Chapter 8

In that moment, the world around her seemed to blur as she collapsed to the floor. Her phone rang, and she answered mechanically, hearing Alistair's voice. "The baby's stable now. I've released the blood supply back to the hospital." She let out a hollow laugh as tears streamed down her face."Too late. My father just died." Silence stretched between them, broken only by her quiet sobs. Finally, Alistair spoke. "I... | didn't think it would turn out like this." The pain behind her eyes was unbearable. Elaine stared up at the ceiling, seeming to see her father's face looking back at her. "God, Alistair, if only I'd never fallen for you," she whispered. "My dad would never have let me marry you. He wouldn't have gone after you when he found out about Vivian. He'd still be alive." "I hate myself for ever loving you."Her voice was flat, lifeless. Something was slipping away from him, something he suddenly realized he wanted to hold onto. He tried to speak, but the line had already gone dead. For the first timer, she'd hung up on him. Back at the hospital, Elaine wiped her tears and turned to her father's body, lying still on the bed. Tears came flooding back. "Dad, I'm so sorry. | failed you."Dad, I'm taking you now." Elaine brought her father home after spending five days handling the funeral arrangements. Her eyes were swollen from endless crying, her chest hollowed out as if someone had physically carved her heart away. And she moved through the world like a zombie, just a shell of who she used to be. The only thing she could manage was a call to her lawyer about the divorce. "The waiting period is almost over," he told her gently. "Just three more days. And Ms. Faerwyn... I'm truly sorry about your father." During those three days, Alistair tried to see her several times, but she refused to open the door. Finally, he cornered her at the cemetery, his face a mask of frustration and impatience. "Elaine, | can't abandon Vivian. I'm sorry for your father's death, and I've apologized multiple times. How long are you going to keep this up?" She turned to look at him, all the warmth and longing that had once filled her eyes gone. "I never asked you to find me, Alistair."He froze, then anger flashed across his face. "Fine, don't regret."He stormed off without a backward glance. Watching him go, Elaine's eyes rimmed with red. Don't worry, Alistair. | won't regret this. Not ever. The three days passed in a blur. On the day she received her divorce certificate, Elaine prepared to leave. Before going, she decided to deliver Alistair's copy to him. Learning he was at the hospital for Vivian's checkup, she went there directly. As she reached the examination room, she was about to push the door open when Alistair's voice drifted through. "Doctor, can you tell who the baby looks like?" Her hand froze on the doorknob. The n, Vivian's sugary voice, "I hope the baby looks more like daddy." She lowered her head coyly, missing how Alistair's expression instantly darkened. "The baby has to take after you," he said, his tone leaving no room for discussion.