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Elise’s POV
Chapter 98
The little girl standing beside me was Izzy, my daughter, the child I had adopted overseas.
Her mother had died shielding me from a bombing. Before that, her entire family had been wiped out in the war, leaving her as the only survivor.
When I first found her, she was barely three years old–frail, covered in dirt and dried blood, trembling with fear. Her wide, lost eyes haunted me.}
She was like a gift from the heavens, a way to fill the void left by the child I’d lost.
In just six months, she had transformed. The fragile, scared little girl had blossomed into a chubby, healthy toddler. Her once hollow eyes now sparkled with joy, and when she laughed, dimples creased her cheeks.}
She had become my everything.
Gently pinching her soft little face, I introduced her.}
“This is my daughter, Izzy,” I said simply, my voice warm.
Then, looking down at her, I added, “Izzy, say hello to Uncle Hayes.“}
Izzy, ever the polite child, beamed at Hayes and chirped, “Hello, Uncle Hayes.”
The blood drained from Hayes’s face. He opened his mouth like he was about to speak, but no words came out. His lips moved in confusion, then quickly twisted into a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
His voice was hoarse when he finally managed to say, “Elise… what is this? Why do you suddenly have a daughter? Are you joking?“}]
I let out a quiet sigh.
“Hayes,” I said, my voice calm, “when you have time, we should finalize the divorce.“}
His entire body stiffened at the words.
I continued, my voice steady but softer now, “You and Zara’s child must have been born by now. You wouldn’t want the baby to grow up with the stigma of being illegitimate, would you?”
Hayes panicked. “Elise, he’s not–he can be our child…”
Before he could finish, Izzy frowned and puffed up her little cheeks, crossing her arms in protest.
“A baby can only have one mommy and one daddy,” she huffed. “Your baby has his own mommy. Elise is my mommy!“}]
I chuckled and affectionately patted her head. Turning back to Hayes, I said lightly, “See? Even a child understands that. But you, a grown man, don’t.”
Hayes swallowed hard, his expression crumbling.
“Hayes, I have no interest in raising a child born from the woman who destroyed my marriage,” I continued evenly. “Nor do I have any desire to be someone’s stepmother. You’re looking at the wrong person.“}
The color drained completely from his face.
He tried to speak, but whatever excuse he had prepared now seemed meaningless.
Because deep down, he knew–he knew just how cruel his request was.
“Elise, I…”
Before he could find the words, a familiar voice cut through the tension.
“Elise, Izzy–why are you two still standing out here?”
Theo walked into the restaurant, his posture relaxed but his expression questioning as he looked between me and Hayes.}
The moment Izzy saw him, her face lit up like a Christmas tree.}
“Daddy!” she called, waving excitedly. “Come quick! Someone’s trying to steal my mommy!“}
At her words, Hayes visibly stiffened. His whole body went rigid, his jaw tightening. His gaze snapped immediately at Theo, pure hostility radiating from him.”
I could almost feel the tension in the air between them.
But Theo?D
He didn’t spare Hayes so much as a glance.)
Completely indifferent, he walked straight past him, gently tapping Izzy’s cheek before turning his attention to me.
“It’s alright,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “Your mommy isn’t so easy to steal.”
Theo’s confidence was effortless, and for the first time in a long time, I felt a flicker of peace.
I let out a small sigh, amused but helpless.
Turning to Izzy, I smiled. “That’s right. As long as I have you, that’s enough.“}
My words were meant to reassure Izzy, but they also served as a message to Hayes.
And he understood it perfectly.”
His expression twisted in pain. The bitter smile on his lips was full of regret, and his voice barely escaped as a whisper.
“Elise,” he said, his eyes locking with mine, “When you said that… did you ever think about me? Do you really… not want me
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anymore?”
His voice was raw, desperate. He was searching for something in me that I couldn’t give him anymore.”
I met his gaze, unflinching.”
7
“Hayes,” I said softly, “the moment you betrayed our marriage, you should have known how this would end.“}
I watched as his shoulders slumped, his entire body sagging under the weight of my words.
“You didn’t let go first, Hayes.” I inhaled sharply, my tone final. “You just didn’t notice when I finally did.“}
His breath hitched.
I didn’t look away.
“Now,” I continued, “your responsibility isn’t me anymore. It’s Zara. It’s your child.”}
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