Chapter 13%
The last time I saw him, he was crumbling before the camera.}]
“Adeline, if you can see this, please just give me another chance!“}
“I was a fool, I was shameless, I hurt you in ways I can never undo.“}
“I regret it. I regret everything. Only now do I realize the one I truly love has always been you!“}}]
“Henry is still so young; he needs his father. Please, just let me see you both one more time! If I have to kneel before you and beg, I will. I swear, I will!”
Tears streamed down his face as he collapsed to his knees before the camera.}
But his pitiful display didn’t move me; it only made my stomach turn.
Without a second thought, I clicked “Unfollow” and left the livestream without looking back.
For the rest of my life, I had only one prayer: that I would never see him again.”
And from that day on, I never wasted another second on news about him.
To me, he was nothing more than a familiar stranger.]
Yet, fate had other plans.”
Three months later, as always, I was taking Henry to his rehabilitation training.
While waiting at a red light, I absently glanced up, only for my breath to
Across the street, staring straight at me was him.”
Patch in my throat.
His gaze was a tangled mess of emotions, deep love and something else, something unreadable.}
I instinctively tightened my hold on Henry and, without a second thought, turned away, heading in the opposite direction.
Behind me, his agonized cries shattered the air.
“Adeline, please don’t go!“}
I didn’t stop. I didn’t even look back. I quickened my pace, desperate to escape.}
Then suddenly, a sharp screech of brakes tore through the silence.
My heart lurched.
I spun around, my breath catching in my throat.
There he was, collapsed in a pool of blood.”
For a moment, the world blurred. Then, as if sensing my gaze, his bloodied face struggled into a faint, broken smile.
“Adeline… I finally got to see you and Henry again…“}
“Only after you left did I realize what truly mattered. I let you down… and i let Henry down even more. Please… forgive me, won’t you?”
i trembled, frozen in place, hesitation clawing at my chest.”
After a long silence, I finally stepped forward; Henry still cradled in my arms.
He tried to sit up, reaching out, aching to hold us.
But instinct took over. I stepped back, keeping just enough distance before leaning slightly toward him and whispering:
“Henry and I are doing well. You don’t have to look for us anymore. We don’t want to see you again.”
