9:00 AM
210
*
Emily sat silently, disappointment tightening her chest.
She had once believed that Lucas’s despair came from being unable to accept my sudden departure–that once he saw me again, saw that I had moved on and was living happily, he would finally let go.”
But she was wrong.
Lucas wasn’t letting go.
On the contrary, he was spiraling deeper into his regrets, utterly consumed by his own world where the only thing that mattered was seeking my forgiveness–even if I had built a new life, even if I now had a husband and a child.
Back at the hotel, Lucas paced restlessly, his mind unable to settle.
“Why did Zoe get married? When did she fall in love with someone else? Who is that man?” he muttered, voice cracked with disbelief.
“A child… How could she have a child?“}
He stared blankly ahead, shaking his head, his thoughts chasing one another in circles. “Is she still angry with me? Did she deliberately find someone else, have a child… just to hurt me? To make me pay?”
He couldn’t understand. He didn’t want to.
Emily crossed her arms and exhaled sharply, the irritation on her face growing.}
She couldn’t stand to listen anymore.
Enough!” she snapped, her tone icy. “Do you think lying to yourself will change anything?“}
She laughed bitterly.
“She doesn’t love you anymore, Lucas. And that child? That’s not your child. She’s someone else’s daughter–and she’s already calling someone else ‘Dad.”
Her voice grew sharper with each word. “Medical technology is advanced now. Anyone can have a child when they want to. tampered with her pills, maybe she would’ve had one even sooner.“>
If
you
hadn’t
Her words struck like knives, but Lucas didn’t flinch.
He looked dazed, murmuring quietly, “But… I knew her condition. I changed her medication myself. I know what it did to her body.” He collapsed onto the edge of the bed, his mind spinning. “She wasn’t supposed to be able to conceive. How…?”
Emily’s phone rang, interrupting the tense silence.
Her son’s sweet, childlike voice came through the speaker.
“Mommy, when are you coming home? I miss you!“}
Emily’s expression softened briefly as she answered. “Soon, baby. Mommy will be home soon.”>
She glanced at Lucas, still lost in thought, and offered him the phone. He didn’t even move.
After hanging up, she spoke in a calmer tone, trying to anchor him back to reality.
“Lucas, let’s go home. We’ve been away for days, and your son wants to go to the amusement park with you. He misses his dad.”
But her words barely reached him.”
“Right… modern medicine,” Lucas muttered again, eyes suddenly lighting up with realization. “If she could get pregnant now, maybe… maybe that child is-“}
He stood up abruptly, a spark of hope igniting in his chest.
“She looked the same age as our son… It makes sense!“>
He ran for the door without another word, a wide grin spreading across his face like a man who had just discovered buried treasure.
“Zoe, I knew it! You still love me!“}
Emily stared after him, stunned by his sudden burst of delusional joy.
When his words finally registered, her eyes burned with rage.
“Zoe! It’s always Zoe with you!” she screamed.”
With trembling hands, she swept the hotel table clean, sending cups and magazines crashing to the floor.
“You’ve completely forgotten who you are! Forgotten that you’re a husband, a father!“}
Her voice cracked, her fury born from pain.
“Fine,” she whispered, her voice low and dangerous. “If you won’t give up on her, I’ll make sure you have no choice.“>
Meanwhile, outside, Lucas ran as memories flooded his mind.”
He remembered a moment–an offhand comment I once made.”
“What if I had a child too?”
That single line now echoed in his ears with new meaning.
It all made sense now. The child must be his.”
At that moment, back at the car, Nathan turned to me cautiously.
Miss Zoe… was that man just now the one you once loved? Is he also…” He paused, glancing at the child.
“Don’t say it,” I said quickly, shaking my head. “He has nothing to do with us anymore.“>
9:00 AM
I hugged my daughter protectively and whispered, “Let’s go home.” We had planned to shop after the airport, but the mood was gone.
I just wanted to be somewhere safe again.”
But when we pulled into the driveway and stepped out, I froze.
Lucas was standing outside my house. Waiting.
My heart sank.}
What is he doing here again?”
Nathan hadn’t noticed–he was still parking the car.
“Zoe!” Lucas called out with a bright, almost childlike smile. “You’re finally back.”
I instinctively held my daughter closer.
“What do you want?” I asked, my voice cold and guarded.§
He didn’t answer.
His eyes were locked on the child in my arms.
I could feel the danger in his gaze–not of violence, but of obsession.
My instincts screamed at me.}
I quickly turned my daughter’s face away from him, shielding her.
“Lucas, I already told you–we have nothing to do with each other anymore. Please leave.“}]
But he just smiled eyen wider.
“Zoe,” he said softly, “Why are you so nervous?“}
