She Turned Her Grief Into Wings novel Chapter 41

“So, any objections to the property division?”

She was finally asking the important questions.

Shera Jewell replied, “It’s a completely fair settlement. What objections could he possibly have?”

For all of Caden Hayes’s cold and ruthless traits, he had genuinely never shortchanged her when it came to money.

“And the other guy?”

The gossipy tone on the other end of the line was entirely undisguised. Shera sighed in exasperation. “Don't start. Rhys Jewell and I are strictly family.”

Xenia Denton let out a sly laugh. “Ah, unrequited love, I see.”

The air felt a bit stifling, signaling an approaching storm, and the sky was gradually darkening.

Shera tossed her trash into the bin, grabbed her bag, and moved over to sit on a bench outside.

“I really don't have the mental energy for romance right now. My only priority is getting Evegrace back on track.”

There was a brief pause on the line. “Shera.”

“Yeah?”

“Aren't you even a little curious about why Rhys left back then?” Xenia asked. “How does someone just disappear into thin air?”

Shera twisted a strand of her long hair around her knuckles, slipping into her memories.

Rhys had come to her family when he was ten. At twenty, he vanished without a trace.

Despite living together for a decade, Rhys had never spoken about his past. He hadn't wanted to open up, and Shera hadn't pushed him.

During that summer, she had been away at camp when the hospital called to say her father and Rhys had been in a car accident. She rushed back in a panic, only to find her father alone in the hospital room.

It was only after asking the medical staff that she learned someone from Rhys’s family had shown up, taken his unconscious body, and transferred him to Port City.

Later, when her father fell ill, she pushed away any lingering thoughts of contacting him. She had been terrified he would think she was trying to guilt him into helping them.

Shera took a deep breath, her tone steady. “I didn't ask. If he really wanted to explain, he would have done it the first time we saw each other again.”

She refused to force any relationship, especially when she felt she had already tried her best.

“Oh, by the way, I haven't told you yet—I’m coming back to Aurelia next month.”

“Really?”

Xenia let out a long sigh of relief. “Yep, I’m finally done with my studies. We can go back to hanging out all the time.”

Shera listened to Xenia ramble happily for another half hour before they finally hung up.

She had it all planned out: once the competition was over, she would contact Caden to finalize the divorce papers. After that, she figured she could find an opportunity to elevate her own skills.

Rhys had mentioned finding the couture artisan she had been searching for. When the time came, she hoped to pay the master a visit and learn everything she could.