C09
Ryder had already made up his mind–once he found Amber, he would apologize properly. If she wanted to go to college, he’d support her. If she wanted a child, he’d hand over his entire paycheck just to make sure she could
recover and be healthy. As long as she was willing to forgive him, he’d do anything.
Sage, however, was panicking. That diploma was her only chance! She rushed after Ryder, but in her haste, she tripped and fell hard onto the ground. Crying out in pain, she demanded that Ryder take her to the clinic.
But the Ryder who had once treated her like a precious jewel–afraid to let her fall, terrified she’d get hurt–didn’t even turn his head this time. Instead, he jumped onto his bike and rode off, leaving her behind as he went searching
for Amber.
For the next two weeks, Ryder searched everywhere, but there was no trace of her. It was as if she had vanished into thin air. Someone at the train station vaguely recalled seeing her half a month ago, so Ryder assumed she had gone to college. He immediately bought a ticket to the city and spent days waiting outside Winthrop University, hoping to catch a glimpse of her when school started. But she never appeared.
Then, the Calloway Family called him, telling him that Sage was experiencing severe morning sickness and demanding that he return home immediately.
Ryder refused. The moment Amber walked away, he had made up his mind.
Maybe three years ago, he had harbored some feelings for Sage. But in the past three years, the only woman he had truly loved was Amber. Now and forever, he would only be with her.
The Calloway elders, however, weren’t about to let the matter go.
“You ungrateful bastard!” they roared over the phone. “You had the guts to steal your brother’s wife, but you won’t take responsibility? Sage says she’s carrying your child! If you don’t come back, she’s going to hang herself in front of our house! Do you want to be the reason we’re all shamed?!”
Ryder returned home.
From the moment he stepped back through the door, Sage clung to him. She had somehow found out that Amber never showed up to register for school and she immediately began scheming, trying to take Amber’s place once
again.
But this time, Ryder refused without hesitation. In fact, he was so furious that he grabbed Sage’s wrist and dragged her toward the clinic, insisting she get an abortion.
Sage fought back desperately, refusing to comply. In the struggle, Ryder shoved her and she fell to the ground. Blood pooled beneath her, sending Mr. and Mrs. Calloway into a panic. They cursed Ryder as they rushed Sage to
the clinic.
the truth came out. -Sage had never been pregnant
No Longer Yours, Dear Husband
But when the doctor examined her, the truth came out–Sage had never been pregnant.
Years of repeated abortions had left her completely infertile.
Even when she was caught red–handed, Sage still tried to deflect blame, sobbing and pointing fingers at Finn. But Finn had come back for one reason–to finalize their divorce. And he was done covering for her.
*She threatened me for years,” Finn admitted coldly. “I wanted to leave her, but she blackmailed me over what happened back then. But I never imagined she’d go after you, too.” He turned to Ryder, his expression filled with disgust. “I refuse to be tied to someone this vile. If she wants to ruin everything, fine. I’ll tell the whole damn town
what she’s been up to. I’ll burn with her if that’s what it takes to bring her down.”
And with that, Finn divorced her.
Sage, now left with no one to rely on, was terrified. Desperate, she tried the same manipulative tactics on Ryder, threatening to expose him if he didn’t marry her. But Ryder was beyond done with her. He refused, even if it meant losing everything–his job, his freedom, even going to jail.
In the end, it was the Calloway elders who stepped in, fearful that both their sons would be ruined by Sage’s
schemes. They took her back home, keeping her comfortable and well–fed, shielding her from the consequences of
her own actions.
As for Ryder, he never stopped searching for Amber.
Every year, during summer and winter breaks, he would use whatever time off he had to travel across the country,
carrying the only photograph he had of them together, asking strangers if they had seen her.
What he didn’t know was that Amber had headed south and started her own small business. With sheer
determination and relentless hard work, she had earned her first fortune–proving that she didn’t need anyone to
save her. She could build a life for herself, on her own terms.
