From “Clingy” to Gone My Independence Was His Biggest Regret novel Chapter 40

Chapter 4

Maybe I’d gone mad.

Because right then. I wanted to laugh.

Tears spilled down my cheeks.

stared at Theodore in disbelief–never thought he could wound me with words like these.

Suilt flickered in his eyes. When he saw my tears, his lashes trembled, and he looked away.

Scarlett, I–God, I didn’t mean it like that.”

erena, seeing her moment, slipped from his arms.

he pressed a hand to her cheek, eyes glistening, mouth curved in a fragile, forgiving smile.

Theo, you’re overreacting. I’m fine.”

Go home with your wife. You mustn’t come here anymore. We’re not children playing games.”

I was a clever retreat.

heodore, torn with guilt only seconds before, lit up with renewed fervor.

le caught her by the shoulders.

serena, you’re too good, too selfless. I told you–I’ll protect you for the rest of my life.”

fy nails bit into my palms, but it was nothing compared to the ache in my chest.

low blind I’d been, mistaking a reckless libertine for a devoted husband.

very vow, every promise–empty.

I the wide open doorway, curious onlookers craned their necks.

y morning, all of New York would have the story.

carlett Vanderbilt–humiliated. A spectacle.

Look at that handprint,” someone whispered outside.

Funny, it’s reversed, like she hit herself”

gnoring the pair feigning innocence, I leaned on Grace’s arm and stepped out into the street

Ve climbed into the carriage, the crowd buzzing behind us.

ome pitied me.

Some sighed that true lovers had reunited at last

Not a single soul condemned them.

n their eyes, I was the interloper, and this–this was only fate righting itself

By the time I returned home, the sky was dark.

Chapter 4

Exhausted. I washed collapsed into bed, and drifted into uneasy sleep.

In my dreams, I saw it dearly.

Serena was the heroine of this world, and Theodore–her ever–faithful shadow, doomed to orbit her forever.

But dreams and reality split apart.

In dreams, Serena wed Thomas, bore him a son, kept his household standing when the nation believed him lost.

For years she dung to faith that he lived, and she was rewarded–Thomas returned triumphant with his army, husband and wife united again.

Theodore remained alone, silently guarding her from afar, never marrying.

But here, in this world?

Serena hadn’t the patience for widowhood, nor the courage to wait.

he fought to sever ties with the Thomases–even abandoning her child–because she knew she had another chance.

And Theodore–my husband, the man who’d sworn himself to me–had chased after her the moment she slipped free.

eaving me nothing but ashes.

he dream dissolved.

awoke to birdsong, heavy with weariness.

slumped on the fainting couch, drained, with no strength left to dwell on Theodore.

he bright skies of the past few days had turned gray.

eaves rustled in the wind, restless, trembling.

heodore burst in, fury in his eyes.

Scarlett! When did you become like those venomous society wives?”

I thought you were different! How could you stoop to such vile tricks against Serena?”

blinked at him, not comprehending.

te lunged closer, gripping my arms.

Do you realize? If I’d arrived a moment later, Serena might be dead! How could you be so cruel?”

closed my eyes, unwilling to see his madness.

But his spittle struck my cheek, and nausea churned through me.

With all the strength I had left, I slapped him across the face.

The crack rang out, silencing the courtyard.

servants froze, trembling at the edges.

Theodore stared at me, stunned, disbelief etched across his face.

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