Chapter 9

<p>"Andy, the story's done. You can go now.</p><p>"You're not welcome here." I made it clear.</p><p>But Andy suddenly looked up, his eyes bloodshot, desperation written all over his face.</p><p>"Sapphire, please don't make me leave," he pleaded.</p><p>"Please, just give me another chance.</p><p>"Let me spend the rest of my life making things right for you and Mallory."</p><p>"The rest of your life?" I let out a cold laugh, as if he'd just told the most ridiculous joke. "Your life belongs to the Chancellor's daughter, to the King, to the whole world—everyone but me."</p><p>"Grace and I divorced five years ago," he blurted out, desperation thick in his voice. "That marriage was a sham from the very beginning. After the wedding, we slept in separate beds.</p><p>"Once I brought down the Hardy family, I used the excuse that she couldn't bear children to divorce her and send her back to her family. I gave her enough compensation to ensure she'd never have to worry about anything for the rest of her life.</p><p>"All of this was for you!"</p><p>For me?</p><p>Yeah, right. All for me, huh?</p><p>"So, am I supposed to thank you for that?" I sneered, my voice laced with sarcasm.</p><p>I walked right up to him, crouched down, and stared him straight in the eyes.</p><p>"Andy, listen up," I said, my voice cold and steady.</p><p>"Five years ago, when you chose to deceive me and play that charade, that was the end of us.</p><p>"I hate nothing more in this life than lies and cover-ups.</p><p>"Mallory is mine alone. He has nothing to do with you.</p><p>"What I said yesterday wasn't just out of anger. I'm really married now."</p><p>"What?" His eyes widened, disbelief flashing in his eyes.</p><p>"Do you think a single mother could've survived in a place like Southbank for five years?" My tone was icy.</p><p>"Without a powerful backer, my Aurora Fabrics would've been picked clean to the bone by those local sharks ages ago."</p><p>I spoke slowly, my expression more serious and resolute than ever before.</p><p>"He gave me shelter, he gave me financial support, and he gave me all the dignity and respect a woman needs to survive and thrive in business.</p><p>"Most importantly, he treats Mallory as if he were his own.</p><p>"So, Mr. Saunders, from now on, don't come back and mess with our lives.</p><p>"I'll have everything ready for Mallory's apprenticeship ceremony. Once my husband returns, we'll visit you ourselves.</p><p>"As for you and me... let's just pretend we never knew each other."</p><p>With that, I stood up without sparing him a second glance. "Show him out."</p><p>The butler and servants outside came in at once.</p><p>Andy sat there on the floor, like he was completely hollow inside.</p><p>He stared at me, his gaze hollow and unfocused.</p><p>"I don't believe it," he said, his voice trembling.</p><p>"I can't believe you'd ever fall for someone else.</p><p>"Sapphire, you're not telling me the truth.</p><p>"Believe it or not, that's your problem," I said, with my back to him. "Whatever the truth is, it has nothing to do with you anymore."</p><p>The butler walked over and gestured toward the door, careful and polite.</p><p>"Your Highness, if you would, please," the butler said, respectful but firm.</p><p>Andy sat frozen, refusing to budge.</p><p>He just stared at my back, his eyes hollow, mumbling the same words again and again, "I don't believe it... I don't believe it..."</p><p>In the end, Darell had to half-support, half-drag him out of my residence.</p><p>His desolate silhouette was stretched out endlessly under the cold moonlight, looking even lonelier as it faded away.</p><p>It wasn't until his figure finally disappeared from the doorway that I felt completely drained, slumping into my chair as if all my strength had left me.</p><p>The butler handed me a steaming cup of coffee.</p><p>"Madam, are you alright?" he asked softly, worry etched in his voice.</p><p>I shook my head, took the cup, and wrapped my chilled hands around it, letting the heat chase away the lingering cold.</p><p>"I lied, didn't I, Mom?" Mallory's voice came from behind the curtain, soft and uncertain.</p><p>His small figure looked especially small and lonely in the warm glow of the lamp.</p><p>My heart ached, and I reached out to him.</p><p>"Mallory, come here," I said softly.</p><p>He walked over and nestled into my arms.</p><p>"Mom, I don't have a dad, right?" he asked, his voice small and uncertain. "Is that King's Tutor... is he my real dad?"</p><p>Kids see things clearer than anyone.</p><p>They could see straight through all the lies and pretenses adults put up.</p><p>I couldn't bring myself to lie to him anymore.</p><p>I pulled him into my arms and nodded.</p><p>"Yes," I said softly.</p><p>"Then why did you lie to him, Mom? Why did you make him leave?" Mallory asked, his voice full of confusion and hurt.</p><p>"Because..." I hesitated, unsure how to explain all the love and hate, the grudges and heartbreaks between grown-ups to a child.</p><p>"Because I'm punishing him," I said, trying to find a reason he could understand.</p><p>"Five years ago, he made a huge mistake, and it put both you and me through a lot.</p><p>"So we need to make him pay a little, so he understands what he did was wrong, okay?"</p><p>Mallory nodded, half-understanding.</p><p>"So... after the punishment is over, will he come back?" he asked quietly, a trace of hope in his voice.</p><p>I just went quiet.</p><p>I really had no idea.</p><p>Maybe, deep down, even I didn't know what I wanted anymore.</p>