16 He reached into his pocket and pulled out an appointment slip for a termination procedure. The name written in the patient field was Odette's. "Soleil, Odette and I-it's over between us," he said, voice trembling with a forced steadiness. "I've persuaded my mother. She won't use childbirth to torment you anymore. If you're willing, we can start over." I didn't understand what made him so stubbornly believe that ending Odette's pregnancy could win me back. It was only an innocent life. 'What happens to Odette's child has nothing to do with me," I said, cold and flat. "If you brought his here just to show me, then please go home. Don't disturb our family reunion." He opened his mouth as if to say more, but the words choked and died on his tongue. He had never expected that the woman who once clung to him as if the whole world revolved around im would walk away so coldly. He tried to dredge up something, anything, to soothe me-only to find that he had never truly Inderstood me; he couldn't produce a single phrase I wanted to hear. Soleil, I'm sorry. I don't mean to disturb you." He swallowed hard. "But I've searched all over the city for you. I nearly went mad looking!" My tone remained indifferent. "Oh? And what does that have to do with me?" The question stunned him as if struck; tears swirled in his eyes. "Soleil, it was my fault before. I now I was wrong." Do you think saying you know you were wrong can erase the pain you've caused? Mr. Fleming, 'ou always act as if everything is owed to you." Even though those wounds no longer smarted and hadn't even left a scar, the past of being his vife felt like waking from a nightmare. But the years gone would not return. Alec gave my hand a gentle pat, a small comfort. His eyes were steady and strong, as if to tell ne: with him here, everything would be fine. drew a deep breath, forcing my emotions into calm, and turned to Clint with colder contempt han before. 'Clint, it's over between us. Leave. Don't ever show yourself to me again, and don't meddle in my life." His face had gone ashen. He seemed to want to speak, but the sound stuck in his throat. I looked away and forced a smile for my father and my sister. "Let's go inside. Don't let a person who means nothing ruin our mood." Clint's color drained further. "Soleil, are you really going to be this ruthless?" "My sister? Ruthless?" Marley snapped, unable to hold back. "Jerk, how dare you say that?!" I pulled Marley close. "Marley, there's nothing more to say between us and him." I no longer wished to waste another second or ounce of energy on him. "I understand." Watching our backs as we walked away, Clint's expression darkened. "The pain Soleil suffered-those who caused it will pay!" 3:19 pm P P& PPX