Chapter 3

Getting remarried? I froze when I heard those words. I never expected Matthew to throw that out there.

I figured he'd agree to the inheritance or insist on a paternity test for Silas, but remarriage? That was out of left field.

"Mr. Foster, are you sure you're not confused?" I shot back, my brows knitted. "I came back to talk about money, not to remarry you. Whatever we had is long over."

"It's not over," Matthew insisted stubbornly. "We have a child together. That means we're never truly done."

I warned, "That's how you see it. In my heart, you died a long time ago, Matthew. I'll tell you straight. Silas is your son. If you have any decency left, write your will and leave everything to him."

"Remarry me, and I'll sign the will right now," Matthew said.

He kept pushing, his eyes locked on me. "It's been six years. I know you still resent me, but I'm sick, and I don't have much time left.

"All I want is to spend my last days together as a family of three. That's my dying wish. Please, Wren?"

There was a pleading note in his voice, and his face was so pale that it looked like all the color had drained out of him.

I looked at him, and for a moment, my resolve wavered. A second ago, I felt like my heart was made of steel, but now I was starting to melt, turning soft-hearted all of a sudden.

I had to admit, when I saw Matthew like this, I couldn't help but pity him.

When it came to life and death, maybe all the old grudges could fade away. But every time I thought about the betrayal six years ago, I couldn't get past that wall in my heart.

"What about Magnolia? We've been divorced for six years. Didn't you marry her?" I shot at him.

If Matthew was asking to remarry me, that meant he was single now.

That didn't add up. I'd already moved out of the way, so why hadn't Magnolia stepped in?

"It's all in the past. I don't want to talk about it," Matthew replied, clearly dodging. He finally broke eye contact, looking away.

Was he hiding something? Or maybe after I left, things between him and Magnolia fell apart?

Honestly, if he and Magnolia had ended up together, their kid would probably be old enough to run errands by now.

If he and Magnolia were still a thing, he wouldn't be here begging me to remarry him.

"Sorry, I'm not your savior or some kind-hearted goddess. I didn't come all this way to help my ex-husband fulfill his dying wish. Matthew, I'm not remarrying you," I said.

This time, I meant it. I crushed the fleeting moment of compassion before it could even take root. His cancer wasn't my fault.

"If you won't leave the inheritance to Silas, then we'll have to settle this in court." With that, I stood up and walked out, not bothering to look back.

After I walked out of Foster Group, my mind was all over the place. Matthew's words hit me hard, leaving a sting I couldn't shake.

I'd barely settled in at the hotel when my phone lit up. It was Reginald calling.

Reginald said, sounding pretty resigned, "Mrs. Foster, Mr. Foster asked me to let you know one thing. If you won't remarry him, he won't write Silas into his will.

"Mr. Foster's health is really bad right now, and he can't take any emotional strain. He genuinely hopes you'll reconsider."

I let out a cold laugh. "So is he threatening me? Or trying to guilt-trip me with his illness?"

"Mrs. Foster, Mr. Foster's trying his best. He wants to give you and Silas the family you deserve. All these years, he's never stopped thinking about you," Reginald said.

"Thinking about me?" I snorted, the sarcasm practically dripping. "Where was all that when he screwed me over back then? Now he's on his deathbed and suddenly remembers his ex-wife? Wow, thanks a million, but I don't need it."

I hung up and chucked my phone to the side.

Thinking about Matthew using the inheritance to blackmail me into remarrying him made me resent him even more.

But then, when I thought about Silas, I started to waver. He was Matthew's only child. He should be the one to inherit.

But if I took this to court, it would be a drawn-out, exhausting mess, and there was no guarantee things would work out in our favor.

After all, Matthew was still alive. If he was really heartless enough to cut off his own flesh and blood and write a will that left Silas with nothing, there was nothing I could do to stop him.

Over the next few days, Reginald kept calling me, sometimes pulling the sympathy card, telling me how Matthew had spent years missing me and feeling guilty. Other times, Reginald was using the inheritance as leverage, pressuring me to remarry Matthew.

I was honestly sick of it and didn't want to get tangled up with him anymore. But then I thought about Silas. Matthew never spent a single day being a real dad to him.

If he died and left Silas with nothing, I'd feel like I failed my kid. I had to stand up for him, no matter what.

Otherwise, Magnolia would walk away with it all.