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The aftermath

Author: Moonchild
last update Huling Na-update: 2025-02-16 17:44:51

Adrian

The rhythmic beeping of the hospital monitor was the only sound in the room. The antiseptic smell of disinfectant burned my nose, but I didn’t mind. I was alive ….and Aiden was safe. That was all that mattered.

I stared at the ceiling, my mind replaying the events of the last seventy-two hours like a broken record. Davis was in custody and Kelly... Kelly was still keeping her distance.

She hadn’t spoken to me since the warehouse, except for the brief moment when she’d leaned over me as I bled out, begging me to stay alive. Her tears had been real, her hands trembling as she tried to stop the bleeding, but now that the dust had settled, so had the walls between us.

The door opened softly, and I turned my head. Kelly stepped inside, her expression unreadable. She held Aiden’s hand tightly, as though letting go might shatter the fragile peace we’d managed to salvage.

“Hey,” I said, my voice hoarse.

“Hi,” she replied, her tone clipped.

Aiden wriggled free of her grip
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  • The One He Let Go   Personal matters

    KellyThe weight of everything had been lifted, but it was replaced by something else….something heavier. After everything, after Davis, after Evelyn, and all the secrets that had been unearthed, I was left standing at the crossroads of my life. The office buzzed with its usual sound, but I could barely focus. The silence that had enveloped me in the past weeks, the silence of recovery and reflection, had now given way to the noise of normalcy. People came in, schedules were arranged, decisions had to be made. It was supposed to feel like a return to the way things were, but nothing felt the same anymore. "Ma’am." Clara’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. She stood in the doorway, her hands clasped in front of her as if unsure whether to interrupt. I nodded, motioning for her to come in. “Clara, I wasn’t expecting you. Everything okay?” Clara stepped inside, a curious look in her eyes. “You’ve been off the radar for weeks, Ma’am. Everyone’s been worried. And not to mention, th

    Huling Na-update : 2025-02-17
  • The One He Let Go   A mother’s fury

    Kelly I stared at Aiden, my heartbeat pounding in my ears. Evelyn told him what? Aiden’s word echoed again in my head. “Grandma told me I was adopted. That you’re not my real mom." For a moment, I couldn’t even breathe. In what cruelty would make someone stoop this low to orchestrate something cruel like this. The weight of his words crashed down on me, suffocating and unbearable. I couldn’t bear with the pain of knowing that my son had spent years believing a lie. A cruel, twisted, manipulative lie. My body goes cold, my heart stuttering in my chest. Not because I believed it—God, no. I know I gave birth to Aiden. I carried him, I held him in my arms when he was barely minutes old, I nursed him when he was sick, comforted him through his nightmares. He is my son. There is no doubt. There has never been doubt. “I know it’s not true,” Aiden said quickly, his voice unsteady. “But when I was little, she said it so many times that I…..I started wondering. I mean… I don’t look

    Huling Na-update : 2025-03-01
  • The One He Let Go   Battle of truths

    KellyEvelyn’s smirk is maddening, her confidence annoyingly chilling. She sits with a perfect poise, legs crossed, completely unbothered by my presence, by my anger. I am shaking. The audacity this woman has."You lied to my son," I say, my tone sharp. "You told Aiden that I wasn’t his mother? For what reason?" Evelyn raises an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "Did I lie?" It was as if my anger button was pressed. I lunge forward, only for Anderson to step between us, his hands up in a silent plea. I stop myself, breathing heavily, my fists clenched so tight my nails bite into my palms. "Why?" I spit the word out like poison. "Why the hell would you tell him something like that?" Evelyn sighs, tilting her head. "Oh, Kelly, do you really not see it? You were never fit to raise Aiden." My stomach turns. I glance at Anderson, expecting outrage, expecting anything, but he’s silent, his expression unreadable. What did I expect? He couldn’t even stand up to his mother even when he

