Keep Your Millions, Doctor. I’m DONE. Chapter 07

Keep Your Millions, Doctor. I’m DONE. Chapter 07

After leaving the hospital, I booked the first flight out.

Anywhere. Just somewhere far away.

I arrived in a town where it hardly ever rains.

The locals told me that people need sunshine, or else their hearts grow moss.

I figured that was good advice. Let this barren heart of mine find some reason to keep beating.

After years as a stay-at-home wife, jumping back into work wasn’t easy.

But I needed the money-and more than that, I needed to push myself.

So I found a job at a bakery on Maple Street.

During my trial shift, I made the dessert I knew best-a classic New York cheesecake.

The owner took one bite, and her eyes lit up.

“With skills like this, you were wasted just baking for your husband. You should’ve come out here

ages ago.”

I didn’t know how to explain.

So I just shook my head and gave a small, awkward smile.

“Not anymore. And never again.”

She paused mid-bite, then gave me a warm grin.

“Start tomorrow.”

Getting lost in the kitchen made time slow down.

I kneaded dough, folded batters, whisked fillings.

The old Jennifer–the one who’d made a spectacle of herself and torn her life apart-felt like a

ghost.

Every night I came home smelling of sugar and butter, too exhausted to think.

I barely remembered Preston. Or my parents. Or Jason. Or Lindsay.

On the rare nights when sleep wouldn’t come, I’d pull that little silver bracelet from the back of my drawer and hold it to my chest.

“Finn, I don’t dream about you much anymore.”

“Does that mean you’ve really moved on to someplace better?”

“If so, I hope you’re happy. Forever.”

Maybe it was wishful thinking, but that night, I did dream of him.

He was three years old, just like he would’ve been. He said, “Hi, Mom. I’m Finn.”

He took my hand and walked me down a long path. At the fork, he stopped.

“Can’t I come with you?” I asked.

He shook his head, his big eyes clear. “Nope. You’ve got your road. I’ve got mine.”

“If the timing’s right, we’ll see each other again. But you have to take care of yourself. Be happy, okay?”

I woke up sobbing his name.

The next morning, I found a tiny niche for him at the memorial garden behind the local church.

It was just big enough for the silver bracelet.

But I knew it was safe there. No one would disturb it.

On my way home, the radio mentioned Preston’s name.

“Preston Hartley, heir to the Hartley Group, has been arrested for assaulting his father-sources say it’s connected to a paternity scandal involving a recent child born into the family.”

“Prominent physician Wendy Whitmore is under investigation for illegal medical practice and multiple counts of malpractice. Authorities are now pursuing charges.”

The bakery owner clicked her tongue. “Rich folks and their drama. But you know what? Seeing them get what’s coming? Kind of satisfying.”

I counted inventory without changing expression.

After locking up for the night, I turned and spotted a familiar figure in the corner.

Preston. Behind him stood my parents, Jason, and Lindsay.

When they saw me, their eyes went red. They hurried over.

“Jennifer-we finally found you. Please come home.”

“We were wrong about everything. We know the truth now.”

I took a calm step back.

“You’re forgetting something. I’m a grudge-holder.”

“So no. I don’t forgive you.”