Chapter 14 - Marcus Asked for One More Chance
Two weeks before my due date, Marcus asked to meet.
We sat in the hospital garden.
Same building.
Different floor.
He looked exhausted.
“I want to come home.”
I didn't answer immediately.
“I know I'm not entitled to that.”
“Good.”
He almost smiled.
Then stopped.
“I love you.”
“I believe you.”
That surprised him.
“Love wasn't the problem.”
He looked down.
“The lying was.”
“The entitlement was. You thought loving me gave you permission to manage what I knew.”
He nodded.
“I don't want to be that man anymore.”
“That takes longer than saying it.”
“I know.”
I looked at him.
“Do you understand I might never trust you the same way?”
“Yes.”
“And I might still leave?”
His jaw tightened.
“Yes.”
“Then why are you asking?”
“Because I want to spend whatever time I have proving I can be different, even if the result isn't the one I want.”
That was the only answer I could respect.
I didn't invite him home.
I did tell him he could be present for our daughter's birth if I still felt safe with that decision when labor came.
His eyes filled.
“Thank you.”
“Don't make it bigger than it is.”
“I won't.”
Before we separated, Marcus looked toward the hospital entrance.
The camera above the doors blinked.
He noticed me noticing it.
“Funny,” he said quietly.
“What?”
“I used to think the camera ruined everything.”
I shook my head.
“No. The camera just stopped everyone from lying about what happened.”
He nodded.
May you like
The following morning, every relevant investigation and company review moved forward without Marcus trying to interfere.
For once, nobody was bargaining for secrecy.
