The Abandoned Wife Dumped Him First (Victoria and Elias) novel Chapter 427

If she had found out sooner, her father might not have died.

If she had never met Genevieve, never made that friend, Grady and her father might have been fine.

The words caught in her throat, left unsaid.

She leaned over, resting her forehead on the back of Grady's hand as tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Brother, I have to go now." Victoria sniffled, wiping the tears from the back of his hand with her thumb. "I'm going somewhere by the sea. I'll take your nephew or niece with me, and we'll live a good life."

She took a cross from her purse. " I got it from a church. Sunny swore by it."

Victoria gently tied the bracelet around Grady's neck. She looked at his sleeping face, a faint, forced smile on her lips as she whispered, "You have to wait for me, brother. Wait for me to come back and tell you stories."

Sometime later, when Victoria left the room, the rain had long stopped. A crack had appeared on the horizon, letting a sliver of golden light shine through.

***

Two days later.

Willow Creek Estates.

Inside the apartment, Dawn was perched on a suitcase, licking her paws. Her tail swept across the folded clothes inside, leaving a few strands of cat hair behind.

Victoria placed the last knit cardigan into the suitcase. Then, remembering something, she took a photograph out of a drawer and carefully tucked it deep inside the luggage.

Then came the sharp zip as the suitcase was closed.

"Dawn, time to go." She placed the cat into its carrier. The little creature nuzzled her palm contentedly, a satisfied purr rumbling in its throat.

As she locked the door, Victoria glanced back at the living room sofa, her mind flashing with all the moments she and Elias had shared in this apartment.

As the elevator descended, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Hawk, who obviously knew she was leaving today.

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