Chapter 16 The black sports car sped through empty city streets , its engine growling in the silence . Liam sat in the driver's seat , his face hidden by shadow , jaw tight with tension . " Esme .. " he whispered , guilt and regret heavy in the word . He slammed his fist on the steering wheel . His phone , tossed on the seat beside him , started to ring . Liam stopped the car , swiped at the screen , and answered . Grandma Mitchell's voice came through , shaky and anxious . " Liam , did you find Esme ? What did she say ? Has she forgiven us ? " Liam's chest tightened . Still , he tried to sound reassuring . " Esme's always been kind , Grandma . She'll forgive me . She always does ." But Grandma Mitchell only sobbed harder . " I should never have done it , never . I even hit that poor girl . She must hate me now … " Liam's mind was a mess , emotions tangled and raw . He could barely keep it together . " Grandma , I'll call you later . Please get some rest . " For the first time , he hung up on her . The sound of her crying cut off , leaving him alone in the quiet car . He'd quit smoking years ago , just because Esme hated the smell . But now , he had no idea how else to calm his nerves , how to deal with the storm inside him . " Esme , you won't blame me , right ? " he muttered into the smoky air , replaying every mistake in his mind . Frustrated , he slapped himself across the face . " Liam , how did you let yourself get played like this ? How could you ignore the one person who loved you most ? " He stubbed out the cigarette and stared at the house ahead . It was dark - no lights , no sign of life . She must be asleep by now , he thought . He got out , stood at the door , and waited for the smoke to fade before even thinking about going inside . Who would've guessed that Mr. Mitchell - the legend in business , the man who always had everything under control - could be this lost ? " Esme , you'll understand , right ? " he whispered , but Joy's words wouldn't stop echoing in his head . No wonder Esme wanted a divorce ! Esme's already left you ! She's gone ! 3/3 Chapter 16 No. No way . Liam's panic grew . " Esme loves me . She'll forgive me . She has to …" But his voice got smaller and smaller , doubt creeping in . After everything , would she actually forgive him ? It hit him then : the last time he saw Esme was almost a month ago . He'd spent every day at the hospital with Joy , waiting for the baby - never once thinking about Esme , who was home , waiting for him . Alone . Only today , when he accidentally discovered the truth , did he finally wake up to what he'd done . How long had he left Esme by herself ? A sharp pain twisted in his chest . " Esme , I swear , I'll make this right … " He pushed open the front door - and froze . His heart dropped straight to the floor . The house was empty : Only the heavy smell of dust and mold filled the air , proof that no one had been home in a long time . Panic rising , Liam flicked on the lights . Dust covered every surface . " Esme ! Esme ! " He called out , desperate . He knew Esme - she was a neat freak . She'd never let the place get dirty . He tore through the house , opening every door , searching every drawer . At first , looking for her . Then , for anything that might mean she was still there . " Esme … you really left . You're really gone …" He sank to his knees , totally wrecked . There was nothing left of her - not a single thing . It was like she'd never existed . He felt empty , like a ghost , just drifting through the dark . He wandered into the bedroom , opened the nightstand drawer , and found it - a brown envelope , lying there quietly . His heart leapt . " Esme ! You left me something . Maybe you're giving me another chance … " Hands shaking , he opened the envelope . The second he saw the gold lettering , tears spilled down his face . Divorce Certificate . " No … no … " Liam's hands trembled . He grabbed his phone and dialed Esme's number . " We're sorry, the number you have dialed is no longer in service . Please check the number and try again … " The robotic voice repeated over and over , but Liam kept calling , refusing to give up . He knelt there , broken , the red divorce certificate on his knees . Tears dripped onto the cover , Chapter 16 silent and endless . At last , he called his assistant . " Find her . Find out where Esme is . " His assistant , clearly shaken awake , answered right away . " I'll get someone on it immediately , sir . " After hanging up , Liam picked up the divorce papers , his eyes rimmed red . He stared at her photo - she looked so young , so innocent - and remembered every promise he'd ever made her . You have to treat Esme right . Spoil her . Love her . If you don't , I'll never forgive you . " Esme , I'm sorry … I really am … " If the man he used to be could see him now , Liam was sure he'd want to beat the hell out of the mess he'd become . And all of this , every bit of it , was because of- A bitter , cold smile twisted Liam's lips , his eyes hard as ice . " Joy . I'll never forgive you ."