Chapter 13
I was living in a top–secret government research facility. My life was comfortable, but my heart remained hollow–Lucas had left that void. I buried myself in the lab, working around the clock, trying to fill the emptiness with scientific breakthroughs.
When Damien requested to see me, he had to pay an enormous price just to get one brief, heavily restricted meeting. This was a classified research facility with the highest security clearance.
After multiple background checks, Damien was told: “Professor Hayes has no marriage records on file.”
He was stunned, finally realizing I had completely erased every trace of our connection.
He could only apply for a meeting as an “acquaintance.”
When he finally saw me, it was through a bulletproof barrier. Several armed guards stood around me, their backs to me, faces emotionless–this was the highest level of contact protection available.
Damien couldn’t get close, couldn’t touch me.
He stared at me with bloodshot eyes, his voice hoarse: “Brooklyn, I know I fucked up. I hurt you, I killed Lucas, I’m a complete piece of shit…”
He hung his head, hands clenched into white–knuckled fists, unable to meet my eyes, his voice pathetic and pleading: “Brooklyn, I know you hate me–you should hate me. I’m not asking for forgiveness, just… just give me a chance to make things right…”
I looked at him with calm, steady eyes: “Damien, if I give you a chance, who’s going to give Lucas his chance?”
My voice was soft, but it hit him like a sledgehammer to the chest.
He fell silent, his lips trembling.
I continued: “You know why I requested maximum security protection for this meeting? It’s not because I’m afraid of you–you can never hurt me again. It’s because you don’t deserve to be alone with me.”
He knew I would never forgive him.
He offered to give me all his wealth as compensation.
[ refused: “Damien, you think I still give a damn about your money? What I have now, my research–it’s worth more than your family could accumulate in ten lifetimes. Everything I do is for innocent children who need help, not for
you.”
“There’s nothing left between us. Nothing.”
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My words were like knives, cutting straight through him. His face went pale, his eyes filled with despair.
“This loser is Professor Hayes’s ex–husband?”
“Looks decent enough, but what a complete scumbag!”
“Professor Hayes is such an amazing person–how could he treat her like that?”
“I heard he wants her to save his bastard kid? How’s he got the balls to even ask?”
“Professor Hayes’s research benefits all of humanity! Why waste it on trash like him?”
The guards‘ comments were merciless.
Damien swayed on his feet, then turned and walked away.
Noah died anyway. Mrs. Hawthorne Sr. had a complete mental breakdown, fell down the stairs, and died on impact.
Damien donated his entire fortune to medical research foundations in my name. He also signed up as a living organ donor, offering his body to medical science as penance.
I continued my research, dedicating my life to medicine–for innocent children, so there would never be another tragedy like Lucas.
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