Chapter 124: Goodbye, Newton

Back at the estate, Newton stood by the window of the guest room, he pulled off his watch and set it on the nightstand. His thoughts were entirely orderly, free from any chaotic emotion or frantic panic.

He was a calm, loving guy, but he was also pragmatic. He had built his own professional and personal reputation on understanding layouts, and the layout of Selen’s heart was no longer a puzzle that needed solving.

He sat on the edge of the bed, staring at his packed luggage in the corner. He had been so full of positive anticipation when he drove through the front gates earlier that afternoon.

They had spent weeks coordinating this trip, looking forward to a quiet Chapter. Now, the room felt entirely empty. He did not feel anger toward Clancy, nor did he feel resentment toward Selen. He simply felt a profound, heavy clarity.

Selen was a woman caught between her desire for safety and her unresolved history. Newton knew that as long as Clancy was in the picture, any stability he offered her would only be a temporary shield.

Inside the quiet study, Selen had not moved from her position on the couch. She looked at the empty space beside her where Newton had been sitting just an hour ago. She looked at the doorway where Clancy had stood frozen in shock.

She asked herself the exact question Clancy had asked her- Why did she run? Why did she abandon a calm, loving man who offered her absolute security, just to chase an ex partner down the corridor? She had no answer.

For eight years, she had insulated her choices, her kids, and her daily routine under the guise of protection. But tonight, her actions had revealed a truth she was not ready to face.

She was still entirely bound to the father of her children, tied to a history that no amount of defensive walls could ever fully insulate.

****

The room remained completely quiet until Selen heard footsteps coming from the stairs, the kids were home.

She instructed them to hurriedly freshen up for her surprise for them and they immediately scattered into their rooms to do so.

As she watched them go, she was distracted by the sound of a door at the end of the hallway opening and being shut. She turned around to see Newton.

He was carrying his packed luggage that was still in the same state as when he had arrived. He set his bag down near the staircase and looked at her with a quiet, understanding nod.

There was no dramatic tension and absolutely no beating about the bush.

"I am leaving your house now,"Newton said, his voice steady and low.

"I am staying down here in Kent for the rest of the day to clear my head, but I am not driving away from your home until I see the kids. I promised them I would see them when I came and also say goodbye before I left. Which have both ended up being at the same time" he said.

Selen looked up at him, feeling a deep sense of regret. "Newton, I am so sorry for how this afternoon turned out. You did not deserve to be caught in the middle of that configuration." She said to him,

"It is fine, Selen," Newton replied gently, clearly lying and keeping a clear distance from her.

"Like I said just now, your silence told me everything I needed to know about your current layout. I do not hold a grudge against you or Clancy. But I know when a structure is unstable. You are trying to build a future with me while using my stability as a shield against your past. That is not a real partnership." he said.

Selen opened her mouth to argue, to tell him that she valued his safety net and the secure environment he represented, but she stopped herself. She did not want to speak again until she was entirely sure of the authenticity of what she was saying.

Newton offered her one last, calm smile. "Go get the kids. I will say my goodbyes, and then I will head out. Focus on your diplomatic post and get your life in Kent settled." He said.

"But please, do not call me until you have completely closed the door on the history you are still running after," he said.

Selen took a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure. This was it, they were over just as soon as they started.

Newton moved down the stairs and waited for Selen to get the kids. A few minutes later, David, Daniel, and Diana immediately hurried into the foyer where Newton was waiting next to his luggage.

Newton dropped to one knee, matching their height, his expression shifting into a warm, genuine smile. He did not let any of his personal disappointment or the recent confrontation affect his interaction with the children.

"Are you leaving us today, Newton?" Daniel asked, tilting his head. "Yes, Daniel," Newton replied calmly, patting the boy’s shoulder.

"I have to take care of some urgent things out in Spain." he lied through gritted teeth.

Diana stepped forward, holding out a small crayon drawing she had completed during the grandparents’ visit. "This is for you. So you do not forget about us." she said as she handed him the painting that they had made for him.

Newton took the drawing with absolute reverence, folding it carefully and placing it into his jacket pocket. "Thank you, Diana. I will keep it right with me. You three keep working hard, stay safe, and listen to your mother. She is doing everything to keep your family stable for you." he said to them.

He stood up, gave the triplets a final encouraging nod, and picked up his luggage. He looked at Selen one last time, his gaze steady and calm.

He walked out the front door without looking back at Selen and shut the door behind him.

Selen stood by the window by the foyer with the triplets, watching him walk down the front steps. He was not leaving Kent entirely, but he was officially gone from her home, leaving her entirely alone to face the wreckage of her choices.

The triplets looked up at her, their curious eyes focusing instantly on her face. "Mommy, is Daddy coming back to play with us later?" Diana asked her.

"And why did uncle Newton leave so soon?" David asked as well.

Selen felt a sharp contraction in her chest at the children’s questions.