After He Called Me Trouble, I Quit Him

Chapter 8

'Atone for his sins?'

Hailey's heart sank. Pain crushed the breath from her chest.

'To him, marrying me and having our child is a sin!'

She gripped the note as though its words were tearing her heart apart.

She remembered their first meeting again.

She'd been riding her motorcycle alone along a mountain road when it started raining. Her tires slipped, sending her down a slope where no one noticed her.

Only Julian had found her. Holding a large black umbrella, he'd appeared as if out of nowhere and rescued her.

After that day, she couldn't get him out of her mind.

She'd looked forward to meeting him again. Instead, she'd traveled through time and witnessed the tragic end awaiting them.

Perhaps it had been a mistake from the beginning.

Hailey slipped out of Stillwater Abbey at first light.

It was too early for anyone to accept her ride request. She walked to the road and waited a long time before flagging down a cab.

Once inside, she sent Julian a message without expression.

Hailey: Congratulations. Once we're divorced, you'll have atoned for your sins.

Then she blocked his number.

'One wrong choice is enough. I'm not giving it the rest of my life.'

After 30 minutes, she rang the bell at the Blake Estate.

The butler opened the door and stared. "Ms. Blake?"

She walked straight into the living room.

Her father, Graham Blake, was eating breakfast. He frowned at her arrival.

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm divorcing Julian."

She sat at the table, picked up half a sandwich, and began eating.

Graham slammed a hand on the table and stood. "Don't be ridiculous! Do you think divorce is something you can decide on a whim?"

Hailey's mother had died when she was very young. She'd always blamed her father and opposed him in everything.

They'd spent years at odds. Marrying Julian was the one thing she'd done that pleased her father.

Graham grabbed her and began pulling her toward the door.

"You're going back. You're far too old to behave like this..."

He stopped when he saw her eyes redden.

"Dad, I'm not happy with him."

She hadn't swallowed her sandwich, and her voice came out thick and rough.

Then she threw herself into his arms and sobbed. "He doesn't love me. He doesn't love me at all."

Graham froze, at a loss. He didn't know how to respond to his rebellious daughter's sudden need for him.

For a while, only her sobs disturbed the quiet living room.

Eventually, he eased her back and wiped away her tears with his calloused thumb.

"I told you to think carefully. You were choosing someone to spend your life with. Once you chose him, you couldn't take it back. It's been years. Your child's growing up. You can't keep acting on impulse."

Still overwhelmed, Hailey looked at him through her tears.

He turned to the butler. "Take her and her luggage outside."

Then he looked back at her. "Julian's waiting."

This time, Hailey froze.

She stared at her father in disbelief. Before she could react, the butler ushered her out, half guiding and half pulling her.

The door closed before she recovered.

"Graham Blake, do you have a conscience? I'm your daughter!"

Apparently, that made no difference. He showed no intention of opening the door.

She took several deep breaths, wiped her eyes, and turned.

Sure enough, the imposing black Cadillac was parked by the curb.

Julian sat in the back with the window down, watching her calmly.

"Can we go home now?"

He looked as though he'd known her own family wouldn't let her stay.

Anger flared, strengthening her resolve.

'Does he think cornering me will make me go quietly?'

She took out her phone and called someone. He answered almost immediately, surprise and delight in his voice.

"Hey, it's you!"

Watching Julian's brows draw together, Hailey smiled and deliberately softened her voice.

"It's me. Could you come pick me up?"