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Semua Bab I Paid Her Debt, She Repaid With Betrayal: Bab 1 - Bab 9

9 Bab

Chapter 1

Rosalie's best friend, Eva Lyon, said with a face full of worry, "Rosalie, you can't keep something like this under wraps forever. Vernon is bound to find out about the baby sooner or later."Rosalie gently stroked the baby's cheek, utterly aglow with maternal tenderness. However, the words that came out of her mouth were ice-cold."So what if he finds out? Even if he finds out, what can he do? He loves me so much that he even went to prison for me, so surely he can accept a mere baby. The only thing I'm worried about is him losing it and kicking up a fuss the moment he finds out."A chill swept through my entire body.She was right. I'd been madly in love with her. I'd been so in love with her that when she was reported because of another man, I willingly served a three-year prison sentence in her place. I wanted to spare her from suffering.Looking back now, it was nothing short of laughable.The worry on Eva's face instantly dissipated. "True, he was your devoted lapdog for so

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Chapter 2

Ralph hugged Rosalie with a face full of smug satisfaction. This elicited another round of sighs from her friends nearby.Rosalie suddenly said with earnest seriousness, "The person I've always loved is Ralph. If it weren't for the overwhelming public pressure back then when Vernon nearly died saving me, I would never have denigrated myself by being with him for so many years."I walked out of the hospital in a daze and was suddenly stopped by a familiar voice."Vernon, is that you?"It was one of Rosalie's friends, Harriet Kramer. A flash of astonishment crossed her face as she looked at me."When did you get out of prison? What are you doing here at the hospital?"Though her voice was very soft, it still drew disdainful looks from passersby. However, at this moment, I couldn't care less about any of that.Just then, my phone rang. Rosalie was calling."Vernon, are you out of prison?" she asked in a calm voice."Yeah, I'm out," I replied quietly."Why didn't you tell me in a

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Chapter 3

I looked at Rosalie. My eyes were filled with unwillingness to accept it at all."Rosalie, don't you have anything to explain to me? Back then, you said you'd cut off all contact with Ralph, but now you even have a child with him."Rosalie's face paled for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure."Since you already know, there's no point hiding it from you anymore. Ralph and I are indeed together."As she spoke, she intimately linked her arm with Ralph's. She seemed utterly indifferent to the fact that I was standing right in front of them.I felt as if my heart were being torn apart."Rosalie, do you have even a shred of a conscience?" I roared.Rosalie glanced at her watch and said impatiently, "None of this matters now. I need to feed our baby, Harper Osborne, now."Just then, someone brought Harper back.The sight of the three of them looking like a happy family made my heart go cold.As if suddenly remembering something, Rosalie turned back to ask me with concer

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Chapter 4

As I watched Rosalie and Ralph play off each other like that, the last bit of love I'd been clinging to dissipated completely."Rosalie, I went to prison for you because I once believed you were worth it. But now I understand that I've wasted my love on the wrong person. From now on, there's nothing more between us."I spoke each word deliberately. Every single word was wrenched from the deepest depths of my heart.With that, I turned to leave.However, Rosalie blocked my path. "Even if you won't stay here, at least eat something before you go. We don't want the neighbors seeing you like this and thinking we mistreated you somehow."I looked at my own haggard reflection in the mirror. A tumult of emotions churned inside me.Just then, Ralph came over carrying a bowl of food that looked on the verge of molding."I heard people in prison will eat anything. Gretchen hasn't finished cooking yet anyway, so why don't you eat this bowl of food first to tide you over?"I let out a cold

