Chapter 11.
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Three years later.
Sloane Sterling had given birth to a daughter, Coco, and Declan Thorne had firmly secured his position as the Sterling family’s
son-in-law.
Though they hadn’t officially registered their marriage, everyone in the elite circles knew he was the only man by Sloane’s side. With Coco between them, his status was unshakeable.
Declan was satisfied with his life-except for the eyesore that was Brynn Sterling.
Since the birth of Coco, Brynn was nothing more than a rival to Coco in Sloane’s eyes. His attitude toward her had soured completely. The smiles were gone, replaced by scowls, verbal abuse, and frequent verbal and physical abuse. Sloane didn’t live in he villa and didn’t seem to care about Brynn anymore, which gave Declan even more freedom to act.
Now eleven, Brynn was shorter than her peers by a whole head and thin as a rail. She had grown dark and moody. Every time she saw Declan doting on Coco, her eyes burned with a murderous intensity.
Ever since Corbin Vance died, she no longer had a father.
At first, she hadn’t understood what death meant. She had even thought it was better that Corbin was gone so it would be easier for her to go play with Declan.
But eventually, the loneliness set in. She finally realized that death meant never seeing someone again. She would never see her dad
gain.
Declan was no longer kind to her. He didn’t try to make her laugh or win her over anymore. Instead, he looked at her with constant lisgust. Now that Coco, his own child was born, he treated her like a burden. Even though she lived in her own home, she felt like i dependent living on another’s charity in her own home, living without a shred of warmth.
3rynn finally began to regret everything.
Declan wasn’t her father. She missed Corbin.
When the pain became too much, she tried to talk to Sloane, to pour her heart out. But the moment she mentioned Corbin’s name, Sloane would fly into a violent rage. Gradually, no one dared to speak his name. Corbin Vance became a forbidden subject in the
house.
At the massive dining table, Brynn and Declan sat opposite each other in silence. Sloane wasn’t coming home tonight-again.
Although she had technically given Declan the the lifestyle of Mrs. Thorne, she never actually stayed at the mansion. Every night, she returned to the basement apartment.
She kept the place exactly as it had been three years ago. She wouldn’t let anyone touch a single thing.
Whenever she missed Corbin to the point of madness, Sloane would go into the kitchen and cook a bowl of egg noodles. Then, she would talk to the empty chair across from her.
‘Husband, I made your favorite egg noodles. Hurry up and eat.”
Everyone knew Sloane couldn’t forget Corbin. Because she couldn’t forget, she couldn’t move on.
Sloane’s world had stopped on the day Corbin died.
She had turned herself into a living tombstone, spending every day mourning the past. Only those few memories kept her going through the long, lonely nights.
Unable to watch her spiral any longer, her assistant arranged a business trip to the ancient city. The scenery was beautiful there; maybe it would help her mood.
Sloane walked alone through the quiet, peaceful streets of the historic town. Watching the busy crowds and the street vendors
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ing some where scenic-a small yard with flowers.
ress in its in Booked like Corbin.
bbed the man’s arm.
you?”
to Corbin Vance’s that her eyes began to burn with unshed tears.
ne.”
f
pure suspicion.
s eyes were cold and completely unfamiliar.
e?”
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the wrong guy.”
rences. His temperament was different. His voice was different.
I once knew. I didn’t mean to be so forward.”
up to you, let me buy you a cup of coffee.”
counter. “I’m the owner of this sho
is he ground the beans, brewed the espresso, an
Sloane.
you.”
avorite. Was he really not Corbin?
As he got lost in the text, his pinky finger twitched slightly.
nited after a lifetime.
all turned and retreated into the back breakroom.
drink?”
ey were closing. Even then, she left with lingering, reluctant
zould sit there from open to close, not even leaving for meals.
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ong themselves. “Manager, do you think she likes you?”
y? She orders everything on the menu just to stay, and she never stops staring at him.”
gan to burn with unshed tears.
Tong; she was just sitting there drinking coffee. He couldn’t exactly kick her out.
nfamiliar.
ouldn’t contain his curiosity anymore. He walked over to her table.
-brimming with a deep, irrepressible affection.
know.”
ing him again.”
words. “Who?”
rent. His voice was dith different.
10 forward Ward
of coffeeffec
a cliché pickup line.”
Began to speak as if to herself. “You look just like my husband. He was a racer-a brilliant one.
re a very happy family.”
Whalardo you want to drink?”
se espresso, and poured the latte
- He sat down across from her. “And then?”
stantly.
I made him suffer a great deal.”
to punish me.”
orgive me in this life. But if there’s a chance, I just want to see him again. I wan
atch him from a distance.”
redden.
e using me as a stand-in for your husband?”
s certain. This man was Corbin Vance.
itly, even if he remembered nothing… she could never mistake him. Rowan Mercer was
tbin?
inky finger twitched slightly.
ace to see my husband again, he would forgive me?”
>the back breakroom.
en, she left with lingering, reluctant
a to close, not even leaving for meals.
bling as she asked the question.
ness even useful?”
ready happened?”
loved him, why did you hurt him in the first place?”
jeone who hurt me. Not even if she knelt at my feet. I wouldn’t feel a shred of pity.”
you think she likes you?
le meno rust to stay, and she never stops staring at him.”
answer.
