2/2
Chapter 7
Chapter 7
+25 BONUS
Quentin seemed to snap awake, his shoulders shaking. He tried to get up and grab the staff member’s hand, but he stumbled and crashed fo the floor.
“Ruby’s my daughter. Please, I need to see her! I’m her dad!” Quentin exclaimed.
I finally saw Ruby again. She used to be so full of life, always laughing.
My heart, which had been numb for so long, couldn’t keep it together when I saw the small urn sitting quietly on the shelf. I wanted to break down and cry, but all that came out were dry, painful sobs.
No one ever told me that tears vanish after death.
I tried to find Ruby after I died, but I never saw her, not even once.
Quentin stared at the urn, lost in silence. His tears seemed to have dried up, leaving nothing but a heart full of despair.
How could he not be heartbroken? This was his first child, the one he begged me to keep, the one he’d been hoping for so desperately.
That Ruby, who used to laugh and get into trouble, now lay alone in a small box. No one even knew who she was at first.
“An immoral woman who had a child out of wedlock.”
“A mentally unstable drunk driver.”
“If you’re sick, get treatment. If you can’t be cured, then just die!”
Quentin’s words cut deep, each one like a knife to my heart.
The person Quentin tore apart with his harshest words and judged with the most hatred was me the woman he’d loved for five years and our three–year–old Ruby.
Quentin loved kids. That was exactly why, when I found out I was pregnant, Ltold him right away and decided to have Ruby, even though the pressure was overwhelming.
We could’ve had a happy family if Quentin hadn’t kept hiding behind the excuse of being Taylor’s “brother” to flirt with her.
Quentin stayed with Ruby and me for what felt like forever–long enough that I thought he might never leave the funeral home.
Then, out of nowhere, he wiped his tears before standing up and walking away without saying a word. He didn’t return to the law firm. He headed straight home–the home he shared with Taylor.
The moment Quentin walked in, Taylor rushed into his arms.
1/2
Chapter 7
+25 BONUS
Her hair was a mess, and her face was streaked with tears. The grace she once had was completely gone. She clung to Quentin like she was terrified he’d leave if she let go.
“Quent, where have you been? I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have pulled that prank. I love you so much and wanted to marry you on my birthday. Please don’t be mad at me…”
Her voice was full of fear, completely lacking the confident, teasing tone she used to use
with him.
Quentin pushed Taylor out of his arms and looked at her indifferently. He reached out to trace her cheek, his fingers lingering on the scar from the car accident.
Taylor hesitated at first, but when she saw what Quentin did, she figured he wasn’t mad anymore. Her face brightened, and she was just about to say something in that soft, sweet tone of hers when Quentin suddenly cut in.
“Tay, does it hurt?”
Taylor thought he was worried about her and quickly pulled a pitiful face. “It does. I thought I’d be stuck with a scar forever. Luckily, you don’t mind, Quent!”
“Yeah, that cut must’ve stung,” Quentin mumbled, his fingers lingering on her scar. His gaze was distant, like he was staring off somewhere far away.
Taylor took his hand, her voice soft. “Quent, you—”
“How desperate do you think Sharon must’ve been when trapped in those flames?” Quentin’s tone changed in an instant. He grabbed Taylor by the throat before she could react, and she choked for air.
“Quent, what are you talking about? What happened to Sharon-”
“Keep faking it all you want!” Quentin roared, throwing Taylor to the floor with a violent
shove.
His eyes burned with rage as he glared at her. “How dare you crash Sharon’s car with yours?
”
“Quent, it wasn’t me! I swear, I had nothing to do with Sharon’s death!”
Quentin stared down at Taylor, his face blank, like he was looking at someone already -dead. “When did I ever say Sharon was dead?”
