He Traded My Trauma for Her Redemption - Chapter 39: Chapter 39

"You—you’re a terrible person! How could you run away so far? My dad and I searched for you everywhere! Do you even know that?"
I looked down, sighed and gently pried Tyler’s little hands off me.
"Don’t do that. I don’t like kids."
He froze, his face filled with disbelief. Of course, he wouldn’t expect this. I had never rejected him before. Never refused him anything. Never once said I didn’t like children.
His nose scrunched up and fat tears rolled down his cheeks.
"You—you weren’t like this before."
I didn’t even glance at him. "Like you said—that was before."
My cold indifference made David frown. But instead of scolding me, he softened his voice.
"Nadine, I know you’re still mad. If you’re upset, just scold him a little more. It’s all this brat’s fault—hurting you, breaking your heart, driving you away. Punish him however you want. Once you’ve let it out, just come home with us."
His words made my expression turn even colder, "Are you two deaf? When did I ever say I was going back?"
I had rejected him again and again, but now, David’s patience was wearing thin.
"Alright, enough. You’ve made your point. You disappeared without a word. Do you know how far we had to search? We even came overseas. What more do you want?"
I had endured ten years of cold indifference, of being treated like I was invisible. And now, after one harsh sentence from me, he couldn’t take it?
I couldn’t even be bothered to respond. I pushed past him, ready to leave.
Gabriel had gone to the research institute early to prepare a welcome ceremony for me. I wouldn’t waste his effort.
But David grabbed my wrist before I could step away, "I’m sorry, Nadine. I just—I didn’t think before I spoke."
Right.
Ten years had made cruelty second nature to him. Mocking me had become a habit.
But now, suddenly, he was apologizing? Backing down? I had never seen him do that before.
Proud, arrogant David—he had never once lowered his head for anyone.
Not even for Yvonne. But none of that mattered to me anymore.
I yanked my hand free, "Stop wasting your time on me. You already have Yvonne as your wife. Why drag back an unwanted burden?"
After all these months, I had assumed they’d reunited already. That Tyler had finally returned to the mother he had longed for.
But now, David stood there, silent.
And Tyler let out a trembling sniffle—before bursting into sobs again. "She left. She took Dad’s money and ran. She even stole all of Grandpa and Grandma’s inheritance."
This little boy lifted his sleeve, revealing dark bruises along his arm. "Look, look! She even hit me. She yelled at me. She said I was nothing but bad luck. That I’d never compare to the child she had with Uncle Shen.
He continued more, "I’m sorry, Mom. I was wrong. I didn’t know getting hurt would feel like this. It was all my fault. I shouldn’t have pushed you."
David’s eyes were red. He pulled out a ring and dropped to one knee.
"Nadine, I finally understand who truly loved me. Come back. I’ll give you a wedding ten times grander than the one Yvonne had. I’ll make you the rightful Madam Gunn."
Everything I had once longed for was now being placed right in front of me.
And yet—I felt nothing.
Not excitement. Not happiness. Only exhaustion.
So, ten years of devotion hadn’t been enough for him to see my worth. But a mere six months apart had?