My Composure After Divorce Became His Greatest Torment Chapter 27
Before the villa next door sold, Nathan asked to see me one last time.
The request came through my lawyer. I chose the time and place.
The gallery reception room, after closing.
Outside the glass doors, the Portland sky was streaked with sunset. Inside, there was no Prescott family driver, no assistant at his side.
Nathan came alone, carrying a deep blue velvet box.
He set it on the table between us.
Inside was the sapphire necklace.
“When my mother gave this to you, she had truly accepted you.”
I didn’t touch it.
“But whether the woman wearing it was truly the matriarch was always for your family to decide.”
Nathan’s fingertips trembled slightly.
“The emerald brooch has been taken back. Caroline has left Boston.”
“That has nothing to do with me.”
“I know.”
He was silent for a long moment before saying softly, “After the investigation, the board gave me a chance to stay. I turned it down. I’m moving to Europe tomorrow. Starting over in a regional position.”
Once, he had been the proud Prescott heir, the center of every room.
Now, he had lost his position, the villa next door, and the right to even stand at my door.
That was the real price.
Not tears, not apologies.
It was being forced to return to a place where no one would clean up his messes, to learn from scratch how to respect the rules.
“Elise,” he said, looking at me, “if I hadn’t cared about your family background, if I hadn’t let Caroline back into my life… would we have been happy?”
I remembered the man who had kissed me with such desperation outside the bar. And I remembered the silent shape of his lips at the Newport gala, ordering me to smile.
“There are no ‘what ifs’.”
“Every time you hurt me, it wasn’t because you loved Caroline more.”
I spoke softly, but my words were clear. “It was because, in your heart, you believed you had the right to decide who deserved to be sacrificed.”
Nathan’s eyes reddened.
This time, he didn’t ask for another chance.
He slowly closed the velvet box.
“I understand.”
When he reached the door, he turned back.
“Are you happy now?”
I looked at the new exhibition taking shape on the walls.
I had chosen every piece. I had signed every contract. No one told me where to hang anything, and no one could take it away unless I agreed.
“Very.”
Nathan nodded and turned to leave.
He took the sapphire necklace with him.
Once, it had symbolized the mistress of the Prescott family.
But now, I had a name of my own.