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Three Chances, Then I Walked

Three Chances, Then I Walked

Short Story · Romance
By:  Blue CarberryCompleted
Language: English
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Synopsis

Tragic Love

Bias

Scumbag

Mistress

Winning Back the Wife

Cheating

Countdown

The day after my C-section, I had a divorce attorney come to the hospital. The person handling my case was my husband Daniel's younger sister, Emily Markham. She stared at me for a long time, disbelief written all over her face. "What are you doing? You just had my brother's baby yesterday!" My voice stayed flat. "Your brother didn't even wait for me to finish giving birth before he went out on a boat with Rebecca Lennox. "Why would I keep a husband like that?" Emily was quiet for a few seconds, but she still defended him. "Rebecca just got divorced, and her depression's really bad. My brother's a doctor. He couldn't stop worrying about her. "He only went to check on her because he felt responsible. Do you really have to take it as far as divorce? "The baby was just born. How can he not have a father?" My expression cold, I cut her off. "He does have a father. His father just decided he didn't want him first." Emily went pale. She reached for my hand, testing the waters. "I know my brother's always been way too invested in Rebecca, but that's only because they grew up together. "We all know he loves you. Please don't divorce him, okay?" I met her hopeful gaze, and the corner of my mouth twitched. I pulled my arm free and called the law firm. "Your attorney isn't very professional. I'd like a different one."

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Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Emily Markham grabbed my arm to stop me, her face tight.

"Do you really have to do this? Daniel's just going to think you're being unreasonable. It won't do you any good!

"You're threatening divorce because you're upset. That's not fair to the baby either!"

I looked at the newborn sleeping beside me and let out a short laugh.

Not fair to the baby?

If anyone needed to hear that, it was Daniel.

At my last prenatal appointment before the birth, the doctor had said, "Your health isn't great right now, and you have a rare blood type. The baby's in a good position, but I can't promise you'll be able to deliver vaginally. Is your family here? We should work out a delivery plan together."

Daniel hadn't come.

He was busy comforting Rebecca Lennox through her divorce.

Our text thread still ended right before I went into the delivery room.

I had written: [Babe, my stomach hurts. I think the baby's coming. I'm heading to your hospital now. Can you switch shifts and come be with me?]

He'd replied: [Rebecca's filing for divorce. I'm at the law office with her doing the paperwork.]

[It's just having a baby. Not a big deal. I'll get there as soon as I can.]

As soon as I can.

I'd lost count of how many times he'd said that.

The first time we went to get our marriage license, we were just about to leave the house when Rebecca called. She said there was a gas leak at her place.

Daniel dropped everything and headed for the door.

I told him we were supposed to get our license that day.

He tossed back, "I'll be back as soon as I can," and walked out.

We never got the license.

The second time, we'd gotten it and had just stepped out of the county clerk's office when Rebecca called again.

"Tomorrow's the anniversary of my dad's death, and I'm still missing a few things. Could you come help?"

Before I could even say a word about celebrating, he left me there and walked off without looking back.

"Rebecca... don't worry. I'll be right there."

I was twenty-five back then. I thought he was just loyal, that he saw Rebecca as the older sister he'd grown up with.

Now I was twenty-eight, my son had just been born, and I was finally forcing myself to admit it.

It had never been about loyalty.

His priorities had never been straight. He could never tell what truly mattered.

