“Don’t ever come to my house asking me to take responsibility, Vela! I know you only want to trick me with your lies so I’ll marry you. Don’t think I’m some fool!”
“Max! This is your child, your flesh and blood. Why won’t you acknowledge him?” The long-haired woman was still kneeling, looking up at the twenty-five-year-old man before her. “I’ve only slept with you, not anyone else. I swear, Max—”
“Don’t lie, Vela! After me, there must have been someone else you had fun with!” Novela flinched when Max shouted at her. The woman looked up, staring blankly at the man who had taken everything from her. Novela had never imagined that Max would say such words—words that would shatter her heart.
Not wanting to wallow in sorrow, Novela slowly rose and looked at the man who refused to meet her gaze.
The pregnant woman drew a deep breath, then looked at Max with a heartbreaking smile. “Fine,” she said softly. “If you don’t want to acknowledge the child, then I won’t force you anymore.”
“That’s how it should be.”
“But Mr. Alexander, if this really is your child, then you will never have another child with any woman,” Novela cut in calmly, yet sharply. “When that day comes, you’ll always remember the child you refused to acknowledge. Your regret will be useless. You’ll crawl to me and beg for forgiveness then, and I will never forgive you, even if you kiss my feet!”
Max’s eyes widened at the woman’s curse, and he glared at her. “God will never answer your oath. A liar like you has no right to swear anything against me! Get out of here!”
Novela smiled as she stroked her still-flat belly. “I’ll wait for your karma, Max. I’ll see how you cry and beg for my forgiveness.”
After that, Novela left with her heart shattered by the humiliating rejection. She never looked back. She walked away with firm, steady steps.
Behind her, Max stared blankly at Novela’s retreating figure. There was no regret in his heart—only disgust and hatred taking root inside him.
“Has that woman left, Max?”
Max turned around and looked at his mother, who had just come out of the house. “She has. That cheap woman will never come here again,” he replied quietly.
Amber smiled victoriously. The fifty-three-year-old woman had never expected her son to be that furious with a woman she had always disliked. “I’m glad you’ve finally opened your eyes, Max. That woman only wants your money. She—”
“Stop talking about her, Mom. I’m sick of hearing it,” Max cut her off before walking into the luxurious house, ignoring his mother’s calls.
Crash!
Crash!
Inside the bedroom, objects were scattered across the floor. The room no longer looked luxurious at all; it looked like a disaster zone. Max smashed anything within reach, venting the anger he had held in while outside the house.
“YOU BASTARD, VELA!! WAS I NOT GOOD ENOUGH THAT YOU HAD TO GO FIND ANOTHER MAN!?” he screamed in frustration. “AFTER YOU GOT PREGNANT WITH ANOTHER MAN’S CHILD, YOU CAME TO ME AND DEMANDED THAT I TAKE RESPONSIBILITY! YOU CHEAP WOMAN!!”
“ARRRGGGH!! I HATE YOU, VELA! I HATE YOU!”
Max slumped onto the floor, utterly drained after venting his rage. He lowered his head and buried his face between his knees. He could no longer hold back his tears. The love he had given her for three years had now become nothing but resentment and hatred rooted deep within him.
“I hate you, Vela! I swear to God, I hate you,” he sobbed softly.