Nine months too late: After divorce by Baby Charlene

Chapter 79

Sylvie's fingers trembled slightly as she hovered over the send button. She'd rewritten her message at least a dozen times, each version sounding either too desperate or too indifferent. Finally, she took a deep breath and forced herself to hit send.

Sylvie: Kage, can we talk?

She set the phone down and leaned back on the couch, exhaling slowly as she rubbed her palm over the slight swell of her belly.

The chime of her phone made her flinch. She grabbed it, her pulse jumping as Kage's reply flashed on the screen.

He replied with his address, nothing more.

She stared at the message, biting her lip. He hadn't asked why she wanted to talk, but she was surprised he even replied her at all.

The ride felt endless. What was she going to say? 'Why did you do it?' No, that sounded too accusatory. that to Lana?' Worse. She'd left him, pushed him away, and now here she was, rushing back to him. 'How could you

do

*****

Finally, she pulled up in front of the sleek, modern building. It was one of Kage's private apartments, one he rarely used - so exclusive that not even his family knew much about it. The entrance was guarded, but the doorman had already been informed of her arrival and let her in without a word."

She rode the elevator up, the silence in the small space almost suffocating.

When the doors slid open, she stepped into a dimly lit hallway, her gaze catching on the dark, polished wood of the Sapartment door at the end. She swallowed hard, her steps faltering for just a moment before she forced herself forward. Raising her hand, she knocked lightly.

few seconds passed before the

neither of them spoke. Then Kage stepped aside, his gaze

quiet, filled only with the faint scent of cedar and something

her, his gaze intense, studying her with a look that

it?" He asked

looking as casual as she's always liked. But he looked like the grumpy Kage - the one she didn't

h

eyes. "I...I saw the news," she murmured. "About the wedding." Sylvie swallowed, willing herself to meet his eyes. "...I Something dark flickered in his gaze, but his

nervous, she'd

want to know why." She crossed her arms over her chest. "Why did you do it, Kage? Why did you leave

altar?"

turned away, running a hand through his hair. "Because I couldn't go

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11:38 Sat, Oct 12

Chapter 79

blinked, taken aback. "But

"You really need me to spell it out, Sylvie? I couldn't marry into another loveless marriage. Not again." His voice hardened, his jaw clenching. "I've already been through that hell once with

swinging back to hers. "Didn't mean to leave me? Didn't mean to walk away? You made

84%

had to!" she burst out, the words slipping free before she could stop them. "Your family - they threatened me, Kage. They told me they would destroy my father's company, ruin

his expression darkening, fury building in his eyes. "What did

- they cornered me. They said if I didn't leave you, they'd make my life hell. They were

fists, his jaw tight. "Those fucking