Chapter 165:

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Kelly’s POV

We went straight to Anderson’s mansion after Snow was discharged. I wanted to take my daughter home because I was afraid Pierce might take her away from me. I felt so paranoid that I couldn’t stop staring at Snow as she talked, sitting comfortably on her father’s lap.

“Kelly, stay for tonight,” Mrs. Anderson said, caressing my arm.

I didn’t know why she wasn’t angry with me for hiding Snow’s true identity. Perhaps she already had an inkling before the truth came out. I felt so embarrassed by what I had done.

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“I’m sorry…” I whispered.

She smiled and shook her head. “Nothing matters more than you and my granddaughter’s safety. I understand, Kelly.”

I smiled back and gently caressed her hand resting on my arm. I could feel Pierce’s gaze on me. When I met his eyes, he quickly looked away, turning his focus back to our daughter.

I pressed my lips together and sighed. I decided to stay. I needed to make sure he wouldn’t take my daughter away from me. I had to talk to him.

After dinner, I spent some time in the guest room, lost in thought. I watched Pierce tuck Snow into bed, then, once she was settled, I stayed behind, thinking about what I would say to him.

It didn’t matter if he lashed out at me. It didn’t matter if he couldn’t forgive me. What was important was ensuring he wouldn’t take away my right to be with our daughter… just like I had done to him.

Gathering every ounce of courage, I left the guest room and knocked on Pierce’s door. I was careful, mindful that Snow was still sleeping inside.

“It’s open, Kelly.”

I turned toward the voice. It was Phoebe, smiling gently at me.

“Uh… Is Pierce inside?” I asked.

She shook her head. “Pierce is in the pool area.”

I nodded quickly. “Thanks, Phoebe.”

“You’re welcome.”

After giving her one last smile, I went downstairs and made my way to the pool area. The words I had been rehearsing played over and over in my mind, but as soon as I got close to Pierce, sitting at the edge of the pool with a drink in hand, everything I had planned to say vanished.

I swallowed hard, frozen in place. I stood about a meter away from him, facing his back, unsure of how to begin.

“Phoebe, I told you I don’t want to—” His words trailed off when he looked at me and realized I wasn’t Phoebe.

I swallowed hard again, my heart hammering in my chest.

Uh…

His eyes turned cold, and I couldn’t help but hug myself, feeling the chill from his gaze.

“You should sleep now.” His voice was calm, but his anger was unmistakable.

I took a deep breath. “Can we… talk?”

He looked away and didn’t say a word. I took his silence as permission. Though I was scared and nervous, I walked toward him and sat a meter away, the space between us filled by a bottle of liquor and a shot glass.

“I just want to… apologize.”

He hissed through his teeth. “You’re punishing me, right? You don’t have to apologize.”

I bit my bottom lip and shook my head slowly. “No! That’s not true, Pierce. Hiding the truth about Snow wasn’t my intention—”

“You were given so many chances to tell me the truth, Kelly. But you didn’t. You chose to hide it from me. The only reason I can think of is because of what I did to you in the past—”

“It wasn’t the reason, Pierce.”

“Then what is the reason? Tell me.”

His eyes were terrifying—filled with anger and disappointment. I felt the weight of his gaze, and my chest tightened.

“I—I’m scared…”

“Scared? Scared of what, Kelly? My daughter almost died! She had to go through a life-and-death situation before I discovered the truth. What if something happened to her? Huh?”

I looked down, swallowing the lump in my throat. “I’m sorry…”

“My daughter was hiding the pain of not knowing her father! You didn’t know that, Kelly! You didn’t know because you were too busy nurturing your hatred—”

“That’s not true!” I snapped, tears rolling down my cheeks. I quickly wiped them away, but it was too late—he had already seen them.

His lips parted, his forehead creased with concern, but his anger still simmered.

My lips trembled as I swallowed hard again.

“That’s not true! God knows how much I wanted to be a perfect mother, but I just couldn’t. I was scared of getting hurt again. I was scared that my daughter would see how the people I love have wounded my heart so badly. I was scared she would get hurt too.

I… protected her too much, and I’m sorry that I ended up hurting you.”

I couldn’t stop the emotions from pouring out anymore. My tears kept streaming down my face while he stared at me.

I couldn’t tell what he was thinking, but the only thing I needed to know now was what he planned to do about my daughter.

I met his eyes, gathering every ounce of strength to say the words I needed to say. I just needed confirmation from him.

A confirmation that he wouldn’t punish me in the cruelest way my mind could imagine.

“P-Please, don’t take her away from me. She’s my life, Pierce. She’s the only thing keeping me tethered to my sanity. I’d lose myself completely if I lost her. So please, hate me all you want, but don’t take my daughter away.”

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