Chapter 25 

Even so, Patrick couldn’t help but feel touched. Compared to the way Maisy used to keep him at arm’s length, this felt like real progress. 

Overseas, Maisy stared at Patrick’s thank–you text, her phone resting in her palm as a swirl of emotions washed over her. She’d forgiven Patrick a long time ago–she just never admitted it out loud. 

Back then, Patrick had been caught up in something he never asked for. But Maisy, siding with her mom, saw it as pure betrayal. That’s why she’d cut him out so completely, without a second thought. 

After her own marriage fell apart and she’d seen her share of heartbreak, Maisy finally started to understand what Patrick had been through. Still, the scars were there. Even if she wanted to fix things, she had no idea where to begin. 

So, she decided to take it slow. Like the housekeeper once said–at least she wouldn’t regret trying. 

Just then, her phone buzzed in her hand, pulling her out of her thoughts. When she saw “Dad” calling, she hesitated, thumb hovering over the screen, before she finally picked up. 

“Maisy, thank you for the gift. I really loved it,” Patrick’s voice came through, soft but earnest. 

Turns out, he’d been worried she hadn’t seen his message, afraid she might be upset. So he’d called, just to make sure. 

Maisy hadn’t expected her dad to care so much. Her nose stung and she took a shaky breath. 

“As long as you liked it, Dad. I’ll send you more next time,” she managed. 

It was like a weight lifted between them. The conversation started flowing more easily, words coming one after another–like they were finally finding their way back to each other. 

Then, out of nowhere, a desperate, familiar voice came through the line. 

“Mr. Williams, please, just let me see Maisy, just once. I know I messed up-” 

“Stop right there, kid! What are you doing?!” 

Chaos erupted on the other end of the call. After things calmed a little, Patrick explained: after he and Grandpa Huffman had taken turns scolding Patrick (her ex–husband), he’d finally realized how badly he’d screwed up and was desperate to talk to Maisy. But her father, wanting to protect her, refused over and over. 

No one expected Patrick to chase all the way to the birthday party. 

From the background, Maisy could still hear Grandpa Huffman apologizing, Patrick pleading, voices all tangled together. 

Maisy looked out at the bright blue sky and said softly, “Dad, let me talk to him.” 

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Chapter 25 

“I just want to hear him out, one last time.” 

Patrick was silent for a while, then handed the phone over. There was a burst of noise, then a trembling voice. 

“Maisy!” 

7 

“Patrick, what do you want to say to me?” Her tone was calm–so calm it made his nervousness stand out even more. 

He hesitated, words caught in his throat. 

“Maisy, I know it was wrong to have a mistress. But why did you leave me without a word, no warning at all? I never agreed to the divorce. You used to love me so much–how could you just walk away without giving me a single chance? You ended things like I never meant anything to you.” 

Maisy cut him off gently. “Patrick, I did give you chances. I warned you.” 

“The love letters I burned, the time capsule… those were my signals.” 

On the other end, Patrick’s breath hitched. His voice shook when he spoke again. “You mean…” 

Maisy let out a quiet laugh, equal parts sad and tired. 

“When you decided to keep Melinda, I honestly thought about leaving. But after five years together, it wasn’t that easy. Then you wrote me ninety–nine love letters. So, I told myself—I’d give you ninety–nine chances. Every time you hurt me, I’d burn one. When they were all gone, I’d walk away for good.” 

‘It took you three years to write those ninety–nine letters. I thought it’d take just as long to burn them. But in less than three months, there were only five left. When you gave me away to your ival just to please Melinda, that was the worst. That night, I went to the old house and burned the time capsule we buried together–the one we promised to dig up when we were old and surrounded by grandkids.” 

‘The last letter went up in flames when you tricked me into signing the divorce papers. I found out about your plan by accident, but even then, I was still hoping–still asking if it really was the deed to the villa. You were impatient, couldn’t wait for me to sign, even sounded annoyed… but not once did you deny it.” 

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