    Huling Na-update : 2025-03-01
  • The One He Let Go   Unwelcome guest

    Kelly I barely remember rushing out of Anderson’s house. One moment, I was standing in that suffocating room, watching Evelyn’s annoying expression and Anderson’s hollow apologies, and the next, I was outside, my hands shaking as I yanked open my car door and slid inside. And then, it hit me. The complete and utter disbelief. My chest heaved as I gripped the steering wheel, my knuckles turning white. I tried to keep it together, but the second I blinked, tears spilled down my cheeks. How could Anderson fail Aiden like this?How could he sit back and let Evelyn plant such a horrible lie in our son’s mind? How could he let her manipulate and gaslight an innocent child, and do absolutely nothing? Did he really love being controlled by Evelyn that much? A choked sob left my lips as I wiped at my face furiously. No more tears. Anderson didn’t deserve them. Evelyn sure as hell didn’t deserve them. Just then, my phone rang, jolting me out of my thoughts. I glanced at the scr

    Huling Na-update : 2025-03-01
  • The One He Let Go   In the Lion’s den

    KellyHarper finally opened her eyes. The moment her lashes fluttered and she let out a soft, drowsy sound, Aiden and I practically collapsed in relief. "Mom?" Harper’s small voice croaked. "I’m here, baby." I brushed her hair back gently, forcing a smile even as my heart clenched. "You scared me." Aiden let out a choked laugh, rubbing his eyes. "Us. You scared us." Ever since Aiden and Harper united, and I revealed to her that he was her brother, Harper had been happier than ever.Harper blinked at him, confused. "Did I do something bad?" I laughed softly, my throat tight. "No, sweetheart. You just need to rest, okay?" She gave a tiny nod before closing her eyes again, exhaustion still weighing her down. But she was awake. She was okay.The doctor checked on her, reassuring us that she would be fine as long as she continued her medication. By morning, she was alert enough to complain about the hospital food, and I knew she was truly back to herself. The second we were di

    Huling Na-update : 2025-03-02
  • The One He Let Go   Did you ever love me?

    AndersonKate sat across from me in the living room, her arms folded, her expression unreadable. It was a messed up week for me, Mom’s disappearance, Ava not talking to me, the house was empty, and kate, I finally honored her invitation.The weight of everything pressed down on my chest like a ton of bricks. I couldn’t stay silent anymore. "Did you ever love me, Kate?" Her eyes flickered, but she didn’t answer. Instead, she let out a breathy scoff, crossing her legs. "That’s a loaded question, Anderson." I clenched my jaw. "It shouldn’t be." She gave me a look, one I’d seen too many times before. Evasive. Like she was choosing her next words carefully, not out of love, but out of self-preservation. "Why are we even having this conversation?" she muttered. "Is this about Kelly? About Evelyn? You’re suddenly having a moral awakening because your ex-wife is making you feel guilty?" Her words were meant to provoke me, but I didn’t take the bait. "I’m asking you a simple q

    Huling Na-update : 2025-03-02
  • The One He Let Go   The storm breaks

    KellyI sat at the head of the long glass table, fingers resting lightly against the smooth surface as my fellow board members exchanged knowing glances. They had been waiting for this moment, waiting for me to finally return to my seat after weeks of absence so they could pounce.Congresswoman or not, power was a fragile thing in a room full of men who thrived on watching a woman fall. "Kendra, you’ve been absent for too long," one of them said smoothly, leaning forward with a practiced frown of concern. "It’s become quite a... topic of discussion." "People are talking," another chimed in. "Your ability to lead has been questioned." I forced a calm smile, though my blood boiled beneath my skin. "I wasn’t aware I had to ask permission to be a mother before being a congresswoman." A few of them looked shocked, not expecting me to hit back so quickly. "Of course not," the first man said, lips twitching. "But as you know, this position requires constant attention. Absences lea

    Huling Na-update : 2025-03-03
  • The One He Let Go   Seeds of doubt

    KellyI barely took three steps outside before the chaos erupted. The moment the front door cracked open, camera flashes exploded in my face, blinding and relentless. Voices clashed over one another, reporters shouting questions I didn’t have answers to, their microphones thrust forward like weapons. "Kelly! Is it true you were married to Anderson Grant for ten years?""Kelly, did you blackmail him into the marriage?""How does Aiden fit into all this?I clenched my jaw, forcing my expression to remain neutral. My heart pounded, but I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing me crumble. With my head down, I pushed forward, my driver already opening the car door. Hands reached out, some brushing against me, others shoving recorders too close to my face. I barely made it into the car before the doors slammed shut. The driver didn’t wait for instructions, he knew what to do. As the engine roared to life, more flashes burst through the tinted windows, desperate to capture my ev

