Boss, Your Ex-Wife is Unreachable Now! novel Chapter 24

Willow left the little bistro with a heavy heart.

That was her mother's heart—her mother's heart, still beating in someone else's chest.

In her previous life, she'd barely discovered that Dorothy was the recipient before her own life abruptly ended. Now fate had granted her another chance. How could she give up the opportunity to stay close to her mother in this way? It was impossible.

And Dorothy had genuinely been good to her. Willow could feel it, deep down.

Her steps weighed her down as she climbed into a cab.

Jerry, the family driver, had been waiting outside the whole time. When he saw Willow leave barely ten minutes after entering, looking utterly dejected, he knew things hadn't gone well.

Willow had just left, and now Dorothy came out alone, her eyes rimmed red, lost in thought. The sight made Jerry's nerves jangle.

Where was President Windsor, anyway?

"How did Willa get home?" Dorothy asked quietly, pausing before the car.

Jerry answered honestly, "Ma'am, she hailed a cab. Don't worry, I watched her get in myself."

Ma'am?

Dorothy hesitated, startled.

A wave of melancholy washed over her, leaving her hollow.

She didn't bother correcting Jerry's form of address for Willow. She just nodded and said softly, "Let's go back to the manor."

Jerry, watching her, grew even more concerned. "Are you all right, ma'am?"

Dorothy shook her head, then silently climbed into the car.

…

Willow's cab dropped her at the hotel. The ride gave her time to regain her composure and put her emotions in order.

Tonight, she'd finally start dealing with the plagiarism scandal.

She pulled out her phone and checked the trending topics.

Neither the Editorial Department's official account nor STAR's personal author page had issued any statements about the accusations. The silence had sparked a backlash online, with people calling for a boycott of the new book. "Only the guilty refuse to respond," they said.

With flowers in hand, Willow hurried forward and, balancing the bouquet, wrapped her free arm around her father. Her heart was a tangled mess of emotions.

There was the joy of reunion, the lingering fear of past helplessness, and a deep regret that she'd once trusted the wrong people. All of it crashed together, and she nearly broke down in tears.

"You look thinner—I can tell, even though it's only been two weeks." Klein gently patted his daughter's trembling shoulder, his voice full of concern. "Have you been eating properly?"

His voice was warm and calm, soothing away her worries.

Willow hugged him even tighter.

Klein's brow furrowed slightly. "Has something upset you over there?"

He'd always been uneasy about Beasley ever since learning about Willow's secret marriage. It didn't matter to him that Beasley was a business tycoon or some golden boy; if he let Willow suffer, he wasn't a good husband, period.

If Willow hadn't truly cared for Beasley, Klein would have urged her to divorce, no matter what.

Willow's eyes brimmed with tears. She shook her head, voice choked, "No, Dad. As long as I have you, nothing can hurt me again."

This time, she would never let her father be falsely accused or hurt—not ever again.