After Rejection Divorced Luna Becomes A Famous Doctor (Hailey and Dominic) novel Chapter 18

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

HAILEY

I was in hell.

No, worse.

I was in purgatory.

This was a nightmare.

It had to be.

There was no way the life I worked so hard for was falling apart before my very eyes.

It wasn’t fair.

Why did life keep playing cruel games with me?

It wasn’t fair.

I had tried, I really had.

But, it was like no matter how hard I tried, the Kings would always be a part of my life.

And now, my past was going to come back and haunt me.

I had to find a way to fix this.

I couldn’t allow the past to ruin the future.

No.

Not when I had already sacrificed so much. Not when I had fought for my son to live a better life.

The Kings had taken enough from me, I wasn’t going to let them take him.

I can’t.

“Listen, I’m not going to say sorry. We both know I’m not,” I said, turning to look at Giovanni who was sitting beside me, his eyes on the water fountain where Valerie was playing with Liam.

“I would do anything for my son. You might be a King, but don’t forget that I’m his mother. You can’t use him to make Dominic come to the UK. That’s not happening. This is his life, and I’m going to decide how he lives it. Not you. Not your family. Me. But as my friend, Giovanni, I beg you to leave us alone. Please. If not for me, then do it for Liam.”

Giovanni sighed, looking down. “I’m not going to apologize, and you’re right, you’re his mother. It’s your right to make decisions concerning him, but that doesn’t mean it’s right. If my brother wants his son, there’s nothing you can do about it. He deserves to know his son. Don’t deny him that right.”

“What right does he have over him? He wasn’t there when he was born. He wasn’t there for any of his

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birthdays, or the times he got sick. I’m the one who stayed up at night when he was a baby and couldn’t sleep. I’m the one who had sleepless nights and was tired, but still managed to take care of him. I’m the one who was there for him. He wasn’t.”

“And why did you have to do this all alone? Because you chose to not tell him about his son. He had every right to know, but you kept it from him. Do you know what it would do to him, if he ever found out? Knowing his brother knew and didn’t tell him? The damage is done, Hailey. You’re not the only one hurting. I can’t believe I’m defending my brother, but trust me, this would hurt him just as much, maybe even more.”

“You know what else hurts? Being used. You know what else hurts? Not being loved. That’s what hurts. Your brother didn’t love me. He loved the idea of me. And that’s not enough. It’s not enough to love an idea, Giovanni. It’s not enough to build a home on. I saw the way you looked at Liam, and the way you interacted with him. That’s love. That’s unconditional, genuine love. That’s what a family is built on. You wouldn’t know because you’re not a father, but one day, when you become a dad, you’ll understand. You’ll do anything for your kid, and it will be because you love them, and not because they’re a King, or because of their last name. It’s going to be because of the unconditional love you feel for them, and I won’t allow

Dominic to use Liam. Never.”

“You know, Dominic isn’t as bad as you think he is.”

“I’m sure that’s what you tell yourself, too,” I retorted, shaking my head. “But, the truth is, he’s a King, and they’re all the same. He is a cheat and doesn’t deserve a chance with my son. My son is a pure, innocent, kind hearted soul. He’s good, and I’m not going to let Dominic destroy him. So, please, just, leave us alone. I’ve suffered enough. And I’ve had a taste of the Kings, and I won’t allow my son to go through that.”

“You’re a strong woman, Hailey. Stronger than I expected. But, what you ask of me is impossible. My brother is going to find out. There’s no running from that. You’re not just his ex wife, or his ex lover. You’re his son’s mother. A son he never knew he had. The next bloodline to the King’s empire. I can’t let him run free. I won’t. And I’m sorry for the things you had to go through. Truly, I am. Dominic is a fool, but don’t make a decision for him, and don’t try to make him look worse than he is. You don’t know the things he had to sacrifice to get where he is. You’re not the only person hurting. Trust me.”

