Chapter 2

The next morning, Sarah walked into the gleaming lobby of Hayes Industries. The building was a monument to Liam's success, a constant reminder of the world he belonged to and the one she was excluded from.

She clutched her divorce papers and resignation letter in a folder. Today, she was cutting the final ties.

Her mind drifted back nine years. She had been a brilliant young architect, full of dreams, with a secret, hopeless crush on Liam Hayes. He was the golden boy, the heir to a fortune, completely out of her league.

Their paths crossed at a company party. He was drunk, heartbroken over Olivia' s recent marriage to another man. One night. That' s all it had been. A single, regrettable night.

But that one night had resulted in Lily.

Liam' s family, concerned with appearances, had insisted on a marriage. "We can't have a scandal," his mother had said, her eyes cold. So they had a quiet ceremony, a contract, a marriage that was nothing more than a hollow shell.

Nine years of unrequited love had led to this. A loveless marriage, a hidden daughter, and a heart worn thin from neglect.

She reached her desk, took a deep breath, and logged into her computer. The resignation form was already filled out. Her finger hovered over the "confirm" button. A single click, and nine years of her life would be erased.

She clicked it.

A sense of relief washed over her, quickly followed by a pang of sadness. She stood up and walked towards the HR department to submit the divorce papers.

As she turned the corner, she saw them. Liam and Olivia. He was leaning against the wall, a rare smile on his face as he listened to Olivia speak. Her hand was on his arm, a casual, intimate gesture that spoke volumes.

Colleagues passing by whispered among themselves. "They're back together." "She's finally divorced her husband." "They always belonged together."

Each word was a small, sharp pain.

Olivia noticed her first. Her smile was mocking. "Well, look who it is. Sarah, right? You're one of Liam's junior architects, aren't you?"

Liam glanced over, his expression turning to ice. "I barely remember her," he said, his voice loud enough for everyone to hear.

The cruelty of his words stole Sarah's breath.

Just then, the elevator doors opened and a small figure burst out, running towards them.

"Mommy!"

It was Lily, her face streaked with tears, a fresh bruise blooming on her cheek. She must have been dropped off by the nanny.

Lily saw Liam and her face lit up with a desperate hope. She ran past Sarah, her small arms reaching for him. "Mr. Hayes!"

She clung to his leg, sobbing. "They said... they said I don't have a daddy."

The hallway fell silent. Everyone stared.

Liam looked down at the crying child attached to his leg as if she were a piece of garbage. He pried her hands off him.

"Whose child is this?" he asked loudly, his voice laced with disgust. He looked at the on-duty nanny who had followed Lily out. "Can't you even watch a nanny's child properly? Get her out of here."

The world seemed to stop. "Nanny's child."

The words echoed in the silent hallway, shattering the last fragments of Sarah's heart. Lily's face crumpled, a look of utter devastation replacing her hope.

Sarah rushed forward, scooping her daughter into her arms, shielding her from the cold, curious stares. She held Lily tight, her own tears finally falling, silent and hot.