جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 180

Dominic drove home without remembering the journey. The city passed beyond the windows in a blur of lights, traffic, and unfamiliar faces, but none of it reached him. The detectives’ words kept replaying in his head. Donor sperm. The dates match. Ethan isn’t your biological son. And Laura. Everything she had told him. Everything he had believed. Everything he thought had been real. By the time he stepped inside his house, he felt hollow. He didn’t stop in the living room. Didn’t ask where anyone was. He walked straight to his home office and closed the door behind him. For several minutes, he simply stood there. Then there was a soft knock. The daytime nanny stepped inside cautiously. “Sir?” Dominic looked up. “When you were gone…” she began, a small smile appearing on her face, “…Ethan did something wonderful.” Dominic stared at her. “What?” “He was on his tummy, and he tried to lift himself.” Her smile widened. “He actually held his head up for a few seconds.”

The next morning, Dominic went to the hospital with the divorce papers in his hand. He had spent the drive thinking about what he would say. He had imagined walking into Laura’s room, placing the papers in front of her, and finally asking the question that had been sitting inside him since everything began. Why? Why had she done it? Why had she gone this far? Why had she turned his life, Emma’s life, and now Ethan’s life into something so twisted? But when Dominic reached the nurses’ station, the doctor was already waiting for him. “You’re here to see Mrs. Sterling.” “Yes. Address her Laura, not Mrs. Sterling.” The doctor nodded. “She is awake.” Something inside Dominic tightened. “Can I see her?” “You can. But I need you to understand something first.” Dominic waited. “She understands what’s being said to her. She can respond. But she’s still extremely weak, and her throat hasn’t recovered enough for her to speak properly.” Dominic glanced toward the closed door at

The hospital room was quiet. Laura sat against the raised pillows, her hands resting over the blanket. For the first time in days, she could speak without fighting for every word. But having her voice back didn’t make things easier. It only meant she could no longer hide behind silence. The door opened. Dominic walked in. Laura looked at him. He didn’t ask how she was. He didn’t ask whether she was in pain. He didn’t even look at the machines beside her bed. He walked to the chair near the window and placed a folder on the table. Laura’s eyes fell on it. Divorce papers. Dominic sat down. For several seconds, neither of them spoke. Then he said quietly, “I came to finish this.” Laura swallowed. “Dominic…” “Don’t.” His voice wasn’t loud. That made it worse. “I don’t want an explanation.” Laura lowered her eyes. Dominic watched her. “I’ve spent months listening to explanations.” He glanced at the folder. “Every lie came with one.” Laura’s fingers tightened a

Emma was standing by the window when her phone rang. In the adjoining room, Alexander and Stephanie were speaking in low voices. They had been talking for several minutes, but the door was partly closed, and Emma couldn’t make out what they were saying. She glanced at her phone. Detective Steve. She answered. “Hello?” “Emma, I hope I’m not disturbing you.” “No. Is something wrong?” “I wanted to speak to you about your accident case.” Emma frowned. “My accident?” “Yes. Dominic has come forward. He wants to cooperate with us.” “Dominic?” “He says he has information that may help the investigation.” Emma turned slightly toward the adjoining room. “Detective… Dominic was the one who saved Laura. If you don’t know, he was the one who—” “I know,” Steve said. “We’ve already gone through his statement.” “Then why does he suddenly want to help with my case?” “He says there are things he should have told us earlier. We’re going to question him again.” Emma let out a quiet bre

“Detectives, I’m sorry, but you need to leave.” Steve turned toward the nurse standing beside Laura’s bed. “She needs rest. She still hasn’t recovered. You can speak to her in the morning.” “No.” Laura’s voice stopped them both. The nurse looked at her. “Please,” Laura said, struggling to sit up. “Don’t leave me here.” “Mr. Reed, you need to rest.” “I’ll tell them everything.” Her breathing quickened. “I’ll tell you everything. Just don’t leave me alone.” Steve exchanged a glance with Dan. A few minutes ago, Laura had been fighting every question. Now she was terrified of being left alone. “Give us a minute,” Steve told the nurse. The nurse hesitated, then stepped aside. Dan moved closer to the bed. “Laura, we need one answer.” She looked at him. “Who has been helping you all these years?” Laura’s fingers tightened around the blanket. “Who is the person you’re afraid of?” Steve asked. Laura said nothing. Steve pulled a chair closer. “So tell us…” He held her ga