Chapter 9
As soon as I got to the hospital, I was led straight into Zachary’s ward, even though my mind was on Calvin the entire time.
It was then that I finally realized everything tonight had been a setup. Zachary planned it all just to get me alone.
He went all out just for this chance.
I felt a little amused and asked, “Do you have to do this?”
Zachary, lying there with two broken ribs, looked at me with red–rimmed eyes and gave a shy smile.
His voice was raspy when he spoke, “Queenie, I miss you so much. I’m losing my mind without you.”
Later, when the doctor came to treat him, I saw the tattoo on his chest–a sun, a moon, and stars.
It was the little drawing I made of a family of three when I was pregnant.
I remembered what Zachary had said back then.
“The moon? Do you think you deserve that?”
***
While Calvin had been sent away, Zachary stepped toward me and grabbed my wrist tightly, refusing to let go.
“Queenie, I want to apologize to you. Everything that happened was my
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fault. I’ll do whatever I can to fix it. I just hope you’ll forgive me.”
Before I could respond, his phone rang. It was Ruby.
Without hesitation, Zachary put the call on speaker.
“Zachary! Help me! Leo broke into the apartment with some guys. They brought me to the hospital… The baby! They’re trying to take my baby!”
Ruby’s terrified voice filled the room. Zachary didn’t even flinch. He just smiled and spoke calmly.
“Ruby, I already know you drugged me that night. I’m not keeping this child.
“Also, those stories you spread online about Queenie being infertile? They’re gone now.
“Since you dare to spread lies about my wife, the surgeon won’t use anesthesia. You’ll never have children again.
There was a long pause on the other end before she finally gasped and started pleading.
“Mr. Conrad, I was wrong. I–I didn’t mean it. You can punish me whatever you want, just please don’t hurt our child–ah!”
Ruby’s sudden scream made me instinctively blink and frown.
Zachary noticed my reaction and quickly ended the call.
He gently placed my hand on his check, his face drained of color, and said softly, “Queenie, I’ll have them send you the surgery footage later. Maybe after watching it, you might forgive me a little?”
Even a tiny bit of forgiveness was something he desperately hoped for.
I pulled my hand away, the one he’d stained, and looked at him, now clearly shaken. I offered some advice.
“This hospital has a great psych department. You should book a session soon.”
Zachary gave me a faint smile. “Okay, I’ll do what you say.”
He believed the damage he’d done over the last nine years was beyond
measure.
But he thought that if he could change, he’d spend the rest of his life trying to make up for it.
Three days after he had that idea, Calvin and I held a grand wedding.
By the time Zachary found out and rushed over, the gray–haired priest had just finished reading the vows.
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