hapter 3
Geraldine walked heavily down the corridor, the doctor’s words echoing in her mind.
She was pregnant–seven weeks along.
She rested a hand on her still–flat stomach, her eyes stinging with
tears.
Why now? Why did this child come at the exact moment she finally saw everything clearly?
Then, at the end of the hallway, a familiar figure froze her in place.
Oliver had an arm wrapped around the woman in his arms, soothing her gently, his eyes filled with concern.
From a distance, Geraldine couldn’t hear what they were saying, but what was happening was painfully obvious.
When the two of them started walking her way, she instinctively hid around the corner.
“Ollie, you didn’t go home all night. Won’t Geraldine get suspicious?”
The woman’s voice trembled, soft and pitiful.
At the mention of Geraldine, Oliver frowned slightly and replied casually, “She trusts me.”
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“When are you going to give the child and me-
Before the woman could finish, Oliver cut her off. His tone carried a hint of resignation. “Shanny, other than my wife’s place, I can give you and the child anything you want.
“I already betrayed Gerrie. The position of Mrs. Houghton can only be hers. Consider it my guilt toward her.”
The woman was clearly unhappy, but she could only agree.
Sensing her disappointment, Oliver pulled her into his arms and kissed her lips. “You gave me such a lovely daughter. How could I ever treat you badly?”
Their voices faded as they walked away.
At his side, Shanice Dunlap glanced back toward the corner without meaning to.
Only after they disappeared did Geraldine step out.
Tears streamed down uncontrollably. At that moment, it felt as if her heart were being carved up by a dull blade–slow, brutal, and unbearable.
She thought, “So this is how you really see it, Oliver?”
Before they got together, she had told him clearly, “The kind of love I want is exclusive. If you ever betray me, no matter how much I love you, I will leave without hesitation.”
Back then, Oliver had sworn to her, “Gerrie, if I’m with you, there will
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never be another woman in my eyes.”
She believed him.
But he still betrayed her.
And just as she had said back then, no matter how much it hurt, she would cut off a love that was no longer faithful.
Before leaving the hospital, Geraldine scheduled an abortion.
She also contacted a lawyer to draft divorce papers and arrange an early division of assets.
As soon as she got into the car, Oliver’s call came through.
His voice sounded hoarse, exhausted. “Happy birthday, honey!”
Geraldine frowned and glanced at the date on her phone. Only then did she remember that it was her birthday.
The past few days had been so overwhelming that she had forgotten it entirely.
Before she could speak, Oliver continued apologetically, “Gerrie, there was a problem with a company project yesterday. I worked all night to fix it. I’m sorry. After being away so long, I still couldn’t spend time with you.”
She thought, “He… had been busy all night.”
If she hadn’t just seen him at the hospital, she would have believed
him.
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Bitterness rose in her throat, and her clear eyes were filled with quiet
sorrow.
After a moment, she managed to say, “It’s fine.”
On the other end of the line, she clearly heard Oliver let out a sigh of relief.
He said, “I started preparing for your birthday half a month ago, Gerrie. I planned a private birthday dinner just for you. I’ve already sent someone to pick you up. I want you to have a happy birthday.
“Let it be my apology, okay?”
Geraldine closed her eyes and answered softly, “Okay.”
If this were the past, she would have cried tears of happiness.
But now, every word he said felt like a lie.
She didn’t even want to hear his voice anymore.
Before Oliver could say anything else, she hung up.
She clenched her hand and looked out the window, emotions surging
in her chest.
At that same moment, at the Houghton Group, Oliver stared at the abruptly ended call in his hand, unease creeping into his heart.
It felt as if something was quietly slipping out of his grasp.
