After I Left, He Begged on His Knees to Bring Me Home Chapter 07

After I Left, He Begged on His Knees to Bring Me Home Chapter 07

Two months later, I heard he’d done two things.

The first was resigning from the company.

The second was transferring Vivian’s long-term care to a professional medical team and sending

her overseas.

Kathy was the one who told me.

She sounded breathless on the phone. “He gave up all his shares.”

“The night Vivian left, she cried the entire time. He didn’t even go see her off.”

“His dad called him crazy. His mom has been calling everyone she knows, trying to convince him to change his mind.”

I stood by the studio window, watching rain slide down the glass in thin streams.

“What is he trying to prove?” Kathy asked.

I didn’t know, but I knew he came to see me.

That evening, when I walked out of the studio, he was standing at the bottom of the front steps.

A large manila envelope was clutched in his hand. The corners were creased from how tightly he’d

been holding it.

He held it out to me. “I signed the divorce papers.”

I opened the envelope and pulled out the documents.

Flipping to the last page, I found his signature.

Dark black ink. Heavy strokes. The final line dragged slightly across the paper.

“You resigned?”

“Yeah.”

“And Vivian?”

“I sent her away.”

I nodded and slid the papers back into the envelope.

“You didn’t do all this because you thought I’d come back, did you?”

He froze. His lips parted slightly.

“No.”

“Good.”

I handed the envelope back.

He didn’t take it. “Delaney, I didn’t do any of this to get you back.”

“I know you’re not coming back.”

“Delaney…”

“Griffin, you don’t have to keep telling me these things.”

“You live your life.”

“I’ll live mine.”

“Wouldn’t it be better if we both moved on?”

He stood there without speaking. His arms hung at his sides.

A gust of wind lifted the hem of his sweater.

“Does that guy treat you

well?”

I looked at him. “He doesn’t need to.”

“I already learned how to take care of myself.”

Then I turned and walked away.

After a few steps, I heard his voice behind me. “Delaney.”

I didn’t stop.

“I’m sorry.”

I walked into the studio and closed the door behind me.

The frosted film covering the glass turned him into nothing more than a blurred shadow.

He stood there for a while, then slowly faded from view.

I returned to my desk and continued sketching.

The pencil scratched softly across the paper.

Halfway through, the lead snapped.

I picked up a sharpener and twisted it a few times.

Wood shavings curled onto the desk, carrying the faint scent of pine.

I didn’t know what he was thinking while he stood outside that door.

I didn’t ask whether his hands shook when he resigned.

I didn’t ask if he looked back after sending Vivian away.

None of that had anything to do with me anymore.

But that night, while pouring myself a glass of water in the kitchen, my hand slipped.

The glass shattered against the floor. Fragments scattered everywhere.

One piece bounced against the top of my foot, leaving a pale mark.

As I crouched down to pick up the shards, an image suddenly flashed through my mind.

Griffin standing outside the studio, apologizing.

He had never apologized before.

Back then, all he ever said was “Delaney, she’s been through so much. Can’t you try to

understand?”

He gave all his understanding to Vivian and saved every apology for me.

Now he was finally saying he was sorry.

But I didn’t need it anymore.