He burst through the door like a storm, dropped to his knees at my bedside, and crumbled.
He was trembling. Completely unglued.
“Diana… that night–it was you, wasn’t it? Not Caryn? I checked the security footage. She was standing outside my door the whole time. She only came in after you left that morning.”
His eyes lifted to meet mine, brimming with unbearable grief. “So… that child… it was ours. It’s because I left you that night, isn’t it? That’s why we lost the baby.”
! said nothing. But the memory of that night–its raw, ripping pain–brought fresh tears.
Callum scrambled to wipe them away, panic in his eyes. “Don’t cry, please don’t cry, It’s my fault. All of it. Hit me, scream at me–whatever helps. I won’t complain. I swear. Just… give me a chance to make it right. I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to
atone.”
He looked so pitiful now.
The old me might’ve already pulled him into my arms and forgiven everything. But I only stared at him, cold and steady.” Callum, I don’t want that.”
I didn’t love him anymore. All these words of regret were just a new kind of chain he was trying to wrap around me.
When Sean asked me to look after him, I wore that chain willingly for five years. I even fooled myself into thinking I could keep carrying it.
But I’d finally found a life of my own.
How could I put back on the shackle I had nearly died to take off?
“Callum, you were drunk that night. Caryn drugged you. I couldn’t stop you. As for the baby… I never expected him. We’re adults–we should be able to deal with the consequences of one reckless night. I don’t need you to take responsibility. I just need you to stay out of my life from now on.”
1/2
+25 BONUS
His eyes widened in disbelief. “Diana… you can be angry with me, but don’t say things like that. Don’t you remember everything we’ve been through? I want to marry you, to make it up to you, to take care of you, because I believe we love each
other. I-”
My voice rose, sharp and hard. “Who said we love each other? Callum, yes–I used to feel something more than sisterly affection for you. But you were in love with someone else. And now? Now I feel nothing for you. You say you love me–so what? What makes you think I want it?”
Chapter 9
