Three Years Later, He Came Back Begging novel Chapter 177

“Candie, Candie…” Lawrence pulled her in, holding her so tight it was like he was terrified to ever let go. “I’m sorry, Candie. This is all my fault. Every last bit of it.”

Bonnie sobbed in his arms, her cries so raw that it hurt just to hear her. Lawrence was shaking. He only held her tighter, trying to steady his own voice but ending up just breaking down beside her.

Helen rushed in and tore them apart, shoving Lawrence back with all the force she had. He hit the floor hard, and that fresh burn on his cheek and neck stood out angry and red. He looked like he had completely fallen apart.

Helen had never seen him like this. Lawrence had always been that guy—successful, charming, totally put together. For a second, the sight of him on the ground left her frozen, but then frustration gave way to something sharp in her voice. “I’m begging you, Lawrence. Let Bonnie go. You’re married, you have a kid. Why are you still doing this to her? What, did she destroy your whole family in another life or what? Is that why you won’t stop until she’s given you every last piece of herself?”

Lawrence’s words came out slow and rough. “I’m not married,” he said, fighting every syllable.

His whole body was trembling. He pushed himself up, hunched over, shoulders bowed like something heavy was pressing him down. He looked at Bonnie, sleeping lifeless on the couch with Ned hovering nearby, and a wave of hurt nearly drowned him.

“The kid’s not even mine. There’s nothing between me and Hannah. Nothing.”

Bonnie didn’t move. She was out cold, completely unaware.

Helen and Ned were stunned. It took a second for it to even sink in.

Back in college, Ned had met up with Bonnie and Lawrence plenty of times. Even then, he’d thought Lawrence was just—different. The guy could have anyone, but the way he looked at Bonnie was something else. He would have let her crush his pride under her heels if she wanted. If that wasn’t real love, Ned didn’t know what was.

Helen jabbed a shaking finger at Bonnie, who still lay there with her eyes closed. Her voice caught, but she kept going. “Do you even know? Bonnie’s left ear is half-deaf. Whenever she gets sick, it buzzes so loud she can’t hear anything at all sometimes. She’s the most perfect, brilliant person I’ve ever met—so proud, so alive. She gave you everything, her whole heart, without asking anything back. And you destroyed her.”

She was shouting now. “Lawrence! You wrecked her. Are you even listening? You get your happy ending, your picture-perfect family, your trophy life. And what does Bonnie have? She’s left with nothing but scars. She lost everything. And now you want what’s left of her, too? For what? She never did anything wrong to you.”

Helen was shaking, pressed against Ned’s chest, fists clenched and teeth gritted. Just seeing the mess Lawrence was in—his streaked face and desperate eyes—made her chest feel a little lighter.

She had stopped caring about Bonnie’s warnings, that she didn’t want Lawrence finding out, that she wasn’t looking for pity. None of that mattered. Why should Bonnie have to carry all this pain herself?

Helen pulled free from Ned and grabbed her phone, fixing Lawrence with a cold, mocking smile. “You really don’t know anything, do you? Fine. Let me show you exactly how you and your precious Hannah backed Bonnie into a corner. You’re gonna see everything you put her through.”