash–comes right back to us.” 

I tightened my grip on her hand. “Use the cash I’ve sent you over the years for the down payment. Finance the rest under your name.” 

Vivian looked down, staring at our joined hands. 

“I’ll cover the monthly payments with you,” I promised, tilting her chin up. “The deed is all 

yours. An investment in our future. Right?” 

Vivian’s hand stiffened. Slowly, she pulled it from 

under mine. 

“I’m not living in her house, Julian. It’s got her 

name all over it.” 

“So we don’t live there,” I said quickly. “We lease it 

out. Once the market bounces back, we flip it and 

build your dream home from scratch.” 

Vivian looked at me. “I need… time to think.” 

“Think about what?” I frowned. “Don’t you want to 

marry me?” 

Her lips parted, a flicker of panic cutting through her composure. “Of… of course I do. But this is-” 

“No buts,” I interrupted. “We handle the paperwork tomorrow. I’m not dragging this out another day.” 

The next afternoon, I walked into the title company office with Vivian. 

Claire was already seated across the conference table. 

I slid the settlement sheet across the table. 

“Escrow verified the down payment,” I said. “Three 

hundred thousand clears your equity share, as 

agreed. Sign.” 

Claire didn’t even look at me. She glanced at the 

bottom line, picked up the pen, and signed. 

“Fine. Let’s close.” 

Initialing pages, wire authorizations, deed 

transfers. 

The closing went smoother than I ever expected. 

I wired the three hundred thousand dollars straight. 

into her personal account. The deal was sealed. 

Claire packed her papers into her bag, zipped it, 

and stayed seated. 

“Since you’re sitting on three hundred grand in 

cash,” she said, calm and deadly, “let’s do a 

lump–sum buyout for child support. Two hundred 

thousand clears your obligations until Mia is 

eighteen.” 

A slight smirk touched her lips. 

“Pay it, Julian, and consider yourself officially 

erased from our lives.” 

My stomach dropped. “What?”