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Chapter 5

Rosalie's lips curled up contemptuously, as if she'd just heard a joke."Divorce? Vernon, are you sure you want to bring up divorce with me?"I looked at her face; it was so familiar yet so foreign. The brows and eyes that had once haunted my dreams now held nothing but cold indifference.I nodded. My voice was so calm that it even surprised me."Yes, I want a divorce."From the side, Ralph let out a derisive snort."Rosalie, he's just giving you an easy way out. What right does a freshly released convict have to ask for a divorce?"I ignored his attempt at provocation and simply fixed my gaze on Rosalie."I'll see you at the courthouse at 9:00 am tomorrow."With that, I turned and headed for the door.However, from behind me came the sound of Rosalie's hurried footsteps."Wait!"She grabbed my arm with astonishing force. Her nails scratched bloody marks into my skin."Vernon, are you out of your mind? You have nothing now. Where can you possibly go if you leave here?"I

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Chapter 6

I shook my head and was about to decline when a sudden wave of dizziness washed over me. In the last moment before I lost consciousness, I felt a pair of warm hands catch me.When I woke again, I was greeted with a pristine white ceiling and the smell of disinfectant. I struggled to sit up, but a slender hand pressed down on my shoulder."Don't move. You're running a high fever of 103 degrees Fahrenheit." Lilian's face appeared in my field of vision. She was adjusting the flow rate on the IV drip. "If you'd been brought in any later, you might have developed pneumonia."Only then did I realize I was lying on a hospital bed with an IV tube inserted into my hand.I hurriedly tried to get up. "The medical bills—"Lillian calmly handed me a cup of warm water."Don't worry, I've already paid them. While you were unconscious, you kept calling out 'Rosalie.' Is she someone who's very important to you?"I gripped the cup tightly. The scalding temperature burned my palm. Yet, it was noth

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Chapter 7

I gently shook off Rosalie's hand."Every doctor here will do their best."Tears burst forth from Rosalie's eyes, and she suddenly collapsed to her knees, sobbing like a helpless child."Vernon, I was wrong—I know that now. As long as you can keep Ralph alive, I'll do anything."Her voice was filled with despair and regret. She was a world apart from the cold and indifferent woman she had once been. Yet, seeing her in this state stirred not even the faintest ripple of emotion in me.There was a time when a single tear from her would have gutted me. However, three years in prison had burned through every ounce of love and pity I'd ever had for her.I bent down, leveling my gaze with hers, and said evenly, "Rosalie, I don't recall you ever pleading with me like this when I was the one going to prison in your place."She opened her mouth, but no words came out. All she did was sob without pause.The surgery lasted six hours.When the lead surgeon came out and shook his head, Rosa

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Chapter 8

Rosalie suddenly broke into a smile, but there was an unspeakable bleakness in it.As I watched her walk away, Lillian looked at me with confusion."Who was she?"I gently shook my head. "Someone from the past."As if grasping something unspoken, Lillian tightened her grip on my hand.…A year later, at the annual meeting of the medical equipment company, I stood at the awards podium as the top salesman. Under the dazzling lights, I accepted the heavy trophy.My gaze swept across the audience, and there was Lillian. She was smiling sweetly at me and with eyes filled with pride.In that moment, I truly felt for the first time how full and warm life could be.After the event ended, Lillian and I walked side by side along the street.The night breeze gently lifted her hair, sending it drifting across my cheek.She suddenly stopped walking and looked at me earnestly."Vernon, look how far you've come. I've seen every bit of progress you've made this year, and I couldn't be happ

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Chapter 9

"Vernon, thank you so much, truly. I've come to terms with everything. I'm going to build a good life with Harper and stop dwelling on the painful memories of the past. I also hope you and Lillian will be happy together, always."I smiled and nodded.I walked out of the hospital, and the sunlight fell warm and bright on my shoulders.Lillian was already waiting for me at the entrance. When she saw me come out, she quickly walked over."Is Harper alright now?"I took her hand and replied, "Yeah. Come on, I want to take you somewhere."I brought Lillian to the beach.The sun was setting in the west. Its golden afterglow spilled across the ocean's surface in glittering, shimmering waves.I retrieved a small box from my pocket and got down on one knee."Lillian, thank you for staying by my side this past year. Thank you for giving me warmth and courage. You showed me how simple happiness can truly be. Will you marry me?"Lillian pressed a hand over her mouth. Her eyes were full o

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