Chapter 7
I hired a professional lawyer to handle the lawsuit and did everything I could to ensure that Laurel paid for what she had done.
As for Kendrick, at most, he had been negligent. There wasn’t enough to charge him with anything serious.
“I’m sorry, Roxanne. I still love you. I’ve never stopped,” he said.
Laurel, the one he had doted on for so long, couldn’t stand to hear that. In an instant, she screamed, “That’s impossible! You told me that I was better than her in every way. You even said that you were going to marry me!”
The facade she had so carefully maintained finally gave way, revealing the arrogance underneath.
She turned to me, her voice rising. “Roxanne Bradford! What right do you have to marry him, to carry his child? You don’t deserve it! You’re nothing but an obstacle in our love story!”
With every word she spat, Kendrick refused to lift his gaze.
The police ultimately dragged Laurel away. Her screams echoed down the hospital corridor until they faded into silence.
Meanwhile, Kendrick’s face flushed red as he held my hand. His voice, thick with remorse, dropped to a whisper. “I’m sorry, honey. It’s all her fault! She tricked me. Just give me one more chance, okay?”
I jerked my hand away without hesitation.
“I almost died that day. Do you have any idea what it’s like to have your own child ripped away from you?”
Tears streamed down Kendrick’s face. His breathing turned ragged, and then he fell to his knees while gripping his hair in anguish.
Even so, I remained unmoved. Nothing he did could change anything.
We were over.
“Laurel is gone. Now, it’s your turn,” I stated.
Nearby, Evelyn caught on immediately. She and Sabrina immediately grabbed Kendrick before shoving him out the door.
I had no idea how to explain things to Sabrina. But she didn’t scold me or try to change my mind.
Instead, she patted my hand in quiet support and said, “As a woman, I understand. If you want a divorce, I’ll stand by you.”
Warmth spread through my chest. I smiled and thanked her.
At last, I had severed ties with Kendrick
After reviewing the case, the judge ruled that Laurel would be detained and ordered her to pay me 20 thousand dollars in damages.
Kendrick and I divorced, splitting our assets evenly.
However, the verdict didn’t stir anything in me.
When I married him, he was just a broke nobody. I chose Kendrick for who he was, not for his wealth.
And now, I saw the truth. He wasn’t worth trusting either.
With that, I packed my bags. I was about to leave for my parents‘ home when Kendrick came chasing after me.
He stood before me, clutching my ultrasound report and a discarded pregnancy test.
Tears streaked his face as he pleaded, “I know I was wrong. You can blame me, hit me, or do whatever you want. Just give me one more chance to make things right. Please.”
He blocked my path and demanded an explanation. Or maybe he was begging for a fresh start.
“If there hadn’t been any surveillance footage, would you have believed Laurel? Would you have resented me for the rest of your life?” I asked calmly.
Kendrick fell silent at my questions. After a long pause, he finally spoke.
“I had a dream last night. In it, I saved you during the shipwreck. We got married and had a child. But the moment the baby was born, I drowned him. I even pushed you into a pool.”
He clutched his head, his face twisting in agony. Then, he continued, “Your screams still echo in my ears. It felt so real. Roxanne, whether in my dream or reality, I failed you both times.”
His bloodshot eyes brimmed with desperation.
A wave of satisfaction inexplicably washed over me.
“Did it ever cross your mind that it wasn’t just a dream? Whether it was the past or the present, you never chose me,” I replied, a faint smile tugging at my lips. Kendrick swayed as if the energy had been drained from his body.
I added, “You drowned our child and threw me into the pool, saying that I had to suffer the way Laurel did. Well, thanks to you, I did. The water was cold, but it was nothing compared to your cruelty.”
He froze. Every word I spoke mirrored his dream exactly. He could no longer tell what was real and what wasn’t.
