The Apocalypse Survival Manual (Three Days Before Doomsday, I Stockpiled Billions) novel Chapter 773

Chapter 773

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Arthur couldn’t forgive himself when he thought about what Nicole must have gone through growing up in an orphanage.

Irene couldn’t deny it anymore. She covered her face and cried.

“I’m sorry I lied. I was on the table, ready to end the pregnancy, but all I could think about was how this was your baby, too. I couldn’t do it.

“I kept waiting for you to come home. I needed you, but you never came.

“I couldn’t just watch my family lose everything, and marrying Ben was the only way to save the business. But his family never would’ve accepted our baby.

“You were still gone, and my parents wouldn’t let up. I ended up having her in secret and leaving her at an orphanage.

“When you came back, I wanted to tell you. But my family was already hearing rumors and asking questions. If I told you, the whole thing would’ve come out.

“You’re the only man I’ve ever loved. I wanted to marry you and raise a family with you. But could you have saved my family from bankruptcy?”

Her voice cracked, and she sobbed as though she had spent years living with the pain.

But Arthur didn’t believe her anymore.

“You kept it from me because you were afraid I’d take our daughter and somehow ruin your chances with the Clarks.”

Irene knew Arthur wouldn’t stand in her way if she chose someone else, but rather than risk any trouble, she left Nicole to grow up in an orphanage.

“That’s not why I did it!” Irene said. “You’ve got it all wrong.

“Alright. You were afraid the Clarks would find out. What stopped you from telling me after the wedding?” Her tears only made him angrier now. “You had 30 years to tell me. Why didn’t you?”

Irene opened her mouth, then closed it again. She had no answer.

There were plenty of chances to tell him. She just never knew how to admit what she did.

She still loved him, even after marrying someone else.

If Arthur learned she abandoned their daughter, he might hate her. He might see her as someone who could do something unforgivable to her own child.

The thought terrified her.

The longer she waited, the harder it became to tell him.

Arthur’s expression hardened. “You were supposed to protect her. Leaving her at an orphanage was bad enough. Why did you let Camila try to kill her?”

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“You really believe I’d do that?” Irene asked through her tears.

“I didn’t raise Nicole, but she’s still my daughter. Why would I want her dead?

“You barely know her. You have no idea what she’s like.

“Back in Westbridge, Camila’s alpaca spat on her, and Nicole beat Camila in front of everyone and made her eat filth.

“Who does that to their own sister? She didn’t care that they were family!

“Camila never got over it. When they ran into each other here, she contacted some people outside the base to get back at Nicole. She only wanted to teach her a lesson.

“But those men got the wrong idea. They thought Camila was your daughter, so they decided killing Nicole would earn them some points with her.

“You saw what she did today. She almost killed Camila, and she attacked me, too…”

Arthur knew Irene was selfish.

He just didn’t realize how far she would go to excuse herself.

His gaze turned cold. “You expect me to believe you didn’t know what Camila was planning?”

Thirty years ago, he might have lashed out and hit her.

He was older now. He knew how to control his anger.

As he looked at the woman he once loved, Arthur couldn’t escape the feeling that he was partly responsible for

who she had become.

Once Arthur knew Nicole was his daughter, he found a chance to meet with her.

Nicole was strong and independent. Even with the world falling apart, she built a good life and found someone she wanted to share it with.

With one disaster after another, Arthur couldn’t walk away from his responsibilities. He couldn’t be there for Nicole the way he wanted to or make up for all the years he missed.

Deep down, he knew she didn’t need him to be her father. 1

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