Chapter 7
Chapter 7
After I left, he tried many ways to find me.
He filed police reports, posted missing person notices, but nothing worked.
I had vanished from his world without a trace.
He couldn’t find me, and I never sought news of him.
Time flew by, and two years passed.
By then, due to local development, tourists were flocking to our small city, and my coffee shop was bustling with business every day.
I found joy in my busy life, each day feeling meaningful and complete.
One day, when our delivery staff injured his foot and couldn’t work, I let him mind the shop while I personally delivered the orders.
However, when I arrived at the hotel with the coffee, I froze at the sight of who had ordered it.
Nathan was equally stunned. He stood there with his phone mid–call, staring at me in disbelief. “Ash… Ashley?”
My once–calm heart rippled briefly before settling again. “Hello, here’s your coffee.”
I held out the coffee, and he snapped back to reality, quickly hanging up his phone and reaching for me.
But I was faster, stepping back to avoid his touch.
I looked at him with the detachment one might show a stranger.
His eyes, though, blazed with the joy of finding something long lost. “Ashley, I’ve finally found you.”
“I’m not Ashley. Please sign for your coffee.”
I held out the coffee again.
This time he took it, his gaze never leaving me, as if afraid I’d disappear the moment he blinked.
Task completed, I turned to leave.
But he caught my arm, his grip desperate yet careful. “Ashley, we’ve finally met again. Please, give me a moment. Can we talk?”
He pleaded with an unprecedented humility.
I frowned, forcefully pulling away from his grasp. Looking at him firmly, I said, “You’ve got the wrong person. I’m not who you think I am.”
I backed away, turning to leave.
Just then, his voice came from behind me: “The baby can say ‘mama‘ now. When he first learned to talk, ‘mama‘ was his first word. Ashley, even if you don’t want to see me, don’t you want to see your child?”
As he spoke these words, my steps faltered slightly.
But that was all.
I still didn’t look back.
After that, he ordered from the shop twice more.
Not wanting to see him again, I paid extra to have others deliver his orders.
Seeming to understand my intentions, he stopped ordering.
Just when I thought he would finally give up, he showed up at the shop with our child.
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As Hearts Grow Cold
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Chapter 7
When I saw the child in his arms, my body froze, as if bound by an invisible force that kept me rooted to the spot.
The baby was well behaved, looking around curiously from Nathan’s arms with his big round eyes, intrigued by this unfamiliar place,
When his gaze landed on me, I felt a sharp pain in my chest and instinctively wanted to flee.
“Look, that’s your mama. Say hello,” Nathan said softly, encouraging him.
I snapped wide–eyed, my instinctive rejection crying out: “I’m not!”
My sharp tone startled the baby. His lip quivered, and tears welled up in his round eyes.
Seeing this, I dug my nails into my palm and deliberately looked away.
The young barista working for me saw this and came over excitedly. “Boss, is this your son? He’s so cute!”
“No.” My voice was hoarse as I repeatedly denied it. “I don’t know them. He’s not my son.”
“Ashley, the baby may be young, but he understands-” Nathan started.
Before he could finish, my barista interjected with surprise, “Sir, you must have the wrong person. Our boss isn’t called Ashley. Her name is Claire
Stewart.”
Hearing this unfamiliar name, Nathan’s expression froze, but he still insisted firmly, “Whatever name she goes by, she’s my wife and our son’s mother.”
I clenched my jaw, struggling not to look at them. I turned to my employee and said, “We’re closing early today. Please ask all customers to leave, then
and you can clean up home.”
go
With that, I fled to the back kitchen.
After thinking for a moment, I dialed the number I’d memorized by heart.
When I heard Margaret’s familiar voice, I fought to control my trembling hands. “Mom, help me one more time.”
Margaret was furious when she heard Nathan had brought the baby to find me. She immediately bought a plane ticket and rushed over.
When I finally collected myself and went back out, I found Nathan and the baby still waiting by the shop entrance.
My young employee came over to report, “Boss, I tried my best to convince them to leave, but they won’t go. Should I call the police?”
She was young and wore her heart on her sleeve.
Though clearly curious about my situation, she hadn’t pried.
I shook my head. “No need. Just finish cleaning up and go home. Don’t worry about them.”
From the day I left, I had severed all ties with the Hayes family.
No matter what he did, I wouldn’t look back.
He wouldn’t leave, so Margaret forcefully pushed him away.
I forced myself not to watch them go.
But perhaps due to the pull of blood ties, I inexplicably turned to look outside the shop, only to meet my baby’s smiling eyes.
In that moment, I finally broke down, tears streaming silently down my face.
“Boss, what’s wrong?” my employee asked with concern.
I wiped away my tears and shook my head. “Just got some dust in my eye, it’s nothing.”
After that day, I regularly received photos of the baby.
Crying photos, laughing photos, even angry ones.
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Chapter 7
After sending the photos, Margaret would send voice messages saying, “Claire, no matter where you are, you’ll always be his mother.”
I never replied to her messages, but I would look at the photos she sent over and over.
No matter how much I missed him, I kept it locked in my heart.
Because I knew I couldn’t go back.
Baby, I’m sorry you have such a selfish mother.
If there’s a next life, I promise I’ll love you properly.
