Chapter 402
Words She Never Said Out Loud
Tears gathered in her eyes instantly.
Fraser felt like someone had driven a blade straight through his chest. The pain knocked the wind out of him. His throat locked up as he choked out. "No more kids. We're not doing this again."
The obstetrician-gynecologist's voice rose beside them. "Mrs. Graham, you're almost there. One more push. Keep going."
Summer was ghost pale. She couldn't speak, Her whole body strained with the last of her strength.
Then-
Wah! Wah!
A baby's cry rang out, clear and sharp through the room. It was like the first break of morning light cutting through the dark.
The obstetrician-gynecologist broke into a smile and called out, "She's here, Mr. Graham. It's a girl."
The VIP suite was quiet the kind of deep, gentle silence that felt like the world had pressed
pause.
On the bed, Summer slept with her lashes curled like tiny feathered fans. Her features were soft, her face pale and lovely; she looked like a portrait come to life, frozen in peace.
Fraser sat beside her without moving. His hand gripped hers tightly, holding it against his cheek like he never wanted to let go.
In his other hand, a letter rested-written in Summer's handwriting.
She must have penned it not long ago.
The script was delicate and full of warmth:
Fraser,
I had wanted to talk to you for days, but I kept dozing off.
The baby was probably saving up energy, getting ready to meet us.
You were always busy during the day.
And at night, by the time you got home, I was already asleep.
So when I had a quiet moment, I wrote you this letter.
Words She Never Said Out Loud
One day, he said something that made my heart skip-he told me the baby could arrive at any
moment.
That hit me hard. I felt a rush of nerves mixed with a kind of hope I couldn't shake.
After that, I moved even more carefully than before.
Earlier in the pregnancy, I hadn't felt much of anything.
But as her due date got closer.
I kept wondering what she would look like. Would her eyes be big or small? Would she look more like you or like me? I pictured her and caught myself grinning like a fool.
I searched online and found out that a lot of newborns came out all wrinkled and
scrunched up. Kind of weird-looking, honestly.
I really hoped our baby came out looking like a beautiful little angel.
And if that made me a shallow mom. I hoped she forgave me.
1 got a little off track.
That day when Yvette and I went to the Graham Group, I was standing outside
and overheard what you said.
You said...
Right there, Fraser saw faint tear stains dried into the paper.
He knew right away. His Summer must have cried while writing this.
His chest tightened so hard it hurt. His lips quivered, and tears broke loose,
slipping down from the corners of his red eyes.
He took a breath and kept reading.
I didn't mean it when I said I didn't care. That wasn't true.
But I did believe you loved me.
So I figured you must have said that on purpose... didn't you?
More than feeling hurt, I had felt anxious. I had felt scared.
I had remembered that time you came back from Oblistan, chest wrapped in white
gauze but still soaked with blood and covered in bruises.
You looked awful.
Words She Never Said Out Loud
Did you hear me?
Back then, I couldn't do anything for you. The best I could do was take better care
of myself.
But that was just how women were
Even when I had known you didn't really mean to shut me out, it still hurt... little
by little