My Dad’s Cheating Had a Price Tag Until It Couldn’t Keep My Mom Here Chapter 03

My Dad’s Cheating Had a Price Tag Until It Couldn’t Keep My Mom Here Chapter 03

It was the third day after they moved Mom out of the ICU.

My fever had broken. I was in the room with her.

The door swung open.

Dad walked in. Ondine was right behind him.

She made her way toward the bed, holding a thermos. “Thessaly, I heard about the accident. I made you some chicken soup.”

Mom glanced at her. She didn’t say anything.

“I’m always taking up Caelian’s time and making him neglect you two. I came today to apologize properly.”

“Let me feed you.”

She scooped up a spoonful, blew on it, and brought it toward Mom’s mouth.

Mom didn’t open her lips.

For a moment, no one moved.

Ondine leaned in a little more. Then her foot slipped.

The whole bowl tipped, scalding soup splashing across her own chest. She screamed and stumbled backward, her face going white.

Dad lunged, caught her around the waist, and scooped her up in one motion.

“Did it burn you?”

She curled up in his arms and clutched his collar.

“N-no. Just startled me, that’s all.”

Then she grabbed her stomach.

“Caelian, my stomach hurts so bad.”

He spun around and carried her out the door, his strides fast and urgent.

Mom struggled to sit up.

“Let’s go see what’s happening.”

I helped her up. We’d barely opened the door when we heard it.

“Caelian, there’s something I haven’t told you.”

“I’m pregnant. It’s yours.”

Everything went silent.

My mind went completely empty.

I turned to look at Mom.

Her fists were clenched at her sides. Tears slid down her cheeks.

I knew exactly what she was thinking about. The baby she lost.

…

Two years ago.

She’d been pregnant. Four months along.

She went to all her prenatal appointments alone. She got her results alone. Her doctor told her she was high-risk and needed strict bed rest…no stress, no physical strain.

She came home that day, so happy to tell Dad.

But he’d brought Ondine home with him.

Ondine and Mom fell down the stairs together.

Dad only carried Ondine to the hospital.

The baby died that day.

It felt obscene.

The woman who cost my mother her baby was now carrying my father’s child.

…

That night, Dad finally came back.

He looked wrecked. He stood outside the room for a long time.

Mom turned her head toward him.

“Congratulations. You’re gonna be a father again.”

His throat moved as he swallowed.

He walked over and grabbed her hand.

“Honey, I was set up. This was an accident.”

Her voice was steady.

“So what’s your plan for this baby?”

He rubbed his nose and couldn’t meet her eyes.

“Ondine… her health’s not good. If she terminates, she might never get another chance to be a mom.”

“The kid would at least give her something to live for, so I…”

“Honey, believe me. This baby won’t have anything to do with me. It won’t affect our life at all.”

It couldn’t have been clearer.

He was keeping the baby.

I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I shoved myself in front of Mom.

“That’s a bastard child!”

Dad’s brow tightened. “Elowen, don’t talk like that. Ondine’s baby will be your sibling too.”

My eyes burned. “She’s a mistress!”

He raised his hand at me. Mom pulled me behind her.

“Five million. And the child stays.”