Too Late for Spring, Too Late for Us

"If Bryan and I ever do anything wrong, just tell us. We’ll change, I promise."

I didn’t respond. I simply walked upstairs.

Behind me, I heard Richard’s soft voice as he spoke, “Don’t be scared. I’m here. She won’t dare to touch you.”

“You can live here peacefully.”

With those words, the servants immediately surrounded Emily and Bryan. They were all smiles and spouted words of flattery. It was a contrast compared to me.

I shut the bedroom door behind me, which blocked out the noise. Obviously, I didn’t want to hear their voices anymore. The only thing I focused on was the airport.

It was just seven more days to go until the opening of the airport. I knew that I could hold on well. I had to.

The house had become chaotic. With a child around and the servants acting like he was royalty, the living room was always noisy. I couldn’t stand it, so I asked my assistant to take me to the company.

During Richard’s memory loss, I had taken care of the group’s business. He didn’t like dealing with unfamiliar people, so everything had been left to me. But when I arrived at the office building, my fingerprint didn’t unlock the door.

Confused, I turned to my assistant and asked him “What’s going on?”

Richard’s secretary ran over, clearly nervous, as she answered, “Mrs. Ford … Mr. Ford said…”

“Said what?”

“He said the Ford Family now has an heir. He plans to personally train him.”

The people around gasped.

“An heir? Mr. Ford has a child?”

“I thought Mrs. Ford couldn’t get pregnant?”

“Didn’t you hear? That child’s his illegitimate son!”

My fists clenched.

“Open the door,” I ordered the secretary.

She hesitated before she spoke again to me, “Mrs. Ford … I can’t … Mr. Ford gave strict orders…”

I stepped closer, telling her coldly, “I said, open the door.”

Before she could reply, Richard’s cold voice echoed from behind me.

“You don’t get to give orders in the Ford Family anymore.”

I turned around. He was carrying Bryan. Without even glancing at me, Richard walked into the office and sat down at his desk with Bryan on his lap, playing with him like they were the only two in the world.

He didn’t even look up when he spoke, “Go home if you’ve got nothing to do. Your job is to handle the household now.”

The secretary and assistant stared at me, unsure of what to do. Part of me wanted to argue, to scream, to demand the respect I deserved. But instead, I turned and walked away.

Back home, it was no better. All the servants were doting on Emily again. No one even called me down for dinner.

Later that night, the lawyer sent over the first draft of the divorce agreement. We had many assets to divide and I needed time to review everything carefully. Just after midnight, I went downstairs to get some water.

The house was dark, except for Richard’s study. I heard muffled voices … and then soft crying. So, I followed the sound and peeked through the half-open door.

Emily was leaning on the desk, her back toward me.

“Richard, I’ve waited ten years for you. I was so scared I’d never get you back.”

He pulled her into his arms as he gently told her, “Silly girl. How could anyone forget you?”

“Everything that happens outside … it was just a performance.”

Emily lifted her face to his. Her lips brushed his jaw. Richard’s eyes darkened. Then, he picked her up and placed her on the desk.

I turned away the moment I heard the sound of fabric tearing. This was it, then. After all these years, I was nothing more than a performance.

Without further ado, I walked back to my room. For a while, I sat down. Eventually, I managed to sign the divorce agreement.

The next morning, it seemed that Richard was still high on romance as he actually called me downstairs for breakfast.