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Gentle confrontation
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2025-03-15 17:13:53
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The One He Let Go   Truth unfolds
Kelly Aidenâs birthday was just days away, and the house was busy with preparations. Balloons, cake flavors, decorations, Harper was insistent on picking everything herself. I mean it was her big brotherâs birthday.âBlue and silver,â she had said with absolute certainty, hands on her tiny hips. âBecause Aiden is cool, and those colors are cool.â It was crazy how two of my kids were born in the same month, just days apart. I should have been focused on all of that, should have been enjoying the moment. But instead, a different unresolved problem sat in my chest, the weight of a truth I wasnât sure I was ready for.Three days. Thatâs how long it took before Mrs. Kim finally called. Her voice on the other end of the line was strained, like she had been thinking, debating.âCome over,â she said simply. And then she hung up. I didnât waste time, neither did Susan. But when we got there, we werenât the only ones. Adrian was already in the room. I wasnât surprised though. He was by t
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-15The One He Let Go   Sorry isnât enough
KellyMrs. Kim sat stiffly in her chair, she hadnât talked for the past few minutes. Then she continued.âIt was the night your mother, Jadeline, gave birth,â she began, her voice heavy with something between hesitation and sorrow. âShe had complications, and your father was away on a business trip. I was just a housekeeper then, but your aunt, Madeline insisted I go with your mother to the hospital because she was sick and couldnât go with her.â My fingers curled into fists. I could see it so clearly. My mother, weak and exhausted, barely able to keep her eyes open. No husband at her side. No family except a housekeeper and the nurses attending to her. âShe was in so much pain,â Mrs. Kim continued. âThe doctors were worried about preeclampsia, and her blood pressure had dropped dangerously low. She was drifting in and out of consciousness when they took her to the delivery room.â A lump formed in my throat. Had she been scared? Had she thought she might not make it?Mrs. Kim ex
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-15The One He Let Go   A Family torn apart
KellyAdrian exhaled deeply, his voice low and dangerous. âEvelyn Grant.â âWe need to find her,â Adrian continued, his voice like steel. âThisâĶ all of thisâĶ everything she did, it ends now.â Mrs. Kim swallowed hard. âI donât know where she is now. But back thenâĶ she worked at that hospital for years.â I clenched my fists. âDonât worry, Mrs. Kim. Weâll find her.â If only Mrs. Kim knew the truth. If only she knew, that i already knew exactly who Evelyn Grant was.Mrs. Kim hesitated for a moment, then nodded. âLet me know when you do.â Adrian pushed off the couch abruptly, his movements sharp and filled with restrained anger. âWe will,â he said, his voice tight. I exchanged a look with Susan, who still seemed frozen, her expression a storm of emotions. She blinked, then met my gaze. âAnd what about Kate?â Adrianâs eyes darkened. âKateâs house. Thatâs where we start.â I frowned. âWhy Kateâs house?â Adrian slipped his phone into his pocket. âThink about it. If Evelyn
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-15The One He Let Go   The fall of Kate and Evelyn
KellyThe air inside the police station was strained. I watched as Evelyn sat across from me, her wrists cuffed, her usually neat hair disheveled. The smug arrogance she once carried was gone, replaced by a hollow, defeated expression. She had no more tricks to play, no more lives to manipulate. Adrian sat beside me, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. Susan, on the other hand, stood rigid near the door, her fingers clenched into fists. Who would Evelyn call for help? Anderson? Lucian?Detective Harris, the lead investigator, leaned forward, voice steady. âEvelyn Grant, youâre facing charges of child abduction, falsification of medical records, and fraud. You can make this easier on yourself by cooperating.â Evelyn scoffed, tilting her head. âCooperate? Do you have any idea what I did for this girls?â Her eyes snapped to me, then to Susan. âI gave you a life. I saved you.â Susan let out a harsh laugh. âSaved me?â She stepped forward, voice shaking with anger. âYou stole my
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-15The One He Let Go   Freedom feels like a Nightmare
