Chapter 26
“Phoenix, will you marry me?”
Mason knelt on one knee, holding a ring and looking up at Phoenix.
Surrounded by her father and friends, Phoenix gazed into Mason’s eyes full of love and slowly nodded.
Mason excitedly slipped the ring onto her finger.
Phoenix pulled Mason to his feet. Amid everyone’s cheers and congratulations, Mason lowered his voice to ask, “May I kiss
you?”
Phoenix nodded.
From a distance, Julian stood behind a tree, watching the couple.
After a moment’s hesitation, he approached once the crowd dispersed.
Mason immediately grew alert upon seeing Julian, positioning Phoenix behind him.
“What do you want?”
Facing Mason’s hostile question, Julian showed no reaction, silently offering Phoenix a small box.
Phoenix didn’t accept it, while Julian opened the box to reveal a key.
“I’ve set aside some assets for you in a bank account. This is what you’re entitled to from our divorce.”
Phoenix looked at the key but still didn’t take it.
“No. Thank you. I don’t need it.”
Julian didn’t insist, putting the box away.
“If you won’t accept it, I’ll have my assistant donate it to a children’s charity in your name.”
Phoenix didn’t object, tacitly agreeing.
“Scenic Mountain Cemetery, Plot 176.”
Confused by this non sequitur, Phoenix frowned.
Julian’s voice roughened with emotion. “That’s where our child is buried. If you want to visit, you can see him there.”
At the mention of their child, Phoenix was visibly moved.
Whatever had happened, the child was innocent. When she terminated the pregnancy, Phoenix had been devastated too.
–Land Dillionairo Umarade: Dumning the Fake for Real Love
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After a long pause, she finally replied, “I will,”
Julian looked at Phoenix and Mason, silent for a long moment. “I wish you both happiness.”
With that, he walked away.
Phoenix watched Julian’s retreating figure, unsure what to say.
“Mason, I want to visit that child.”
This child remained a splinter in Phoenix’s heart. During countless sleepless nights, she thought of this baby.
“Okay, Let’s go see the child.”
Mason held no prejudice against Phoenix’s past. Moreover, what happened between Julian and Phoenix had nothing to do with the child. A child is innocent, especially one never born.
Mason accompanied Phoenix back to America to visit the cemetery,
They happened to meet Julian coming down from the mountain.
Seeing Mason and Phoenix, Julian said nothing, merely stepping aside to let them pass.
As Phoenix walked by, she heard him say:
“I’m sorry.”
Phoenix faltered but swallowed her response.
She couldn’t forgive Julian, nor could she forgive him on behalf of their child.
Julian didn’t expect forgiveness.
Phoenix saw the meticulously cleaned tombstone and the small snacks and toys arranged before it. She couldn’t hold back her
tears.
“I’m sorry, baby. I’m so sorry.”
Mason looked at the empty tombstone without photo or name, turning away in grief.
Staying with Phoenix for a long time until the cemetery was about to close, they descended the mountain.
Two weeks later, Mason and Phoenix married.
One day after their marriage, Phoenix was watching domestic news.
#Blackwood CEO Commits Suicide#
Her finger paused momentarily before scrolling past the headline.
.
It was all over now. All grievances were settled.
Looking at Mason reading research papers beside her, Phoenix had found her happiness.