He Promised Me Forever, Then Chose Her

Chapter 5 The Fall That Changed Everything

Vivian's face turned deathly pale. She dropped to her knees with a thud, tears streaming down her face. "Mrs. Vale, I know I was wrong. Please give me another chance. I'm begging you."

Adrian's voice was tight with fury. "You even went behind my back and got close to my son. The fact that I'm letting you go at all is already mercy."

Lucas cried even harder. "Bad Daddy! Don't yell at Vivi!"

Vivian clung to Lucas as if he were her last lifeline. "I only met him because I substituted at his kindergarten once. I didn't approach him on purpose. Please forgive me. I'm begging you."

Adrian yanked Lucas back and pointed at Vivian, his voice cold. "Get out."

He turned to take Lucas back inside, but Vivian's voice rang out behind him. "Mrs. Vale, you can drive me away, but can you really drive away the child I'm carrying?"

At those words, Elara gagged. Disgust surged through her, so strong it made her sick. Tears slipped down her face. The last trace of hope she had held onto for this man finally shattered.

Vivian looked up at Adrian, fragile and pleading. This was her final card. She was certain that once she said it, he would no longer be able to walk away.

And he did turn back. His eyes locked onto her stomach, disbelief in his voice. "Weren't you taking birth control every day?"

"There was one time… you were drunk. You didn't let me take it…"

Adrian stared at her shrinking figure, his lips trembling with rage. He wanted to tear her apart.

"I didn't let you? If I didn't, couldn't you take it yourself?" He forced the words out through clenched teeth. "Get rid of it."

Vivian had never expected such coldness. Her face went completely white as panic took over. "Adrian, it's our child. Don't you want to see it born? Please, I'm begging you. Let it live."

Adrian covered Lucas's ears, his expression dark to the extreme. "Don't make me repeat myself. Get rid of it."

Vivian scrambled forward and grabbed his pant leg. "Please. I'll disappear from your life and Elara's. I won't show up again. Just let me keep the baby. I truly love you. I want to keep a part of us. I'll raise the child on my own. I won't disturb you ever again."

Now she was truly desperate. She had not expected Adrian to be so unmoved. It seemed she had underestimated how much he cared for Elara. But that didn't matter. Beneath her anxious expression, her eyes sharpened. She still had ways to make him yield.

Adrian shook her off with force and roared, "Get out!"

Vivian let out a scream as she lost her balance and tumbled down the steps. Adrian froze. She lay motionless at the bottom, unconscious.

The cry drew everyone's attention. People began to glance over, whispering.

Adrian rushed down in panic and gathered her into his arms.

"Are you okay? Wake up." He shook her, his voice tight. "Say something."

Then he felt something wet on his hand. He looked down. There was blood. For a moment, Adrian completely lost his composure.