ManyWriters

I send the ultrasound report to Elliot, "Honey, we finally have a baby."
After ten years of IVF, this day has finally come.
But what I receive is Elliot's cold response, "Desmond, we're not keeping this baby."
The reason is he's afraid his childhood sweetheart, devastated by her recent miscarriage, couldn't bear the news of someone else having a child. He doesn't want to trigger her painful memories.
I can't believe it. Crying, I call him many times.
As soon as he picks up, he's impatient, "Why are you overreacting? It's just a baby. Summer lost hers too, didn't she? Either terminate the pregnancy or get a divorce. Your choice."
Summer's tearful voice comes through the phone, "Desmond, Elliot's just talking nonsense for my sake. It's my bad luck to blame. Don't be mad at him, blame me if you must."
I turn off my phone, laughing weakly. If I have to choose, I'll choose neither.Later, Summer, with her protruding belly, said to me with a smug look, "It was just a joke back then. I didn't expect Elliot to take it seriously. Desmond, you're not going to be a sore loser, are you?"
I smiled nonchalantly, "A leopard can't change its spots. It's not surprising."

You are my only

After that day, Elliot called me. His voice was dejected, "I won't bother you anymore. And... I'm sorry."


Elliot's company had gone bankrupt, with creditors hounding him from all sides. He was facing insolvency, and the people in his company were scrambling over the remains, leaving nothing but chaos in their wake.


As it turned out, Levi had used his connections to threaten Elliot, cutting off his financial support.


Ruthless and decisive - that was the Levi everyone else knew, the reputation he had among outsiders.


But with me, he showed his gentle side.


I sent Levi a message. There were some things I needed to tell him, and it was time.


Back at Skyler, I still had to undergo a return-to-work assessment, so I spent every day practicing intensively.


Levi seemed to know I was busy, so we didn't interact much.


Suddenly, I wondered if what I had said that day was too harsh.


"Thank you, but I'm sorry. You're wonderful, but I'm not worthy."


Chapter 9