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10 Chapters
Chapter 1
Emily Markham grabbed my arm to stop me, her face tight."Do you really have to do this? Daniel's just going to think you're being unreasonable. It won't do you any good!"You're threatening divorce because you're upset. That's not fair to the baby either!"I looked at the newborn sleeping beside me and let out a short laugh.Not fair to the baby?If anyone needed to hear that, it was Daniel.At my last prenatal appointment before the birth, the doctor had said, "Your health isn't great right now, and you have a rare blood type. The baby's in a good position, but I can't promise you'll be able to deliver vaginally. Is your family here? We should work out a delivery plan together."Daniel hadn't come.He was busy comforting Rebecca Lennox through her divorce.Our text thread still ended right before I went into the delivery room.I had written: [Babe, my stomach hurts. I think the baby's coming. I'm heading to your hospital now. Can you switch shifts and come be with me?]He'
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Chapter 2
"Say something! Stop pretending you can't hear me."Emily's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.I was about to answer when the door swung open.Daniel walked in smelling of the sea and hurried over, beaming.He wore that familiar, eager-to-please look. Every time he came back from Rebecca's over the years, his smile curved at exactly the same angle."Babe, are you and the baby okay?"He sat down on the edge of the bed and reached for our son.I calmly blocked him.His hand froze in midair, and an apologetic look crossed his face."Rebecca's divorce got really ugly. The night before last, she cut her wrist. They saved her, but she's been unstable ever since. I'm a doctor, and I'm practically her brother. I couldn't just stand by and watch something happen to her.""So her life matters, and mine and the baby's don't?" I cut in.Before I went into the delivery room, I'd been in so much pain I was shaking. I called him three times. He didn't answer once.Later, a nurse told me
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Chapter 3
Daniel smiled too. "He looks just like you."I looked at that little face, and I felt completely calm.The three chances weren't a way for him to save face.They were the final line I was drawing for myself and my son.After three, I would never look back.In the early hours of my third day after delivery, the pain from my incision woke me up.The incision burned and throbbed, and my engorged breasts were hard and heavy, pressing on my chest.I felt around in the dark for the call button. Next to me, the bed was empty.No one was on the cot. The blanket was cold and neatly folded.My phone screen was lit up. The Markham family group chat had dozens of unread messages.My mother-in-law had posted a photo at two in the morning.Daniel sat in Rebecca's living room wrapped in his jacket, while Rebecca sat next to him, head down, crying.The caption read: [Daniel was so worried about Rebecca that he went over in the middle of the night to stay with her. Such a loyal, big-hearted
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Chapter 4
When had things started to change?Probably after Rebecca came back from overseas.Rebecca had become the one who ranked higher between us.Little by little, his concern for me turned into nothing more than reminders, while his feet always carried him to someone else.I set my phone aside and gently touched the baby's soft cheek."That's one," I whispered.Baby, that's the first time.He's used up one chance.My body was still weak from the delivery, and the fever didn't break until evening.Daniel showed up at seven."How are you? Still feeling awful?"The moment he walked in, he reached for my forehead.I turned my head away.Guilt crept across his face."I'm sorry, Claire. Rebecca tried to kill herself again, and they almost couldn't save her. My mom and Emily were so scared they couldn't stop crying. I really couldn't get away...""And what about me and the baby?""Huh?"I stared right at him."If I'd passed out from the fever today and the baby had choked to deat
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Chapter 5
"She's standing right by the railing. What if she really jumps? I'll just go talk to her, and the second she's down, I'll come straight back."I watched the panic in his eyes, and my heart slowly turned to ice.This was him. This was my husband.He always had someone more urgent to save, always some responsibility he couldn't shake off.The baby and I would always have to wait a little longer.When I didn't say anything else, he turned and rushed out.Before long, he appeared on the roof across the way.Bearing the dull ache of my incision, I braced myself against the wall and slowly made my way to the window.The inpatient building faced the outpatient building's roof directly, so I could see everyone clearly.Rebecca stood by the railing in a thin nightgown. As soon as she saw Daniel run up, she burst into tears and threw herself into his arms.He caught her steadily, patting her back over and over, bending his head to murmur soothing words into her ear.The wind whipped u
