My Husband Claimed Asexuality And Fathered Her Child Instead Chapter 08

My Husband Claimed Asexuality And Fathered Her Child Instead Chapter 08

He ignored me and continued.

“101.7,” he said.

“I made that up.”

I closed my eyes.

“But you really did go to the hospital,” he went on.

“It was March 14 last year. You had gastroenteritis. You were vomiting and couldn’t keep anything down.”

“I had my assistant send over anti-diarrheal medication and electrolyte drinks, not ibuprofen.”

“Why do you remember that so clearly?”

“Because Serena was sick that day too,” he said quietly.

“Her morning sickness was bad, and she called me crying. I went to the hospital with her.”

“On the way there, my assistant messaged me and said you were at the hospital too.”

“So you didn’t come.”

“I sent my assistant to take care of you,” he said.

“I paid her three times her usual rate.”

I opened my eyes and looked at the snow on the windshield.

The flakes layered over one another, like the lies that had piled up over seven years.

“Was your emotional detachment even real?”

“No. I lied because Serena didn’t want me developing feelings for you, and I was afraid I might.”

The car fell completely silent.

The heater was still blowing, but all I felt was cold.

“Julian.” I took a deep breath.

“Tell me honestly. In all these seven years, was there ever even one moment when you were sincere with me?”

He was silent for so long that time itself seemed to freeze.

“Yes,” he finally said.

“The day you were sick, my assistant sent me a photo. You were lying in the hospital bed, and your face was so pale.”

“At the time, I thought I should go back and see you.”

“But you didn’t.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because Serena was holding my hand and crying.” He lowered his head. “She said she was scared.”

“She was afraid the baby would be born without a father. I thought she needed me more.”

“After all, she was the person I loved most.”

I buried my face in my cold palms. My tears were warm.

“So I didn’t need you enough,” I said.

“I was too strong, too understanding, too good at handling everything on my own.”

“That’s not what it was…”

“That’s exactly what it was.” I lifted my head.

“Julian, you chose her because she was fragile. You chose to ignore me because I could survive it.”

“You claimed you had no emotions, but you clearly knew guilt. You knew tenderness. You knew how to choose.”

I smiled. “You just chose not to give any of those feelings to me.”

He stopped speaking.

At last, the snow stopped.

“Get out,” I said. “I’m tired. I need to rest.”

He unbuckled his seat belt, but when his hand touched the door, he paused.

“Evelyn,” he said, his back still to me.

“If I told you I was choosing you now, would it be too late?”

I looked at his back.

His black coat was soaked through with melted snow, and his shoulders looked strangely defeated.

“It’s too late,” I said.

“Julian, some choices can’t be undone once you make them.”

“Like the day you chose to go with her to that prenatal appointment.”

“Like the day you chose her birthday party over our wedding anniversary.”

“Like every single day for seven years when you chose not to see me.”