He looked terrible. Gaunt. Hollow-cheeked. I barely recognized him.
“Aria, please,” he said, desperation oozing from every word. “For the sake of our child, forgive me. I swear, I’ll never hurt you again. Please, just give me one more chance. When we’re old, this will just be a tiny bump in our long life together.”
I sat up against the headboard, the pain from the surgery finally under control. But my heart? That was another story. I looked at him with cold eyes, feeling nothing but revulsion.
“Gabriel,” I said slowly, letting the words land. “I have evidence. Transfer records, electronic statements, everything. If you don’t agree to an uncontested divorce, we’ll be meeting in court.”
The color drained from his face, panic setting in. He grabbed my hand, pleading. “Aria, I’m a bastard, I know. I cheated. I deserve to die a thousand times over. But please, don’t do this for our daughter. You can’t take her father away. I’ll change. I swear, I will.”
I yanked my hand away from his, my resolve stronger than ever. “There’s no changing this. I find you disgusting.”
Before he could say another word, I cut him off. “Remember how hard you’ve been fighting for that regional manager position? Think about it, if this divorce turns ugly, what do you think the company will think of you?”
That did it. Gabriel, the man who cared more about his image than anything, crumpled in front of me. He dropped to his knees, wailing like I’d just shattered his entire world.
Through the sound of his pitiful cries, I spoke calmly. “I’ve already signed the divorce agreement. It’s in the study at home. Go sign it, and get out.”
The slapping sounds of his desperate gestures filled the room. “Mom will be back soon, and you know how she is. If you don’t want to deal with another round of her temper, I suggest you leave now.”
I spent the next few days resting in the hospital, recovering. Once I was discharged, I moved into a maternity care center to escape the chaos and finally find some peace. The center had strict security, and with the guards on duty, Gabriel couldn’t get anywhere near me. It was exactly what I needed: quiet, safe, and far from the man who’d made a mess of everything.
But then, one day, a package arrived.
