Chapter 11 - THE WIFE WHO REFUSED TO COME BACK
Six weeks after Corinne disappeared, I finally saw her again.
Not at our mansion.
Not in a restaurant.
Not somewhere romantic.
In a family attorney's conference room.
She entered carrying Owen in a baby carrier.
My heart nearly stopped.
He was bigger.
His cheeks were rounder.
His dark hair curled softly against his forehead.
And Corinne...
She looked different.
Not because she'd changed her appearance.
Because she no longer looked afraid of disappointing me.
She wore a simple cream sweater and dark trousers.
Her hair was pulled back.
There were shadows beneath her eyes from sleepless nights.
But her posture was straight.
Confident.
Calm.
"Hello, Grant."
I stood.
"Corinne."
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then I looked toward Owen.
"Can I..."
She nodded.
"You can see him."
I approached slowly.
My son opened his eyes.
They were blue-gray.
Like my mother's.
"Hey, buddy," I whispered.
My voice broke.
"It's Daddy."
He blinked.
Then yawned.
I started crying.
Corinne watched quietly.
She didn't comfort me.
And I didn't expect her to.
The attorney explained that the meeting concerned temporary parenting arrangements, financial disclosures, and Corinne's request for separation.
I listened.
Then signed the preliminary documents my lawyer had reviewed.
Corinne looked surprised.
"You're not going to argue?"
I shook my head.
"No."
"About the house?"
"No."
"The temporary custody arrangement?"
"I want Owen safe. And I want to earn your trust as his father."
She studied me.
"You've never accepted losing control easily."
"I know."
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she asked:
"Why now?"
I looked down.
"Because I finally understand how much damage I caused."
Corinne's expression tightened.
"Grant, you didn't just cheat on me."
"I know."
"You lied while I was pregnant."
"Yes."
"You ignored me when I told you something was wrong with the accounts."
"Yes."
"And when I nearly died giving birth, you weren't there."
My eyes filled.
"I know."
Her voice trembled.
"I called you eleven times."
I closed my eyes.
"I saw."
"I was terrified."
I swallowed.
"I'm sorry."
She shook her head.
"Sorry doesn't erase what happened."
"I know."
She looked toward Owen.
"I don't hate you, Grant."
My chest tightened.
"But I don't know if I'll ever trust you again."
I nodded.
"I understand."
And for the first time, I meant it.
After the meeting, Corinne allowed me to hold Owen for a few minutes under her supervision.
His tiny fingers wrapped around mine.
I whispered:
"I missed you."
He stared at me.
Then made a soft sound.
Something inside my chest broke open.
When I handed him back, Corinne looked at me.
"Grant, there's something I need to tell you."
My heart quickened.
"What?"
She hesitated.
"Victor Hale contacted me before Owen was born."
I went still.
"What did he say?"
"He offered me five million dollars to leave you."
I stared.
"Five million?"
She nodded.
"He said you were planning to divorce me and take custody of Owen."
My stomach turned.
"That's a lie."
"I know that now."
She looked down.
"But at the time, I wasn't sure what to believe."
I swallowed.
"What did you do?"
"I refused."
My eyes filled.
"Why?"
She looked at Owen.
"Because I wasn't going to let anyone purchase my child."
May you like
Then she added something that made me freeze.
"And after I refused, Victor told me your affair with Tessa wasn't the only secret he'd been keeping from you."
