Too Late, Mr. Cooper: Your Bride Ran with Your Baby novel Chapter 182

But his relief was short-lived.

Before he could even process his happiness, Liliana spoke again, her voice light and her smile unwavering. “If the baby needs a father, I can find one. There are plenty of men in the world. I’m sure I can find someone better than you for the job.”

“Liliana!” Linton’s expression changed in an instant. His face went stark white, and he reached out a trembling hand to cover her mouth.

“Don’t say that,” he begged, his voice laced with fear. “You’ll let the baby hear you... it’ll misunderstand...”

“It’s just an embryo, barely two months along,” Liliana reminded him. “You’re nothing more than the biological father. Don’t get the wrong idea. The baby doesn’t belong to you. He could have a hundred fathers in the future, and you still wouldn’t have any claim.”

The pain in Linton’s eyes was sharp and sudden. A heavy weight settled on his chest, making it hard to breathe. His lips trembled as he choked out her name. “Liliana... I’m begging you, please don’t talk like that... please...”

She tilted her head back, looking at his tormented expression, and a small, bright smile bloomed on her face. Her eyes curved into beautiful crescents. But beneath the surface, they were as cold as ice.

She watched him, her gaze as soft as water, and asked gently, “Does it hurt, Linton?” Linton’s lips tightened. Kneeling on the floor, he held her hand, saying nothing. But his hand wouldn’t stop shaking, the coldness spreading through his palm as if his blood had turned to ice.

Liliana glanced at him dispassionately before turning her gaze back to the ceiling. “Good,” she murmured, as if to herself. “It’s supposed to hurt. I used to hurt, too.”

Her eyes suddenly reddened. The old feelings of injustice and grief for her past self surged up.

She couldn’t believe how pathetic she’d been, letting one man tear her apart like that.

Was it worth it? No. It wasn’t.

But all this time, when he wasn’t looking, his girl had been silently enduring so much pain... for so long. For over twenty years. How had she managed to hide her pain, to smile and hold his hand every day as if nothing was wrong?

The thought was unbearable.

Linton clenched his jaw, a vein throbbing in his temple. He was a bastard, worse than an animal.

He hadn’t taken care of Liliana. He hadn’t taken care of his girl.

With a sharp crack, Linton closed his eyes in agony and slapped himself hard across the face.