Chapter 10
The next morning. I slept in for the first time in ages.
After a quick breakfast, I settled at my desk and started prepping for tomorrow’s interview.
Then came a knock at the door.
When I opened it–there stood Johnson.
And Jace.
“Mom…”
Jace’s eyes were pink like he’d been crying.
I frowned, confused.
“How did you even find this place?”
Johnson leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, cold as ice.
“Just wanted to see what kind of fabulous life you’re living without me.”
I rolled my eyes and started to shut the door.
He stuck his foot in before I could.
“What the hell do you want, Johnson?”
I rubbed my temples, already over it.
He snapped,
“You think I’d come to this dump if Jace didn’t want to see you?”
“Scarlett, have I ever left you broke?”
Say what you want about Johnson-
He was a jerk, no doubt.
But he never held back financially.
No matter how bad things got between us,
He always made sure I had more than enough.
Even after the split, I walked away with close to two million in assets.
Ditched My Toxic Duo for a Billionaire Upgrade!
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sighed and stepped aside.
Fine, Come in.”
Johnson’s expression eased, barely.
The apartment was barely 400 square feet, books stacked to the ceiling.
It looked more like a study cave than a home.
He sat on the tiny loveseat like it offended him.
Probably the most uncomfortable he’s been in thirty–five years.
He picked up a book, glanced at the cover, and blinked.
“Didn’t think you still cared about this stuff.”
I heated some milk in the microwave and handed it to Jace.
“There. You’ve seen me. You can take him home now.”
Jace looked unsure, clutching the warm cup, eyes flicking to Johnson.
Johnson pulled him into his lap, softened his tone.
“Scarlett… can’t we just… go back?”
“Back to what?”
I sank into the other end of the couch, completely unbothered.
“Back to pretending I was Mrs. Johnson in name only?”
“I’m good, thanks.”
Jace must’ve picked up on the tension.
He looked up at me.
“Mom, I’m sorry. Can we just… go home?”
That hit harder than I expected.
I stroked his hair gently.
“You didn’t do anything wrong, sweetheart.”
“This is on me.”
“I didn’t know how to fight for myself back then.”
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-ziva Ingrade!
Chapter 10
“You grew up with your grandma, not me. It’s okay that we’re not close.”
“But none of this should’ve ever fallen on your shoulders.”
When I first heard him say he didn’t like me,
Yeah, I was bitter. Hurt, even.
But he was just six.
Kids don’t come up with that stuff on their own.
They just mirror what the grown–ups show them.
If I’d raised Jace myself-
If he still didn’t love me–then sure, I’d resent him.
But he wasn’t mine to raise.
Not really.
And the truth is, I owed him.
If I’d just had the guts to stand up to Johnson’s mom back then,
He could’ve had a mother who was there.
Not one who had to ask permission to exist.
As Johnson stood to leave with Jace,
He turned back at the door.
“You know something, Scarlett?
Sometimes I wonder…
Did you ever actually love me at all?”
After that, Johnson didn’t bother me again.
But every few days, he had Jace FaceTime me.
And during those calls, he’d randomly jump in with updates about his life-
Like I asked.
Spoiler: I didn’t.
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Chapter 10
I passed the interview.
Officially joined Sebastian Kane’s research institute.
Work was grueling but fulfilling.
And with my old professor dropping in from time to time,
It felt even better than college.
On late nights, when the lab lights stayed on,
Sebastian would sometimes invite me to grab dinner.
The others started teasing us after a while.
Said we made a cute pair.
I always shut it down fast,
Afraid Sebastian might overhear.
But if he did, he didn’t seem to care.
Or maybe… he didn’t mind.
Time slipped by like water.
Three years later-
Our project finally broke through.
At the press conference,
I stood at the podium as the institute’s spokesperson.
Sebastian sat beside me, calm, sharp, refined.
In the audience-
Johnson. With Jace, now a third–grader.
The cameras flashed nonstop.
Blinding. Dizzying.
I couldn’t see much of anything.
Except one thing-
Me.
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Chapter 10
Scarlett, age 33.
Standing tall.
Whole.
Alive.
A woman with a brand–new life.
The end.
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