Eleven Letters
Chapter 03 - Eleven Letters
Claire showed Adrian everything she had kept.
Returned envelopes.
Old emails that never received replies.
A photograph of her pregnant at seven months with a note written on the back.
They’re kicking constantly. I wish you could feel it.
Adrian read every piece in silence.
He had spent nine years believing Claire abandoned him.
Claire had spent nine years believing Adrian rejected his own children before they were born.
The architect of both stories had been Victor Cole.
Adrian’s father.
Victor had considered Claire unsuitable for the wealthy Cole family.
Her mother cleaned offices at night. Claire had worked through college. Victor believed Adrian’s relationship with her would interfere with the political and business future he had planned for his son.
So he separated them.
Not with one lie.
With dozens.
Adrian stood at the window.
“I missed everything.”
Claire could not deny it.
“Their births. First words. First days of school.”
His voice broke.
Claire had imagined this reunion many times over the years.
In none of those fantasies had she felt sorry for him.
But now she saw a man grieving children who were still alive.
“I’m not asking you to forgive me,” Adrian said.
Claire folded her arms.
“You didn’t do this.”
“I believed him.”
“So did I.”
That was the cruelest part.
They had both trusted the wrong person.
Then Adrian turned.
“I want to know them.”
Claire’s heart tightened.
She had expected that.
She had also feared it.
“They don’t know you.”
“I know.”
“They’ve already lost enough stability.”
“I know.”
“Then don’t walk into their lives just because you discovered biology.”
Adrian nodded slowly.
“I won’t.”
May you like
Claire relaxed slightly.
Then he added, “But I’m not walking out either.”
