CHAPTER 15
1631 Words
Kennah did not send another message.
Instead, she sent a video.
The notification appeared on Earl’s phone while he was still sitting on the edge of the bed beside Emman. For a moment, he stared at the screen without opening it. His chest already felt heavy even before he knew what was inside.
Then slowly, he tapped the video.
The clip started playing.
It showed a quiet bedroom inside the Muller residence.
The camera slowly moved toward the bed.
And there—
Bella was lying there.
She looked pale and weak, her small body covered with a blanket. Her eyes were half closed as if she was too tired to move. Beside her bed stood a medical stand holding an IV bag.
Earl’s breath suddenly stopped.
“Bella…” he whispered under his breath.
His fingers tightened around the phone.
Seeing his daughter in that condition made his heart ache instantly. All the anger he had toward Kennah suddenly disappeared for a moment, replaced by something stronger.
Concern.
Worry.
Guilt.
His daughter looked so fragile.
So small.
And at that moment, Earl felt like a terrible father for not being there.
He lowered the phone slowly.
Then he looked at Emman.
The boy was still sitting on the bed, watching him with curious eyes. Emman could not hear the conversation earlier, but he could feel something was wrong.
Earl stared into the child’s innocent face.
For a moment, he felt conflicted.
He had only been here for a short time, but Emman had already grown attached to him.
The boy laughed with him.
Played with him.
Slept beside him.
And now…
Earl was about to leave.
He forced himself to smile gently.
“Will you eat breakfast first, Emman?” Earl said softly.
His voice was calm, almost careful.
“I just need to go somewhere…”
Emman looked at him quietly.
Then he slowly nodded.
Earl gave him a small pat on the shoulder before standing up.
“Be good, okay?” he added.
Then he walked toward the door.
He did not look back.
Because if he did, he might hesitate.
The door closed softly behind him.
Inside the room, Emman remained sitting on the bed.
The silence suddenly felt heavy.
He stared at the door for a long time.
Then slowly, his smile faded.
The boy lowered his head.
His small fingers tightened around his notebook.
In his mind, a quiet thought appeared.
“Dad won’t be coming back…”
His lips trembled slightly.
And a tear slowly rolled down his cheek.
Meanwhile, Earl was already on his way to the Muller residence.
The large mansion looked just as luxurious as ever. Tall iron gates stood at the entrance, and the gardens were carefully maintained. The place looked beautiful and powerful, just like the Muller family themselves.
But to Earl, it felt like a cage.
He walked straight toward the main door.
And there she was.
Kennah Muller.
She was already waiting for him.
Kennah leaned casually against the doorframe while holding a bottle of wine in her hand. She was dressed elegantly, her long hair falling perfectly over her shoulders.
Her beauty was undeniable.
In fact, if people compared her with Meave Castillon, they might say both women looked like goddesses in different ways.
Kennah had a bright and seductive beauty.
Meave had a calm and distant elegance.
Two women.
Two powerful figures.
And somehow…
Earl was caught between them.
Kennah lifted the wine bottle slightly and smiled when she saw him.
“Welcome home, Earl.”
But Earl did not return the smile.
He walked forward and stopped a few steps away from her.
“Enough, Kennah.”
Her smile slowly faded.
She tilted her head slightly while studying him.
“You’re still bitter like old-fashioned wine,” she said with a soft laugh.
She took a small sip from the bottle before continuing.
“Well… as I said earlier, I cannot accept the divorce.”
Earl’s eyes remained calm.
“You know what?” he said slowly. “Before I even stepped into your house… I already talked to your mom.”
Kennah’s expression immediately changed.
The moment she heard her mother mentioned, irritation appeared on her face.
“How did you—” she started, but then stopped. Her eyes narrowed. “When did you become so desperate, Earl?”
Earl did not react.
“Accept the divorce, Kennah,” he said simply. “And there won’t be a problem.” He crossed his arms calmly. “Besides… isn’t it your mother who is against our marriage too?”
Kennah clenched her jaw.
“God, Earl…” she muttered. Then suddenly her tone softened. “I’m sorry, okay?” she said quickly. “I know I did something wrong. That’s why I’m apologizing.”
