- 9.
After that day, I never saw Gideon again.
Declan Carter’s business continued to expand. Every time he signed a contract, he would push a share transfer document toward me.
“This is for you.”
He always said it as if he was giving me a bouquet of flowers, not a billion–dollar company.
I teased him, calling him silly, but he earnestly held my face:
“I want you to know you always have the option to leave.”
D
“But I hope you’ll never leave me.”
With teary eyes, I promised.
Three months later, Declan Carter and I went to Iceland for our wedding, then traveled around the world for our honeymoon.
Upon returning home, I heard that the Adams family business had officially declared bankruptcy, and the children were taken back to Gideon’s old residence by the elders.
Gideon had been missing for days until one rainy night, someone found him in an alley near the old residence.
“Wife, I was wrong… Please forgive me…”
He mumbled to the air, sometimes crying, sometimes laughing foolishly.
¡ felt a pang of pity in my heart, but no more.
None of this concerned me anymore.
All I knew was that I was happy now, and that was enough.
A year later, I gave birth to a daughter.
4
Declan Carter, trembling, cut the umbilical cord and placed the tiny bundle in my arms, his
“She looks like you.” He kissed away the sweat on my forehead. “Especially beautiful.”
eyes red.
Sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting a glow on them that seemed almost unreal.
I smiled with contentment.
At this moment, with my love by my side,
The spring outside was just as brilliant.
[The End]
