Chapter 9
Nathan’s eyes went blank, as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Only after Hunter repeated it three times did he suddenly jump to his feet and rush toward the door in a panic, as if afraid I’d disappear if he was even a second too late.
When Nathan and Hunter showed up, I was helping tourists take photos on the beach. They loved my style and even tipped me, which I gratefully accepted. But when they leaned in to give me the customary cheek kisses, Nathan rushed over and yanked me away.
“What are you doing to her?!”
The tourists tried to push him off me, but I stopped them–I didn’t want to drag them into this mess.
After we moved to a quieter spot, I looked up at him. Nathan stared at me like he could never get enough, but I found it strange and… disgusting.
I didn’t ask how they’d found me–if they wanted to, there were plenty of ways.]
“Are you here to settle the score?”
Nathan’s breath caught, his voice breaking with grief: “That was my child too.“]
I asked softly: “Did you really care about him?“]
Nathan shot back loudly: “How can you think I didn’t care?!“]
Looking at his bloodshot eyes, I actually laughed–at his fake emotions, his pretend devotion.[]
“You released that video while I was pregnant, letting the whole world see me at my most vulnerable. That’s what you call caring?“||
Nathan’s face went deathly pale as panic filled his eyes, gaze.
but he can’ts
say a
word in his defense. Even Hunter, always so calculating, stood frozen and couldn’t meet my
After a long silence, Nathan finally managed to say hoarsely: “Jessica, we were wrong. Let us make it up
to you.”
With the endless ocean waves rolling in the distance, I slowly shook
my
head in this beautiful setting: “Your absence would be the greatest gift you could give me.”
:“|
Nathan’s face was rigid with tension, and in that suffocating silence,
spoke again: “I
divorce. When we get back to New York, let’s get it finalized.”
Even during the entire flight home, Nathan never said the words
I
wanted to hear. But
News of my return spread quickly, and Rebecca found out that very day. While Nathan matter–no one could stop my decision.
shocked to see she’d brought Connor and Delilah–those two monsters–with her.
Nathan’s expression immediately darkened as he stepped in front of me: “Get the hell out!“[
Hunter were preparing dinner for me, she barged in brazenly, and I was
www
Delilah didn’t dare mess with him, but she fixed her cruel, bitter eyes on me with mockery in her voice: “Loo daughter? You got a death wish?”
at
you now–from trash to treasure. Think you can bully my
Connor had been spineless his whole life, but he straightened up in front of me, still thinking I was that little girl who wouldn’t fight back or defend herself.
When he saw me staring at him, Connor spat on the floor: “What are you looking at? You want me to beat your ass?”
I smiled. Why wouldn’t I believe him? Brooms for sweeping, rakes for farming–they’d used every tool they could find on my body.
To those two, I wasn’t even human. They’d buy medicine for sick livestock, but when I had a fever of nearly 104 degrees, they’d just tell me to tough it out.
If I hadn’t been incredibly lucky, I never would’ve survived to see today.[]