But Earl remained unmoved.
His voice stayed calm.
“I’ve already talked to the media too, Kennah.”
Her eyes widened.
“And if you won’t accept it,” he continued, “then I’ll expose all this nonsense you did to me.” He looked directly into her eyes. “You like that news, do you… Ms. Billionaire of the Muller family?”
Kennah stared at him in disbelief.
For the first time, she looked truly shaken.
“Fine!” she snapped. Her voice became sharp again. “You really think Meave Castillon will marry you?” she continued with a mocking laugh. “Will she really make you her husband?”
She took another step closer to him.
“Just who are you, Earl?” Her eyes were full of disdain. “You’re nothing but a gold digger.” Then she added cruelly, “Besides… she only sees you as a playing toy.”
The words hung in the air.
Earl did not react immediately.
He simply looked at her quietly.
Then he spoke.
His voice was calm.
Steady.
“Didn’t you see me as a playing toy too, Kennah?”
Kennah froze.
For a moment, she had no answer.
Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out.
She just stared at him.
Stunned.
Speechless.
Kennah stood still for a moment after Earl’s words.
The silence between them became heavy.
Slowly, her expression changed.
The anger on her face softened, replaced by something deeper. Her eyes looked emotional, almost desperate. She turned away for a moment, then gently placed the glass of wine on the table beside the door.
The soft clink of the glass touching the table echoed in the quiet room.
When she looked back at Earl, her voice was different.
“Back then… I know I lied to you,” she said softly.
Earl did not interrupt her. He simply watched her carefully.
“But about the marriage… I can explain,” she continued.
Her fingers tightened slightly as if she was trying to hold herself together.
“Back then, I knew we were not the same,” Kennah said. “The difference between our status was huge.”
Her eyes briefly looked around the large Muller residence.
The tall ceilings, the expensive furniture, the elegant decorations. Everything inside this house represented wealth and power.
Then she looked back at Earl.
“You were just an ordinary man,” she said honestly. “And I was the daughter of the Muller family.” She took a slow breath. “That’s why I came up with the idea of testing you.”
Earl frowned slightly.
“Testing me?” he asked.
His voice was filled with confusion.
Kennah nodded.
“Yes.” She took a step closer to him. “I wanted to test you if you were only after my money or not.”
Earl remained silent.
Kennah continued speaking, her voice becoming more emotional.
“I wanted to see if you would stay even when things became difficult. I wanted to know if you truly loved me.” Then she smiled faintly. “But now… I can say you passed the test.”
Her words came out quickly, almost proudly.
“You passed the test, Earl.”
She reached forward and attempted to hold his hand.
But Earl stepped back.
The movement was small, but it was enough.
Kennah’s hand froze in the air.
“I won’t come back to you, Kennah,” Earl said calmly.
His voice was not angry.
But it was firm.
Kennah’s expression immediately changed again.
The softness disappeared.
Her eyes suddenly became sharp.
“So that means you’re giving up on Bella too!?” she shouted.
Earl’s eyes widened slightly.
“What are you talking about?” he said.
But before he could say anything else—
A small figure slowly walked out from the corner of the living room.
Earl froze.
It was Bella.
His daughter stood there quietly.
She looked smaller than he remembered.
Her long hair fell softly over her shoulders, and her face looked pale, just like in the video Kennah sent earlier.
For a moment, Earl could not move.
Kennah quickly walked toward Bella and gently pulled her closer.
Then she presented the girl in front of Earl.
“Look at her,” Kennah said.
Her voice was filled with emotion.
“Your daughter.”
Bella looked up at Earl with innocent eyes.
“Daddy…” she whispered weakly.
The word hit Earl like a heavy weight.
His body stiffened.
He felt as if the ground beneath his feet had suddenly disappeared.
His daughter was standing right in front of him.
But instead of feeling happy, Earl felt something strange inside his chest.
Confusion.
Pain.
Guilt.
Bella slowly walked closer.
Her small hand gently held his sleeve.
“Daddy…” she said again.
Earl looked down at her.
His eyes softened immediately.
He knelt down in front of her.
“Bella…” he murmured.
- Writer
