Chapter 10
–
For the first time in weeks, Alynna felt like she could finally breathe without Chloe’s shadow pressing against her ribs. She lounged across the silk sheets of Clinton’s bedroom their bedroom now – flipping through catalogs and giggling at baby clothes with price tags that would make a normal person weep.
Clinton hadn’t said no. Not once. He’d nodded absently, handed over his black card, let her buy whatever she wanted. Expensive strollers. Designer baby shoes. Tiny outfits in tiny boxes tied with gold ribbons. To Alynna, it was proof that Chloe was nothing but a ghost now, that Clinton was finally hers.
Sometimes she would glance at him across the table while he scrolled through his phone, a distant look in his eyes, and she’d remind herself: He chose me. He stayed.
But she didn’t see the way his fingers would hover over an old message thread. The way he’d catch himself about to ask Where’s Chloe? every time he couldn’t find something in the house.
And Clinton tried, God, he tried to bury it the gnawing hollow in his chest that Chloe had left behind. He threw himself into Alynna’s chatter, into her shopping lists and baby talk, into the late nights where she curled up against him and pretended they were happy.
–
But every time he closed his eyes, he saw Chloe’s quiet smile. He heard her soft laugh when she’d shake her head at his reckless spending, her gentle scolding when he’d toss his suit jacket on the bed instead of hanging it up.
It’s the small things, she used to say. One day you’ll see.
The cracks started small. A meeting with his finance manager that ended with a strained silence and a thick folder slapped onto his desk.
Clinton flipped through the pages, his eyes narrowing at the long list of luxury boutiques and custom orders. The numbers made his temples throb. “What the hell is this?” he muttered.
When he confronted Alynna later that evening, she was lounging on the couch, a credit card receipt in one hand and a tub of ice cream in the other.
“Alynna,” he began, voice tight, “why is there a withdrawal for almost half a million from our account?”
She looked up, unbothered. “For the baby, obviously. I ordered the nursery furniture from Italy. And a few other things. You said I could buy whatever I wanted, remember?”
He ran a hand through his hair, frustration bubbling up like acid in his throat. “The company is bleeding. Investors are pulling out do you know where they’re going? Nathan Jones. And here you are, spending like we’re printing money.”
Alynna’s eyes narrowed, the sweetness in her voice turning sharp. “Don’t you dare raise your voice at me. I’m doing this for our heir. Your grandfather might hate you now, but when he sees the baby-”
“Don’t,” Clinton snapped, his hand slamming onto the armrest beside her. “Don’t pretend this is about anyone but you. If this was Chloe-”
He stopped himself, but it was too late. Alynna’s eyes glinted with something dark. “If this was Chloe, what? Say it.”
Clinton’s jaw tightened. He didn’t want to admit it. Didn’t want to see the truth laid bare. But the memory cut through him anyway – a flicker of Chloe’s shy smile the first time he’d handed he
his card.
“Buy whatever you want,” he’d said, back then still pretending to be the perfect husband. “Ge something nice for yourself.”
She’d come back with a single dress. Nothing more. When he’d asked why she hadn’t bought more, she’d laughed, pressing her fingers to his lips. “Why would I waste your money when we’re saving for a home?”
–
It hadn’t mattered to him then her frugality, her quiet consideration. He’d brushed it off like i was nothing. But now, staring at Alynna’s smug grin and the mountain of baby clothes stacked in the corner, he realized what he’d lost.
“She would never have done this,” he said, voice low, almost to himself. “She would never waste my money. She always thought of us first. Always.”
Alynna’s face contorted. “So that’s it, isn’t it? You’re comparing me to her now? After everything’ After she left you like trash-”
“Don’t you talk about her that way!” Clinton roared, the force of his words sending Alynna flinching back against the couch.
—
–
The silence that followed was heavy, suffocating. Alynna’s lip trembled, but her fury burnec through her fear. “You still love her. You’ve been pining for her like some pathetic dog ever since she left. She was nothing she is nothing and now you’re realizing she was better than me?” Clinton’s throat bobbed as the words cut deeper than he wanted to admit. His voice dropped ragged and raw. “Yes. Yes, she was better than you. Better than me. Better than all of this.”
Alynna stared at him, the shock so plain on her face it was almost pitiful. “Clinton, what are you saying?”
He exhaled, the fight draining out of him like a slow leak. He saw her now – all he felt was a deep, exhausted disgust.
really saw her
and
“I’m saying I don’t want you anymore,” he said, his voice flat. “You were never her. And you neve will be. Get out.”
“Clinton-”
“Leave.” His hand pointed toward the door like a final verdict. “Now.”
4:26 pm
