Chapter 8
The days passed, and my belly grew rounder.
Xavier, ever meticulous, arranged for me to stay at a top–tier maternity retreat in upstate New York. My parents visited daily. Life settled into a rhythm–quiet, almost meditative.
The past, with all its jagged edges, began to blur.
One afternoon, as I stepped out for my usual walk, a man appeared, blocking my path. His
eyes, once familiar, now held a desperate glint.
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“Alyssa, I’ve been waiting for you. Please, come back with me. Our child needs both parents. I promise to be a better man, a better father. Just give me another chance.”
His gaze dropped to my swollen abdomen, and for a moment, hope flickered in his eyes.
A wave of nausea rose within me. Had it been only six months? Time had not been kind to him. His once sharp features were now shadowed by stubble, his clothes wrinkled and worn. Without me, it seemed, he had unraveled.
I raised my hand and slapped him, the sound sharp in the still air.
“Scott, you’re delusional. Who told you this child is yours?”
He stood frozen, eyes locked on my belly.
“If it’s not mine, then whose is it? We separated only months ago. Are you telling me you moved on that quickly?”
His voice rose, tinged with anger and disbelief.
I took a step back, heart pounding.
“Don’t come any closer…”
But he lunged, grabbing my arm.
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Chapter 8
“Tell me the truth, Alyssa!”
+25 Bonus
He pulled me towards him, and I stumbled, my belly perilously close to the stone pillar beside us. I closed my eyes, bracing for impact.
But instead of pain, I felt warmth–a protective embrace.
“It’s okay. You’re safe now.”
Xavier’s voice was calm, steady. Relief washed over me, and tears streamed down my face.
“Where were you? I was so scared…”
cott’s face twisted in rage. “So, you’re her secret lover? How dare you!”
He charged, but Xavier sidestepped effortlessly, and Scott fell, eating dirt.
“You’re a piece of shit, Scott. You lost her long ago when you cheated on her. You’re the last person I expect to call her a cheater,” Xavier spat.
Scott shouted after us as we walked away, his voice echoing with desperation. “We were together for ten years! She can’t just stop loving me!”
I sighed, squeezing Xavier’s hand.
“Let’s not waste words on the past, especially not to a madman.”
Behind us, Scott remained on the ground, a relic of a life I’d left behind.
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