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Chapter 6
I gave him a mocking look, then closed my eyes and said, "I'll trust you one last time."Daniel stayed by my side and the baby's for the entire morning.He didn't take a single step out of the room.He held our son and smiled at me like he was showing off."See, Claire? I can do it. I'll always be here for you and the baby."Let's stop fighting and just be good from now on, okay?"I didn't answer. I looked out the window and silently counted down.How long would he last this time?In the afternoon, my chest suddenly tightened, my heart started racing, and my blood pressure plummeted.I had just called the doctor in when Daniel's phone rang.It was his mother. Her voice was so shrill I could hear it through the phone."Daniel! Come quick! Rebecca's ex, Travis, showed up at the hospital making a scene! He brought a knife!"Daniel went stiff and looked at me, lying pale in the hospital bed."Claire, I...""Don't forget your promise." Gasping for air, I reached out and grabbe
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Chapter 7
The thermos smashed against the floor tiles, and scalding broth splashed everywhere, filling the room with the heavy smell of chicken soup.Daniel stood rooted to the spot, his face going from white to gray. It took him a long time to squeeze out a few words."Claire, you just got out of an emergency. You're weak. Don't do something like this just because you're upset.""Upset?"I leaned back against the pillow. Even laughing took effort."Daniel, do you remember the three chances I gave you?"I counted them off for him slowly, my voice barely above a whisper, but every word hit home."The first time was the early morning of my third day after giving birth. My incision hurt so much I was breaking out in a cold sweat, and the engorgement had given me a fever that left my whole body stiff. You lied and said there was an emergency in your department, but you were really at Rebecca's place, keeping her company for six whole hours."The second time, I had mastitis with a fever of al
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Chapter 8
Before, Daniel would have caved long ago.But this time, his brow furrowed deeply, and his voice was harder than I'd ever heard it."Rebecca, my wife just got out of emergency care. Someone needs to be with her. If you're scared, call the caregiver. If that's not enough, call security."The crying on the other end paused, then came back even more wounded."Daniel, how can you talk to me like that... You've never snapped at me before."She sniffled, and her voice turned soft again, the picture of understanding."Is Claire upset? It's all my fault. I shouldn't have bothered you right now. Please don't fight with her. She just had a baby and she's weak. It won't be good for her to get worked up. It's all because I'm useless. I'm always causing you trouble... It won't happen again."It was an expert performance, sweet on the surface and barbed underneath. Every word was meant to make me look like the unreasonable one.Before, Daniel would have taken her cue and turned around to tel
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Chapter 9
"You've thought of everything," Linda said, lowering her voice. "Once they're divorced, he's bound to get at least half of that house in the good school district. Then you give him a baby, and we'll be the ones running this family."Standing outside the door, Daniel felt the blood in his veins go ice-cold.He'd always believed Rebecca was truly fragile and helpless. He'd believed he was repaying a debt and doing his duty as a brother.It turned out the whole thing had been a carefully planned con from start to finish.And his own mother had been its most eager accomplice.He kicked the door open.The laughter inside stopped dead.The teacup in Linda's hand crashed to the floor. Her face went white."D-Daniel... What are you doing here?"Rebecca reacted fastest. Her eyes reddened instantly, and tears streamed down her face."Daniel, you heard? I... I didn't mean to lie to you. I really do love you! I've loved you ever since the day I pulled you out of the water!"She lunged f
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Chapter 10
As he spoke, his knees slowly started to bend.I stopped him. "Daniel, don't kneel. It won't matter how many times you do it."He froze where he was, looking at me with red eyes."I gave you three chances." I looked at him, my voice completely calm. "Every time, you chose someone else. Every time, you said it wouldn't happen again. And the next time, it was the same."Now that you've seen who Rebecca really is, you finally feel bad for me. But I don't need it anymore."I looked down at the baby sleeping soundly in my arms. My voice was soft but firm."I always protected your pride. When you went up for promotions and research grants, my dad quietly helped behind the scenes. I never dared mention it, because I was afraid you'd feel embarrassed."And you? You'd rather believe an outsider who plays helpless than the woman who spent years getting through the hard times with you."Daniel, it's not that you're stupid. It's that you never put me and our son first."He opened his mout
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