“Daniel, you were the one who installed the security cameras in our home. After that night with Elena, why didn’t you think
Chapter 9
about checking the footage?”
His face instantly changed.
+15 BONUS
He looked completely caught off guard, struggling for words before finally stammering, “I… I was too panicked. It never crossed
my mind…”
I let out a quiet laugh.
“Was it that you didn’t think of it, or that you chose not to check? Deep down, you were gambling, weren’t you?
“You knew what had happened, and with your parents pressuring you, with the Cooper family needing an heir, you just thought -what if? What if Elena really was pregnant? That would solve everything.”
“So, you let it happen. You knew Elena hadn’t taken the pill, and when she told you she was pregnant, you deliberately chose a
hospital where your mother’s friend worked. Because you knew the moment she saw you at the obstetrics department, she would
tell your mother. Isn’t that, right?”
Daniel opened his mouth, but in the end, he said nothing.
I turned away and continued, “And if we go back even further–wasn’t it you who subtly suggested that I take that trip? And that
night… did your assistant’s girlfriend really get into a car accident?”
The tears I had been holding back finally spilled over, I looked at him and forced a smile, one that looked even sadder than crying.
“You see? I told you. I understand you better than you understand yourself.”
That’s why I decided to leave. He was too calculating, analyzing everything, including us and himself.
Daniel’s face turned deathly pale, like he might collapse at any moment. He never thought I would see right through him.
After a long silence, he finally forced out a hoarse response. “I… I just didn’t want to lose you.‘
I said nothing, but once again, I felt that deep, familiar disappointment.
Maybe, in the beginning, he had only been trying to solve the “child problem“. Nonetheless, a betrayal was a betrayal.
Plus, could he really say he had not felt anything for her?
The moment he found Elena amusing, the moment he started treating her differently–that was when it began.
He just did not want to admit it.
“Daniel, a betrayal is a betrayal. No matter the reason, I will never forgive it. I love the life I have now. Please don’t disturb it
anymore.”
As I turned to leave, I could not help but add one last thing.
“Take care of that child. I know what it’s like to grow up unwanted by both parents. No child should have to go through that.”
2/3
Chapter 9
+15 BONUS
With that, I walked away without hesitation. Behind me, Daniel’s sobs broke the silence–raw and helpless, like that of a child.
Even so, I would never look back again.
Afterward, our team won first place in the competition.
On the way home, Matilda leaned close to my ear and whispered, “Mommy, is Mr. Cooper not coming today? I wanted to say goodbye.”
I hesitated, then gently asked, “He’s a very busy man. Do you like him?”
She nodded eagerly. “Mr. Cooper seemed really nice! And he bought us lots of yummy snacks.”
Then, flashing a mischievous grin, she added, “But Tilly still loves Mommy the most! And Ms. Gibson too.”
I laughed and playfully pinched her little nose. “Then let’s hurry back to Ms. Gibson.”
“Okay!” A chorus of tiny voices chimed in unison.
Their shouts startled a few birds from the trees.
With a flutter of wings, they soared high into the blue sky.
