Too Late to Win Me Back

Chapter 2 Years Back in College

When Nina saw the hospital appointment on Katherine's phone, she immediately turned away, covering her mouth as she cried again.

Even she knew this child simply couldn't be kept.

Katherine had just finished making the appointment when Spencer called.

On the other end, his voice was warm, gentle.

"Katherine, happy birthday! Look up! See the birthday present I got you!"

Nina gasped in surprise.

"Wait... Today's your birthday?"

That day was Katherine's birthday.

It was also the tenth birthday she had spent with Spencer.

She slowly looked up. Suddenly, giant fireworks erupted in the sky, brilliant enough to light up the entire city.

Then a formation of drones rose into the air, glowing like a constellation as they rearranged themselves into the shape of Katherine's name.

The next second, the giant screens on the city's high-rises simultaneously lit up, scrolling with Spencer's declarations of love: Katherine, happy birthday. I will love you forever. You are the light of my world.

The fireworks.

The drones.

The fireworks, the drones, and the giant scrolling declarations instantly ignited the city, prompting screams of excitement from the people around her.

"Oh my god! That's Spencer Hopkins! He's been obsessed with his wife for ten years! They started dating in college! What a fairy-tale romance!"

"I heard she's afraid of childbirth, so he refused to pressure her! They've been married for five years and still haven't had a baby! He loves her so much."

"Didn't he almost die saving her from that fire years ago? If I were Mrs. Hopkins, my life would be complete!"

*****

Nina quickly lifted her camera again, recording everything. This was the kind of love story people believed in.

Katherine held the phone to her ear. Spencer spoke again, softer this time.

"I wish I could be there with you today," he said apologetically. "But the company's a mess right now. I can't get away. I'll make it up to you tonight, okay?"

Katherine replied with a simple "Okay" and hung up.

The moment the call ended, she gently tugged Nina's sleeve and whispered in her ear.

"Nina, I'm heading home. It might not be convenient for you to keep filming. Do you have something small I could wear to record things myself?"

Nina immediately dropped her backpack and started digging through it. After a moment, she pulled out a miniature camera and handed it to Katherine.

"Here. Clip this onto your clothes. Once it's on, it records automatically. I want to do a few more random interviews with people here."

"Okay. I'll send you the video when I'm done."

Katherine took it, walked through the crowd, and headed toward her car.

Before she got in, she heard Nina's interview drifting over on the wind.

"Do you know the love story between Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins?"

The woman, who stopped, clasped her hands together dreamily.

"Of course I do! Everyone does. Mr. Hopkins chased her for years back in college..."

Katherine pulled her coat tighter as she reached her car.

The window rolled up, completely isolating her from the fireworks, the drones, the giant screens, and the screams, envy, and blessings of the crowd outside.

The liveliness vanished in an instant, leaving only the silence inside the car.

Katherine sat there for a moment, staring ahead.

Because none of those people knew the truth. The man the entire city believed was hopelessly devoted to his wife already had a four-year-old son!

Katherine had only found out three months ago that Spencer had a four-year-old son.

To be precise, even Spencer himself only found out three months ago!

It happened at their five-year wedding anniversary party. A woman suddenly burst in holding a little boy's hand, claiming he was Spencer's child.

At first, both Katherine and Spencer thought it was some kind of ridiculous prank until they saw the little boy's face.

He looked exactly like Spencer.

They both froze on the spot.

The banquet devolved into chaos. Looking back, Katherine couldn't remember anything else about that night.

The only thing Katherine clearly remembered was the paternity test report confirming the father-son relationship.

Spencer's hands shook when he held the paper. The man who was always calm and composed looked completely lost.

"Katherine, I swear I don't know her. I have no idea what this is about!"

It wasn't until Jasmine Bauer explained everything.

Five years ago, Spencer had been drugged. In his hazy, confused state, he encountered Jasmine, who was working part-time at the hotel, and they slept together.

Jasmine, a college student working part-time, was terrified. After it happened, she cleaned up the scene and ran away.

When Spencer woke up, he only saw Katherine by his side.

So, Spencer assumed it had just been a dream, a passionate dream where he was with his beloved Katherine.

And Katherine had no idea that another woman had been in Spencer's bed until five years later, when Jasmine returned with the child.

Katherine watched helplessly as Spencer's feelings shifted, from his initial cold resistance and disgusted hatred towards Jasmine and Aiden, to a softened gaze when he looked at the child, eventually extending into tender pity for Jasmine.

He even bought Jasmine a house.

What man wouldn't love his own son, especially when the child came with a fragile woman whose eyes always looked wet with tears?

Ten years of deep, unwavering love were ultimately pitted against the blood ties of Spencer's own child.