Chapter 79 Chapter 27.1
THIRD PERSON POV
Macie released a long, heavy sigh. This could have been her chance, her long-awaited moment to finally apologize to Heaven for everything she had done. She understood why Heaven despised her. After everything that happened to their child, Heaven had every right to feel that way.
A bitter smile curved on Macie’s lips. Because of her own actions, she had lost so much. She regretted everything—every choice, every selfish pursuit. It was her fault that Desmond learned to love another woman. She had pushed him away, again and again, all because she chose her dreams over him.
FLASHBACK….
Terror consumed Macie the moment she left Heaven bleeding on the staircase. Her hands shook so much she couldn’t even dial her phone. Instead, she locked herself inside her condo and hid as if the walls could shield her from what she’d caused. She called her manager, insisting she needed to return to France as soon as possible. But on the day of her flight, she never even reached the airport—the airline canceled all flights to France due to severe weather.
With no choice, Macie returned to her condo. But the moment she opened the door, she froze.
Desmond was inside—waiting.
“Babe,” she whispered, swallowing hard. She had no idea why he was there, what he wanted, or what he already knew. Desmond stood up. His face was blank, but Macie could feel the coldness radiating from his eyes. It pierced straight through her.
“Babe, I’m happy to see you,” she added, but her voice trembled, betraying her fear.
Desmond stepped closer, slow and deliberate. His jaw tightened. His teeth clenched so hard she thought they might shatter. He looked like a man barely holding himself together.
Then, before she could react, Desmond lifted his hand—almost as if he were about to grab her by the throat. But at the last second, he stopped. He slammed his fist into the wall beside her instead, the impact so loud it made her flinch and gasp.
“Desmond…” Macie breathed, terrified.
He turned to her with a stare so sharp she felt it carve through her chest. He still felt something for her, she could see that. But it wasn’t love anymore. Not the warm, patient, devoted love he once offered so freely.
His heart was no longer hers.
It belonged to Heaven.
“Why?” Desmond’s voice cracked, but it was laced with fury. Macie lowered her eyes, her throat tightening. She didn’t know what he meant, or maybe she simply didn’t want to answer.
“Why did you do it? You know how much I wanted a family. You know how long I’ve waited for this—so why?!” His voice thundered through the room, and Macie instinctively stepped back, trembling.
“What did you do to Heaven? What happened behind that door, Macie? Why are you doing this to me? Huh?!”
Macie squeezed her eyes shut. She couldn’t face him. She couldn’t face what she had done.
From the very beginning of their relationship, Desmond had always been gentle with her. He never raised his voice or lost his temper, not once. But now…
Now he looked like a man shattered.
Desmond grabbed her by the shoulders, his grip tight, his hands shaking with rage. Macie whimpered at the pressure.
“What did you do to my wife?” he demanded. “How many times do I have to tell you? It’s Heaven that I want. Heaven and our child. How many times do I have to make you understand that? Why did you try to kill our baby? Why?!”
Tears streamed down his face. He was broken, grieving, furious, but incapable of hurting her physically. No matter how angry he was, violence toward her was the last thing he wanted.
“I’m sorry,” Macie sobbed. “I didn’t mean to. I didn’t want any of that to happen.”
“Goddamn it!” he shouted, stepping away from her and raking his hands through his hair. He looked torn, between wanting to scream and wanting to fall apart.
A month. They only had to wait one more month before meeting their child. Just one more month.
Macie covered her face, crying harder. “I’m really sorry, love. I didn’t mean to leave Heaven there. I only panicked because she was bleeding. I didn’t push her—she stepped back. Please believe me.”
Desmond whipped around, eyes blazing.
“Are you telling me Heaven made herself fall down those stairs? Is that what you’re trying to say?!”
Macie flinched and closed her eyes again. She didn’t answer. She knew he wouldn’t believe her. This was the first time in their entire relationship that Desmond refused to trust her. And there was only one reason for that.
His love for her was gone.
Her tears, her excuses, none of them worked anymore.
Desmond took a deep breath, trying to steady himself, but his voice still trembled with restrained rage when he spoke again.
“You know what I can do, Macie. I can take back everything you’ve achieved. I can destroy your image, ruin your career.” He paused, jaw clenched. “But I won’t. Not because you don’t deserve it, but because of everything we had.”
Macie swallowed, terrified.
“But on one condition,” Desmond continued coldly. “You disappear. I don’t want to see you again. Don’t make me do something you’ll regret. And don’t ever—ever—go near my wife again. Because next time, I might not be able to stop myself.”
His words felt like knives.
“Pack your things. Leave this condo. I bought it, and I don’t want you stepping foot here again.”
In pure panic, Macie ran out of the condo without looking back. The door slammed shut behind her, echoing in her chest like a verdict.
Inside, Desmond collapsed onto the bed, his strength drained. He dragged his hands down his face, tugging at his hair, his whole body shaking.
END OF FLASHBACK…
Macie exhaled shakily as the memory washed over her. The way Desmond shouted at her still haunted her. His voice, usually so gentle, had been filled with pain and hatred. And every time she remembered it, the guilt stabbed deeper.
She knew she had done terrible things. She knew Desmond would never take her back.
After their breakup, her life spiraled downward.
Six months after returning to France, she found herself pregnant, by the director who managed her career. He already had a family of his own and refused to take responsibility. The stress consumed her, and she lost the baby. One by one, her endorsements vanished. Her name turned sour in the industry.
Karma, she told herself. This was her punishment.
All she wanted now was forgiveness—from Heaven, at least. She hadn’t seen Desmond since that night.
Her manager sat beside her and sighed heavily.
“I don’t know what else to do to help you get back on your feet, Macie. Other brands have already canceled your endorsements.”
Macie gave a faint smile. None of this surprised her anymore.
She knew exactly who had pulled strings to destroy her—and it wasn’t Desmond.
It was the director’s wife.
And honestly, Macie was grateful she wasn’t publicly humiliated.
She wondered what her life might have been if she had accepted Desmond’s proposal back then. Would she have been happy? Still famous? Still loved?
Another bitter smile curved her lips. She had thrown away the only man who loved her truly. She chose an affair with someone who belonged to someone else. She had destroyed her own future.
And now… she was paying the price.