Chapter 28
Chapter 28
0.6% *
In all this time since | had Hayley, there had only been 2 people who had seen her struggle with her disability. Over the years, it
had gotten better for her and manageable but things still got challenging now and again depending on various factors. Besides
Adam and Nancy, no one else had even been aware that she was challenged in any way.
She didn’t show it and she was capable of understanding but there had been rare asions where. she didn’t have the patience
for it and today was one of those days.
Hayley whined and squealed at her helplessness but | knew exactly why she was fussy today. With all the excitement of the day
and her being buzzed with Dante being around, she didn’t want him to see her like this neither did she want this toe in the
way of her ending off their meeting for today on a good note.
“It''s alright, Hayley. Remember, mama is here and |
ere and | can carry you inside. It''s okay. | whispered calmly to her while Dante just stood watching Hayley in distress not knowing
how to help her.
My motherly protective instinct kicked in and | didn’t want my baby to be looked at like a wounded puppy.
“No! | want to do it myself.” She insisted, hitting her balled fists against the leather seats.
| know you do but allow mama to help you this one time. | tried to reason with her darting my eyes to Dante who seemed to be
lost in his own thought.
| didn’t understand why he stood here. It only ced more pressure on Hayley to perform when she couldn''t. Even if she wanted
to give in and let me carry her, she wouldn’t because Dante was right there.
“No! no. No!” She cried, her b*dy jerking in frustration as she tried to kick her legs over again but all it could manage was a small
movement at her ankles.
“You want to it by yourself? Come.” Dante spoke causing both Hayley and | to look up at him. “I won’t carry you but | will hold
your hand.” He said gently then waited for Hayley to think it over.
“You don’t understand. Her legs are not going to-‘l tried to exin to him but he cut me off.
“Let Hayley decide then the rest can be figured out.” He tried to remain calm in front of Hayley but | saw the heat in his eyes at
me undermining him.
We both looked back at Hayley, saw how overwhelmed she was, but her resolve had crumbled.
She didn’t say a word but just notided to Dante slowly. Dante squared his shoulders before asking
aside which | did curious to see how he intended on handling this.
me to step
Dante helped her out of the car by supporting her under her arms before he ced her feet to the ground but not quiet. instead
of the ground, he ced her feet on to his shoes then lowered her enough until her foot was flush to the top of his shoes. He
didn’t care that there was no dust and d’*rty in his fine Italian shoes as he moved his right leg then left giving Hayley the illusion
and feel like she was walking making her not entirely helpless.
06%
Chapter 28
It was a technique | had never thought of before and one which seemed to have worked better than | thought it would.
Hayley’s expression was no longer dull and frustrated but it had changed to one that was bright and bubbly again. She, herself,
was fascinated by this and she kept her attention fixed on Dante’s moving steps beneath her feet.
“See, you''re doing it and no one is carrying you. He cheered her on and she smiled.
We reached the front door and | expected Dante to leave but he did not. Instead he proceeded to ask Hayley where she wanted
to go to in the house and lead her there speaking like he wasmanding a ship. Hayley obviously loved that and herughter
echoed through the house ast their ship ventured toward the living room where Hayley wanted to watch her favourite show.
| headed to the kitchen to fetch myself a ss of water. All that chocte tasting has made me thirsty. After finding a ss, |
poured myself some cold water and gulped it down. The distant sound of Hayley’s animation yed and she was quiet but the
footsteps approaching me was not.
It was determined and stormed in my direction with deliberate calction. He was on his way to have a say about some thing as
opposed to silently letting himself out of the house.
Dante appeared in the kitchen with a grave look on his face. His brows were furrowed, his face. morphed in to concern, and he
almost looked pained but his eyes were angry.
“How long has she been suffering from this for?” His words were icy cold as they hung in the air.
He stood at the end of the ind with me on the other side leaving ample space between us.
“Ever since she was born.” | answered briefly not wanting to share too much with him.
“And you didn’t mention any thing about it to me. He muttered angrily causing my anger to boil at his entitlement.
| straightened my posture and took a few angry steps forward. Safe distance be damned. | crossed my arms over my chest and
stared right in to his own furious eyes.
“| do not need to mention any thing to you, Dante. | don’t think you remember clearly but we are divorced. We have been for a
while and | owe you no in on my life.” His eyes darkened at my words. and his I*ps pressed in to a cunning line.
