All Chapters of Fifth Time, Final Goodbye: Chapter 21 - Chapter 27

"Well done! Well done!" Mr. Wright even clapped. "Mr. Lloyd, I heard you really did a number on Renee. A few slaps? That was mercy."Finley nodded. "Yeah. I hurt her. I get it. I just hope she can forgive me.""Forgive you?" Renee sneered. "Jump off the roof, and I'll forgive you on the way down."She wanted him to feel what she had—helpless, desperate, wrecked."Renee—""Shut up! I told you not to call me that!" Another slap. Then, grabbing a wine bottle from the table, she tilted it against his lips. "You want this deal? Drink."She poured, and Finley didn't resist, letting the alcohol burn its way down. When she finally yanked the bottle away, she shoved him back.He staggered, eyes unfocused, face burning. Then came the kick—vicious and full of spite. He hit the ground hard.Still, he clung to his mission. "Renee... have you calmed down? Can you convince them to agree now?" His words slurred, but he still remembered why he was here.Renee inhaled sharply, trying to rein in

"Mr. Lloyd, right now, the company should be your priority. You need to focus on what to do next.""I need to go home." Finley gripped the table for balance, barely steadying himself. "Take me to the family estate."After his father's death, Finley's mother, Paulina, had taken over most family matters. When Finley stumbled through the front door, reeking of alcohol, Paulina's face darkened instantly."What the hell is this?" she snapped. "Why are you drunk? And where's Claire? Why isn't she with you?"She was sorting through a pile of supplements she'd bought for Claire, planning to take them over tomorrow. Despite her past dislike of Claire, the pregnancy had changed everything."Mom, there's something I need to tell you."Paulina frowned. "What is it? This better not be about Claire's baby. That child is the future of this family! If anything happened, I swear—" Her voice sharpened. "I'd never forgive her, and you'd better divorce her. I knew I shouldn't have let you marry her

Jace chuckled, watching Claire light up over something so simple. Just as he was about to join her, his phone rang."Mom?"The second he answered, his mother's furious voice exploded through the line. "Jace! Where are you? I set up a blind date, and you didn't even show up! That poor girl waited hours—you couldn't even text?"Jace frowned. "I've told you —I'm not interested. These women only agree because our family has money. I'm not doing it.""And what are you doing instead? You're over thirty and still single! When am I getting grandkids?""Fine, I'll marry a divorcée with two kids. How's that?" Jace rolled his eyes. Thirty-something and unmarried—it wasn't the end of the world."Great! Just bring someone home. A woman, a man—I don't care! You can adopt kids if you have to!"Jace sighed and hung up, shaking his head. His mom was relentless about grandkids, and as the only son, all that pressure landed on him.He glanced at Claire, raised a brow, and strolled over. "Claire,

Claire had seen the ocean. Time to go home.At sunrise, she packed up and headed to the front desk."Miss, checking out already?""Yeah."With Finley here, she wasn't sticking around."Understood. Your checkout is complete." The staff handed her a folder. "Mr. Lloyd left this for you early this morning. He said to give it to you when you checked out."Claire's hands trembled slightly. "Where is he?""He figured you wouldn't want to see him, so he took the earliest flight home.""Thank you."Claire stepped aside and opened the folder. Inside was the divorce agreement.For a moment, she just stared. Then she flipped to the last page. Finley's signature.Tears slipped down her cheeks—not from sadness, but relief. She was finally free."Oh, miss, one more thing." The staff handed her a business card. "Another gentleman left this for you."Claire glanced at the card. Just as she suspected—Jace Arnault, CEO. Big deal, big company."He said to call if you needed anything. And th