Kateâs POV The cold evening air hit my skin the moment I stepped outside the prison gates. Freedom, at last. It was supposed to feel exhilarating, like I could finally breathe after being suffocated for months. Instead, all I felt was exhaustion. My eyes scanned the parking lot, my heart lifting slightly with anticipation. Any moment from now, Marcus would pull up, with that smug grin of his, arms open like I was the best thing to ever happen to him. No doubt, I am.But then, there was no black Audi. No familiar tall figure leaning against the car, waiting for me. My fingers clenched around the plastic bag holding the few possessions I had left. Maybe he was running late. I checked my phone, finally returned to me after months of deprivation. No missed calls. No texts. I exhaled sharply and dialed Marcusâs number. It rang. Once. Twice. ThenâStraight to voicemail. Is this some sick joke? My stomach twisted, but I shook off the unease. Relax, Kate. Heâs just busy. I tried aga
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-16The One He Let Go   Burnt to ashes
Kateâs POVI shoved my hands into my coat pockets, fingers searching for anything, loose bills, forgotten cash, anything. Nothing. Just fifty damn bucks. My throat tightened as I stared at the crumpled bill in my palm. It wasnât enough. Not enough for a cab, not enough to get me across town, not enough to drag myself out of this humiliation. I turned my phone over in my hands, staring at Marcusâs last text again, as if it willl disappear and something positive will appear, but the message stared back at me. The words sent a fresh wave of nausea through me. This is getting realâĶ.Marcus was gone and he had taken everything. And I was stranded outside this damn prison with only fifty bucks and my pride, which was quickly slipping through my fingers. I shifted on my feet, ignoring the ache in my legs from standing for nearly an hour. I had expected him to be here. Expected something. But all I got were the stares. The murmurs started quietly at first, low whispers passing through
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-16The One He Let Go   She didnât see it coming
Kateâs POVI sat on the curb for what felt like hours, the cold air seeping through my bones as I stared at the smoke still curling in the distance. My house was gone. My money was gone. Marcus was gone. I had nothing. But I still had connections.I forced myself up, wiping the back of my hand across my face. Davisâs old business partners, they owed me. They were his boys, but they were powerful. More importantly, they were still in the game. And I needed them. âĶâĶ.I took the bus, because what choice did I have?âand arrived at a discreet bar in Brooklyn, one of the spots Davis used for meetings. The place was dimly lit, cigarette smoke filled the air. The scent of old whiskey and sweat clung to the leather seats. I walked in like I belonged. Like I wasnât standing there in the same clothes I left jail in, my face screaming desperate. A few men sat in a corner booth, murmuring among themselves. I recognized them instantly, Victor, Greg, and Tomas. Theyâd been handling Davisâs offs
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-16The One He Let Go   The last friend she had
Kateâs POVThe streets blurred around me, but I kept moving. I could still fix this. The business partners? They were mere thugs. They only cared about power and money. If I could just get my hands on some cash, Iâd be valuable to them again. I just needed to borrow some money. And I knew exactly who to call. Fraya. She had always been there for me. Right now, she was the only one I could turn to. Fraya was one of my closest friends, standing here now, she was my last hope. I dug out my phone, hands shaking, and dialed her number. The phone rang once. Twice. Then went to voicemail. I clenched my jaw. I called again, straight to voicemail. What the hell? I tried again. This time, the phone rang longer before a sharp click echoed in my ear. A voice. Her tone was clipped, impatient. âKate.â Relief flooded me. âOh, thank God. Fraya, I needâĶ..â âWhat do you want?â I faltered. âIâI need to meet you. Itâs important.â Silence. Then a slow, irritated sigh. âKate, Iâm busy.â
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-16
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The One He Let Go   The end
Dear Readers, I canât believe weâve reached the end of Kellyâs story. Writing this book has been an emotional rollercoaster, and I know many of you have felt the highs and lows just as deeply as I have. Kellyâs journey wasnât easy, there was pain, heartbreak, and moments where it seemed like happiness was out of reach. But through it all, she found strength, love, and a future worth fighting for. To everyone who stuck by this story, who cried, laughed, and rooted for Kelly, Aiden, Adrian, and even the complicated characters like Anderson and Kate, thank you. Your love and support mean everything. Though this book has ended, Kellyâs story will always live on in our hearts. And who knows? Maybe one day, there will be more to tell. But for now, I hope this ending brings you the closure and warmth that Kelly fought so hard to find. With love and gratitude, MOONCHILD.
