Chapter 60 Chapter 20.3
Macie abruptly stepped off the bed and faced Desmond, eyes blazing with desperation. She refused to accept that he was choosing to leave her, that he was choosing Heaven instead. In her mind, Desmond was only acting out of anger. He had to be.
“I know you’re lying,” she cried. “You’re just mad at me, right? You’re still angry, aren’t you? I’m here now. I’m ready to marry you. You told me you’d leave Heaven so you could marry me, why did you suddenly change your mind?! I know you’re just upset, Desmond. I’m the one you’ll choose, right? Tell me you love me!” Her voice cracked, turning into sobs.
Desmond stared back at her, his expression blank, yet his mind echoed with Zachary’s words from earlier: Whoever you choose… someone gets hurt.
Seeing Macie crying still hurt him. But imagining Heaven crying because of him, that pain was far worse.
“I’m not angry at you, Macie,” he said quietly. “I understand that your dreams matter to you. We want different things. I’m ready to have a family, and you… you still want to chase the dreams you worked so hard for. And I respect that. So go on, follow them. Because I’m choosing to focus on my family now.” Macie froze, tears suspended. Desmond continued, voice steady but gentle. “I’m sorry, but yes, during the short time I spent with Heaven, I learned to love her. I’m not trying to make you jealous, if that’s what you’re thinking. You know how deeply I loved you, Macie… but I need to let you go. If we force this any longer, we’ll only misunderstand each other even more. What if I choose you and you still think I’m willing to wait? What if you leave again for France to chase your dreams? We’ll fight. We’ll break. And that’s not the life either of us wants.” He drew in a breath.
“I won’t stop you anymore. Don’t stop me from wanting a family. Starting today… don’t come to my office or my home whenever you feel like it.” His tone was firm, not cold, but final.
Macie took a trembling step closer, trying to kiss him, but Desmond quickly stepped back. He couldn’t let her keep hoping. He couldn’t let her think there was still a future waiting for them.
“If you think I’ll just leave you once you choose me, you’re wrong,” she whispered desperately. “Leave Heaven. Marry me. Wherever, whenever, please, Desmond, choose me.” Desmond shook his head and moved past her.
“Get some rest. You’ve had a lot to drink. Take care of yourself… because I don’t know if I’ll be able to come see you again. My wife is pregnant, Macie. She needs me.” And with that, he walked out.
Macie ran after him, trying again to reach him, to kiss him, but he pushed her away.
When her lips brushed his for a second, Desmond immediately wiped his mouth, as if erasing the moment entirely.
“No… please,” Macie cried, but he was already gone. Consumed by frustration, she kicked the floor, tears streaming down. She couldn’t accept it, she couldn’t accept that Desmond had chosen someone else.
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When Desmond reached his car, he stared at his reflection in the rearview mirror. He wiped his lips again, as if needing to erase every trace of what happened. Only then did he drive home.
The moment he stepped inside, he searched for Heaven. He found her in the nursery, gently organizing their baby’s things. The sight alone eased something inside him.
“Heaven,” he called softly.
She turned, smiling. “Oh, you’re home. I didn’t have much to do, so I started fixing Daryl’s things. Have you eaten?”
Instead of responding, Desmond crossed the room and wrapped her tightly in his arms. Heaven blinked in surprise.
“Are you okay? Did something happen?” she asked, worried.
Desmond didn’t answer. He only held her closer, as if grounding himself in her warmth. Heaven gently rubbed his back to comfort him, even without knowing what troubled him.
Eventually, he pulled away, just enough to cup her face and kiss her deeply. Heaven gasped at the suddenness but returned the kiss, holding him just as tightly.
When they finally parted for air, Desmond smiled, a soft, tender smile filled with relief.
“Whatever’s bothering you,” she said quietly, “let it go. Just focus on me… and our baby.”
Heaven searched his eyes. She wasn’t a mind reader, but she could feel something heavy lingering behind them.
“How about Macie?” she asked, gathering her courage. She needed to know. She needed reassurance that he chose her, not just their child.
“I talked to her,” Desmond said. “I ended everything between us. Please… don’t doubt what I feel for you. I chose you because I love you not because you’re carrying my child. You were there when I was hurting. You helped me escape a relationship that had no clear future. I was ready to settle down, but she was still chasing her dreams.” He took her hands, squeezing them tightly.
“I never stopped her from modeling. I told her she could keep chasing her dreams even after marriage, but she still refused. Heaven… from now on, I’m focusing on you. I’ve been thinking about this for days, and I’m sure. I know who I want to choose. You’ve done nothing but love me even without knowing if I’d ever love you back.” He swallowed, his voice thickening. “I choose you, Heaven. You’re the one I want to be with.”
A shy smile grew on Heaven’s lips. Warmth bloomed in her chest, gentle, overwhelming, breathtaking. She had assumed Macie would always win his heart. But she was wrong.
She couldn’t even speak, her emotions were too full. Desmond pulled her into another embrace, and Heaven held him just as tightly.
Earlier, when he carried Macie, he felt nothing, only the weight of a friend he once loved.
But holding Heaven felt entirely different. His heart was safe in her arms. He had been hurt too many times by Macie. Every rejected proposal had wounded him, even if he tried to hide it. But with Heaven…. it finally felt like he was home.