Marrying my secret admirer after my husband's fake death novel Chapter 72

Sarah, reminded by the gentle nudge, suddenly realized how her nerves

had gotten the better of her a moment ago.

Once she managed to calm herself, she explained, “I didn’t mean to blame Edith. I just wanted to ask what went wrong. Was it you?”

Sarah knew Edith well enough to trust the girl’s sincerity; Edith wasn’t the type to back out at the last minute.

That only left her own son.

A hint of displeasure crept across Sarah’s face as she turned her attention to Justin. “Justin, was it you who changed your mind all of a sudden?”

There was a heavy pause on the other end of the line before Justin finally spoke, unable to hide the sadness in his voice. “Mom, you know what I’ve wanted most in the world since I was seven. How could I just change my

mind now?”

Sarah’s heart softened. Of course. She knew her son.

He’d come home years ago, full of hope, determined to propose to Edith at the Sumner family’s house. But all he got was news that Edith had started dating someone else.

Ever since, he’d barely eaten or slept–just waited and waited.

In the end, what he waited for was the news that Edith was getting

married.

Back then, Father Benedict and Sarah worried Justin might do something reckless; they spent many sleepless nights trying to comfort him.

But Justin shut himself away in his room for three days and nights, refusing to see anyone. Only after the last firework faded from the Vance family’s wedding did he finally emerge–acting as if nothing had

happened.

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Chapter 72

Outsiders thought he’d moved on, but only the Hawksley family knew how he’d changed. He smiled less and less. The once–sharp lines of his face grew colder, always unreadable–neither joy nor sorrow.

Then came the night when news broke of the plane crash. At first, he was shattered. Then, inexplicably, a flicker of hope.

Sarah wanted to say something to comfort him, but when she opened her mouth, the words wouldn’t come.

Some wounds can’t be soothed by words alone.

Justin left the Hawksley Group offices and drove alone to the restaurant Edith had picked out.

Even after parking, his hands still trembled on the steering wheel.

He paused in front of the restaurant’s mirrored wall, catching his own reflection in the dark bronze glass.

He told himself he couldn’t let Edith see him looking so defeated.

Justin drew a deep breath and forced his features into calm determination. Whatever Edith decided tonight, he wouldn’t let her feel pressured because of him.

Still, the pain was sharp as a knife, biting deep, almost unbearable.

Inside, Edith sat at a window table. The waiter brought her a glass of water, which she barely sipped, her nerves obvious in the way she kept glancing at her phone as if afraid to miss any message.

Justin steadied himself and walked straight toward her table.

The moment Edith saw him, some of the worry melted from her face.

She’d heard how busy Justin had been lately and had worried he wouldn’t show up tonight. That’s why she’d kept checking her phone, afraid she’d miss a message from him. Now, seeing him here, she finally felt some relief.

Yet she couldn’t help but notice the stormy look on his face, a shadow

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Chapter 72

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