Chapter 4
Yes, I had lost completely.
Nathan would never know that when I first met Margaret, she had already mentioned him.
He would never know that we’d attended the same school since middle school.
I had secretly loved him for years, quietly watching him from afar, never disturbing him.
So when Margaret suggested 1 become her daughter in law after my college graduation, I was so happy I couldn’t sleep that night.
But it seems my happiness was built on his misery.
If that’s the case, I’ll let you go, and free myself too.
I didn’t respond to her message. I stayed home, eating and drinking as I should.
Soon, it was my last day of postpartum recovery.
During dinner, Margaret kept her promise and brought out divorce papers with Nathan’s signature. With reluctance, she asked, “Tomorrow is the baby’s full–month celebration. Would you stay for that before leaving?”
I shook my head. “No, I’ve already bought my ticket for tomorrow morning.”
“Then will you at least look at him…”
“Mom, I’m leaving this family in your care from now on.”
I cut her off with a gentle smile, not letting her finish.
Margaret recognized my determination. She wiped away a tear. “Alright, I’ll raise the baby well, don’t worry.”
Just as I took the divorce papers, Nathan came downstairs.
Seeing this scene, he frowned. “What’s that you’re holding?”
I clutched the papers tightly and shook my head. “Nothing.”
His eyes were probing, staring at me intently.
I maintained
my composure.
Fortunately, he didn’t pursue it further. Instead, he changed the subject to tomorrow’s celebration.
“I have something to take care of tomorrow, so I’ll be late to the venue,” he said. “If you need anything, ask Mom.”
Margaret’s face clouded with disapproval. “What could be more important than your son’s celebration? You-”
“It’s fine. Go handle your business,” I interrupted.
His presence or absence made no difference to the baby.
After all, since I gave birth, he, like me, hadn’t looked at our son once.
Margaret wanted to say more, but I gave her a small smile and shook my head.
Time flew, and the day of the celebration arrived.
But the atmosphere at home wasn’t as festive as one might expect.
As Margaret carried the baby out, a housekeeper suddenly asked, “Ma’am, shouldn’t we wait for Mrs. Stewart to go to the venue together?”
She paused, looked up at the second floor, and shook her head with tears in her eyes.
09:47
As Hearts Grow Cold
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What she didn’t know was that I had deceived her.
I had hoarded my flight the night before the celebration.
When Nathan finally finished his work and rushed to the venue, he searched everywhere but couldn’t find me.
For some reason, he felt an oppressive pain in his chest.
He fourried to Margaret, asking, “Where’s Ashley? Where did she go?”
Margaret glared at him. “Now you remember to look for her? Isn’t her absence exactly what you wanted?”
“Mom, where did she really go?”
Margaret refused to tell him, letting out a cold snort before taking the baby to greet the guests.
Finding no answers there, Nathan immediately drove home.
But when he arrived, there was still no sign of the familiar figure he sought.
A strong sense of suffocation seized him as panic set in.
He staggered up the stairs, calling out as he went.
But all that awaited him was an empty room.
The dressing table was bare, and the closet was cleared of my clothes.
He wanted to laugh, but his attempt at a smile was more painful than crying.
He had always assumed that no matter what happened, I would never leave him.
He had believed that with the baby as a tie, I would be trapped here forever.
But only when he couldn’t find me did he realize that he was the one who couldn’t let go.
Nathan sat before the empty dressing table, his eyes blood–red, staring silently at his reflection in the mirror.
He sat there for an entire day.
When Margaret returned with the baby and passed by the hallway, she saw him sitting motionless in the room. Her eyes filled with derision. “Well, well, shouldn’t you be wrapped up in some woman’s arms at this hour? Or are you getting too old to keep up that woman?”
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Chapter 5
