Chapter 56
Shane completely lost his composure once he learned the entire truth. It was the first time I saw such a complex expression on his face. It was a mixture of guilt and deep remorse.
He must have finally understood how much I loved children. Yet, our only child was gone
because of him.
“That child…” Shane trailed off.
Xander interrupted, “The fetus wasn’t even three months old. It wasn’t fully formed, so it could hardly be considered a person. Doesn’t that make it easier to bear, Mr. Lundberg? You can stay by Amber’s side without a burdened conscience.”
Though Xander’s words seemed casual, every word dripped with sarcasm.
It wasn’t the first time someone had said something similar. Even Devon had hinted at it before, but Shane had never taken it to heart.
Shane lowered his head and clenched his fists tightly. “What happened to the fetus‘ remains?” –he asked with a hoarse voice.
“There wasn’t an intact body left after the procedure,” Xander replied. “Typically, we handle the remains ourselves, but Allison insisted on taking care of it personally.”
Xander glanced at Shance, whose face had crumbled into despair. He scribbled an address on a piece of paper and handed it to Shane.
“I’ve got work to do. If that’s all, please leave, Mr. Lundberg. Allison is a good woman. If you don’t appreciate her, someone else will,” Xander said coldly.
In the past, Shane would have fired back with a sharp retort. Today, he said nothing.
“Thank you,” Shane said softly and left, looking utterly defeated.
After Shane left, Xander sighed and murmured, “I told you back then that the both of you weren’t meant to be. Why didn’t you listen?”
His words twisted something in my chest. “You’re right. I regret it now. But it’s too late,” I replied in a voice only I could hear.
Life wasn’t a game where you restarted after a loss.
I had learned that the hard way, at the cost of my own life.
I couldn’t seek revenge, not even after being brutally murdered. All I could do was linger in a dimension invisible to them, a mere observer.
It felt like I had a god’s eye view of everything. Yet, I was utterly powerless to change anything.
Shane rushed to the cemetery. He found the grave I had put up for our child.
In this region, it wasn’t customary to bury an unborn child, let alone mark it with a gravestone.
But I had done it anyway. To me, even if the child had only lived in my womb for a day, he was still my child.
The gravestone was much simpler than others. There were no photographs or dates. There were just the names of the deceased and the one who erected the stone.
ane’s fingers gently traced the engraving on the stone. “The Grave of Caden Schultz“.
“Caden,” he murmured. “Allison, how could you be so cruel? Why didn’t you tell me about the child?”
Cruel? I didn’t think so.
He never loved the child. Not even from the moment I conceived.
The miscarriage wouldn’t have happened if he hadn’t pushed me.
If he hadn’t spoiled Amber to the point of recklessness, I wouldn’t have been heartbroken enough to lose the child.
It wasn’t that I didn’t want to tell him. But had he ever given me the chance to?
I deliberately kept it a secret after the miscarriage. I just wanted to see his reaction when he finally learned the truth.
Did he regret it now?
I wanted him to drown in pain. I want him to be tormented every sleepless night, just as I had
been.
I wanted every child he saw from now on to remind him of the one he lost. I wanted this scar to haunt him forever.
Shane kneeled slowly before the gravestone. He gently caressed the letters spelling out my name and Caden’s.
“Hey, little one. Your name is Caden, isn’t it?” he asked, his voice soft and trembling. “Do you blame Daddy? It’s all my fault…”
He lowered his head and saw the flowers, toys, and snacks placed before the grave.
I had often visited Caden when I was alive. To me, even if my child had never fully formed, he still deserved what every other child did.
Chapter 57
