Chapter 20

That was all that stood between me and forever—with Parker. The excitement was overwhelming, like I was finally stepping into a life I never thought I’d have. One I wasn’t sure I even deserved after everything I had been through. But now? Now I was walking toward it—toward him.

And there was one person I needed to thank properly.

I picked up my phone and called her.

“Mrs. Hale?” I asked softly when she answered. “I was hoping you’d be here for the wedding.”

She didn’t hesitate. “Of course, I’ll be there. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

When she arrived at the boutique the next afternoon, she looked elegant as ever in cream silk and a brooch I remembered from years ago.

She pulled me into a gentle embrace, holding me longer than expected.

“I always knew you’d find your way back to yourself,” she said with quiet pride as we sat in the private lounge of the boutique. “I never doubted it. And don’t you worry. Sasha won’t be near you again. I made sure of that.”

I smiled faintly. “Honestly, I’ve nearly forgotten about all of it. About her. About him. It’s all behind me now.”

“You’ve come too far to let them touch you again,” she nodded, sipping her tea. “And I won’t let Alex near you either. That’s a promise.”

The boutique door chimed behind us.

I didn’t turn. I didn’t have to.

The shift in the air was sharp. Cold.

And then I heard him.

“Lindsey.”

My body went still.

I turned slowly—and there he was.

Alex.

His presence filled the room like a storm, jaw tight, eyes locked on me. His gaze shifted to his mother, and something in his face broke.

“You,” he whispered. “You helped her. That’s why I couldn’t find her.”

Mrs. Hale stood, voice firm. “I protected her from you.”

“You had no right?” he snapped. “She’s my wife!”

“I’m not your anything,” I said, standing now, heart thudding. “You don’t get to barge in here and throw those words around.”

“I came to bring you back,” he said, stepping forward—but Parker appeared before me in an instant.

Chapter 19

“Don’t take another step,” he warned, tone calm but sharp.

“Get out of my way,” Alex growled.

“No.”

And that was all it took.

The punch came fast. A blur of motion. Parker caught it, retaliated, and suddenly fists were flying—grunts, shouts, the crash of a table splitting as they slammed into it.

“Stop!” I cried, rushing toward them.

But neither of them heard me. They were locked in it, two men fighting over a woman like I was a possession to win back.

And then I heard a gasp. A soft thud.

“Mother?” Alex turned.

Mrs. Hale was on the floor.

“Oh my God,” I breathed, rushing to her side as her face paled.

Parker immediately dropped to his knees beside me. “Call an ambulance—now!”

Everything blurred—sirens, flashing lights, a stretcher, the boutique suddenly filled with people. I held her hand as they wheeled her out, my fingers trembling.

“Please,” I whispered. “Stay with us.”

The hospital waiting room was cold and sterile, filled with echoes of beeping monitors and footsteps that never stopped.

Alex sat across from me, silent.

Finally, a doctor stepped out, face tired.

“She had a heart attack,” he said. “It was brought on by sudden stress. She’s stable now, but we’ll keep her under observation for the next 48 hours.”

I nodded, my body still trembling.

Alex stood slowly and looked at me with eyes I didn’t recognize anymore.

“This is your fault,” he said quietly.

I blinked. “What?”

“You and him,” he said, voice rising. “You poisoned everything. You let her lie to me. You made her turn against me.”

I stood too, something inside me cracking.

“You still don’t get it,” I said, my voice shaking. “You always need someone to blame, don’t you? Always the victim.”

“You turned my family against me!”

“No. You did that when you turned your back on them, when you humiliated me, lied to me, tricked me into believing I was loved.”

His face was red now, fists clenched.

“And now you’re going to marry someone else?”

Chapter 20

“Yes,” I said, stepping forward. “Because he loves me the way you never did.”

He took another step.

And I slapped him.

Hard.

“I left because you broke me,” I whispered. “And now I’ve put myself back together without you. You don’t get to show up now and ruin it. You’re not part of this story anymore.”

I turned, walked toward the hallway, heart pounding.

“Lindsey!” he called behind me.

But I didn’t look back.