He took a step forward to me leaving just an inch between us but | didn’t care about it.
“There is no need to remind me of the past. | am well aware of what happened between us and 1 regret it with every passing day
but that is irrelevant.” Dante ran a hand through his hair roughly like he was willing to pull it out. His anger had taken away from
his words.
“Hayley. What is condition that she had been born with?” His eyes softened in concern but his face
was as hard as stone.
“Spinal bafida. That is what she has but she is so much more than her difficulty.” | said protectively not wanting anyone, let alone
Dante, thinking differently of my
child.
“You should have told me beforehand.” He said, his words turning tight.
6%*
Chapter 28
“Again, | do not owe you any information neither did | expect you to be in either of our lives.” My words were bitter and all the hurt
that | felt years ago came back to the surface.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.
| hated that Dante had thrown me out of his life so easily yet here he was trying to have some sort of role on it. It only messed
with my head because | couldn''t gage where to slot him in, where he fitted in.
“Perhaps but you would if we found out who her biological father is. His words were low, intentional, and sharp. Dante was well
aware of what his words would do and the nk, shocked look | couldn''t control proved him right.
“What does that have to do with any thing?” | asked ignoring how my
voice shook.
“Everything. It has every thing to do with it. You first lead me to believe that Adam was her father but Hayley was told otherwise.
Why are you so determined to keep her father hidden from her and her from her father?” He tilted his head to the side eyeing me
with a challenging look.
“Because it is for the best.” My voice had dropped to a whisper.
“For who? For you?” He used. “I don’t see how it’s good for her to grow up with out a fatherly figure and one who didn’t even
get a choice in whether they wanted to y that role or not because you hid her away.” His tone had turned usatory again but
he had no right to hurl these things at
1.me.
Dante was not aware of the things | faced, of the challenges that lead to the decision that | had made and he would never
understand.
“You are a selfish mother. One who thinks only of herself and herfort. His words cut through me deep and my hand reached
back with anger beforeunching a p on his face but Dante was
too fast.
His hand caught my wrist tightly right before | couldy a finger on him. He yanked me forward until our b*dy’s crashed with each
other.
“Don’t you dare question the decisions | made as a mother. You have no right nor the knowledge of what lead me to it.” | warned
him but his gaze had dropped to my I*ps.
“The decisions you took were to shelter you from being ufortable.” He said in a husky tone, his breath fanning against my
ps.
My I*ps trembled feeling the air tickle it. “Watch yourself.”
“Really? Or what?” He whispered his I*ps moving closer to mine whilst his eyes challenged me to
move
My mind was in a whirlwind of confusion. He was too close, his I*ps were less than an inch from mine, | could smell his heady,
intoxicating cologne mess with my sense.
“| will ce a restraining order against you.” | warned but his I*ps spread in to a wide smile.
“Go ahead. Do it but before that | want to do a paternity test.” His words snapped me out of the trance he seemed to have
momentarily trapped me in.
16:26 Tue, 5 Mar
Chapter 28
6%%
| moved away from him but he didn’t let go of my wrist. My eyes blinked several times hearing the words | dreaded to hear buzz
through my head. | wanted to pinch myself and wake up from this horrible dream.
“N- No. Do not waste your time with that because | can assure you she is not your child.” | stuck my chin out defiantly but his
hold tightened around my wrist.
“You may be telling the truth but | hand allowing to fall to my side.
tit in medical documentation stating it He let go of my
“| do not consent
to itas her mother and you can’t force it as a stranger. It is unnecessary stress that she does not need. She is perfectly fine with
out a father.” | stood by my opinion but Dante obviously disagreed.
Dante took a few steps back before shaking his head in disbelief. He threw me a scathing look before leaving the kitchen without
another word Momentster | heard his car drive away and | crumbled to the floor ovee with so many emotions.
It was easy for him so say that | was selfish when he was not aware of the circumstances that lead to be. If | allow him to do this
paternity test and he finds out the truth, he would be unbearable but he was not my biggest worry. Pheobe is. The woman
would never tolerate Dante being distracted by Hayley and | didn’t trust her. She would do whatever she needed to to get her
way even if that meant harming an innocent child. She attempted it before and what would stop her
now!
SEND GIFT