Chapter 4
I closed my eyes in despair, tears slipping down my cheeks.
"Lance, how could you be so cruel?" I yelled.
When Lance saw me crying, his expression softened with pity.
He reached out, wanting to wipe away my tears, but I turned my head, refusing his touch.
His hand paused in mid-air and then fell helplessly to his side.
He said, "Gabriela, I'm sorry.
"I let you down, and I let Chloe down, too.
"Now that she's gone, Kason can't be without a mother."
My eyes flew open, and I stared at him in disbelief. "What do you mean?"
Lance took a deep breath, as if steeling himself for what he was about to say. "Chloe left a will behind.
"She said that if something ever happened to her, she wanted you to... take care of Kason."
I was stunned, frozen in place.
"She knew about me?" I asked.
"Yes." Lance nodded slowly, pain flickering in his eyes. "She always knew about you."
My mind went completely blank.
Chloe was the woman I'd never even met, the one who took my husband and gave birth to his child.
And she actually left me with such a cruel scheme before she died.
She wanted me to raise her son.
She wanted me to face that little boy every day, the one whose face was almost a copy of my husband's.
She wanted me to be constantly reminded of how they had shattered my marriage.
What an insult!
"Lance, do you seriously think I'd agree to raise her child?" I asked, my voice cold as ice.
Lance looked at me, desperation written all over his face, practically begging.
He said, "Gabriela, I know it's a huge thing to ask. But it was Chloe's dying wish.
"Kason hasn't done anything wrong. He's innocent. He's just a kid..."
"Innocent? Are you serious?" I cut him off.
I let out a bitter, almost crazed laugh. "And what about my child? The one we could've had together!
"Because of Kason, I might never get to be a mother! And now you expect me to raise your illegitimate son?
"Lance, dream on!"
I spun around and stormed off, unable to stand looking at him for even a second longer.
But Lance wrapped his arms around me from behind, holding me so tight that I couldn't break free.
"Gabriela, don't go! Please, hear me out!" he pleaded.
Lance pressed his chin against my shoulder, his breath hot against my ear. I felt a wave of revulsion wash over me.
Once, this embrace had been my sanctuary, my place of comfort and safety.
Now, it made me feel utterly disgusted, like I wanted to crawl out of my own skin.
I tried to pull away, but Lance only tightened his grip, refusing to let me go.
Lance said, sounding desperate. "Chloe's parents are way too old and sick to look after Kason.
"I'm Kason's dad. I can't just abandon him.
"Gabriela, please... I'm begging you. Help me out, just this once. For everything we used to have."
I stopped struggling, my body stiffening.
I was stunned by how shameless he was to have mentioned what we used to have.
All we once had was gone.
There was nothing left between us but endless lies and betrayal.
I enunciated every word, clear and firm. "Lance, we're finished.
"Let go of me."
But instead of letting go, Lance spun me around, forcing me to face him.
His eyes were red and bloodshot, filled with pain and turmoil.
Lance pleaded, his voice trembling. "Gabriela, please, just give me one more chance.
"Let's start over, okay? Please?
"I'll treat Kason like he's our own kid. I'll double my efforts to make it up to you. I'll do everything to make things right."
I stared at him, as if he were someone I'd never known.
I wondered how he could even say that.
He'd already ruined my life, and now he wanted to tie me down with a child.
He expected me to accept his betrayal, accept his illegitimate son, and then go on pretending to be his dutiful wife, like nothing ever happened.
It was utterly laughable.
I raised my hand and, with all the fury I could muster, slapped him hard across the face.
The sharp smack echoed loudly through the empty room.
His head jerked to the side, and an angry red handprint burned onto his cheek.
He stood there, like he couldn't believe I'd actually hit him.
I stared at him, and the tears I'd been holding back finally burst out, rolling down my cheeks.
I said, my voice trembling with rage. "Lance, hear me loud and clear.
"I, Gabriela Freeman, regret nothing more in this life than meeting you and marrying you.
"You want me to raise your bastard son? Not a chance. I'd rather die.
"See you in court."
With that, I didn't spare him another glance. I turned and walked away without looking back, leaving for good.
Not a single word or plea followed me. No one tried to stop me.
I had no idea how I made it back to the hotel.
The moment I closed the door, all the strength drained out of me, and I slid down against it, crumpling to the floor.
I hugged my knees, buried my face in them, and finally broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.
After five years of marriage and three years of waiting, this was the broken mess I ended up with.
My husband, the man I once thought I'd spend my whole life with, changed.