Seven Years His Hidden Heartbreak

Holden Gillespie. I built his literary empire with my words, all while our ma

t, Kassidy. When I finally quit, he tried to kick m

s birthday. Holden showed up wi

mango c

has a life-threatening allergy to mangoes. He almost

took our son, disappeared, and filed

standing outside my new home

divorce," he says, his v

pte

as quitting. The words felt foreign on my tongue, heavy with seven years of unspoken truth. He leaned b

yes, usually sharp and calculating, were momentarily clouded by surprise.

portunities." The lie tasted bitter, but it was a script I had

could possibly be better than being my right hand? We're a team." He gestu

de the tremor I felt deep inside. "But it's time for me to move on. I've accepte

hing house, is it? The one who keeps trying to poach you? I thought we settled tha

forcing a polite smile. "

walk away. I have a book deadline next month. And the follow-up. Who's going to manage everything?" H

ss his polished mahogany desk. "Everything is outlined. You'll be fine." My fingers tw

is..." He paused, his eyes scanning something on the page. "It's just, you know, people always assu

rability, of the secret life he condemned me to. The truth was, I was about to become a single mother, in every sense

from his desk.

a whirlwind of bright colors and artificial perfume. Her eyes, wide and innocent, landed

going to be fabulous!" She practically purred, gliding towards his desk. S

he rarely, if ever, showed me anymore. "Tha

bestselling word, the silent partner in a life he refused to acknowledge. Our marriage was a carefully guarded secret, tucked away in the shadows of his pub

d be a family. But that day never came. Instead, the secrecy grew, suffocating me, erasing me. And

gh tinkling through the air. He didn't pull away. He never did. A pang, sharp and fam

ingers, long and perfectly manicured, brushed against the collar of h

oid where my hope used to reside. It wasn't just the betrayal; it was t

oice surprisingly steady. "Can I ha

quite busy right now. Is this urgent? Perhaps you can send an email." His tone was crisp, business-

My place was no longer by his side, but in the footnotes of his life, if even that. He was making it ab

logies. I'll just gather my things." I used his formal title, mirroring his

ssidy, who was now leaning in, whispering some

my chest. He wouldn't care. He was already mov

o. A text message. 'Is Daddy com

my throat. I glanced back, my eyes drawn to Holden and Kassidy. She was now openly

perate message to Holden: 'Leo's asking abo

cket, read the message, and then, with a dismissive flick of

on of what he was losing? No. He never wanted to be a father anyway. Not truly. He saw Leo as an inconvenience, a secr

d my shoulders, and took a deep, shaky breath. One