“You know, you’re a good guy, Giovanni. And Dominic is your brother, more reason for me to turn the other way when I see you. But, there’s a reason why I haven’t filed a restraining order against you for stalking me everywhere, and that’s because I have respect for you. As a person, as a man. You’re different. Not like him. You’re not toxic, you’re not poisonous. You’re not a cheater, or a liar. You’re just, the slightly better brother. But, the last thing I want to hear is how hard Dominic struggled to get where he is, and how he had to sacrifice. If I recall, the man who was married to me, the same one who made me fall in love with him, the one who said we would spend the rest of our lives together, the same one who swore on his life and love that he would never leave me, that man is gone. He died. I’ve never met the person who came back in his place. The one who was willing to cheat, and lie, and make a fool of himself. So, yes, maybe he did suffer, but I did, too. And maybe his heart is broken, but so is mine.”

Giovanni sighed, looking pained, and I knew I had struck a chord.

“Hailey, right now, you’re allowing your emotions to cloud your judgment. Just think about it, okay? Think

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CONCUREURTEEN

about Liam. It’s not just about you, and your heart. It’s also about his. My brother might have been a bad mate and husband to you, but that doesn’t mean he’s a bad father.”

I scoffed, “Yeah, sure.”

“I’m serious. He might have done some questionable things, but, deep down, he’s a good man. And will be a good dad to Liam if given the chance.”

I shook my head, and turned away from him, focusing on the kids instead. “Same way your father was a good dad to you both, huh? Same man who tried to marry off your sister to an abusive man twice her age? Same man who beat his own sons and calls it discipline? Is that the type of father you want Dominic to

be?”

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M Mary Swan

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CHAPTER NINETEEN–2

I laughed bitterly. “And would me being pregnant have stopped him from going through with the divorce? Would it have made him realize he loved me and not his mistress? Or would it have made him come back and beg me to take him back? No. The divorce would have gone through, and I will be forced to let another woman raise my son and be his stepmother. I wouldn’t have been able to do that, not when she was the reason why he was leaving. How could you expect me to be happy knowing the woman who broke up our marriage was raising my son?”

“I don’t know,” he admitted. “I don’t know, because the past is the past, and we can’t go back. I can’t change my brother, and you can’t change his decision, so why are we even arguing about this? You’re wasting time, and the truth will come out anyway. Just accept it. This is happening.”

“No, Giovanni. Not if you do not say a word about this. Not if you allow your nephew and I live a normal life.”

“And what? Pretend this meeting didn’t happen? Act like you didn’t hide a child from Dominic and pretend everything is alright? I can’t do that. It’s not right, and you know it.”

“If you truly love Liam, and want him to be happy, then you won’t say a word,” I begged. “You won’t say a

word about this. I’m asking you this as a friend. I’m begging you, please. Just, don’t tell him.”

Giovanni was silent for a while, and he sighed heavily, running his hand through his hair, “Hailey, you’re

asking me to keep a huge secret from him. From my family. He’s never going to forgive me if he finds out I

knew about his son, and didn’t tell him.”

“And that’s why he won’t find out,” I said. “If you love your nephew, if you love him and care for his happiness, then, you will do this. Please. For me. For him.”

Giovanni shook his head. “If this blows up in my face, I’m going to blame you, Hailey. Because, trust me,

keeping this from Dominic isn’t easy. And when the truth comes out, it’s going to destroy a lot more than

just the relationship between you and him. It’s going to ruin the trust between Dominic and I, and my loyalty to him.”

“You’re right, and if it does, then, I’ll take full responsibility for it,” I promised. “So, please, let’s just forget

this conversation ever happened. We can act like this didn’t happen, and continue on with our lives.

Please, Giovanni.”

Giovanni looked torn, but finally relented. “Fine. But, I have a condition.”

I sighed, knowing this was going to be a difficult bargain.

“What is it?”

“I’ll be going back in a few days, so, you plan one last meeting between me and Liam, and we’ll pretend that this never happened, and I’m not his uncle.”

I sighed in relief. “Okay. Okay, deal.”

AIR NINETEEN

“And, Hailey?”

“Yeah?”

“You should be careful. My brother isn’t a forgiving man. So, if you’re going to keep this secret from him, do

it wisely. Don’t mess this up.”

“I know,” I whispered.

Giovanni’s phone rang, and he picked it up.

“Hello? Yeah, I’ll be right there.” He ended the call and turned to look at me. “I’ll see you soon, Hailey.”

I didn’t reply, and watched him walk away, a sigh of relief escaping me.

I did it.

I managed to convince Giovanni to keep the secret from his brother.

And in a few days, we get to live our normal lives.

I can’t wait.

This is exactly what I need.

M Mary Swan

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