:–
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Humbert’s grip tightened on the steering wheel. The honking from behind filled the air constantly, but he didn’t react.
Someone knocked on his window. “Hey, are you going or not? You’re blocking the road!”
He finally started the car, driving stiffly for a while before pulling over to the side. The call had already ended. He slumped back in his seat, breathing quickly.
Humbert drew several puffs, the strong tobacco burning his throat and giving him a fleeting burst of strength.
He felt a deep bitterness rise within him. Neither outcome was what he truly wanted, but if he had to choose, he would rather believe the first one.
He just knew deep down that the kid was his. The timing lined up perfectly.
Six years ago, he ended up sleeping with her one last time in a hotel before they parted ways. After that, he left the country.
His hands clenched the steering wheel tighter as his chest tightened, a wave of discomfort making him feel numb.
*****
At Lumina Studio, as the workday came to an end, Winifred tapped Linda and Lucy on the shoulder. “Hey, dinner’s on me tonight. You and Lucy are coming along.”
Linda raised an eyebrow. “Wow, someone’s feeling generous. Did the performance reviews
come in?”
Winifred just grinned, her eyes sparkling.
Lucy chuckled. “Winifred ranked first in the Design Department. This quarterly bonus is basically hers.”
Linda knew about Winifred’s situation–raising her daughter Rosalind, who had a heart problem. Winifred had been saving up for Rosalind’s surgery, so Linda was genuinely happy for her. She quickly pulled out her phone to look up group deals for new nearby restaurants,
After some discussion, they decided on a seafood store. Being a new user, Winifred even got a discount of 7 dollars on the deal.
Just as they were finalizing their plans, a delivery guy walked in holding a bouquet of roses, asking Sylvia to sign for them.
13:03 Wed, Sep 10
Chapter 12
Lucy glanced at Linda and mouthed, “Is that from her boyfriend?”
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Linda, who was Sylvia’s assistant, sighed and leaned in, whispering, “I heard the guy’s family is super powerful. Ms. Linton’s grandpa set them up. His family’s even more influential than the Linton family.”
“More influential than the Linton family?” Lucy whistled quietly. “Do you know who Sylvia’s grandpa is? He’s always on TV. If this guy’s family is even stronger, I can’t even imagine—”
Linda patted Winifred on the shoulder. “Come on. Spill it. What’s her boyfriend like? Is he really that good–looking?”
Lucy shot Winifred a curious look. “Seriously, is he hot or not?”
Winifred couldn’t help but picture Humbert’s face–those strikingly handsome features, with a chiseled jawline and large, captivating eyes. He had that cool, distant air about him, but underneath it, there was a subtle charm.
Whenever she locked eyes with him, Winifred’s heart would skip a beat.
She nodded, offering a half–hearted response. She agreed that Humbert definitely got that
irresistible look.
As soon as she nodded, Lucy and Linda got excited. “Holy shit. He’s really that hot? Winifred, I trust your taste, Winifred!” Lucy exclaimed.
Winifred wasn’t interested in fueling the gossip, so she lowered her gaze.
She couldn’t understand why Humbert and Sylvia weren’t together, but with a family as influential as the Pierce family, any woman set up with him would have to be exceptional.
Running into Humbert after seven years had completely shaken up Winifred’s life in ways she never saw coming.
She once thought that even if they crossed paths, he wouldn’t remember her. They would walk past each other like strangers.
Maybe every once in a while, she would hear something about him in the news, like he married a rich heiress or got involved in a powerful family alliance.
But Winifred never imagined she would be the one walking into his consulting room, with her daughter in tow. At that moment, the delicate balance was tipped.
Humbert was faced with two versions of the story: “Claire gave birth to a son, but the boy died,” or “Claire died.” For now, he forced himself to believe the first one.
13:03 Wed, Sep 10
Chapter 12
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Even if the first wasn’t true, he just couldn’t picture Claire as the kind of woman who would have a fight with her husband and then end it all by taking poison. To him, the Claire he knew would never do something like that.
Humbert rearranged his schedule, took a few days off, and drove straight to Greenfield County.
On the third floor of the county women’s and children’s hospital, Humbert tracked down Miranda Watson, the doctor who’d been in charge of Claire’s surgery that year.
As a young man with an undeniable presence, he had registered in the obstetrics department. Even a young couple leaving Miranda’s office couldn’t help but glance back at him in surprise.
Thinking he was just another husband accompanying his wife, Miranda told him to have a
seat.
Humbert sat down and said, “Six years ago, in the winter, there was a woman named Claire Miller who was pregnant. You were the doctor in charge of her delivery. Do you remember her?”
Miranda was taken aback for a second. But she’d seen all sorts of things in her career and wasn’t easily shaken. She frowned, sizing him up.
“What’s up? Look, we’re a small hospital, but we don’t disclose patient information,” she said.
Humbert slid a bank card across the desk. “There’s 30 thousand dollars on it. I need you to pull up Claire Miller’s medical records for me.”
Miranda snapped, “If you don’t leave right now, I’ll call security to throw you out. Keep your money. I’m not the kind of doctor who leaks patient info. You’ve got the wrong person.”
Humbert didn’t leave the hospital. Getting the medical records wouldn’t be that hard for him. It was just a matter of time. Miranda might not be willing to take the money, but there were always people who would for the right price,
But when Humbert finally got his hands on the records, he couldn’t bring himself to look at them. He held onto them until late that night, not heading back to Sonisburg right away.
Greenfield County sat on the border between Sonisburg and Hariston. It had once been part of Sonisburg, but it was reassigned to Hariston two years ago. Humbert picked a hotel randomly and booked a room.
He never did well in unfamiliar places. Every time he ended up somewhere new, he felt off. He’d booked the best suite, but the faint, musty dampness in the air made him frown, and his head started to throb a little.
13:03 Wed, Sep 10
Chapter 12
Finally, in the dead of night, he opened the manila envelope.
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Inside was a single, thin sheet. It read: [Claire Miller, admitted at 21 and a half years old. Cesarean section. Severe postpartum hemorrhage. The baby boy died from asphyxia caused by oxygen deprivation.]
He scanned the page, and the words hit him like a punch to the chest, leaving him numb.
He didn’t sleep at all that night. It felt like there was a thorn lodged deep in his chest–one he’d never be able to pull out. Whether he had loved her or hated her, Humbert knew he’d never forget her.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
