Part 2She Had a Baby With Her Ex’s Dad

"If you'll let Chloe have this baby, I'll compensate you generously. And I understand you're bidding on that Southside development project?"

"You won't even need to bid. I can hand you the contract directly."

The speaker was Mr. Hayes Sr., CEO of Hayes Enterprises.

His entitled tone made me bristle. "Why Chloe?"

Mr. Hayes Sr. didn't hesitate. "Because she was the only one who truly loved my son. That's reason enough."

A bitter laugh escaped me. "You're getting ahead of yourself. If I told her what really happened to Brandon, do you think she'd still play along?"

The words barely left my mouth before the old man erupted into violent coughing.

I stood to leave when a familiar figure hurried over. She patted the old man's back gently while shooting me a glare. "Liam, what did you say to Mr. Hayes?"

It was Chloe. Somehow she always managed to show up right on cue.

But the flicker of triumph in the old man's eyes told me everything.

I shrugged, forcing a tight smile. "Nothing much. Just mentioned a little secret."

Chloe frowned. "What secret?"

The old man's coughing stopped abruptly. "Liam doesn't want you to have Brandon's baby, that's all. I can't blame him, really."

Chloe's temper flared immediately. "Liam, stop meddling in my life! My body, my choice. I'll have a child with whoever I want—you can't control me!"

"And I already had the procedure done."

Looking at her determined face, my heart turned to stone.

In that moment, I finally let her go.

As soon as I walked out, I called my parents overseas.

"Dad, I've made up my mind. I want to come home."

I spent the next few days in a fog, practically living at the office.

Finally, Chloe called—probably tired of me not nagging her. "Liam, why aren't you coming home? Do you even want this marriage anymore? Are we going to fix this or what?"

Her unapologetic anger finally wore down my last nerve.

I took a deep breath and said slowly, "Let's get a divorce once I wrap things up here."

Chloe went silent on the other end. After a long pause, she scoffed. "Quit being so dramatic. You think divorce scares me? I'm having this baby, no matter what."

She hung up first. I laughed bitterly, feeling utterly helpless. From now on, her choices were her own. The baby? Whether she had it or not was none of my business.

And that secret... there was no point telling her now. I used to be terrified of hurting her, afraid she couldn't handle the truth.

But now? It didn't matter. Maybe her love for Brandon was strong enough to overcome that painful truth.

I threw myself into work, determined to erase Chloe from my mind.

Mr. Hayes Sr., clearly trying to punish me, made sure the project that should've been mine went to my competitor.

I'd be lying if I said it didn't sting, but with plans to join my parents overseas, this company no longer mattered.

I started this business to give Chloe the life she deserved.If she doesn't value what we have, there's no point in me being her doormat anymore.

I reached out to the firm that had previously expressed interest in acquiring my company. Just needed to wrap things up here, then I could leave this country for good.