    Huling Na-update : 2025-03-03

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  • The One He Let Go   The end

    Dear Readers, I can’t believe we’ve reached the end of Kelly’s story. Writing this book has been an emotional rollercoaster, and I know many of you have felt the highs and lows just as deeply as I have. Kelly’s journey wasn’t easy, there was pain, heartbreak, and moments where it seemed like happiness was out of reach. But through it all, she found strength, love, and a future worth fighting for. To everyone who stuck by this story, who cried, laughed, and rooted for Kelly, Aiden, Adrian, and even the complicated characters like Anderson and Kate, thank you. Your love and support mean everything. Though this book has ended, Kelly’s story will always live on in our hearts. And who knows? Maybe one day, there will be more to tell. But for now, I hope this ending brings you the closure and warmth that Kelly fought so hard to find. With love and gratitude, MOONCHILD.

  • The One He Let Go   Epilogue: The real wedding

    Kelly The sun is warm against my skin, the sky a perfect colour of blue. A soft breeze carries the scent of roses and fresh-cut grass. The sound of distant laughter and murmured conversations fills the air, blending seamlessly with the soft notes of a violin playing somewhere nearby. It’s perfect. Everything about this day feels surreal, like stepping into a dream I never dared to imagine. A real wedding. Not a hidden ceremony. Not a desperate attempt to silence rumors. Just love. I close my eyes for a brief moment, taking it all in. The gentle rustling of the trees. The faint sound of conversation. The quiet presence of everyone who matters. Adrian’s family is here. After months of resentment and distance, they came. His mother, his father, Olivia, both watching with cautious but genuine smiles. Susan is here, standing with them, her expression warm, proud. And in the distance, I see Aiden straightening his suit, looking nervous and determined at the same time. Harper,

  • The One He Let Go   New beginning

    KellyNine months. Nine long, exhausting, emotional months. And now, I’m here. In a hospital bed, drenched in sweat, gripping Adrian’s hand so tightly that I’m sure I’ve cut off his circulation. My body feels like it’s being torn apart, and yet, I push. “Just a little more, Kelly!” the doctor encourages. Easy for them to say. They aren’t the ones feeling like their body is being split open. Adrian leans close, his lips brushing my forehead. “You’re almost there,” he murmurs, his voice steady, calming. “I’ve got you.” Tears sting my eyes. I don’t know if it’s from the pain or the overwhelming feeling that this moment is actually happening. And then, a sharp cry fills the room. My breath catches. The world seemed to stop. The doctor lifts a tiny, wriggling body into the air. “It’s a girl!” A sob escapes me. I collapse back against the pillows, my whole body trembling. Tears slip down my temples as I hear my daughter’s first sounds. I did it. She’s here. Adrian presses a

  • The One He Let Go   Silent mercy

    Kelly The morning is cold, the kind of D.C winter chill that seeps through the layers of your clothes and lingers deep in your bones. I clutch my coffee cup tighter, trying to soak in the warmth as I step out of the café. The city is alive as always, cars honking, people hurrying past, lost in their own worlds. And then I see her. At first, I didn't recognize the figure crouched near the side of the building, wrapped in an oversized hoodie, the fabric frayed at the edges. Her hair is tangled, falling over a gaunt face. Her fingers, red from the cold, clutch a small cardboard sign. ‘Hungry. Please help.’My breath catches. Kate. She’s thinner than I remember. A shell of the woman she once was. She sits with her knees pulled close, gaze darting to every passerby, but no one stops. No one even looks at her. And I realize, this is what rock bottom looks like. For a long moment, I just stood there. Then, before I can talk myself out of it, I move. She doesn’t notice me at fir

