Chapter 10
When my mom was still alive, she’d always nag me to stop staying cooped up at the Langley estate. She kept telling me to get out, to see the world.
But Travis was always busy.
And I… I couldn’t bear to leave him. Or my mother.
In the years I spent trying to be Mrs. Langley, I gave up on my dreams one by one, until there was nothing left of the girl I
used to be.
Yet somehow, Julian still remembered the little wishes I once whispered as a child.
Something in my chest stirred-something I thought had died a long time ago.
I reached for his hand and held it tight. “Thank you”
“For being someone I can lean on.”
Julian brushed a hand over my hair. “I made you a promise a long time ago. I’m sorry it took me so long to come through.”
What I didn’t expect was Travis following us across the globe on our honeymoon.
Every time we returned to the hotel, he’d be waiting at the entrance-with a bouquet of trimmed roses in hand, the
stamens clipped away, and some ridiculous imported gift.
Every time he saw me, his eyes would turn red.
“Elise, I was wrong. Please… come back to me.”
“These past weeks without you have been hell. I missed you so much.”
“I swear I’ll never hurt you again. I sent them away-those women. I chased them out of my life. I can’t live without you,
Elise!”
I laughed coldly and walked up to him, whispering near his ear, “Do you know what my mom said to me before she died?”
“She said she didn’t want to be a burden anymore. She said I should leave you-and find my own happiness.”
“Travis, the moment you fell for those two golden girls, I stopped loving you.”
“I only stayed with you… for her. To keep her alive.”
“You killed her. You pushed me away with your own hands.”
“You destroyed everything I cared about-my room, my baby, my rabbit. Everything. All because of those two You really think I’d ever come back to you?”
Travis went pale. He shook his head over and over. “No… I never meant for mom to die…”
Tears blurred my vision as I screamed at him, “Don’t you dare call her Mom!”
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I yanked up my sleeve, showing him the raw, jagged scar still marring my arm.
“If she knew I married someone who nearly burned me to death, she’d haunt you.”
Travis averted his gaze, unable to look at the scar. He stumbled back like he’d been punched. “I am sorry! I told the guards to get you out! I didn’t know you’d get hurt!”
I smirked. “Travis, ‘sorry’ doesn’t fix what you did. And I’m going to make sure you pay. One wound at a time.”
After that day, Travis never tried speaking to me again. He just followed silently behind Julian and me.
Sometimes Julian lost his patience and had his bodyguards rough Travis up.
But he didn’t fight back-just stood there like he was made of stone and took every hit.
And when it was over, he’d stumble to me, blood on his lip, whispering, “Elise… does this at least make you feel better?”
I’d pull Julian closer and walk away without a word.
When the honeymoon ended, I stepped into my new role-Director of Marketing at Hart Enterprises.
There was no deeper strategy. No grand ambition.
I just wanted to destroy Travis Langley’s empire, piece by piece.
Every time Langley Corp. launched a new project, I cut in first.
Within three months, I’d stolen dozens of contracts from them.
Meanwhile, Travis was too busy being dragged down by the chaos those twin parasites left behind. He couldn’t focus on
the business at all.
Langley Corp’s finances spiraled into a nosedive.
Eventually, his parents-the oh-so-proud Mr. and Mrs. Langley-came crawling to my office at Hart Enterprises.
The same couple who once looked down on me like I was dirt were now bending so low they nearly kissed the floor.
“Elise, we used to be family, after all.”
“Travis… he just made a mistake. A mistake all men make. But he’s always loved you. Please, could you spare Langley Corp. any further losses?”
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Lucia Morh is a passionate storyteller who brings emotions to life through her words. When she’s not writing, she finds peace nurturing her garden.