Chapter 15: The Moment She Finds Out + Everything Breaks
1322 Words
“Leo?”
His name came out like a whisper.
He was staring at Damian’s back. At the man who just called him.
“Leo,” Elise said again. Louder.
He turned to her slowly. Face white.
“Elise,” he said.
“Your father is...”
“Damian Cross,” he finished for her.
The world tilted.
No.
No no.
“What?” she said.
“I was going to tell you,” he said fast. “I swear. I just—”
“Damian Cross is your father?”
“Yes.”
The name hit her like a slap.
Damian Cross. The man who ruined her.
Damian Cross. The man who forged emails.
Damian Cross. The man suing her for £5 million.
And she kissed his son.
She slept in his bed.
She told him I love you.
“Elise,” Leo said. “Please. Let me explain.”
“Explain what?” she said. Voice shaking. “That you lied to me?”
“I didn’t lie,” he said. “I just didn’t say.”
“That’s the same thing!”
People were staring. Reporters. Lawyers.
“Not here,” Leo said. “Please. Can we talk somewhere—”
“Don’t touch me,” she said when he reached for her.
He dropped his hand.
Across the steps, Damian was in a black car. Window down.
“Leo. Now,” he said. Cold.
Leo looked at Elise. “Can I call you? Later?”
She shook her head. “No.”
And walked away.
---
She made it to Priya’s office and threw up.
In the bathroom. Alone.
Maeve held her hair.
“He’s his son,” Elise gasped. “Maeve. He’s Damian’s son.”
Maeve went still. “What?”
“Leo. Leo is Damian Cross.”
Maeve cursed. “Oh, Elise.”
“I loved him,” Elise said. And started crying. Really crying.
Not for the case. Not for the lawsuit.
For him.
---
Her phone blew up.
Leo: Please pick up
Leo: I didn’t know how to tell you
Leo: I hate him too
Leo: Elise please
She blocked him.
Then unblocked him.
Then blocked him again.
---
That night.
She didn’t go home.
She went to the bookstore.
Closed. Dark.
She sat on the window seat where he kissed her.
And cried until she couldn’t breathe.
---
Tuesday.
The judge ruled.
“The drive is admissible.”
Priya texted: We have him.
Elise didn’t care.
She called in sick to everything.
She didn’t eat.
On Wednesday there was a knock.
She didn’t answer.
On Thursday, another knock.
“Ely? It’s me.”
Maeve.
She opened the door.
Maeve came in with food. Sat with her.
“Have you talked to him?” Maeve asked.
“No.”
“Do you want to?”
“No.”
“You’re lying,” Maeve said.
Elise didn’t answer.
---
Friday. Day 5.
Priya came over.
“We’re filing for summary judgment next week,” she said. “With the drive, we win this, Elise.”
“Good,” Elise said.
“Elise,” Priya said. “Are you okay?”
“No,” Elise said.
Priya sat next to her. “He didn’t know what his dad was doing. Did he?”
“I don’t know,” Elise said. “And I can’t ask.”
---
Saturday.
She was at the park. Alone.
On their bench.
There was a book there.
The Midnight Library.
With a note.
_I’m sorry.
I should have told you.
I’m not him.
I never will be.
L_
She picked it up. Held it.
Didn’t throw it away.
---
Sunday.
She saw him.
By accident.
Hampstead Heath. Early morning.
He was running. Stopped when he saw her.
She stopped too.
10 feet between them.
“Elise,” he said.
“Don’t,” she said.
“I didn’t know,” he said. “About any of it. Until you said his name. I swear.”
She believed him. And that made it worse.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked.
“Because the second I did, you’d look at me like you are now,” he said. “Like I’m him.”
“You’re not,” she said. “But you are.”
He flinched.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“Me too,” she said.
And walked away.
Monday.
Priya filed the motion.
SUMMARY JUDGMENT. FRAUD. HARASSMENT. RETALIATION.
Attached: The drive. The statements. The letters. The police reports.
News went crazy.
DOCTOR FILES £20M COUNTERSUIT AGAINST BILLIONAIRE. EVIDENCE INCLUDED.
Damian’s lawyers released a statement: “Mr. Cross denies all allegations. This is a smear campaign.”
Elise didn’t read it.
---
Two weeks later.
She was in a coffee shop. Working on her CV.
Because she could work again.
Her phone rang. Unknown number.
She almost didn’t answer.
“Dr. Hart?”
“Yes?”
“This is Justice Whitaker’s clerk. The judge would like to see you in chambers tomorrow. 10am.”
“Okay,” she said.
---
Tuesday. 10am. Chambers.
Just the judge. Priya. And her.
“Dr. Hart,” the judge said. “Mr. Cross has offered a settlement.”
Elise frowned. “What kind of settlement?”
“Full retraction. £10 million to St. Thomas’ NICU. In your name. And a public apology. If you drop the counter-suit.”
Elise laughed. Bitter. “He wants to buy me off.”
“He does,” the judge said. “The court cannot force you to accept. But I am telling you, with this evidence, you will win. And it will destroy him.”
Elise looked at Priya.
Priya nodded. “Your call.”
Elise thought of the letters. Of Maeve. Of the nights she couldn’t sleep.
Of Leo.
“I want the apology,” she said. “And the money. And I want him to admit it. On record.”
The judge nodded. “I’ll tell his team.”
That night she went home.
There was a package at her door.
No name.
Inside: A key.
And a letter.
_This is to the bookstore.
It’s yours now.
I signed it over.
So you have somewhere quiet.
I’m sorry I’m his son.
I wish I wasn’t.
L_
She cried.
But she didn’t call him.
One month later.
The settlement was signed.
Public apology. Front page.
DAMIAN CROSS APOLOGISES TO DR. ELISE HART.
ADMITS ‘INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT’.
He resigned from 3 boards.
The NICU was being built.
Elise had her name back.
And she was alone.
---
She was at the bookstore. Her bookstore now.
Stocking shelves.
The door opened.
She didn’t look up.
“Elise.”
Her heart stopped.
Leo.
He looked different. Tired. Older.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“I just wanted to see you,” he said.
“You shouldn’t have come.”
“I know,” he said. “But I had to.”
She put the book down. “Why?”
“Because I love you,” he said. “And I don’t care who my father is.”
Elise closed her eyes.
“I do,” she said. “I care. Every time I look at you I see him.”
“I’m not him,” he said.
“I know,” she said. “But it hurts too much.”
He nodded.
“Can I hug you?” he asked.
She hesitated. Then nodded.
He hugged her.
And she let him.
When he pulled back: “Will you ever forgive me?”
“I already have,” she said. “I just don’t know if I can do this.”
He nodded. “Okay.”
He turned to leave.
At the door he stopped.
“If you ever want to try again,” he said. “I’ll be here.”
Then he was gone.
---
Elise sat on the window seat.
Alone.
Free.
And heartbroken.
- Writer
