Chapter 4

The moment the door shut, William slammed his fist down on the desk.

Three years.

It had taken him three years to piece together everything Susie had been through.

The day she married Henry, he was overseas closing an acquisition deal. By the time he flew back, it was already the day after her wedding. He went to wait for her outside her office building — and all he saw was her, walking alone in the rain with a baby bump.

He hadn't dared go up to her.

He figured she must hate him. Hate him for vanishing without a word, for never giving her any explanation. So he stayed in the shadows, watching as Henry berated her, as Lena humiliated her, as her coworkers isolated her.

It broke his heart.

Then, three months ago, he finally dug up the evidence that Henry and Lena had conspired to drain Susie's family company dry. He caught a flight back that same night, moved as fast as he possibly could to acquire the Luis Group, and took the position of CEO.

He thought that would be enough to protect her.

But she had quit.

William leaned back in his chair, staring up at the ceiling, his eyes stinging.

The moment Susie walked out of the office, he'd nearly lost it — nearly rushed over and pulled her into his arms. She was still so thin, still so beautiful. But the light in her eyes had dimmed so much compared to three years ago.

He remembered how she used to laugh in college — her eyes curving into little crescents. They'd been in love back then. He'd thought she was it for him.

Then his father got gravely ill. The family business was seized by his uncle. He had no choice but to go abroad and take over the mess. He'd sent her a breakup text, not wanting to drag her down with him. He spent years grinding, clawing for power, until he finally took back everything that was his.

He'd assumed she would wait for him.

Instead, he heard she had gotten married.

William closed his eyes, his fingers tracing the surface of his phone screen. On it was a photo he'd secretly taken of her — she was feeding a child, the soft curve of the side of her face was so heartbreakingly gentle.

He suddenly stood up, grabbed his jacket, and headed out.

Susie had just gotten home. She was sitting on the couch with her son Willson in her arms, staring blankly at nothing. He was only two and a half years old but already knew how to say "Mama." His eyes looked exactly like William's.

She looked down at him, and tears fell.

"Willy, Mommy's so tired."

He raised his tiny hand and wiped her cheek. "Mommy don't cry. Willy be good."

Susie pulled him closer.

Then the doorbell rang.

She wiped her eyes and walked over to answer it. The moment she opened the door, she froze.

William was standing there, with a large bag of groceries in his hand, and his suit jacket soaked through with rain.

"How did you—"

"I looked up your address." His voice was gentle. "You're living here?"

Susie said nothing. She was renting the top-floor unit in an old building — no elevator, dim hallways, paint peeling off the walls in patches. After the divorce, Henry had transferred the ownership of their house, the car, and every last dollar of their savings to somewhere else. This was all she could afford.

William looked into her eyes, his throat felt tight. "Susie. I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what?"

"Sorry I didn't protect you." He stepped inside, and when he spotted the child sitting on the couch, his footsteps faltered. "Is that… Willson?"

Susie shifted her body to block his view.

"Leave."

"I'm not leaving." William set the bag down and crouched, staring at the boy's face. "He looks just like me. Susie, you can't lie to me."

Susie bit her lip, her eyes burning red. "William, enough. You walked out on me without a single word, without any explanation. And now you just show up at my door — you think that makes it better?"

William stood up, his voice was rough. "My dad was seriously ill back then. I didn't want you suffering alongside me. I thought—"

"You thought I'd wait for you?" Susie let out a cold laugh. "And while I was waiting, Henry and Lena gutted my family's company. While I was waiting, they told me to get rid of the baby and crushed me under their feet."

William grabbed her hand. "Susie, I know everything. For three years, I've been keeping tabs on it all. I know what Henry did to you. I know how Lena treated you."

"Then why didn't you come back sooner?"

"I was afraid."

William dropped to his knees in front of her, his voice breaking. "I was afraid you'd hate me. Afraid you wouldn't forgive me."

Susie looked at him, tears streaming down her face. "William, I do hate you. I hate you for making me carry all of this alone for three years."

"I know." William clutched the hem of her skirt. "So give me the chance to make it right. Susie, starting today, I won't let you carry anything alone ever again."

Susie looked at him in silence.

Finally, she picked up the child, turned, and walked inside, leaving only one sentence behind. "William, focus on building the Luis Group first."

The door shut.

William knelt outside, listening to the baby's cries drifting through the door, and Susie's choked, trembling voice trying to soothe them.

He clenched his fists, his eyes burning red.

"Just wait, William," he whispered to himself. "Everything I owe her — I will pay it back."