Back then, Chadwick Gabriel hadn’t hesitated for even a second.
Even now, he could easily repeat those words–that he would always wait for me.
But in the end, it was him who pushed me away.
“She might’ve gone back to the apartment!” he shouted. He bolted from the hospital like a man possessed.
Johnson was right behind him.
When they arrived at the apartment, they found it completely empty.
Chadwick stood paralyzed in the center of the room, slowly turning in desperate, aimless circles like a child utterly lost.
Then, as if the last support had given way, his knees buckled, and he slid limply down the cold wall.
“Jess… you really knew…”
He buried his face in his hands, his shoulders trembling.
He knew me too well. He knew I couldn’t tolerate even a grain of betrayal.
The realization that I was truly gone ripped through him, a devastating storm tearing apart his very core.
Johnson stood still, numb–until he suddenly coughed and spat blood.
Right then, Chadwick’s phone buzzed.
The contact name on the screen: Vivian.
For the first time, the name felt like a blade to his eyes.
“Babe… my tummy hurts. Can you come home and stay with me?” Vivian’s voice was frail and sugary.
Under normal circumstances, he’d have rushed back, frantic with worry.
But now… all he felt was disgust. For the first time, he wished she had never existed.
Why had she shown up that night–right when he was drunk?
Why had she been wearing the same dress I once wore, the same perfume I used to use?
His thoughts, which had been a tangled, foggy mess for so long, suddenly snapped into chilling, undeniable clarity.
He gripped the phone tighter. “Vivian… that night I was drunk. You got into my bed on purpose, didn’t you?”
The line went quiet. Then soft sobs trickled through the speaker.
“How could you say that? It was an accident…”
“And what about the other times?” she sniffled, “You weren’t drunk then. Don’t you remember? In the heat of the moment, you said you wanted me to have your baby…”
Each of her words made Chadwick’s skin crawl, leaving him feeling utterly, sickeningly filthy.
No–he hadn’t loved her. He had just wanted a child. That was all it ever was.
Chapter 7
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His betrayal… he told himself it had been necessary.
“Get out!” he roared.
Then he hurled the phone across the room. It shattered against the wall, the screen cracking into a thousand shards.
“You’re the one who drove my Jess away!” Johnson screamed, charging forward and landing another punch squarely on
Chadwick’s face.
Chadwick didn’t fight back. He just stood there, letting the blows come one after another.
Johnson’s fists struck harder, more desperate.
Within minutes, Chadwick’s face was bruised and bloodied, streaks of red mixing with silent tears. His eyes were hollow, consumed by a despair so deep it was terrifying.
“I messed up… I hurt her…” he whispered, voice barely audible, like a broken sigh.
He had convinced himself that since Vivian was carrying his child–and had once donated her kidney to save me–he had a responsibility to her.
He told himself that I was soft–hearted, that even if I found out, he could talk me down, coax me into forgiveness.
He thought, The Gabriel family needs a successor.
And I… I couldn’t bear children anymore.
So he figured once Vivian gave birth, he’d bring the baby back–for me to raise.
Vivian had begged for a marriage license, craving security, wanting to be the legitimate Mrs. Gabriel during her pregnancy.
Chadwick had agreed.
It didn’t matter, he thought. Once the baby was born, he’d divorce her and give me the grand wedding I deserved.
But he forgot one thing. I didn’t forgive betrayal.
Johnson, exhausted from rage, slumped to the ground in silence.
Tears streamed down his face.
That’s when Chadwick’s assistant called.
“Mr. Gabriel–we found her. Miss Lachelle bought a plane ticket two days ago. The flight’s already been in the air for
several hours.”
“What airline? What flight number?” Chadwick shot to his feet, grabbing his coat.
Without waiting for an answer, he ran.
Johnson didn’t follow.
The moment he heard I had left the country, something inside him broke.
He collapsed to the floor, choked sobs racking his body.
How did it come to this?
Chapter 7
At first, he’d been furious with Chadwick’s betrayal. But then he saw Vivian’s face–so similar to mine.
And then… he remembered. She had saved my life.
Guilt began to erode his anger. And under the pressure of her daily, relentless tenderness, his feelings shifted.
The love he once reserved for me–as a brother–was gradually transferred… to her.
Chapter 7
