The Day He Proposed, the Day He Picked Her Up, the Day I Threw Away the Baby Chapter 06

The Day He Proposed, the Day He Picked Her Up, the Day I Threw Away the Baby Chapter 06

The day before Cassidy’s procedure, Garrett sat on the edge of the hotel bed, taking a picture of the necklace he had just bought.

He could already imagine the look on her face when he gave it to her.

She’d smile like an idiot, curl up in his arms, and laugh with that sweet look he knew so well.

The thought tugged a smile onto his lips before he even realized it.

But Cassidy never replied.

He sent another message.

[Where are you?]

This time, his message failed to send.

His scalp prickled. A buzzing filled his head.

He tried calling again, but her phone was already off.

His brows furrowed, his expression darkening.

What was this about?

He had only driven someone home. Did she really need to make things this ugly?

A pair of hands slid from his collarbone down to his stomach.

“What are you thinking about?” Tessa whispered against his ear.

He pulled her hands away, his tone cooling instantly.

“I’m heading back. You can enjoy the rest of the trip on your own.”

Tessa let out a cold laugh.

Her eyes landed on the necklace in his hand, and she casually snatched it away.

“For me? Thanks.”

“Hey.” Garrett snatched it right back.

Seeing the silent tension in his face, Tessa only smiled wider.

She leaned back against the headboard and gave him a casual look.

“Now you’re thinking about her? That’s a little too late, isn’t it?”

Something about her tone felt off. Completely different from the soft, gentle Tessa from last night.

She tilted her head slightly. “Why are you looking at me like that? If you want to leave, then go.”

Strangely enough, her flippant attitude put Garrett at ease.

He had crossed a line, and the thing he feared most was her clinging to him afterward.

If she did, he wouldn’t know how to face Cassidy when he got back.

But seeing how unconcerned Tessa was, he started to think maybe he could just sweep this whole thing under the rug.

He had lied to Cassidy about a business trip. In reality, he’d come out here to be with Tessa.

They drank that night. He had always carried unresolved feelings for her, and in the end, he gave in to temptation.

Maybe because he knew he had done something wrong, Cassidy filled his thoughts now.

He thought about the way she smiled. The warmth of her curled up in his arms.

Something in his heart twisted.

He got up and started packing, his movements hurried, almost frantic.

After a hurried goodbye to Tessa, he practically ran out of the hotel and booked the earliest flight home.

His hand shook the entire time he held his phone.

His mind raced as he kept thinking about how to coax Cassidy into forgiving him.

Should he tell her not to overthink things?

Take her on a trip? Or just bring her straight to get their marriage license?

He rehearsed countless opening lines in his head, and every single one sounded wrong.

The moment he landed, he bought a bouquet of flowers first.

He paused outside the apartment and adjusted his collar before opening the door.

“Honey, I’m back…”

Then he froze.

The apartment was silent.

At this hour, Cassidy should have already been home from work.

As he walked farther inside, his heart sank lower and lower.

Her things were gone. Everything. She’d erased every trace of herself.

Only the engagement ring sat alone on the bedroom nightstand.

His heart lurched.

Why? Why would she leave without a word? Why so completely?

He contacted Cassidy’s two closest friends, but both said they hadn’t seen her.

He rushed back out the door, started the car, and drove straight toward her family home.

Fragments of recent events replayed nonstop in his head.

It didn’t add up. How could she have known?

No. She was too trusting, too naive when it came to him.

She was probably just upset he’d bailed on the marriage registration.

He could fix this. He just needed to coax her back.

Once she came back, he’d take her to get their marriage license right away.

With that thought, he pressed harder on the gas. Soon, he arrived at her house.

Mrs. Whitmore opened the door, looking confused. “Garrett?”

“Mrs. Whitmore, is Cassidy home?”

Concern flickered across Mrs. Whitmore’s face.

“She hasn’t come back. Did you two… have a fight?”

Garrett’s throat tightened. He forced a strained smile.

“This is my fault. I’ll find her. Please don’t worry.”

Then he turned and left, his steps hurried and uneven.

Night had already fallen completely.

Standing downstairs, he realized for the first time that he had no idea where to look.

Where could she even go? She barely had any close friends.

He had already called the two she cared about most, and neither had seen her.

His thoughts were all over the place. Guilt, worry, and fear hit him all at once.

That was when it finally hit him—Cassidy was deliberately hiding from him.

He went home and faced the empty apartment again. Every trace of her had been wiped clean.

He pulled out a bottle of liquor, sat down on the couch, and tipped his head back for a long drink.

That night, she had asked if he went to pick up Tessa.

But how had she known?

He replayed everything over and over, yet still couldn’t figure it out.

He took another drink.

At some point, he fell asleep on the couch.

The next morning, his phone suddenly buzzed.

The message on the screen made his blood run cold.