Chapter 18 " Mr. Mitchell , we can't find any trace of Mrs. Mitchell . She's wiped out every record of herself " " If it were me , I'd have disappeared too - and never looked back " Liam's jaw tightened , a bitter laugh slipping out . He couldn't blame her . Hot after how he'd treated her - always expecting her to be understanding , obedient , to just quietly accept everything . Ever since he realized Esme had truly left , it was like someone had ripped out a chunk of his heart . He could feel it bleeding , but all that was left was the faint strength to keep beating . " … Keep searching " he said quietly . The pain was something he'd grown numb to long ago . Now , all he could do was try to find her - and pray for forgiveness , " All the things you asked me to look into , I've found them . The videos are all here ." His assistant held out a silver USB drive . Liam's hands shook as he picked it up and plugged it into his laptop . Deep down , he'd always known . Esme was never the kind of girl who could hurt anyone . But he had to see it for himself . Only then , maybe , could he start to pay for what he'd done . Fighting back a surge of regret and anger , Liam forced himself to watch every second . So , while Joy was curled up in his arms , listening to his stories , Esme - his wife - was downstairs , burning with fever , struggling to reach a glass of water , her hands covered in blood . While he was busy taking care of Joy at the stables , Esme was just standing nearby , watching in silence ; when he walked away to take a call , Joy picked a fight with her . When the horses crashed together , throwing Esme into the sand , he didn't even look at her - he just ran to Joy , leaving the woman he once loved to be trampled , nearly killed , right in front of him . The soup had never been poisoned by Esme . Joy had slipped abortion pills into it herself , trying to end her pregnancy and frame Esme for it . And him - God - he'd believed Joy without a second thought , left Esme out in a snowstorm , buried under an avalanche for a crime she never committed … " What have I done .. " Liam pressed his hands to his head , the pain almost unbearable . " Esme , how could I do this to you … " " Esme , if I ever let you down in this life … may I never know happiness again ." " Esme … losing you means losing everything . " He whispered her name , tears slipping down his hand , cold and bitter . Suddenly , a piercing scream shattered the quiet , dragging him out of his memories . " Help me ! " The desperate cry echoed through the house . " Joy , you're going to pay for everything you did . " He stared at the blood - soaked woman , voice flat with disgust . " Liam … please , I swear I won't do it again , please … " his Joy's face was streaked with tears as she tried to cling to him , desperate for any kind of mercy . " You love me , don't you ? Please , I'm begging you , let me go - I'll never show up in your or Esme's life again … Liam's hand closed around her neck , his anger boiling over . He let out a hollow laugh . " Love you ? " His heart twisted . The things he'd done - how could Esme have seen it as anything but betrayal ? There had even been a moment , the briefest moment , when he'd wavered for Joy . " Joy , was the divorce agreement really Esme's idea ? Or did you trick me into signing it ? " " It was Esme ! She begged me to help her get your signature ! She asked me to do it ! " Joy screamed , her body shaking , blood pooling beneath her . With a sickening thud , something wet and red hit the floor . " Liam ! That's our baby ! " Joy's face went ghostly pale , her eyes wild as she frantically tried to gather the bloody mess , trying to put it back inside her . " Liar ! Even now , you're trying to trick the Mitchell family ! " Grandma Mitchell , who had been silent until now , snapped . " Guards , throw her in the river ! Make sure a doctor watches - don't let this wretch die ! " Joy clutched the bloody bundle and burst into crazed laughter . " Liam , Grandma Mitchell - if you hadn't spoiled me , if you hadn't treated Esme so coldly , do you really think she would have left ? " " And now , it's all my fault ? Hah … Hahaha … " Her laughter echoed as the guards dragged her away , leaving two trails of blood on the polished floor . " Liam , is Esme really never coming back ? " Grandma Mitchell pressed something cold into his palm , snapping him back to reality . He looked down . It was Esme's old jade bracelet - the one she'd smashed . Someone had picked up every broken piece and fixed it with thin gold wire , restoring it to what it once was . " I've asked around everywhere . They say Esme's living in Hillcrest now … " " Bring her home … It was my fault . I'll apologize to her myself. " Liam glanced at her . The once - proud matriarch looked like she'd aged years in just one night . 2/3 Chapter 18 " I will , Grandma ," he promised . Gripping the cool jade in his fist , he whispered , " I'll bring Esme home ."