Chapter 721 Avery: Marriage Is a Damn Fine Thing 2
Taylor smiled faintly. "Yes. A little over five months now. The baby should be here around February."
Samuel did the math in his head.
By February, he would be living overseas.
He would not be there to give Taylor's child a gift the moment it was born. If it weren't for the fact that Julian might take offense, he would have asked to be the child's godfather. After all, he still had Luna. On paper, he was her father.
Luna liked him well enough. She looked up at him and chirped, "Mr. Collins."
He reached out, ruffled her hair, and fished in his pocket for two candies he had picked up at the wedding reception. Luna took them with a shy smile, unwrapped one, and popped it into her mouth.
Samuel could not help but pull her into a hug.
In name, she was his daughter with Taylor. In reality, she was one of the few ties he still clung to.
When he let her go, there was an ache in his chest. Through it all, his new wife stood quietly at his side. Her name was Tina—a woman introduced to him through business associates. They were both adults; after three months of dating, they decided marriage was a practical choice.
On their wedding night, Samuel had been drunk. He had taken Tina to bed, but at the final, unguarded moment, he had whispered Taylor's name.
Tina had heard it. She had simply wrapped her arms around his back and held him.
Now, she faced Taylor with the same calm composure. She knew perfectly well that marrying Samuel had given her a life of wealth and comfort. That small humiliation was a price she was willing to pay.
She did not get angry. She smiled instead, right up until Samuel said, "Let's go. Time to head home."
Tina offered Taylor and Julian a gracious smile and even waved to Luna. Luna waved back.
Outside, as they settled into the car, Tina said softly, "Mr. Learmond and Mrs. Learmond look very happy."
Samuel placed an unlit cigarette between his lips.
Because Tina was in the car, he didn't light it. "They seem to be doing well. I hear she's expecting twins."
Tina's smile deepened. "That's wonderful news."
Her tone was light, though there was a trace of envy in it. Samuel glanced at her, his eyes dark as midnight. "We'll have children too."
She plucked the cigarette from his hand. "Then you'll need to quit smoking. How's the acquisition with Elliot going?"
She had already begun packing for their move to Andoria.
"If nothing changes," Samuel said, "we'll sign the contract next month."
Tina hesitated. "It's not that urgent. We could move next year instead. By then, Mrs. Learmond will have had her babies. We could visit."
"There's no need."
His voice cooled. He didn't like Tina talking too much about Taylor. Those memories belonged to him and Taylor alone. Even his wife had no right to touch them.
Tina took the hint. "Alright, Samuel. Let's go home."
She was always warm, always gracious. She treated the staff kindly, welcomed his business partners with charm. She was, in every way, the perfect Mrs. Collins—more perfect, even, than Taylor had been. But Samuel did not love her.
He didn't need to love her. He only needed her to keep his life running smoothly, to give him comfort, and eventually, to bear him a child or two. That would be enough.
A month later, Samuel sold TaySam Tech to Elliot.
Elliot merged the two companies, rebranding them as M&E Technology before taking the company public. Overnight, he became one of Evergreen City's top five most eligible bachelors. Everywhere he went, women chased him.
He showed no interest.
The media dug into his past and found almost nothing. They learned only that he had once had a girlfriend, but her name, her face—everything—remained hidden.
Elliot never spoke of her.
Once M&E Technology had stabilized, Elliot was in his office when his phone rang.
Taylor's voice came through, soft and warm, "Elliot, why is there an extra five billion dollars in my account?"
Elliot brushed it off, saying it was Samuel's doing.
Taylor gave a small laugh. "That's all in the past. Why can't Samuel let it go?"
"Take it," Elliot said. "Otherwise, he'll never be at peace."
Love, in the end, was always tangled with guilt.
On the other end of the line, Taylor fell silent for a long time. She said nothing more before hanging up.
Elliot turned his chair toward the floor-to-ceiling windows, gazing out at the autumn cityscape.
The leaves were gold, beautiful in their last days before they fell.
A knock came at the door.
"Mr. Windsor," his secretary said, "the agent from BlissBeat Entertainment is here with their top artist. They'd like to discuss an endorsement deal."
Without turning, Elliot replied, "Have them speak to the business department."
"Of course."
A moment later, he heard his secretary outside. "I'm sorry, Molly, but Mr. Windsor doesn't handle this directly. I'll take you to the business department so the manager can assist you."
Molly.
Elliot's body went rigid. Then he said, "Bring them in."
Footsteps approached—light, familiar.
Elliot turned his chair and looked toward the door.
Molly. She had the audacity to stand before him again.