Chapter 11
The scenes from the vineyard kept flashing through his mind.[]
Declan couldn’t wrap his head around it–Riley had attacked first!
He’d barely pushed her. How could that have caused a miscarriage?]
At seven months, the baby should’ve been stable. How could one little shove cause a miscarriage?]
He was spiraling, desperate to find Riley and figure out what the hell had really happened.[]
But where could he even look?]
Then his eyes landed on Riley’s Driver’s License in his office drawer, and something clicked.[]
He went to the police station claiming his wife was missing and got them to track her recent movements.]
When they found the plane ticket to Miami, Declan booked the next flight out.]
But standing outside Riley’s hotel, he had no idea how to face her.[]
He’d killed their baby with his own hands…]
But Riley had thrown wine at a sick kid.Л]
Declan got a room right next to Riley’s, rehearsing what he’d say over and over.[]
Then Riley’s words from that day came back to him.]
“I didn’t throw anything at her. Believe whatever the hell you want.“[]
And what that stranger had said: “Dude, I literally watched the whole thing go down. That blonde chick hit your pregnant wife first. You’re being a real asshole right now.“[
“What kind of husband takes some other woman’s side over his own wife?”
Declan’s face went white as a sheet.
With shaking fingers, he called the vineyard’s restaurant manager. Ten minutes later, he had the security footage.
The video showed everything–every single thing Piper had done.[]
Riley collapsing after he pushed her, getting taken away in an ambulance, the pool of blood left behind on the floor.
Declan felt like someone had just slapped him across the face with a sledgehammer.[]
He stared at the wall separating him from Riley’s room, feeling something inside him completely collapse.
Piper’s helpless act had been total bullshit.]
He’d been completely wrong about Riley.
It took Declan a full day of self loathing before he worked up the courage to knock on Riley’s door.
Riley thought it was housekeeping.
When she opened the door and saw Declan’s face, her smile instantly died.[]
“What?”
“Piper and Chloe still not satisfied? They sent you to track me down?“]
Even though it was warm outside, Riley was bundled up in a thick sweater–still recovering from surgery.]
Chapter 11
Declan couldn’t find words. He just stared at Riley’s flat stomach with red, swollen eyes.]
He reached out with a trembling hand, but Riley stepped back in disgust.[]
The fake concern made her sick.]
Declan’s voice cracked as he said her name.
“Babe, I fucked up.”
“I killed our baby. I know the truth now–I was completely wrong that day.”
“Piper threw the wine on Chloe herself. She started the fight and hit you first.“]
“I’m sorry. I should’ve protected you.“[
Riley actually laughed when she heard him call her “babe.“]]
She looked at this pathetic man in front of her, and even though she had a thousand things she wanted to scream at him, she was too exhausted.]
I don’t want to hear this.”
“Where are the divorce papers?“]
Declan’s eyes filled with tears.
His voice shook as he protested, “I don’t want a divorce.”
“Babe, I see Piper and Chloe for what they really are now. Just give me one more chance, okay?”
“I swear I’ll keep my distance from them from now on.”
on.”
Riley was done with his bullshit. She leaned against the doorframe and said coldly:[]
“But Declan, now I can’t see who you really are.”
Declan froze, about to make more promises when Riley asked him point–blank:[]
“Are you crying for me, or because Piper’s daughter lost her kidney donor?”
“Even animals don’t eat their own young, but you were ready to harvest our baby’s organs for Chloe.“]
“Now that my baby’s gone, you want to drag me back home to donate my kidney instead, don’t you?“]
