Garrett was at a loss. He didn’t know what to say and stammered, “Laney… Have something to eat.” After an awkward moment of silence, Laney suddenly looked up at him and said, “Garrett, let’s separate for a while. I need time to collect myself.”
Garrett stood there in horror, his face ghastly pale. He never expected the first thing Laney would say to be that she wanted to separate from him. Her gaze was fixed on the baby as she spoke, and it seemed like she was lost in her own thoughts. “I feel that we shouldn’t stay together right now. It is time for us to take a break and reevaluate our relationship,” she said in a low voice.
A long time later, Garrett finally came to his senses.
“No, I don’t want to be separated from you!” he blurted out, rushing forward and grabbing Laney’s hand while shaking his head in anguish.
“Our baby is still too young, and we haven’t even decided on a name for her yet. How can we, her parents, separate now? We can’t do that to her!”
Laney withdrew her hand forcefully before asking Ian to come in and take the baby out.
Once they were alone, Laney pulled out a device from underneath her pillow and handed it to Garrett. “This is the recording pen Kailee gave me. But she has tampered with the recording and it is not real,” she said calmly.
Garrett looked at Laney with a puzzled expression and asked, “If you know that the recording was fake, why do you want to separate from me?”
Laney smiled bitterly as she pressed the play button on the recording device. “Because I’ve restored the original version of the recording.”
The voices of Kailee and Garrett were heard from the device.
“Was there a part of you that felt like you married Laney out of sympathy?”
“A little bit…”
The recording device had captured the entire conversation between Garrett and Kailee. Although Garrett rejected Kailee, he admitted that he married Laney partially because of his sympathy towards her.
Laney turned off the recording just before the conversation ended.
“And this is the real reason why I want to part ways with you.”
Garrett protested, “But I didn’t marry you simply out of sympathy. If you listen to the rest of the recording, you’ll know that the real reason I married you was because I love you.”
Laney smiled bitterly and tears welled up in her eyes. She couldn’t conceal the pain in her heart anymore.
“Listen, Garrett. I’ve told you from the very beginning that I do not want you to marry me out of sympathy, no matter how little it might be, and that’s why I can’t accept this relationship,” Laney explained.
Laney had grown up in an orphanage without any support and she only had herself to rely on throughout her life. She was a strong-willed person who could not tolerate it when someone did something for her out of pity.
When she learned that Garrett had married her partially because of his pity for her, she couldn’t accept this marriage.
If she had known from the beginning that their relationship was one born out of pity, Laney would not have chosen to be with Garrett, regardless of her love for him.
Garrett tried to justify himself, but looking at Laney’s painful expression, he realized that no explanation could undo the damage that he had done to her.
He recalled the way Laney looked before they had gotten married.
At that time, Laney had a beloved job, was enthusiastic and outgoing, unbound by anything, could do whatever she wanted, and always smiled the brightest.
She was like the warm winter sun to him back then.
And that was one of the reasons he had fallen in love with her.
However, everything had changed now. Laney’s smiles only grew weaker and her eyes always had a hint of unshakable sadness and restraint.
After Laney married him, she had slowly lost her shine, just like a wilting flower in the cold winter months.
And it was all because Garrett did not fulfil his duty as a husband and failed to protect the woman who loved him with all her heart.
Thinking of that, Garrett was too heartbroken to say anything.
He could only hold Laney tightly and let her tears soak his collar.
Laney finally spoke out about all the grievances she had kept in her heart for so long.
With tears streaming down her face, Laney gently pushed Garrett away and managed a soft smile. “I’m okay now.”
Garrett wiped Laney’s tears away gently and spoke in a caring tone. “Laney, no matter what decision you make, I will respect it.”
Laney nodded her head with red eyes.
Taking time to cool off separately was the best option for them at the moment.
“But I have one request.” Garrett held onto Laney’s hand, his tone sincere. “Please don’t refuse my help. I want to come see the baby often.”
Laney hesitated. She wanted to cut off contact with Garrett temporarily, but she couldn’t refuse his request.
Besides, he was still the baby’s father, and Laney saw no reason to deny him the chance to visit their child.
As Laney gave it a thought, there was a sudden commotion coming from the front door. Vera’s voice suddenly chimed in.
Garrett frowned and quickly got up to check the situation.
As he opened the door, he was stunned by the scene in front of him.
Vera had gathered a large group of people in the corridor, while Ian stood in her way, preventing her from entering the ward. Several of the burly bodyguards immediately began beating Ian.
“Stop!” Garrett shouted, standing in front of Ian and commanding the attention of the bodyguards.
Recognizing Garrett, the bodyguards halted the beating. Vera gestured to her bodyguards to step back.
Garrett helped Ian up, asking with concern, “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Ian replied, shaking his head. “Your mother brought a group of people here, insisting on seeing the child. But based on the current situation, it seems like she’s trying to take the child away. Please be careful.”
Garrett’s gaze turned cold as he faced his mother, and in a low voice, he asked, “Mom, why did you come here today?”
Seeing the lack of respect and affection in her son’s eyes, Vera felt anger rising within her. “Is this the way you speak to your elders? How dare you talk to your mother like this?” she exclaimed.
Garrett smiled coldly and replied, “I see no elder deserving respect in you.”
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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