Page 37 of Fake Wife for Dr. Secret Daddy

"I did," I tell him sincerely. "I called you immediately. I was able to when you got to New York, but you were... too busy for me."

My voice drops at the last part, and I feel an echo of the hurt I had felt when he sounded disconnected over the phone.

Half his attention was on whatever was happening around him, and he snapped at me whenever I tried to draw his attention back to me.

Ted flinches at the declaration. He probably doesn't even remember the calls, but for me, they remain as vivid as a picture.

I called repeatedly, and after a few half-baked responses, my subsequent call went straight to the voicemail, which couldn’t receive my messages because it was complete. However, I never wanted to leave a voice message or send a text because of the sensitive nature of my message. Whatever I had been calling about wasn't as important as what he was doing.

"When I couldn't reach you, I thought about the next person I could go to. That was your dad since your mom was also not here then." I swallowed deeply and looked out the window. I hated remembering this part, and saying it out loud made me feel stupid all over again for trusting that slime of a human being.

"You went to my dad?" When I thought he couldn't sound more shocked, Ted surprised me.

"Yes, I had to. I didn't have anyone else to call, and since he's an obstetrician, I knew he'd be in a better position to help or at least get in touch with you on my behalf. But instead, he wanted to pull the covers on the whole thing." I shake my head in remembrance.

"He asked me not to tell you or your mother about the pregnancy. He convinced me that I had already stressed myself so much in trying to call you. He promised me that he would personally break the news to you guys, and I had nothing to worry about again. He said the news would distract you, and you needed to get the right workers for your hospitals over there to set the ball rolling before you return.Like the foolish and desperate woman I was, I believed him in a heartbeat and trusted him to do the right thing. Since I wasn't a stranger, I thought he would be more empathetic to my plight, and I let my guard down."

I lean my head back on the headrest. Luna has returned to her nap, so I make sure my voice is level even though I feel like screaming.

"I should have known better; I should have been able to see the kind of person he was. He thought that I was below your class, and he was doing his absolute best to keep the news from you. He only likes it when people like me serve him, and anything close to treating us like equals makes him balk. Things would have gone differently if I hadn't gone to him. I just hoped he had changed from being the cold doctor I remembered. I prayed he looked forward to being a grandfather, regardless of the babies' mother. I was wrong."

Ted has been silent for some minutes, and I can't bear to look at him thoroughly. I don't want to see the disappointment on his face. It would break me all over again.

"Do you think you could forgive me, Ted? For keeping it from you and maybe not trying as hard as I could to get to you." My voice is shaky with nerves, and I hold my breath for his response.

CHAPTER 15

Ted

“Ted?” Winnie calls out again, seeing that I haven’t responded to her question or even turned to look at her.

“I'm sorry,” she says, her voice lower now. I feel bad. “Are you mad at me?” she asks, barely squeaking.

Yes, I'm mad! I'm fucking pissed, but not at her.

I'm pissed at my father. I'm pissed at myself for abandoning her when she was barely twenty years old and carrying my babies.

I'm highly pissed that my father is the orchestrator of everything.

And there is no way I can tell her that.

Not right now, anyway.

It would be unfair to let her see this part of me.

No wonder father stalled mom’s return from New York.

I recall how he kept asking her to perform an administrative task or attend a meeting with someone else when Mother was due to be back.

And now, I understand that father came over to see us in New York to prevent mother from returning.

I could remember laughing off Mom’s concern that Father was hiding a woman back home, which eventually wasn't true, but what Father did… it's worse than that.

“It's nothing, don't worry about it,” I say as I start my car.

I watch her from the corner of my eye as she sits uncomfortably, seeming to have more to say.

“Ted I…”

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