The One He Let Go   Epilogue: The real wedding
Kelly The sun is warm against my skin, the sky a perfect colour of blue. A soft breeze carries the scent of roses and fresh-cut grass. The sound of distant laughter and murmured conversations fills the air, blending seamlessly with the soft notes of a violin playing somewhere nearby. Itâs perfect. Everything about this day feels surreal, like stepping into a dream I never dared to imagine. A real wedding. Not a hidden ceremony. Not a desperate attempt to silence rumors. Just love. I close my eyes for a brief moment, taking it all in. The gentle rustling of the trees. The faint sound of conversation. The quiet presence of everyone who matters. Adrianâs family is here. After months of resentment and distance, they came. His mother, his father, Olivia, both watching with cautious but genuine smiles. Susan is here, standing with them, her expression warm, proud. And in the distance, I see Aiden straightening his suit, looking nervous and determined at the same time. Harper,
The One He Let Go   New beginning
KellyNine months. Nine long, exhausting, emotional months. And now, Iâm here. In a hospital bed, drenched in sweat, gripping Adrianâs hand so tightly that Iâm sure Iâve cut off his circulation. My body feels like itâs being torn apart, and yet, I push. âJust a little more, Kelly!â the doctor encourages. Easy for them to say. They arenât the ones feeling like their body is being split open. Adrian leans close, his lips brushing my forehead. âYouâre almost there,â he murmurs, his voice steady, calming. âIâve got you.â Tears sting my eyes. I donât know if itâs from the pain or the overwhelming feeling that this moment is actually happening. And then, a sharp cry fills the room. My breath catches. The world seemed to stop. The doctor lifts a tiny, wriggling body into the air. âItâs a girl!â A sob escapes me. I collapse back against the pillows, my whole body trembling. Tears slip down my temples as I hear my daughterâs first sounds. I did it. Sheâs here. Adrian presses a
The One He Let Go   Silent mercy
Kelly The morning is cold, the kind of D.C winter chill that seeps through the layers of your clothes and lingers deep in your bones. I clutch my coffee cup tighter, trying to soak in the warmth as I step out of the cafÃĐ. The city is alive as always, cars honking, people hurrying past, lost in their own worlds. And then I see her. At first, I didn't recognize the figure crouched near the side of the building, wrapped in an oversized hoodie, the fabric frayed at the edges. Her hair is tangled, falling over a gaunt face. Her fingers, red from the cold, clutch a small cardboard sign. âHungry. Please help.âMy breath catches. Kate. Sheâs thinner than I remember. A shell of the woman she once was. She sits with her knees pulled close, gaze darting to every passerby, but no one stops. No one even looks at her. And I realize, this is what rock bottom looks like. For a long moment, I just stood there. Then, before I can talk myself out of it, I move. She doesnât notice me at fir
The One He Let Go   Mending whatâs broken
Kelly It happens on a quiet afternoon. Adrian and I are sitting on the couch, Harper curled up between us, absentmindedly flipping through a picture book while Adrian scrolls through emails on his phone. Itâs peaceful. And then, I see his posture stiffen. I glance at him. âWhatâs wrong?â His brows are furrowed, lips pressing into a thin line as he reads whatever message is on his screen. For a long moment, he doesnât answer. Then, finally, he exhales, setting the phone down on his thigh. âMy parents,â he says, rubbing his jaw. âThey want to talk.â I blink. I wasnât expecting that. âTalkâĶ as in?â âAs in dinner. A sit-down conversation.â He shakes his head slightly, as if heâs still processing it himself. âThey sent an invitation. No conditions. JustâĶ a request to see me.â I canât tell if thatâs a good thing or a bad thing. His parents and I became a sore subject, one of the few places where his love for me had cost him something. I know how deeply it hurt him when they rej
The One He Let Go   The final goodbye
