He Made Me Draw A Lottery For Our Dead Child Chapter 03

He Made Me Draw A Lottery For Our Dead Child Chapter 03

The first time I’d seen Colette was at my wedding to Bastian.

She had shown up in tears, saying she’d made a mistake.

Bastian was normally so composed, but even his eyes had been red.

His words were cold and final, yet he supported her carefully by the arm.

“Colette, we had our chance. It just wasn’t meant to be.”

“You chose him. Don’t come back to me now.”

The second time had been yesterday.

Now, Colette ate the soup from Bastian’s spoon as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Her eyes were red-rimmed.

“My divorce is final. I only called you yesterday because I didn’t know who else to turn to. I hope your wife doesn’t mind.”

The spoon trembled slightly in Bastian’s hand. After a brief silence, he said, “She won’t.”

“Elowen isn’t that petty.”

Colette gazed at him with open longing.

“If she’s so understanding, could she let me have you back? Bas, we could…”

“Colette.”

Bastian’s voice was low.

“I’m married.”

Colette began to sob. Bastian held himself back, refusing to comfort her.

His resolve lasted all of three seconds.

With a sigh, he pulled her into his arms.

“You need to let go and move forward.”

I watched from the hallway as whatever warmth remained inside me disappeared.

Was I supposed to be moved because he’d reminded her that he had a wife?

All I felt was humiliation.

I took a picture of them embracing, then slipped back to my room unnoticed.

When Bastian came back, he looked as composed as ever.

He gave me the contact information for an attorney at his firm, but I said nothing.

While he was gone, I’d received my acceptance letter from Lindenmere University’s doctoral program and booked my flight.

The unmistakable scent of pear-blossom perfume on his clothes turned my stomach.

After he left, I contacted the attorney, determined to get justice for the baby I’d never had the chance to meet.

Emmett Lorne called me that afternoon.

“The state medical board is almost certain to revoke the doctor’s license. Don’t worry, Elowen.”

At that moment, the doctor herself was kneeling beside my bed, crying and begging me to forgive her.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Sayer. I really didn’t mean to do it. It was just a moment of carelessness.”

Her face had gone pale from crying.

“My son had done badly on an exam that morning, and I got distracted. But that’s all it was. An accident.”

She grabbed my hand.

“If you withdraw the lawsuit, I’ll do anything you ask. I’ll make sure you get all the care you need to recover. I…”

The longer she spoke, the angrier I became.

I yanked my hand free and stared at her.

“An accident? You think you can make this right?”

“Your carelessness killed my baby!”

“Can anything you offer bring my child back?”

She had no answer. She could only cry and tell me how difficult her life was, hoping guilt would make me relent.

I took a deep breath.

“I won’t withdraw the lawsuit. You’re going to answer for my baby’s death.”

She left looking defeated and resentful.

Once she was gone, I sagged against the pillows and rested a hand on my stomach.

I opened my phone and looked at the tiny baby dresses in my shopping cart.

Grief welled up inside me.

I didn’t know what Bastian was busy with now, but I’d stopped expecting anything from him.

All I wanted was to hold that negligent doctor accountable and leave Crestmont for good.

But early the next morning, Emmett called again.

The hesitation in his voice immediately put me on edge.

“What happened?”

He paused before answering. “Elowen, the case… has been withdrawn.”

I sat bolt upright. “I’m the plaintiff. I didn’t withdraw anything. Who had the authority to do that?”