Chapter 24
The door closed behind Caroline as she left.
Aiden sat motionless on the bed. He stared at the empty chair where she’d been sitting for a long ime. “I’m sorry.”
He pulled the ring off his finger–the one they’d exchanged on their wedding day.
Aiden finally broke down and wept.
It was all his fault. Elise was right. Lucas was right. Caroline was especially right.
What happened between him and Caroline was entirely his own doing.
After his wound healed, Aiden returned to his empty house.
Sitting in the living room, he looked around the vacant space that still held traces of their life ogether with his heart aching.
He went upstairs to the nursery, filled with items he and Caroline had carefully selected together.
Aiden, do you think our little one will be a boy or a girl?”
He’d wrapped his arms around her from behind. “I’ll love them either way.”
Should we buy some clothes? What color do you think?”
He’d kissed her cheek, “If you really want to know, I can ask the doctor to check.”
But she’d shaken her head. “No, let’s let our little one surprise us.”
We can buy blue, pink, green, yellow–our little one will look adorable in anything.”
Aiden ran his fingers over the row of clean baby clothes,
The housekeeper can handle this. You’re pregnant–you shouldn’t be doing chores.”
He’d taken the laundry from her hands and placed it in the sink.
00:21
Done Plaving My Uncle Hubby’s Forbidden Backun Doll
17 796
Chapter 24
Caroline had kissed his cheek playfully. “I’ll be careful, I promise. But I read that babies feel more loved when their parents prepare their clothes themselves.”
He’d helped her to the sofa. “Then I’ll do it. Our little one will be the happiest child in the world.”
Aiden still remembered the first time he washed those tiny socks, no bigger than three of his fingers
and the overwhelming emotion of impending fatherhood.
He picked up the clothes from the nursery closet. Each tiny garment had been prepared with Caroline for their baby.
He held them and fell to his knees to sob.
“I’m so fucking sorry. God, I’m sorry…”
Aiden brought snacks that children might like to his child’s grave.
He carefully arranged them and placed a stuffed animal that he and Caroline had sewn together by
the headstone.
“Baby, I’m sorry. It’s all Daddy’s fault.”
“Daddy let you and Mommy down. I’m so sorry.”
Aiden clung to the headstone and weept.
He had failed to understand his own heart.
He had confused guilt with love. He had mistaken lingering regret for love, entangling himself with
Elise.
He had failed Caroline, who had loved him completely, only to be hurt and abandoned.
“I’m sorry, baby.”
“I’ll make it right. I swear I will. Just let me… fix what I can, then I’ll come find you.”
“I’m the one who fucked everything up. I failed you and your mother.”
“I need to atone for what I’ve done.”
Aiden cried at the grave for hours, until darkness fell and the cemetery caretaker approached.
00:21
Done Playing My Uncle–Hubby’s Forbidden Backup Doll
17.99
00:21
0
Chapter 24
“Sir, it’s getting dark. You should leave now.” The caretaker looked at Aiden with sympathy.
“The child is gone. You need to take care of yourself.”
That nameless and photoless headstone marked the resting place of a tiny child.
Aiden refused the caretaker’s help and slowly made his way down the hill alone.
He didn’t deserve compassion. He had killed his own child himself.