KellyThe call came in the middle of the night. I wake up to the sound of my phone vibrating on the nightstand. My first thought is that itâs Adrian, maybe heâs checking in from the living room where he sometimes falls asleep after reading. But when I grab my phone and see Susanâs name glowing on the screen, my stomach twists. I answer on the second ring. âHeâs gone,â she says softly. Two words. Just two words, and for a second, I feel absolutely nothing. I sit there in the dark, the phone pressed to my ear, my mind blank. I should have expected it, Andersonâs health had been failing, and yetâĶ hearing it, knowing itâs real, knowing there will never be another word, another regret-filled gaze, itâs different. Susan stays quiet, as if she knows I needed a moment. Then, like a wave finally crashing, it hits. A sharp, aching weight pressing down on my chest. My throat tightens, my vision blurs, and before I can stop it, I let out a small, choked sob. I feel Adrian shift be
The One He Let Go   Goodbye thatâs long overdue
KellyI grip Aidenâs hand tighter as we walk down the hallway, past closed doors and nurses who barely glance at us. His fingers clutch mine, his other hand curled into a fist at his side. I wonder if heâs nervous. If he regrets coming. Because I do. I swallow hard as we stop outside Andersonâs room. The door is slightly ajar, but I donât move. Aiden looks up at me, uncertain. His dark eyes are searching, waiting for me to give him permission to go inside. I force myself to nod. âAre you ready?â He hesitates, then nods back. I push the door open. And we stepped. Anderson looksâĶ different. His skin is pale, almost gray under the harsh hospital lights. The strong, confident posture he once carried is gone, replaced by sunken shoulders and frail limbs tangled in hospital sheets. But his eyes, the sharpness in them, the smug curve of his lips, thatâs still him. His gaze drifts past me, landing on Aiden. And his smirk, despite everything, still appears. âThanks for coming.â Hi
The One He Let Go   The past catches up
Kelly The call came in the middle of the night. My phone buzzes against the nightstand, dragging me from sleep. I blink, groggy, confusion heavy in my head as I fumble for it. Adrian stirs beside me, mumbling something unintelligible before rolling over. I donât recognize the number. But the moment I press the phone to my ear, Susanâs voice, low and weighted with something different fills the silence. âKelly, Iâm sorry for calling so late.â I sit up instantly, dread curling in my stomach. âWhatâs wrong?âA beat. ThenâĶ.âItâs Anderson. He doesnât have much time.â The words donât sink in right away. My fingers tighten around the phone. âWhat do you mean?â Susan exhales. âHis condition worsened tonight. The doctors donât think heâll make it much longer. If youââ She hesitates. âIf Aiden wants to see him, it has to be soon.â The room feels colder. I glance at the clock. 2:17 AM. The world outside quiet by this moment. But my body knows. My body feels the shift, I felt goo
The One He Let Go   A childâs, A motherâs regret
KellyHarper was avoiding me. It wasnât like the usual tantrums when she was upset over bedtime or not getting a second helping with ice cream. This was different. It had been days now, long enough for the silence to settle like a weight in my chest. She wouldnât sit next to me at breakfast. Wouldnât let me brush her hair. Wouldnât even look me in the eyes when I spoke to her. But she clung to Adrian. If Adrian walked into a room, she was at his side in seconds, grabbing his hand, leaning against him, giggling at every little thing he said. She held onto him like he was her safe place, like she was afraid of something. Or someone. And that someone was me. I didnât know what I had done. But I knew it was breaking me. âĶâĶIt was bedtime when I finally couldnât take it anymore. Adrian had just tucked Harper in, but instead of curling into her blankets the way she usually did, she turned away from me when I walked into the room. I swallowed the hurt and sat on the edge of her be
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