Better Life Without You. novel Chapter 8

This girl was the one laura had adopted abroad.

Her mother had died in the merciless artillery fire while saving laura.

And her relatives had all passed away before that, leaving only her, a small child.

When laura adopted her, she was only three years old—thin and small, with bloodstains all over her body and eyes full of confusion and fear.

She felt like a gift from heaven to make up for the child laura had lost.

In just half a year, she had become plump and fair, with sweet dimples on her cheeks when she smiled, and her eyes sparkling with brightness.

laura pinched her chubby little face and introduced her to Henry. "This is my daughter, Amy."

Then she added, "Amy, quickly say hello to Uncle."

Amy was very obedient, smiling sweetly and greeting, "Hello, Uncle."

Henry's face immediately drained of color. He wanted to smile but couldn't.

"laura, what is going on? Why do you suddenly have a daughter? Are you joking with me?"

laura didn't answer him, just sighed.

"Henry, take some time and let's go get the divorce certificate," she said, then paused and softened her tone. "You and Nancy's child should have been born by now. Don't you want the child to be labeled as an illegitimate child?"

"laura, he's not an illegitimate child. He could be our child..."

Henry spoke urgently, but before he could finish, Amy pouted, dissatisfied, and said, "A little child can only have one mommy and daddy, your baby has his own mommy, and laura can't be his mommy!"

Upon hearing this, laura smiled and patted Amy's head, then looked at Henry and said in a soft voice, "See, even a little child understands this, but you, as an adult, don't."

"Henry, I'm not interested in raising a child for someone who destroyed my marriage, and I don't want to be anyone's stepmother. You've got the wrong person."

Henry's explanation became hollow. He opened his mouth but couldn't say anything.

Because he knew that this idea was too cruel for laura.

"laura, I..."

"laura, Amy, why are you still outside?"

Luke walked quickly into the restaurant, seeing them still standing there. He asked in confusion.

Amy saw him and waved happily, "Dad, come quickly, someone is trying to steal my mommy!"

The process of adopting a child was complicated because laura hadn't divorced Henry yet. Legally, they were still married, so she couldn't adopt Amy.

So, she had asked Luke for a favor, letting him adopt her first, and once laura successfully divorced Henry, she would change the guardian.

At this moment, hearing the title "Dad" from Amy, Henry subconsciously looked at Luke, and soon, a hostile malice appeared in his eyes.

Luke, however, was indifferent, not taking Henry seriously. He walked over, gently touched Amy's face, and said to laura, "It's alright, your mommy will never be easily taken away."

He said this with firm confidence.

laura felt a little helpless but also echoed him, "Yes, I just need Amy."

These words were both a comfort for Amy and a way to make Henry give up.

Sure enough, after hearing this, Henry's lips curled into a bitter smile, and he looked at laura unwillingly. "laura, did you ever think of me when you said that? You... really don't want me anymore?"

"From the day you betrayed our marriage, the outcome should have been clear. Henry, it wasn't me who let go first."

"Now, the one you should be responsible for is not me, but Nancy and your child."

Henry's eyes were full of helplessness. "laura, I never planned to marry Nancy.

I have no feelings for her. The person I've always loved is you. I was just envious of others having children, and I made a mistake... I never meant to hurt you..."

laura didn't respond to his words, just looked at him and said faintly, "Before I applied to be a doctor for Doctors Without Borders, I had a full body checkup, and the results showed that I am healthy and there is no problem."

She only said one sentence, "Henry, may we both live well and be indifferent to each other from now on."

After saying that, she left.

Faintly, she could hear his quiet sobbing behind her, but she didn't look back.

*** ***

After that, in order to better raise Amy, she changed to a job with more flexible hours.

Luke and she decided to co-parent Amy, but they agreed not to enter into marriage.

She felt that this arrangement was better for both of them.

Years passed, and Luke was sent on a work assignment, so they lived in different cities.

Slowly, due to the distance and differing career aspirations, they began to experience friction.

To preserve their precious relationship, they both decided to return to being friends.

Amy, due to her schooling plans, stayed with Luke, but she would visit her regularly.

Although she felt regret, they were still the most important people in each other's lives.

Since Amy wasn't around, Laura suddenly found herself with plenty of free time.

On a whim, she decided to take a short getaway and booked a stay at a private estate.

By the time she arrived, night had already fallen, and a small party was in full swing. Caught up in the lively atmosphere, she ended up drinking quite a bit.

She remembered the staff telling her that her room was on the third floor.

Feeling lightheaded and unsteady, she made her way upstairs.

But as she reached the landing—was it to the left or the right?