Page 131 of Ruthless God

“All the babies that we lost just so you could say you had a male heir. The blame when all we had were females.” Her voice catches, just barely, but she pushes through. “I want a divorce.”

The air in the room freezes.

Alyssa’s lips part in shock. Bonnie’s eyes widen. Blanc doesn’t even hesitate.

“Fine.” Flat. Emotionless. His tone is like a final nail in a coffin. He meets her eyes, unshaken, unmoved. “You can have one when this is over.”

Her shoulders stiffen. For a second, I think she’s going to scream. But she doesn’t. Instead, she exhales sharply, straightens her shoulders, and turns away.

Bonnie steps forward. Her voice is soft, uncertain. “Mom?”

But her mother doesn’t stop. She disappears down the hallway, her back straight, her movements stiff. She has no idea where she’s going, but I get it. She just needs to get away. Blanc has that effect on people.

Alyssa lets out a slow, exhausted breath. “Well, that went well.”

No one laughs. Because nothing about this is funny.

I turn to Blanc’s daughters. “Let me show you to your rooms. Blanc, I’ll meet you in my office. It’s down the hall, the last door on the left.”

Blanc turns, going in the opposite direction.

To Cecely, I ask, “Want to come?”

Cecely watches me carefully, uncertainty flickering in her expression. I don’t blame her. She’s been thrown into chaos, lies,betrayals— and now? Now she’s standing in front of two sisters she’s never met, yet somehow, they feel familiar.

But she nods. I take her hand, leading the Blanc daughters to their room.

At the door, Alyssa grabs Cecely’s hand. “Stay. We’d love to spend some time with you.”

Bonnie nods, offering a small, encouraging smile. “Please.”

Cecely glances at me, searching for something. Reassurance? Permission? She doesn’t need it.

“Stay,” I whisper. “I think it’ll be good for you three to get to know each other.”

She hesitates for only a second.

Then says, “Okay.”

The weight in my chest eases just a little. I bring her hand to my lips, brushing a slow, soft kiss against her skin. It doesn’t erase my mistakes. Doesn’t make up for the way I shut her out earlier. But it’s a start.

Her breath catches just slightly. She doesn’t pull away. And that? That tells me all I need to know. I step back, giving the three of them space.

Because Cecely might not realize it yet… But she’s not alone anymore.

Turning, I make my way downstairs, where I find Blanc pouring himself a drink at the bar in my study.

“You didn’t have to do that,” he says when he spots me.

I don’t respond right away. Instead, I watch as Blanc downs his drink in one smooth motion, his fingers gripping the glass a little too tight. He’s unraveling. And considering the day he’s had, I can’t blame him. But that doesn’t mean I’ll let him off the hook. I step further into the room, my tone unreadable.

“Do what?”

Blanc exhales sharply, placing the glass down with a little too much force.

“Set my world on fire.” His gaze cuts to mine. “You knew what you were doing when you told Aimée that Beatrice was coming.”

I don’t deny it. Because he’s not wrong.

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