Chapter 5 Tommy's voice carried a kind of despair I had never heard before . I looked up at him . I didn't scream or cry hysterically . I simply smiled and said , " Come in . We need to talk . " He seemed startled by my calm . Step by step , he edged closer and sank to his knees in front of me . " I'm sorry ... " Those were the only words he could say . " Sorry ? " I repeated softly . " Sorry for what ? " " For everything I've done to you , " he said . I met his eyes . " It was I who took Jessica's place . I ' birthed ' the child that should have been hers . It's me who isn't worthy of being a mother . I didn't even realize that the son I've raised for three years shares no blood with me at all . " Tommy , tell me ... am I a failure ? " Each word I spoke hit him like a slap . The color drained from his cheeks . " No ! It's not like that ! " He finally broke down , collapsing to the floor and clutching my legs desperately . Chapter 5 288 Vouchers " I'm the bastard ! I'm the monster ! It has nothing to do with Jessica ! It's all my fault ! " He threw himself into taking all the blame . ek was He said it was because my fragile , and the doctors warned that carrying a pregnancy would be risky . To spare me the burden , he used the child Jessica carried instead . He said it was a single lapse after drinking with Jessica , and he swore it only happened that one time . He also said he just wanted a child of ours . He spoke through tears , overwhelmed with regret for what he had done . I listened quietly . When he finished , I finally spoke . " So , to spare me pressure , you two conspired to lie to me ? To give me a child , you made me a mother to your secret child ? " I pulled my legs free and stood , towering over him . " Tommy , don't treat me like an idiot . One drunken mistake , and Jessica willingly hands her biological son over to me ? What exactly did you two think I was ? " He was left speechless by my question , kneeling there in stunned silence . I pulled open the wardrobe and dragged out a suitcase " I can't stand this place - it's too filthy . " He lunged forward , wrapping his arms around me from behind . " No ! Honey , don't kick me out ! I was wrong . I really was ! You can hit me , yell at me , or do whatever you want - but just don't leave me ! Marvy can't be without his mother ! "