Chapter 10 - The Eight Months|
Dominic felt the words like a physical blow to his chest.
"Mara... please," he pleaded, reaching out to touch her hair. "I know you hate me. I know I failed you—"
"Don't touch me, Dominic!" Mara cried out, pulling her head away from his hand. "You brought that woman into my life! You let her sit in our home while your family threatened me!"
"I didn't know, Mara!" Dominic explained desperately, dropping to his knees beside her hospital bed. "I swear to you on my mother's grave, I had no idea Celeste was working with Julian! I didn't know you were pregnant!"
"Because you didn't look!" Mara sobbed, her chest heaving under the thin blanket. "Eight months ago, when I told you I wanted a divorce, you didn't ask why! You just assumed I was tired of your life! You let your ego stand between us!"
Dominic lowered his head, resting his forehead against the metal guardrail of her bed, accepting every harsh truth she threw at him.
"You're right," Dominic whispered raspy. "I was a fool. I was arrogant, blind, and consumed by my own pride."
He looked up, his gray eyes wet with genuine tears.
"When I heard your car went over that bridge tonight," Dominic said, his voice trembling, "my whole world ended, Mara. I realized that all the money, the docks, and the power in this city mean nothing if you aren't in my life."
Mara stared at him, her dark eyes searching his face, seeing a broken, humbled man she had never seen in three years of marriage.
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"I didn't run away because I stopped loving you, Dominic," Mara whispered, her voice breaking completely. "I ran away because I knew if Julian found out I was carrying your heir, he would kill my baby."
"He's gone, Mara," Dominic said softly. "Julian is dead. Celeste is in police custody. No one will ever hurt you or our daughter again."
