Chapter 1
On the very first day Nara Kindley married the love of her life, he went bankrupt
Tive years‘ marttige, die worked twenty hour days while her son helped collect bottles to pay off their debes
In her son’s birthday, under the sweltering 38 degrees Celsius heat, they no stood outside a durury hotel distributing flyers while wearing heavy masent costumes, averal pouring down their faces]
Until a staff member approached them. Hey, you two flyer jockeys Today’s your lucky day. Mr. Hayes’s beloved son is celebrating his birthday here. The little tyke Joves Baymax diaracter. Put on the rustumes, do a little dance, and you’ll score a theisand backs.““]
For this “windfall,” they entered the glittering ballroom, only to freeze in shock when they looked up-||
The man in an impeccalde sua string at the head table was none other than her husband, Declan Hayes
showing a
He seemed to have returned to his former glory, champagne glass in hand as he listened attentively to the woman beside him, his expression st imderness Nara had never willesand belon
you say Mr. Hayes, you mean erian Hayes? Didn’t he go bankrupt?“||
grabbed the staff member’s arm. “When yo
Bankrupt?” The man looked at her like she was crazy. “Mr. Hayes is practically royalty in this city:
Nora leh like she’d been plunged into water
is your son’s birthday too. Should we celebrate them
“Deden. Elise Moon spoke weedy. “You’ve thrown auch an extravagant party for my son, but today is yo Bogether?
Decian casually bruched Elise’s hair behind her ear with a loving smile. “No need. I promised that my money would only ever be spent on you, Elise. I keep my promises.“]
Muur saddenly blared, and the staff member aloved Norn. “What are you waiting for? Dancer
Nora bit her hard enough to late blood]]
She medianically moved the costume, watching through the mesh as Miles also froze, surely recognizing his father’s voice.
“Kire move?” Hise’s son Lam suddenly threw a handful of cash at them, bills Butting down. This is hilarious!”
Declan and Have exchanged fond glances, their eyes full of affection
Nora felt hak she’d heen struck by lightning
Five years–Declan had faked bankruptcy and deceived them for five whole years, all because of that promise–his money would only ever be spent on Else?
He still hadn’t forgonem Elise
Les tough her heart like knives-
Nora was live daughter of the Hayes family’s housekeeper She grew up knowing Declan was destined for greatness, while she was just a shadow burking in cornen, watching him hun atar]]
She never expected anything, just silently observed as he treated his child sweetheart Elise le a princess.]
On Elise’s righter birthday, he rented an endre pacht and set off fireworks all night.||
Elise hart thronen herself in his arm wearing a couture gown outing. This is tou extravagant ||
He held her close, his voice imposally grue deserve the best have money, and from now until con
DIL only ever be spent on thy baby gut.
Later, diey had a light, and the stored for the chased her to the airport, only to be shed by her words stop following ine. I’m getting married. “(
That night he got blind drunk or went to food after his but found herself pulled roughly unto his bed ||
eyes were unfocused, but his fingers dag painfully into break
Nors ojened her mouth t
coulda I make a sea
He scoffed. “Then Iil marry you. You can help me forget her.
She was pathetic enough to agree her heart hammering in her chest
But on the very first day of their marriage, he went bankrupt
Nora had never cared about his money, so she willingly soffered alongside him–living in a basement apartment, eating leftovers, working there jobs of winter even giving birth to Miles during his darkest days
Nora believed that someday, he would truly see her.||
But now she understood that day would never come
The party ended quickly.
After the crowd dispersed. Nora finally snapped back to reality and pulled open Miles’s ma
mascot costume with trembling hands.
His face was streaked with tears, though he’d been crying silently, his little face flushed red with the effort
“Momhe choked out. “Dad lied to us for five years, right?
“He’s not poor at all. He just doesn’t love us, so he didn’t want to spend a penny on us. He saved it all for that lady and her son, right? |
Nora felt her heart being ripped apart
She wasn’t a good mother. In her desperate attempt to warm Dear’s heart, she’d let her son suffer alongside her for five y
years
She hugged ham tightly, her tears flowing freely. I’m so sorry, baby. Its my fault. I couldn’t make your father love me, and that’s why you had to suffer with
ΠΕ
Five years. He
He’d pretended to be poor and fooled them for five whole years!
While she and Miles ate wilted vegetable scraps, he was dining at five–star restaurants with his true love.]
While she and Miles begged creditors for more time, he was bidding millions at auctions for his beloved
While her son was handing out flyers on his birthday to help pay off “debts,” he was spending thousands on his lover’s child’s birthday party
She held her son, fully making up her mind. “Mom doesn’t want this father anymore, Miles. Come with me. I’ll find you a new daddy who will truly love and merish you okayr-]]
“Okay Miles and harder. “Let’s go far away and never see him again.“[]
look Miles to a lawyer’s office and drafted divorce papers.]
When they got home, she made him noodles, and they shared a small birthday cake.[|]
That night. Decan returned
nd back i
into cheap clothes.
When he
he came home, he had already changed out of the Italian hand tailored suit and
He loosened his to and frowned. “Sull awake?||
Nora didn’t speak, just handed him the papers. “I was waiting for you to sign these “||
“Whats this?” He had barely asked when his phone rang
Elise’s voice came through the speaker “Derian, did you get your coat? Liam’s waiting for you to watch the meteor shower. Don’t miss it“]
Declan answered tenderly, then signed the pipers without looking and walked out.
As the dior closed. Nora quietly answered his question.]]
Declan Hayes, these are divorce papers ||
