Chapter 2 A Heart Beyond Reach

Andrew's face grew stern, and his eyes turned cold. "I only borrowed your mother's doctor. Why are you getting so upset over it? I'll cover the cost of her funeral."

Contempt brimmed in his eyes as he looked at Emilia. Convinced she had no money left, he doubted she would ever dare challenge him.

Although Emilia struggled to hold back her tears, she spoke with resolve. "The divorce papers will be sent to you."

A grim look crossed Andrew's face. "You need to know when to back off. Stop provoking me."

His warning brought Emilia back to their wedding night, when he had addressed her with the same condescending attitude.

"My grandfather's insistence is the only reason I married you. Remember your place. Don't interfere in my life, and never imagine I'll have feelings for you."

Throughout those five years, she had complied with everything he had demanded of her.

Madisyn had called him just once on their wedding night, and he had hurried away. Without a single complaint, Emilia had remained alone in their bedroom, waiting until morning.

When his stomach gave him trouble, she had risen at three in the morning to prepare oatmeal for him. Her hands had blistered from the burns, yet he had not even looked at them.

On nights when he woke and could not fall asleep again, she had kept him company until morning. Despite being worn out and bleary-eyed, she had prepared his breakfast the next day. Not once had he thanked her.

She had convinced herself that by expecting little and showing him enough care and patience, she could eventually earn his love.

Only this day did she finally realize he would never come to love her.

All Madisyn needed to do was call, and he would leave her behind. He had refused to give the doctor back even when her mother's life hung in the balance.

"You don't need to worry," Emilia said in a low but clear voice. "I'll never stand between you and Madisyn again."

Her phone suddenly began to ring.

"Ms. Lloyd, you need to leave for the funeral home now."

"I'll be there in a moment."

Without once glancing behind her, Emilia turned around and left.

Andrew called after her in an icy voice, "Emilia, leave me now, and you shouldn't expect me to welcome you back."

Without slowing down, she kept on walking.

Emilia took care of the cremation entirely by herself.

There were no tears left for her to shed. Taking out the voice recorder her mother had left behind, she played the recording.

Her mother spoke in a frail voice. "Getting hurt while protecting you is something I've never regretted. All these years, you've done so much for me. After I'm gone, there's only one thing I wish for: that you'll forgive your father and return to him."

Emilia held the recorder tightly against her chest before dropping her face into her hands, overcome by grief.

She was supposed to forgive her father?

How was she meant to forgive someone who had deserted both her and her mother?

Her sight grew dim until everything in front of her became a blur.

Amid that blurred view, she could distinguish a tall figure coming toward her.

The figure came to a stop before her, gently placing his fingertips on her forehead.

In a low, comforting voice, he said, "Get some rest. You're safe here."

Emilia struggled to raise her eyelids far enough to make out his face, but they felt far too heavy.

As she was about to lose consciousness, she thought something brushed lightly across her cheek.

A murmur followed. "It's been such a long time..."

How much time she had spent asleep, she could not have said.

When she finally awoke, she was in the lounge of the funeral home, covered by a heavy coat belonging to a man.

Sitting next to her was Danica Evans, her closest friend.

"Your fever got dangerously high. You might have died. With everything that happened, why didn't you give me a call?" Danica asked, her voice filled with concern.

Emilia sat up, and her attention settled on the coat lying across her shoulders.

She went completely still. "Who does this coat belong to?"

Danica had spotted the coat as well. "It was already covering you when I arrived. A cleaner told me that a man had brought you inside."

Holding the coat firmly, Emilia ran her fingertips back and forth over its thick material.

There was something strangely familiar about the coat.

"We can deal with that later." Emilia gave Danica a brief account of what had happened to her mother, then declared firmly, "I'm going to divorce Andrew."

Danica agreed without hesitation, telling Emilia she ought to have left those two shameless scumbags behind a long time ago.

"Five years ago, you established Crimson Law Group and handed its management over to me. Do you have any idea how many clients are still waiting for you to return? In court, you were an absolute force."

Nearly all of Emilia's time over the years had gone toward looking after Andrew.

She had managed his work paperwork and dealt with his legal troubles, even securing victories in three lawsuits Murray Group had appeared certain to lose.

Because Emilia had taken care of that work, Andrew had enjoyed ample time to pursue Madisyn romantically.

Emilia wore a determined look. "I'm making myself my first priority from this point on. After I get everything sorted out, I'll return to work."

"Centrach Legal has continued its partnership with us throughout these years because they're still hoping you'll come back." From her briefcase, Danica produced a contract. "This contract was offered specifically to you. For three years, I've kept it with me, hoping you would sign."

Emilia unfolded the contract and began reading it.

Its conditions were perfectly straightforward: she could freely choose which cases to accept or refuse, had no requirement to take any assignments, and would keep seventy percent of the fees.

Winning her over had obviously been something they had worked hard to accomplish. However, she stopped cold upon seeing the signature of the other party.

Edmund Gordon.

For a moment, Emilia felt her heart miss a beat.

It was him, after all.

Once, they had appeared ideally suited to each other, until his family pushed him toward an engagement meant to benefit their business interests.

The two had agreed to escape together, but Edmund had failed to appear that night.

By the following day, she had come across the announcement of his engagement.

She had returned home eventually; not long afterward, her mother suffered an injury. By then, she had abandoned any hope of love, which was the reason she married Andrew.

And now, Edmund had returned.

For a long while, Emilia said nothing as she looked at the signature he had written.

Whatever his intentions might be, she had no idea, and she wanted no further involvement with him.

"Let him know I won't accept this."