His Hidden Family My Ruined Marriage (Liana) novel Chapter 38

Chapter 38 She Doesn’t Want to Be Your Mommy

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Liana watched them in the rearview mirror-Elian holding Theo close, the picture of paternal tenderness. A sharp pain twisted in her chest, and her vision blurred for a second.

She remembered Lily suspecting that Theo wasn’t his child. If Theo wasn’t his, how could he treat the boy so well?

Unease crawled through Liana again—until Elian’s phone rang, pulling her back to the road. She focused on driving.

Elian saw “Anya” flash on the screen. He declined the call, silenced the phone, and refocused on Theo.

Less than thirty seconds later, it rang again.

He stared at the screen for a beat before answering, his voice tight. “What is it?”

“I just miss Theo so much, Elian. Can you bring him to see me?”

“Courthouse, here we are,” Liana said, not realizing he was on the phone. She’d just spotted the courthouse sign.

Elian’s sharp eyes flicked to the back of Liana’s head. She then caught in the mirror that he was on a call, but the words were out.

They were together, but their destination was the courthouse. She pulled into a parking spot, got out, and ignored any displeasure he might be radiating.

“Was that Liana? Elian, why are you at the courthouse? Are you… getting divorced?”

Anya’s voice, after a strained pause, finally asked the burning question.

She felt a surge of triumph so fierce it was dizzying-a victory she’d longed for, but wouldn’t dare celebrate until it was absolutely, irrevocably final.

“Yes. Mrs. Locke wants a divorce,” Elian said, his eyes fixed on Liana standing outside the car, waiting for him. A profound wave of melancholy washed over him.

He hung up quickly and got out of the car with Theo.

Liana had briefly wondered if bringing a child here was appropriate, then dismissed it. Whatever. The priority is getting this done.

Not many people were there to file for divorce.

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Chapter 38 She Doesn’t Want to Be Your Mommy

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Only one couple was ahead of them. The woman was silently crying as she reviewed the papers. The man stayed quiet, clearly dead set on ending things.

Then Liana glanced back at Elian and flinched. Were his eyes… glistening?

A strange ache filled her, her own eyes growing hot.

He hid a whole other family from me, and I never cried about it. What’s his excuse for tearing up?

She was on the verge of tears herself when the couple ahead began to speak.

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“We’ll still be family. I’ll still take care of you and our son. We just won’t live together,” the man said to his weeping wife.

The woman didn’t speak, just signed the paper with red-rimmed

eyes.

Liana’s heart clenched. What a classic line from a world-class jerk. Divorcing her but still trying to keep her on a leash?

Taking care of the son was one thing, but the ex-wife?

“Just take care of your new girlfriend and your new baby. For us, just send the child check on time,” the woman said finally, wiping her tears as she finished signing.

support

“We’ve been together seventeen years. You’re a part of my life. I could never just abandon you,” the man insisted.

The woman turned away, crying silently.

The clerk stamped their papers and handed over the divorce decree, her face a mask of practiced neutrality.

Then it was their turn. The clerk had already noticed them. She looked up, her gaze assessing. “Here to file for divorce?”

“Yes,” Liana answered.

“Who brings a child to file for divorce?” the clerk asked, disapproval clear in her tone.

Liana wished the clerk would just process the paperwork quietly like before.

But Elian stood there like he’d been dumped, looking seriously pitiful.

“Have you

continued.

reached agreements on child custody, division of assets, and debts?” the clerk

“The child isn’t mine. Everything else is agreed upon.”

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