Chapter 784:
âJust tell me, how much money do you need?â he asked.
âIâm not after your money,â Dalores replied, her voice breaking. âI lost the babyâ¦â
âWhat?â Julio frowned, looking at her flat abdomen.
When Dalores had fled, she had been nearly due to give birth. What did she mean by saying she had lost the baby? Dalores reached into her purse and pulled out a surgical abortion consent formâthe form, her signature, dated just two weeks after her escape.
âWhen I escaped, I was penniless on the streets of Alverton, where the nighttime temperatures dropped far below zero. I nearly died out there.â Daloresâ voice was steady, her eyes hollow yet determined. âFacing that, I knew the baby wouldnât survive. So, I used the last of my money for an abortion. After that, I found work to sustain myself.â
Julio stared at her, disbelief etched on his features.
Dalores said, âRemember the gold bracelet you bought in advance for the baby? I sold it. Thatâs how I got the money for the abortion.â
Julio suddenly stood up, his hands slamming onto the table. He leaned toward her, gripping her collar. âSay that again!â
âI can repeat it a hundred times if needed,â Dalores shot back, her voice rising. âI terminated the pregnancy myself! Because you, Julio, youâre not fit to be a father. Youâre a heartless monster!â Dalores met his furious gaze without flinching.
âIâd never want my child to inherit your cruelty. You disgust me!â
Julioâs grip tightened on her collar, his hands shaking with rage. Daloresâ expression was filled with such disdain that it pierced his chest like a knife.
Your story hub gⱯlnÏνððsâ¤com âYou owe me a life!â Julioâs voice was a raw growl. Dalores shoved his hand aside, surged to her feet, and flung her coffee at his face.
âYou donât deserve any repayment,â she declared. âYou brought color into my life, but then, you tore it apart. Letâs act like weâre strangers from now on.â
With that, she turned around and left. It was only after this encounter that she grasped a painful truth: distance did not sever the bonds of affection. She discovered that even deep-seated hatred was insufficient to erase a person from her heart.
Sitting by the window, Julio watched as Dalores left the coffee shop. Her figure shrank into the distance until it was just a speck.
In a gesture of frustration, Julio slammed his hand down, splashing a glass of water onto the floor. The anger etched on his face was terrifying. The waiters, ready to clean up, paused and exchanged uneasy looks.
Fortunately, Julio turned and quickly walked away, leaving the chaos behind without doing anything further.
His mind was in turmoil. He sped out of the crowded city, overtaking car after car.
Dalores, who had just boarded the bus, glanced back and saw Julioâs car charging forward. The car nearly collided with a water truck when it abruptly swerved, sliding into the lane of the bus.
Dalores gasped. Before she could breathe a sigh of relief for Julio, the bus braked sharply due to his sudden lane change. The abrupt stop caused her to lose her balance and tumble into the aisle. The bus wasnât crowded, but the sudden jolt led to minor injuries among the passengers, who voiced their discomfort. Dalores, head bowed, cradled the part of her body that hurt, while unexpected tears trickled down her cheeks. How could it not hurt?
The physical pain was insignificant compared to the ache in her heart. Now, her relationship with Julio was completely over. Their past experiences made it clear they wouldnât even be friends.
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