Chapter 7
I’ve made my home in Ireland with my baby. She’s almost a year old. She’s just started walking and is beginning to babble.
I even heard her say “Mommy” for the first time.
That moment brought tears of joy to my eyes.
I’m so thankful I haven’t missed any part of her life, and I’m happy that I have been blessed with such a sweet, well–behaved child.
One sunny and breezy day, I took her out for a walk in her stroller.
When I glanced up, I noticed Marques standing nearby.
His eyes were bloodshot and shadowed with dark circles, as if he hadn’t. rested for days.
The moment he saw me with the baby, his eyes filled with tears.
“Maddie…”
He stepped closer, his voice hoarse and shaky.
“I’ve been searching for you everywhere. I don’t know how to go on
without you.
“I miss you so much. I truly can’t live without you.
“I’m sorry. It was my mistake. I hurt you, but please… Will you give me another chance?”
He looked at the baby in the stroller, his voice carrying a hint of desperation.
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“The baby is still so young. She needs a father as well…..”
I met his gaze with steady calmness, my expression unwavering.
“You should have known me better. Once you betrayed me, you should have realized I’d never return.”
Marques’s face went completely white.
“So you did know…”
He
let out a harsh, bitter laugh, and then his face contorted with intense
pain.
“I never meant to betray you. It was a mistake back then.
“Initially, I just viewed her as a living blood bank for you. I wanted everything to go smoothly with your delivery–absolutely nothing could
go wrong.
“I truly did have her sent away. But then she applied for a job, and the department chose her as my secretary. Shortly after, that incident
occurred.
“She was wearing the same dress as you, and I confused her for you.”
Marques struggled to keep his voice steady.
“After everything that happened, I couldn’t bring myself to face you. I couldn’t handle the fact that I had let you down.
“I arranged for Kelly to leave… But afterward, mom insisted we should have another child. Since Sophie is a girl, the Cruz Group requires an heir.
“But Maddie, I couldn’t bear the thought of you having another baby. The pain you endured before, and the life–threatening hemorrhage, was
Chapter 7
something I couldn’t risk experiencing again…”
I remembered the time Marques traveled overseas for a two–week business trip.
It was the longest we had ever been apart. Our video chats were always brief, ending quickly after exchanging only a few words.
At the time, I assumed he was simply overwhelmed with work. But now, I realized the truth.
I tugged at the corner of my mouth and continued from where he left off.
“So, you turned to Kelly and let her have your child.”
Marques shut his eyes, his voice breaking, filled with nearly unbearable anguish.
“I’m sorry, Maddie. I truly love you. It was my mistake, I was terribly wrong.
“I’ve never loved anyone else. You’re the only person I’ve ever loved in my entire life.
“I’ve already arranged for the child to be aborted. She has been sent overseas, and I won’t see her again in my lifetime.
“Can we… begin again?”
His words broke my composure and fueled my rage.
“Do you consider cheating on me as ‘loving me‘? Denying me the chance to have a child, only to father one with another woman, is that your idea of ‘loving me“?”
I believed my heart wouldn’t hurt anymore, yet as I spoke, my eyes with bitterness.
burned
Chapter 7
How could he cause me so much pain while pretending to love me?
I looked away and brushed the tears from my eyes.
“Leave. It’s over between us.
“The moment you married Kelly, whatever we had was gone.”
