I Lost My Baby, He Became Her Hero Chapter 09

I Lost My Baby, He Became Her Hero Chapter 09

Reporters filled the courtroom on the day of the hearing.

Adrian sat at the defense table and never raised his head.

Daniel presented the evidence piece by piece.

Seven years of messages, transfer records, prenatal reports, and Instagram screenshots had all been notarized, and the timeline was clear.

Next came Vanessa’s DMs and Adrian’s handwritten note.

Both were entered into evidence and displayed in court.

Adrian’s attorney argued that the note came from an emotional breakdown and couldn’t prove

intent.

Daniel answered at once.

“A father wrote this confession after his daughter died. How could it be anything but sincere?”

The judge looked at Adrian.

“Mr. Cole, did you write this note?”

He remained silent for a long time.

Finally, he spoke in a low voice, “Yes.”

A shocked murmur swept through the gallery.

Then the hearing turned to the concealed assets.

Daniel produced five years of bank statements and corporate share-transfer records.

He also documented every payment Adrian had made to Vanessa.

Homes, vehicles, and luxury purchases pushed the total above $13 million.

More than half had come from the marital estate.

Adrian’s face grew paler with every document.

The judge issued the ruling from the bench.

The court found that Adrian had committed adultery, concealed marital assets, and made fraudulent transfers during the marriage.

The court ordered him to transfer half of the company shares into my name and return all disputed

marital assets.

When the gavel fell, Adrian collapsed against the back of his chair.

He looked completely hollow.

I gathered my files and walked out without looking back.

I had won the civil case.

Snow was still falling outside the courthouse.

“Natalie…”

Adrian called my name.

He stood below the steps and hesitated before approaching.

“I’m sorry.”

I’d heard those words countless times during the past few days.

They changed nothing.

There was no cure for regret.

What happened couldn’t be undone.

Even ten million apologies wouldn’t bring my daughter back.

I said nothing and walked past him.

Vanessa’s criminal sentence was announced that afternoon./

She was convicted of soliciting an intentional assault that resulted in death and sentenced to twelve

years in prison.

Her knees buckled at the sentence, and court deputies had to half-carry, half-drag her out.

Later, she sent several requests to see me.

At first, I refused.

After thinking it over, I finally agreed.

During the prison visit, thick glass separated us.

Vanessa sat on the other side.

She had lost weight.

Her eyes were sunken, and her hair looked dry and dull.

Nothing remained of her former polish.

She lifted the visitation phone. “You won.”

Her voice was hoarse.

A twisted smile appeared on her face. “Are you happy now that you’ve seen me like this?”

I looked at her without answering.

Several seconds passed.

“What happens to you doesn’t change anything for me. My only wish is to bring my child back. If

she could return, I’d give up everything.”

Vanessa kept smiling as if she wanted to provoke me.

“Looks like you’re not exactly at peace either.”

“How could you be so cruel?” My voice began to shake. “You were my best friend. I trusted you

more than anyone.”

“Do you remember when I got pregnant? You were the first person I called. I told you that you were

going to be her godmother.”

“You cried because you were so happy. Was all of that fake?”

The tears finally came.

“How could you do it? Tell me how you could do that to her.”

I asked again and again.

On the other side of the glass, Vanessa’s hand shook around the phone.

Her lips moved, but no sound came out.

My gaze settled on the thin scar near her eyebrow, which not even heavy foundation could conceal.

We’d been sixteen when a fire broke out in our boarding school dorm.

I slept on the top bunk.

Smoke blinded me and left me too dazed to move.

Vanessa ran inside and dragged me toward the exit.

When part of the ceiling collapsed, she stepped in front of me.

Shattered glass cut her brow and covered her face with blood.

She later underwent several laser treatments.

The scar never disappeared.

Vanessa noticed where I was looking and raised a hand to cover it.

“Vanessa,” I said. “Do you regret saving me?”

She froze.

Her hand slowly fell, her lips tightening into a thin line before she gave a faint smile.

“No. If it happened a thousand times, I’d still run inside and save you.”

She paused. “But that didn’t stop me from hating you later.”

Her eyes held no guilt or avoidance.

There was only calm honesty.

“You always excelled at everything. You got better grades, you were prettier, and everyone liked

you.”

Her voice began to tremble. “No matter what I did, I could never measure up to you. I could accept that in everything except Adrian. I loved him more than you did.”

Her eyes reddened.

“From the day he met you, he only saw you. But I knew him first. I tried everything.”

“I acted fragile and understanding… I created misunderstandings and turned you against each other.”

A bitter laugh escaped her.

“I did everything I could to pull you apart little by little.”

Then her voice caught.

“And the baby… I never meant for her to die. I only wanted you to hurt. I wanted you to feel what it was like to lose everything…’

“I only meant to scare you…”

Vanessa covered her face as her shoulders shook.

“If there’s another life, I’ll… spend all of it making amends.”

She looked at me, her lips trembling.

“But in this life, I don’t regret it.”

Unable to listen any longer, I hung up and turned toward the exit.

Her voice followed me to the door.

“Natalie, what about you? Do you regret being my friend?”

I didn’t answer.

I opened the door and walked out.