Waving the report triumphantly, Kailee’s grin oozed smugness. “You claim to have married Laney out of compassion. Can you not extend the same sympathy to me and make me your wife?”
Garrett’s voice was thick with disbelief. “You are utterly undeserving of sympathy! You’re a malevolent creature! Your words mean nothing to me!’’
He lunged forward, seizing Kailee’s wrist. “You’re going to redo the pregnancy test this instant!”
As the two grappled with one another, the door to the VIP room burst open. “Enough!’’ Garrett froze at the sound of the all-too- familiar voice.
Visibly flustered, he turned and stammered, “Laney… How did you…?”
Tears cascading down her cheeks, Laney stood in the doorway, Ian’s stoic presence beside her.
Witnessing the chaotic scene before her, Laney’s voice wavered with sorrow. “I know everything. How long were you planning to deceive me, Garrett?”
“No, it’s not what it seems! Let me explain.” Garrett hastily released Kailee, attempting to embrace Laney, but she evaded him.
With her head lowered in disappointment, Laney whispered, “I heard it all. Kailee is carrying your child. What more is there to say?”
“I…” Garrett stammered, desperate to clarify, but Laney’s words left him at a loss for a rebuttal.
His gaze narrowing, Garrett suddenly rounded on Ian, baring his teeth in a snarl. “It was you, wasn’t it? You divulged the sordid details of my entanglement with Kailee to Laney, didn’t you? Did you bring her here deliberately? What was your motive?”
Ian remained unperturbed by Garrett’s rage, calmly responding, “Mrs. Harding chose to come of her own accord. She has every right to know the truth.”
“You orchestrated this!” With an animalistic growl, Garrett lunged at Ian, his fist flying towards Ian’s face.
“Garrett! Stop!”
Laney stood in front of Ian, her gaze brimming with disappointment as it fell on Garrett. “If you want to hit someone, hit me. I was the one who decided to come here,” she said.
Garrett’s fist hung suspended in mid-air. “Laney…” he started, but his voice trailed off without another word.
Laney didn’t bother lingering on him for long, and turned to Kailee with a calm gaze. “Kailee, no matter how much you want my husband, you should never use a child as a bargaining chip. A kid is not some object or tool for you to use as you see fit.”
Kailee answered with a snort, making a mockery of Laney’s righteous words. Laney’s eyes fell on Kailee’s stomach, a chuckle coming out of her.
“Still, we have yet to see if you really are pregnant, haven’t we? And even if you really are, there are plenty of ways to find out the child’s true paternity. You can’t fake something like this,” she said.
Kailee’s face twisted into an unpleasant expression. “And what exactly do you mean by that?” she demanded.
But Laney paid no attention to her, and instead turned to Garrett with a tired expression. Deep sorrow filled her eyes, sharp and penetrating in its silence.
Garrett felt his heart lurch as he met her gaze. Her eyes told him all he needed to know. Laney no longer believed in him.
“Let’s go, Ian,” she said in a calm voice that betrayed none of the hurt in her eyes. She turned away from Garrett and walked away without looking back.
“Laney!” Garrett called out in a panicked voice. His feet were already going after her, but Kailee grabbed onto him. “Garrett! Please don’t leave. Listen. I love you. I really love you. Now that I’m pregnant with your child, we can start a new family and be happy together!”
Uncaring of other people, Kailee clung to him in a desperate embrace, fervently declaring her affection.
“Get the f*uc*k off me! Let me go!” Garrett wrenched himself free from Kailee and forced her away.
“I don’t care if you’re pregnant. I will never accept this child!” Kailee fell to the ground from the impact. She could no longer muster any semblance of gracefulness or composure as she frantically grasped at Garrett’s shin, tears running down her face.
“Garrett, please!” she begged. “Don’t leave me! I love you! I can’t live without you!”
But Garrett had no interest in listening to her pained confession. He kicked her hand away and bent down to meet her gaze. The coldness in his voice sent shivers through Kailee. “Listen carefully, Kailee. I don’t love you. I never have, and I never will. If you’re really pregnant, get rid of the child. You will only be putting yourself and the kid through hell if you don’t. Do yourself a favor. There is nothing you can do to change my mind, so give up on me.” The sound of Kailee’s sobbing came to an abrupt halt.
Devoid of emotion, she stared dumbly at the loathing in Garrett’s eyes, her heart sinking in despair. She had finally understood that this man will never ever turn her way.
Garrett stood up straight and looked at Kailee. His eyes narrowed in disgust as if piece of trash on the sidewalk. “Your family will pay for your misdeed. Just wait and see,” he said.
With that, he turned around and left the crumpled woman by herself.
Kailee could only watch Garrett’s receding figure as he walked away. She collapsed to the ground, wails ripped out of her.
Laney returned to the ward. She didn’t want to stay at this hospital for another second.
Whenever she closed her eyes, all she could see was the image of Kailee presenting the pregnancy test report to Garrett. Tremors ran through her like aftereffects.
She had never imagined that her husband would have a child with another woman. It had shaken her to her core.
Knowing Laney’s state, Natalie had already arranged for Ian to find a new hospital. A ward had already been prepared at the new hospital. If Laney wanted, she could move there any time. She could be away from all of this, and she would be safe from Kailee.
Upon arriving at her room, Laney told Ian to pack her things.
Laney had not spoken another word ever since they left the VIP ward. Ian looked at her in concern and offered words of comfort, “Mrs. Harding, please don’t take it too hard. It was all that woman’s doing. Mr. Harding got tricked. There is no way he would betray you of his own accord.”
Laney’s voice came out thick and heavy, her tears threatening to spill again. “I know,” she answered.
Ian hesitated for a moment, then continued, “Kailee is the sort of person who would do whatever it takes to get what she wants. It’s very likely that the whole pregnancy was made up.”
Laney paused packing her things. She shook her head and smile bitterly. “My disappointment in Garrett is beyond this accident. There are more reasons for it.”
A little surprised, Ian intended to ask more, but all of a sudden, Garrett stormed into the room. The moment he saw Laney packing her things, Garrett’s expression changed. He rushed to her side and held her hand in an attempt to stop what she was doing.
“Where are you taking the child?” Garrett exclaimed.
Gently lowering Garrett’s hand, Laney took a steady breath before calmly saying, “I want to stay in a different hospital.”
“No, I won’t allow it.” Garrett blocked her way. He met Laney’s gaze and looked at her pleadingly. “Are you leaving me? Or are you really just walking away like this?”
Knowing a foul temper would take her nowhere, Laney remained calm. “I won’t leave you like this. I simply don’t want to see you right now.”
Garrett’s hand landed on her shoulder with a firm grip. His low voice rumbled, “You already know that Kailee orchestrated everything. Why are you still so angry? Do you really have to leave? Can’t we talk it out?”
All Laney could do was close her eyes tightly. She felt exhausted both physically and mentally. There’s no strength left in her body anymore. She could practically feel herself falling down. She could faint any second now. Garrett had not yet noticed anything unusual about Laney.
His indignation clouded his better judgment. He felt as if he too was a victim Why wouldn’t Laney give him a chance?
New Book: Beginning with a Daring Encounter
Celsie was tired of being labeled as an introvert, workaholic, and dull virgin by her friends. Determined to prove them wrong, she made a bet that she would do something daring on her 25th birthday. Now that the day had arrived, it was time to fulfill her promise. On her daring to-do list, there was one task: a one-night stand with someone.
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