Chapter 3

"Alright then. Happiness is too much to ask for, so I can only wish you safety. Don't tell me where you're going. Maybe we'll meet again if fate allows," Victoria said.

Maybe we would meet again if fate allowed.

The day Rodney left for his business trip to Sylvanland, I took Michael back to the villa.

As soon as we drove through the villa gates, my car started swerving wildly, like the brakes had failed.

Before anyone could react, the car shot straight into the garage.

With a loud bang, flames filled the sky.

"Ms. Walter!"

"Michael!"

The Greer family's staff rushed desperately toward the garage, while I, holding Michael tightly, frantically squeezed through a small hole and escaped down the back mountain trail.

We kept dodging the security cameras until I finally jumped into a cab. In the distance, flames lit up the night sky. The Greer family's garage had exploded, and Rodney's fleet of luxury cars went up in smoke.

As for the Walter family's illegitimate daughter and her son born out of wedlock, both were gone, nothing left but ashes.

Meanwhile, sitting on the plane, Rodney felt a dull ache in his chest. He brushed it off, too busy with work to dwell on it. Rodney closed his eyes and let himself drift off for a bit.

I took Michael and headed south, drifting from city to city. It was tough, always on the run, but Michael kept smiling through it all.

We ended up in the farthest town from Solsticeville I could find. I bought a cozy seaside house with a yard and made it our new home.

The people here were super friendly. When they realized I was a single mom, they really took care of us.

The Townsend family next door kept bringing us food every couple of days.

*****

Meanwhile, back in Solsticeville, after more than a month away on business, Rodney returned to the old house, but Michael was nowhere to be found.

He finally asked.

"Has Scarlett been causing any trouble lately?" Rodney asked.

"Mr. Greer... Ms. Walter and Michael were blown up," the assistant stammered.

Rodney's assistant, sweat trickling down his forehead, kept stealing nervous glances at Rodney, trying to gauge his reaction.

Rodney's hand froze mid-motion as he loosened his tie, his face turning grim in an instant.

"Who did you just say got blown up?" Rodney's voice was icy.

"Say it again!" Rodney barked.

Rodney clenched his assistant's collar, his eyes blazing red, looking like a man on the edge of murder.

"Mr. Greer, I just found out too! They tried reaching you at the old house, but you didn't answer," the assistant stammered.

"Ms. Walter was bringing Michael home when the brakes failed. No one had time to react. The whole garage went up in flames!" the assistant blurted out.

The tension was suffocating, and the assistant was completely lost for words.

Everyone in Elderville knew Scarlett just wouldn't let Rodney go for a second, even going so far as to shamelessly give him a son. Now? She'd vanished without a trace.

Not even ashes left behind.

Rodney suddenly burst out laughing.

"Good. Couldn't be better," he said.

The assistant had never seen Rodney like this before.

He cautiously said, "Mr. Greer, everyone in Elderville knows you can't stand Ms. Walter. Isn't it just what you wanted now that she's gone?"

"I hate her?" Rodney repeated.

Rodney staggered back a few steps.

"So that's what you guys all thought? Yeah, I did hate her," he said.

"Dead and gone, just as well," Rodney said coldly.

From that day forward, Rodney moved through life in a daze, his expression unreadable. No one could figure out what he was really thinking.

For me, months slipped by.

I didn't see a single mention of myself on TV.

I figured Rodney must've been back from Sylvanland for a while now. If he still hasn't come looking for me, he must've stopped suspecting anything.

Michael and I could finally live our own lives.

The town was like spring all year round. I'd brought plenty of cash when I made my escape, but I couldn't just burn through it doing nothing. So I started up a cozy little B&B and finally found some peace.

One day, I saw a news report on TV. the Greer family and the Chapman family were finally announcing their engagement.

Before, Niamh Chapman kept putting off the marriage because Rodney had a mistress and an illegitimate son.

But both families were top-tier, a perfect match in every way.

Now, rumor had it Niamh was the one who made the move, and Rodney didn't say no. Everyone was guessing their big day was coming soon.

Piper Greer, Rodney's mother, was over the moon.

"Good! My son should marry a real high-class lady and make her the next Mrs. Greer. Scarlett was nothing," Piper said, practically beaming.

Rodney just sat there, cigarette in hand, frowning, but he didn't bother to argue.

Niamh fixed her gaze on Rodney, her lips curling into a flirtatious, confident smile.

"I always knew you'd figure out who truly shines, Rodney. That's why I've been waiting for you," she said, her voice sweet and playful.

"Oh, Niamh, you're so smart! You and Rodney are a match made in heaven," Piper gushed.

Honestly, I thought Rodney would end up marrying Niamh after all.

I just wanted to run a cozy little place by the sea, nothing fancy, but I never expected business to blow up like this. We were packed all the time; people just kept showing up.

For once, I was finally ready to enjoy a quiet, peaceful life.

So when I first heard the Greer family from Solsticeville was coming to our little town to set up a resort, I just cursed my luck under my breath and didn't think much of it.

Rodney wouldn't bother showing up for a project this small, right?