He Chose Her, I Chose Freedom

ir

. His jaw was clenched, his eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. Kaylene, emboldened by his presenc

about, Blair," Keaton finally manage

shing back the cuff of my silk blouse. There, on my wrist, was a faint, silvery sc

licker of something-recognition? regret?-crossed his fac

for 'us.' " My gaze moved from the scar to his face. "Do you remember that accident? The one where I alm

inful physical therapy. It had also, coincidentally, been the turning point where my family had truly embraced Keaton, seeing him as the suppor

d, his voice softer now, an attempt to

the venom. "Because it made you look like a hero. While I was in agony, fighting to regain the

uth to protest,

f your calculated ambition." I gestured vaguely towards Kaylene. "And now, you

ain. He knew I had hit a nerve.

id, his voice regaining its familiar

steeling myself. "So, here' s my final offer, Keaton. You pack her up, you send her far away, and you ensure this... 'situation' is dealt wit

ightly, pulling back from him. He glanced down at her, the

is voice quiet. "Fi

ll handle it? Or you' l

ed, his tone firm. It was a promise, but a pro

ing them there in their tangled web of deceit. I didn' t trust him, not for a second

ptons estate, just as I had demanded. My private investigator confirmed they had left,

rce proceedings. "Mrs. Murphy, this is an excellent devel

ichard," I said, my voice

as his. He wanted an heir, and he wanted control. He wouldn' t relinquish either

settled over me. It wasn' t for Keaton, or even for Kaylene, but for the naive young woman I once was, the one who believed in

where I often found solace. As I walked through the modern exhibits, my

and K

Her hand was resting on his arm, and he was leaning into her, whispering something that made her blush. The sight was a p

erated contempt he had for me. He promised he would

n. Their interaction was sickeningly domestic, intimate. He even adjusted a stray strand of

to be engrossed in a nearby painting. When I risked another glance, they were still there, but Keaton was looking directly at

s hand, and walked towards me. M

mooth, devoid of any genuine su

innocence. "Blair! Oh, I... I d

voice as cold as ice. "Enjo

ere just discussing... some business ma

his off as a business meetin

h sarcasm. "And I suppose the expanding

face flushing. Kea

the place," he sai

place either, was it?" I shot back.

oice. "Don' t make a scene, Blai

u lie to me, you betray me, you hide your pregnant whor

m anger to genuine concern. "Excuse me," he mumbled, turning away to answer. His whispered conv

always so good at escaping

"Stay here. I' ll send a car." Then, he turned to me, his eyes holding a strange mixture of

me standing in the deserted art gallery. Kaylen

ssed, her voice venomous. "He

ylene. He chose convenience. And a conveniently pliable womb. You' re just a temporary distracti