He Thought I Loved Him, I Only Loved His Face Chapter 09

He Thought I Loved Him, I Only Loved His Face Chapter 09

The day she left, Maya called her lawyer.

“Today is the final day of the process. Is there anything else I need to do?”

The lawyer’s reply was firm. “No. As of today, your marriage is legally dissolved.”

“Maya, congratulations. You’re free.”

Maya smiled. No warmth in it. Just the quiet relief of closure. Her hand drifted to her belly.

Yes.

From now on, she and her child could finally start fresh.

She would find a beautiful place. Somewhere peaceful. And every day, she’d think of Caleb. For her and for their child.

She hung up and packed light.

Most importantly, she took everything she’d collected from Rowan over the years. Everything connected to Caleb.

She was about to walk out the door when she ran straight into Rowan, just getting home.

He saw the luggage in her hand. Froze.

“Where are you going?”

She gave the same answer as before. “Traveling.”

Rowan remembered the flight ticket. “Where? I have some free time lately. I could go with you.”

His response caught her off guard.

It was rare for him to offer something like that.

Rowan seemed to realize he was showing too much concern. He pulled his expression back to cool and detached.

“Think of it as compensation. For before. So you can stop holding it against me.”

Maya was trying to figure out how to decline when his phone rang again.

Piper.

Her syrupy voice was audible even through the speaker.

“Rowan, I need to talk to you about something. Can we meet?”

Normally, he would say yes instantly.

Today, he hesitated.

“Maybe next time.”

On the other end, Piper was visibly shaken.

He had never refused her. Not once.

She paused, then emphasized, “But what I need to say is really important.”

Rowan’s brow tightened. He spoke.

“Fine. I’m coming now.”

Hearing him agree, Maya exhaled in quiet relief.

She lowered her eyes. She didn’t want her expression to betray her.

Rowan thought she was hurt.

He cleared his throat. “I know you’ve liked me for a long time. But I can’t abandon Piper for you. She’ll always come first.”

“This trip. Forget it. Next time. I’ll take you somewhere next time.”

Maya knew he had it wrong again. She didn’t bother correcting him.

Last day anyway.

Let him think what he wanted.

When she stayed silent, Rowan assumed she was upset. He offered to drive her to the airport.

The car sped onto the highway.

Maya watched the city pass outside the window. Saying her final goodbye in her heart.

She would never come back here.

The car stopped at the airport entrance.

She got out, clutching her box of Caleb’s things like treasure.

Rowan’s lips twitched upward.

“You really do love me that much. You even take my old things on vacation. Doesn’t it weigh you down?”

Before she could answer, his phone rang again.

Piper. Rushing him.

Rowan hung up and told her, “Call me when you’re back. I’ll pick you up.”

He got into the car. Drove away.

Maya watched his car disappear into the stream of traffic. A smile broke across her face. Pure relief.

She wasn’t coming back.

They would never see each other again.

She pulled her phone from her pocket and swapped in the new SIM card she’d prepared long ago.

The old SIM card, she snapped in half and threw into the trash without a second thought.

Then she hugged her box close and walked into the airport.