Separate Weddings, Separate Lives novel Chapter 37

Louisa flipped through the folders she had meticulously organized, but the document Gregory requested was nowhere to be found.

She knew her filing system inside out. She remembered putting that specific file into the cabinet herself, yet now it had vanished. It didn't make sense.

"Mr. Voight, besides me, who else has touched these files?" Louisa asked, her eyes shifting to Gregory.

His eyes flickered away for a split second. "Just me. Nobody else."

"Are you sure you couldn't find it?" Louisa's clear, bright gaze pressed down on him heavily.

While she was usually approachable, it didn't mean she lacked authority.

Gregory couldn't meet her eyes. At that moment, the office door pushed open, and Thaddeus walked in. Gregory took one look at him and bolted, closing the door behind him.

Louisa realized it then. The file wasn't missing. This was just a pathetic ploy Thaddeus had used to lure her back.

Her hands had been on the desk. She quickly withdrew them and turned to leave.

"Lou." Thaddeus reached out to grab her. Louisa quickly dodged aside, leaving him grasping at thin air.

Seeing the distance between them and the coldness in her expression, Thaddeus's eyes were filled with agony. "I'm sorry I lied to get you here. But I need to talk to you."

Louisa had worked in this office for over three years. When Thaddeus had finally made his fortune and bought this building, she had been the one to set up this space. She had spent more time within these walls than she had in her own apartment.

Everywhere she looked, she saw ghosts of her past self and shadows of the man Thaddeus used to be.

Louisa refused to let the familiar environment sway her. She looked Thaddeus directly in the eye. "Wasn't I clear enough yesterday?"

"No!" Thaddeus took a step toward her, and Louisa visibly winced.

It was an expression of pure rejection and disgust.

Thaddeus felt like he was suffocating. He couldn't say anything. He stared at her neck, his eyes burning with a mix of fury and devastation, as if he wanted to carve the mark right off her skin.

"We're both married. We both have our own lives now. Just live yours," Louisa said, turning to walk away.

As she passed him, Thaddeus didn't try to stop her. Instead, he whispered, "Why him? Can you at least tell me why you married a man like him?"

He was like a man searching for answers on his dying breath.

Louisa swallowed the bitterness in her throat. "Does it even matter anymore?"

"What about Letitia? Does she still matter to you at all?"

Louisa froze, and her body trembled at Thaddeus' question.