He Promised Me Every Flight, Gave Her Every One Chapter 12

He Promised Me Every Flight, Gave Her Every One Chapter 12

Grant never finished signing the agreement that day.

He stopped before the final stroke, slammed the pen onto the table, and walked out.

But the lawsuit was already underway.

Julian said the outcome shouldn’t change much.

It would only take longer.

I wasn’t in a hurry.

As I left the courthouse, Lydia chased after me.

The fragile act from the hospital was gone.

Her eyes were red with rage. “Happy now, Eleanor?”

Cars streamed past below the courthouse steps.

Julian stood nearby on a call, keeping an eye on us.

I looked at Lydia. “No.”

She froze.

I continued, “I’ll be happy when both of you answer for what you’ve done.”

Lydia sneered. “You think Grant really loves you? He was just used to having you revolve around him.”

“Now that you’re gone, he doesn’t know how to adjust.”

“Then what are you afraid of?”

Her expression changed.

I stepped closer. “Afraid he won’t even miss having you around?”

Hatred flashed openly in Lydia’s eyes.

“Don’t get too pleased with yourself. His grounding is temporary, and the Sterlings aren’t going anywhere.”

“Without him, do you really think you’ll live better than I will?”

Before she finished, Grant walked out of the courthouse.

Lydia’s expression changed instantly.

Tears clung to her lashes. “Grant, I was only trying to explain things to Ms. Miller.”

Grant didn’t even look at her.

He stopped in front of me. “I’ll drive you.”

“No.”

Julian ended his call and walked toward me.

Grant’s gaze fixed on him like a blade.

This time, he didn’t lash out.

He only stood there and lowered his voice. “Eleanor, I shouldn’t have defended her when she broke the headpiece.”

“Mm-hmm.”

My flat response seemed to drive him mad.

His eyes slowly reddened. “Yell at me. Hit me if you want. Just don’t look at me like I mean nothing.”

Lydia stood nearby, biting her lip.

Grant suddenly turned toward her. “Starting today, I won’t see you again.”

Real tears finally spilled down Lydia’s cheeks. “Did you forget what my father did for the Sterlings?”

Grant’s voice was hoarse. “My family spent ten years repaying that debt.”

“We covered your tuition, home, job, and medical bills. We never denied you anything. Lydia, that debt doesn’t give you a free pass to hurt Eleanor.”

The words came too late.

Lydia still looked deeply wronged. “But you promised me too! You said Eleanor was understanding and wouldn’t make a fuss!”

Grant flinched.

That truth cut deeper than any evidence.

He had relied on my patience for years.

Then he’d handed me every hurt, expecting me to accept it.

Now, Lydia had exposed him in public.

Several passersby stopped to watch.

Grant’s polished facade crumbled before everyone.

“I was wrong,” he said quietly.

Lydia shook her head through her tears. “You can’t do this to me.”

Grant ignored her.

He looked at me, his voice scraped raw. “Ellie, I’ll sign. I’ll repay everything through the formal settlement process.”

“I’ll also have my lawyers reassess the storefronts your parents left behind. The Sterlings took advantage back then. I’ll make it right.”

It was the first time he’d admitted it.

I’d waited years to hear those words.

Not because of the money.

I’d wanted someone to admit I’d never been a parasite living off the Sterlings.

But the acknowledgment came too late.

Julian opened the car door for me.

Before I got in, Grant spoke again, “If I make everything right, will you look back at me just once?”

The wind lifted my hair.

I didn’t turn around. “No.”

The car door closed.

In the rearview mirror, Grant stood below the courthouse steps.

He looked as if all the strength had left his body.