She Stopped Loving And Started Shining

Brendan hurried off without looking back. Roselyn had never seen him show that much concern for her.

She pressed her back against the cold tiles and slowly sank into a dark corner of the stairwell.

No sobs escaped her. She wrapped her arms around her knees while quiet tears fell onto her hands.

The difference couldn't have been clearer. One woman had his love, while the other barely mattered.

Roselyn remained there until the cold seeped through her clothes and left her thoughts numb. Then something warm covered her shoulders.

Someone had gently placed a suit jacket around her. It carried a light trace of cologne and still held the warmth of the man who had worn it.

The jacket was far too large for her, but it covered her shaking body completely.

Her heart gave a sudden jolt, and she quickly raised her head.

Tears blurred her sight, but she caught a glimpse of a tall, well-dressed man disappearing around the corner at the far end of the hall.

"Wait!"

Roselyn grabbed the jacket and rushed to her feet, but a charge nurse passing through the stairwell stopped her.

The nurse gestured toward the corridor. "Ms. Todd, that's the man who gave you the jacket, Mr. Willis."

Roselyn was stunned for a moment before running after the man.

However, he had already disappeared.

She held the jacket tightly against her chest as questions crowded her mind.

If they ever met again, she would thank Mr. Willis properly.

Grief would have to wait. Liam's medical treatment mattered the most.

After wiping her face, Roselyn called Ashton Smith, a friend from college.

......

At a coffee shop.

"Ashton, these are some of my old designs. Can you help me find a buyer? I need the money as soon as possible, so I'll take whatever I can get." Roselyn slid the portfolio across the table without looking at Ashton.

Ashton turned through several pages. "You drew these three years ago, didn't you?"

"Are they too old to sell?" Roselyn asked as her hand tightened beneath the table.

Trends in the architecture industry changed quickly. Three years away had left her far behind.

She wasn't expecting the drawings to bring in much.

Ashton studied the designs that had once earned so much praise. Pain briefly crossed his face.

Roselyn, known as Rose by the world, had once led a world-class design team. Now, she had been forced to sell work she'd completed years ago.

"You walked away from your whole career for Brendan, Roselyn. And after everything you gave up, he still..."

"Please don't ask," Roselyn said hoarsely without lifting her head.

Ashton noticed the pain on her face and let the matter drop.

He offered her an encouraging smile.

"Leave the drawings with me. I'll find someone to buy them. But you can't keep selling your old work whenever you need money. One of my friends works for a leading firm, and they're looking for a chief architect. Getting the position won't be easy, but you have the talent and experience for it. This could be your chance to start again."

Hope stirred inside Roselyn, and she accepted without hesitation.

She went straight to a pawnshop after leaving the coffee shop.

Her hand shook as she removed the three-carat engagement ring from her finger.

It was the only piece of jewelry she'd taken from the Clayton family.

Roselyn had once believed the ring represented their love, even though Brendan had barely looked at it.

"Ma'am, do you really want to pawn this?" the clerk asked.

"Yes, I'm sure." Roselyn closed her eyes and kept her voice steady.

Once the transaction was finished, nothing seemed to tie her to Brendan anymore.

......

Meanwhile, a white Bentley pulled up beside the curb.

Mila waited beside a streetlight. A bandage covered her ankle, and her slim body looked especially fragile.

A warm smile spread across her face as soon as Brendan stepped out of the car. "Brendan, thanks for coming all this way to pick me up."

She walked toward him and let her shoulder brush his arm as though it had happened by accident.

Brendan didn't pull away. Instead, he supported her and asked with concern, "How did you manage to hurt yourself? What did the doctor say?"

"It's not serious. I missed a step and twisted my ankle." Mila leaned against his chest while he helped her into the passenger seat.

A light, cool fragrance filled the car.

Mila watched Brendan's profile and sighed with practiced concern. "Brendan, I think I heard Ms. Todd's voice on the phone earlier. She isn't going to be upset that you came to get me, is she?"

"I don't care if she is." Brendan tightened his hands around the steering wheel. No emotion entered his voice. "She doesn't get a say."

Triumph flickered in Mila's eyes before she softened her voice. "Good. I also have some news for you. I got in touch with the chief architect from that top international team. They're willing to take on the Clayton Group's Southend project. I'm handing that connection over to you, Brendan. So, what do I get in return?"

Mila leaned closer and ran her fingertips over the side of his neck.

Brendan went still. Roselyn's tearful face in the hospital suddenly returned to his mind.

"Mila, my divorce from Roselyn is going to happen. But for now..."

"I can wait for you," Mila said as she cut him off with a calm smile. Her expression remained gentle and understanding.

Cruel satisfaction briefly surfaced beneath it.