Farewell to Love: The CEO's Desperate Chase novel Chapter 17

After the Donovan family's sudden fall from grace, hardly anyone remembered Emilia anymore.

That's just how people are—brutally pragmatic. If not for what happened back then...

Christian's gaze drifted away, careful not to let Emilia notice the flicker of emotion in his eyes.

"Maybe divorce is for the best," he finally said, breaking a silence that had stretched for several seconds.

Emilia looked at him, gratitude shining in her eyes.

"Thank you," she said quietly, sincerely.

Christian gave a faint smile. "It's mutually beneficial."

He wasn't wrong.

The three Donovan brothers were locked in a cutthroat competition for control of the Donovan Group. Only the one who proved himself would end up on top.

After a little more polite conversation, Christian promised not to mention the fact that he and Emilia were technically separated, then excused himself to deal with work—later, there was still that meeting about Voice of the Divine to prepare for.

Left alone, Emilia lingered where she stood, coffee in hand, gazing at the trees outside swaying in the wind.

She didn't know how much time had passed.

Footsteps echoed behind her.

A familiar silhouette slipped quietly into her space.

She knew it was Tyler.

Without turning, she pulled her mask up and faced away from him.

"Why are you doing this?" Tyler's voice came from behind her before she could leave—calm, steady, carrying the quiet authority of someone long accustomed to power.

The breeze carried with it the familiar scent of his cologne—a smoky, woody fragrance laced with tobacco. Tom Ford, Oud Wood. He always wore it.

"I can tell from your lyrics and compositions that you're gifted. You're a talented writer, Emilia. Why make things difficult for someone who's already at the end of their rope?"

Hearing his words, Emilia felt a pang of sadness.

But he had frowned. "Emilia, the Erickson family doesn't need you working some job in the public eye."

In the end, she'd agreed.

She told herself Parker's health really did need her attention.

But deep down, she wondered—was it that he didn't want her drawing attention to herself, or had he never cared about her work, her "talent," at all?

He'd never clarified, not even after they became husband and wife, not even after sharing the kind of intimacy that should erase all distance.

Tyler studied the woman in front of him.

There was something familiar about her, as if he'd met her somewhere before. But the haircut skimming her shoulders, the chic blazer, the heels that made her legs look impossibly long—none of it rang a bell.

Suddenly, irritation prickled at him.

Because, for reasons he couldn't explain, the woman before him reminded him—just a little—of Emilia.