Forged My Marriage, Stole My Baby—Now I’m the Judge You Kneel To - Chapter 22: Chapter 22

By the time Rowena got back to the villa, it was already getting dark.
She stood in the entryway, looking around the house full of her five years of love. Now it all felt sick.
She pushed open the master bedroom door. Shane's cologne still hung in the air, mixed with that hint of cigarette smoke he always had on him. That smell used to make her feel safe and warm. Now it was suffocating.
She pulled open her vanity drawer and grabbed the navy velvet jewelry box.
Shane's birthday gift from last year. He'd slipped it around her neck and said, "Baby, you look incredible in this. Like you're wearing actual stars."
Now she knew Gina had the same damn necklace,even a bigger one.
Next was a cashmere scarf.
She remembered Shane tossing it to her all casual-like"Picked this up on my trip. Thought it'd look hot on you."
She'd been so fucking happy. Now she knew his "business trip" was just him flying to New York to stay with that bitch.
The third thing was a jade brooch.
She'd worn it to all those fancy company dinners, pinned to her dress while Shane paraded her around. He'd always say stuff like, "You're perfect,dear. Total Mrs.Vellmore."
But now...
Rowena shoved each piece into a box, the packing tape making harsh ripping sounds as she sealed away five years of bullshit.
Three days later, Shane came back.
Rowena was sprawled on the living room couch with a book, looking totally chill. She heard his key in the lock and looked up to see him walk in, with Gina right behind him holding a baby.
He still looked good—tall, handsome, a little worn out maybe. But his whole face lit up when he saw her. "Babe, I'm back."
Rowena's eyes slid past him to Gina.
The woman was pretty in that sweet, innocent way, holding a baby wrapped in some fancy blanket. She gave Rowena this tiny smile, all fake and humble. "Hi, Rowena. Sorry to barge in like this."
Shane walked over and tried to slip his arm around her shoulders. She shifted away without making it obvious.
"What's wrong? Didn't you miss me?" His voice had that playful edge, like they were still the same happy couple.
Rowena didn't say anything.
Shane didn't seem fazed. He pulled out this elegant little box from his briefcase. "Got you something. Hope you like it."
She opened it. A bracelet that looked almost exactly like one she used to have, just with a slightly different pattern.
"Thanks." Her voice was completely flat.
Gina suddenly stuck out her wrist, showing off the exact same bracelet. "Oh!Shane's so sweet—he got us matching ones!"
Rowena looked back and forth between the two bracelets, then up at Shane.
His smile faltered for like half a second before he recovered. "Yeah, well, I saw them and thought they'd look great on both of you."
Matching ones?
Rowena almost laughed, but she kept her mouth shut and started heading upstairs.
Shane grabbed her wrist. "Rowena, I need to ask you something."
She stopped but didn't turn around. "What?"
"So, Gina and the baby are gonna need the master bedroom—you know, for all the baby stuff and everything." He paused. "Would you mind crashing in the guest room? Just for now."
Rowena's hand clenched into a fist, but her face stayed neutral. "Sure, whatever."
She agreed so fast that Shane actually looked confused.
Gina jumped in with that soft, apologetic voice "Rowena, I'm really sorry about this. I know it's such an inconvenience..."
Rowena glanced at her but didn't bother responding. She just headed straight upstairs to pack her stuff.
She got her things settled in the guest room, staring at the mostly empty bookshelf. Something was missing.
Her parents' belongs was still in Shane's study.
It was a white ring—her dad's most prized possession. Right before her mom died, she'd pressed it into Rowena's hands"Sweetie, this is all your father and I have left to give you. Please take care of it."
When she and Shane got serious, she'd thought they were gonna be together forever. She'd given it to him, and put it on display in his study.
Now,time to take everything back.