The Ex-Wife He Can’t Have novel Chapter 99

"I have somewhere I need to be tonight. When are you coming home to watch Connor?" Jillian asked.

Killian went dead silent for a long moment, clearly stunned that she would even dare to ask such a thing.

"I have work tonight. I'm not coming back."

"I also—" Jillian started, but Killian ruthlessly cut her off.

"You will stay home. You aren't going anywhere."

Jillian didn't speak. Her breathing turned heavy and ragged.

After a long pause, she finally said, "It's for my work."

"Taking care of our son is your responsibility. I shouldn't have to remind you of that," Killian sneered before abruptly hanging up.

Jillian stared blankly at her phone.

Taking care of their son was her responsibility, yes—but it was Killian's responsibility, too.

Over the years, when had Killian ever stepped up? To him, Connor was nothing more than a prized pet. When he was in a good mood, he'd pick him up, give him a kiss, and buy him a toy to make him smile. But the grueling, day-to-day grind of actually raising a child—feeding, clothing, and caring for him? Killian had never lifted a single finger.

Jillian's grip tightened around her phone as she wrestled with her decision.

Suddenly, she felt a sickeningly smug gaze burning into her. Lowering the phone, she saw Connor tilting his head up at her, looking utterly triumphant.

"I told you so," Connor chirped. "Mommy, Daddy is busy with work. Stop bothering him."

Jillian clutched the phone, her mind going entirely blank.

"Your dad is busy with work, but Mommy has work too. Let Mrs. Zeller stay with you. Isn't she your favorite anyway?"

Without another word, Jillian spun around and marched down the stairs.

Connor froze. Once his brain caught up with what was happening, he bolted out of the room. "Mommy!" he screamed.

Jillian didn't look back. With more resolve than she had felt in years, she grabbed her purse and walked out the front door.

Pushing open the heavy carved glass doors, she froze instantly. "My apologies. Wrong room."

Inside, several pairs of eyes snapped up to look at her. Killian, Sylvia, Gibson, and a handful of their socialite friends were all seated around the table.

Before anyone else could react, one of the friends who lived to mock Jillian sneered, "Did you walk into the wrong room, or did you track us down on purpose?"

"Seriously. It's a massive hotel, and you just magically stumbled into our specific room? Please, you definitely planned this."

"What's the point of stalking him? Killian isn't going to spare her a single glance anyway."

Killian narrowed his eyes, his frosty gaze locking onto Jillian with utter indifference.

Jillian had zero desire to explain herself. She lowered her head and turned to leave.

"Still acting like a pathetic mute. We've been roasting her for five minutes and she hasn't said a word."

"She knows she's guilty. Of course she can't say anything."