  • The One He Let Go   Mending what’s broken

    Kelly It happens on a quiet afternoon. Adrian and I are sitting on the couch, Harper curled up between us, absentmindedly flipping through a picture book while Adrian scrolls through emails on his phone. It’s peaceful. And then, I see his posture stiffen. I glance at him. “What’s wrong?” His brows are furrowed, lips pressing into a thin line as he reads whatever message is on his screen. For a long moment, he doesn’t answer. Then, finally, he exhales, setting the phone down on his thigh. “My parents,” he says, rubbing his jaw. “They want to talk.” I blink. I wasn’t expecting that. “Talk… as in?” “As in dinner. A sit-down conversation.” He shakes his head slightly, as if he’s still processing it himself. “They sent an invitation. No conditions. Just… a request to see me.” I can’t tell if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. His parents and I became a sore subject, one of the few places where his love for me had cost him something. I know how deeply it hurt him when they rej

  • The One He Let Go   The final goodbye

    KellyThe call came in the middle of the night. I wake up to the sound of my phone vibrating on the nightstand. My first thought is that it’s Adrian, maybe he’s checking in from the living room where he sometimes falls asleep after reading. But when I grab my phone and see Susan’s name glowing on the screen, my stomach twists. I answer on the second ring. “He’s gone,” she says softly. Two words. Just two words, and for a second, I feel absolutely nothing. I sit there in the dark, the phone pressed to my ear, my mind blank. I should have expected it, Anderson’s health had been failing, and yet… hearing it, knowing it’s real, knowing there will never be another word, another regret-filled gaze, it’s different. Susan stays quiet, as if she knows I needed a moment. Then, like a wave finally crashing, it hits. A sharp, aching weight pressing down on my chest. My throat tightens, my vision blurs, and before I can stop it, I let out a small, choked sob. I feel Adrian shift be

  • The One He Let Go   Goodbye that’s long overdue

    KellyI grip Aiden’s hand tighter as we walk down the hallway, past closed doors and nurses who barely glance at us. His fingers clutch mine, his other hand curled into a fist at his side. I wonder if he’s nervous. If he regrets coming. Because I do. I swallow hard as we stop outside Anderson’s room. The door is slightly ajar, but I don’t move. Aiden looks up at me, uncertain. His dark eyes are searching, waiting for me to give him permission to go inside. I force myself to nod. “Are you ready?” He hesitates, then nods back. I push the door open. And we stepped. Anderson looks… different. His skin is pale, almost gray under the harsh hospital lights. The strong, confident posture he once carried is gone, replaced by sunken shoulders and frail limbs tangled in hospital sheets. But his eyes, the sharpness in them, the smug curve of his lips, that’s still him. His gaze drifts past me, landing on Aiden. And his smirk, despite everything, still appears. “Thanks for coming.” Hi

  • The One He Let Go   The past catches up

    Kelly The call came in the middle of the night. My phone buzzes against the nightstand, dragging me from sleep. I blink, groggy, confusion heavy in my head as I fumble for it. Adrian stirs beside me, mumbling something unintelligible before rolling over. I don’t recognize the number. But the moment I press the phone to my ear, Susan’s voice, low and weighted with something different fills the silence. “Kelly, I’m sorry for calling so late.” I sit up instantly, dread curling in my stomach. “What’s wrong?”A beat. Then….“It’s Anderson. He doesn’t have much time.” The words don’t sink in right away. My fingers tighten around the phone. “What do you mean?” Susan exhales. “His condition worsened tonight. The doctors don’t think he’ll make it much longer. If you—” She hesitates. “If Aiden wants to see him, it has to be soon.” The room feels colder. I glance at the clock. 2:17 AM. The world outside quiet by this moment. But my body knows. My body feels the shift, I felt goo

  • The One He Let Go   A child’s, A mother’s regret

    KellyHarper was avoiding me. It wasn’t like the usual tantrums when she was upset over bedtime or not getting a second helping with ice cream. This was different. It had been days now, long enough for the silence to settle like a weight in my chest. She wouldn’t sit next to me at breakfast. Wouldn’t let me brush her hair. Wouldn’t even look me in the eyes when I spoke to her. But she clung to Adrian. If Adrian walked into a room, she was at his side in seconds, grabbing his hand, leaning against him, giggling at every little thing he said. She held onto him like he was her safe place, like she was afraid of something. Or someone. And that someone was me. I didn’t know what I had done. But I knew it was breaking me. ……It was bedtime when I finally couldn’t take it anymore. Adrian had just tucked Harper in, but instead of curling into her blankets the way she usually did, she turned away from me when I walked into the room. I swallowed the hurt and sat on the edge of her be

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