Inside a café, with the right side of my face still slightly swollen, I glared hard at Hilary.
She got straight to the point. "I told you not to bother us again. Why are you here?"
My anger flared.
"She's my daughter. Why can't I see her? Hilary, I'm not as heartless as you. Lily is my only daughter. I won't give up. I'll take her back, no matter what."
"Nick!" she snapped, then, realizing they were in public, lowered her voice and forced herself to stay composed.
"Lily has a new father now. She gets whatever she wants. She doesn't need you."
I shot back, furious. "Doesn't need me? I'm her father!"
She smirked. "So what? You think she'd choose a broke, pathetic dad over the richest man in the city?"
Before I could speak, she cut me off again. "Nick, I'm begging you. Just pretend we never existed. Pretend we died. We're happy now."
Her words left a heavy silence hanging between us.
After a long pause, I looked at her, my voice hollow.
"And what about me? For three years, I was wracked with guilt, living in depression. Who's going to give me my happiness back?"
Her gaze flickered, but her words came as cold as ice. "Let it go, Nick. Lily and I haven't needed you in a long time."
I laughed bitterly, the kind of laugh that trembles at the corners of tears. I couldn't even tell if I was laughing or crying anymore.
She sat there, biting her lip, quietly staring at me.
I took a deep breath and looked her dead in the eye. "Hilary, just answer me one thing. Did you marry me because you loved me? Did you ever love me at all?"
She was silent for a long moment, then finally said, "I'm sorry, Nick. I've told you everything there is to say. I never loved you."
A dull ache pressed into my chest. I stood up and looked down at her.
"Fine, Hilary. I'll disappear, just the way you wanted. But don't you dare regret it later."
She seemed to relax a little, like a weight had lifted.
"Nick, I can tell you right now, I will never regret it."
After she left, I sat at the table staring at the untouched coffee in front of me, lost in thought for over half an hour.
Just as I was heading back to the hotel, my phone rang. It was my father.
"Nick? Can you come home for dinner tonight? Join us for a meal. I'd also like to introduce you to your younger brother."
My hand tightened around the phone.
The ring on my finger had pressed a deep groove into my skin.
"Alright. I'll be there tonight."
At 8 p.m., the chauffeur dropped me off in a gated villa community.
I stood at the iron gate, staring up at the grand mansion.
Just as I was about to knock, a luxury van pulled up in front of the house.
Out stepped Hilary, holding Lily's hand.
"Mommy, that's the bad man!" Lily spotted me and pointed straight at me.
Ignoring the murderous glare Hilary shot me, I turned toward the villa's entrance.
"Nick!" she shrieked behind me. "Haven't you had enough?! Didn't you promise to leave us alone?! Go away!"
She grabbed Lily and moved to push me back, but just then, the iron gate opened.
An older woman with graying temples walked out.
Hilary's expression froze. "Mom… I—"
She tried to explain, but Olivia Cameron barely spared her a glance. Brushing past, Olivia walked straight up to me.
Hilary stood there in stunned silence.
Then Olivia took my hand in both of hers, eyes reddening with emotion.
Choked with tears, she said, "You must've suffered so much all these years. I never thought I'd live to see the day I found you again. Nick… my son."
