The Key She Could Never Give Me Chapter 04

The Key She Could Never Give Me Chapter 04

I was finishing up the transition checklist when Sloane stormed in.

“I’m not approving your resignation!”

I didn’t even look up.

“Just follow the process.”

She slammed her phone down on the counter.

“Blake, don’t drag your feelings into work!”

My pen stopped.

“There’s no place for me in the new house.”

“You gave Jase the general manager position.”

“Even at the grand opening, he was the one you thanked.”

Her voice dropped.

“I know I haven’t treated you fairly.”

“But Jase can’t handle things on his own right now.”

“I know it’s unfair to you.”

“Just put up with it for now.”

“I’ll make it up to you later.”

I let out a cold laugh.

“You always tell me to wait.”

“And every time I look back, someone else is standing beside you.”

Sloane pulled out a ring box and pushed it across the counter.

“It’s not like I never planned to marry you.”

“I bought the ring a long time ago.”

I took it out and slipped it onto my ring finger.

It was far too loose.

I stared at it for two seconds.

Then I took it off and put it back in the box.

Sloane’s face changed instantly.

Like she’d suddenly remembered something, her voice turned shaky.

“Last time Jase came to the store with me, he tried it on.”

“Maybe the employee resized it to his measurements.”

She looked up at me, clearly nervous.

“It’s fine.”

“They can resize it again.”

I closed the box and pushed it back toward her.

“Sloane Bennett.”

“Even the ring you bought for me…”

“He tried it on before I ever did.”

Her lips parted.

For once, she had nothing to say.

Just then, Jase’s voice came from the doorway.

“Sloane.”

He walked in carrying Emma.

He was crying his heart out.

“Her mom showed up at the new house again.”

“She says she came to take Emma.”

“Emma won’t stop crying.”

“Can you come back with me?”

Emma reached for Sloane, sobbing so hard she could barely catch her breath.

“Aunt Sloane, I’m scared.”

Sloane stood there.

She looked at me.

Then at Jase and Emma.

Only a few seconds passed.

But in the end, she still reached out and took Emma into her arms.

“I’ll go check.”

Then, like she’d suddenly remembered I was still there, she added quickly,

“Blake, wait for me.”

“We’ll talk when I get back.”

I didn’t stop her.

I just watched her leave with them.

The door slammed shut.

I went back to the staff housing and put my key into an envelope.

I packed up all the notes I’d kept over the years.

Then I took out the wedding suit catalog and placed it at the very bottom of my bag.

I finished reconciling all the accounts for the handover.

Just before dawn, I carried my suitcase downstairs and left town.

That day, I left Sloane only one message.

“Sloane Bennett, go take care of the person who needs you more.”

“I’m done waiting.”