Chapter 18 - THE MAN WHO FINALLY CAME TO THE HOSPITAL|
I agreed to meet Owen at the attorney's office.
Evelyn sat beside me. His attorney sat on the other side.
Owen looked older. His face was thinner, and his usual confidence had disappeared.
For a long moment, neither of us spoke.
Then he said, “I know I don't deserve your forgiveness.”
I looked at him.
“Then why am I here?”
“Because I need to tell you the truth.”
“You've had plenty of chances.”
He lowered his eyes.
“I was in trouble financially before we got married.”
I waited.
“My business was failing. Ethan offered to help me find investors. Northlake was supposed to be temporary.”
“And my name?”
“I thought I could use your financial profile to secure the loan. I planned to repay it before you ever found out.”
“You forged my signature.”
“Yes.”
The word came out quietly.
I stared at him.
“Why did you marry me?”
He rubbed his forehead.
“I loved you.”
“Did you?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did you use me?”
He looked down.
“I thought I could separate the business from our marriage.”
“You couldn't.”
“No.”
“And Brooke?”
He closed his eyes.
“I was selfish. I liked the attention. I told myself it wasn't serious.”
“You let her wear my necklace.”
“I know.”
“You let her plan a future with you while I was preparing to give birth to your child.”
He began to cry.
“I know.”
I felt no satisfaction watching him.
Only exhaustion.
“Why didn't you come to the hospital?”
He looked at me.
“I was afraid.”
“Of what?”
“Ethan knew about Brooke. He was beginning to suspect something. If I left the rehearsal, he would have known I was choosing you over the arrangement.”
I stared.
“So you stayed to protect the business.”
He nodded.
“And Lily?”
His face crumpled.
“I thought I would have time to come afterward.”
I felt tears run down my cheeks.
“She didn't have time.”
He covered his face.
“I know.”
I waited until he looked up.
“I held her alone, Owen. I said goodbye to her alone. I listened to her heartbeat disappear in a room full of strangers, and I called my husband because I thought he would come.”
He began sobbing.
“I am sorry.”
I shook my head.
“I'm not here to hear you apologize.”
“Then what do you want?”
“The truth.”
He nodded.
He admitted that he and Ethan had planned to use the house as collateral. Brooke had agreed to help persuade me to sign. The wedding payments had been used to move money through the companies. The private investigator had been hired to monitor my financial and medical circumstances.
Evelyn recorded his statement with his consent and made sure it was handled properly.
When the meeting ended, Owen stood.
“Can I ask you one thing?”
I waited.
“Did you ever love me?”
I looked at him.
“Yes.”
He closed his eyes.
“I did too.”
“Maybe you did. But love doesn't excuse what you chose.”
He nodded.
I walked toward the door.
Behind me, he said, “I wish I had gone to the hospital.”
I stopped.
May you like
“So do I.”
Then I left.
