CHAPTER 59 - Let me Explain

“What does he mean by he never stopped loving me?” The thought ricocheted in my mind as I stared at Jayden, my hands trembling slightly, though I clenched them into fists to hide it. My emotions were a tangled mess, somewhere between frustration, disbelief, and—God help me—hope.

“Jayden, my bad, Mr. Horton.” I stressed his last name, letting the sarcasm seep into my voice. “If I remember correctly, this marriage was contractual, not emotional. Do you need me to remind you of that?”

“Daphne—” Jayden began, stepping closer.

I raised a hand sharply, cutting him off. “But nothing, Jayden. In as much as you’re the grandson of the richest man in this state, or probably the entire country—or the whole damn world—I suggest you learn some manners. Like, for instance, letting people finish speaking before you interrupt them.”

His lips pressed into a thin line, and he lowered his gaze. “I’m sorry,” he murmured, the apology sounding genuine.

“Good,” I replied tersely, though my heart thudded painfully in my chest. I took a deep breath, steadying myself before continuing. “One more interruption from you, Mr. Horton, and I’ll refuse to speak with you altogether.”

Jayden flinched slightly, but he nodded.

Somehow, I felt a strange sense of relief knowing that he was the man at the club that night. That the stranger I’d confided in—and ultimately created life with—wasn’t some random person but him. But that relief was overshadowed by anger, confusion, and a deep, lingering hurt.

“Can you just stop being so formal?” he said, his voice soft, almost pleading. “Daphne, it’s killing me.”

Before I could respond, he reached out, gently taking my hand in his. His touch was warm, firm but hesitant, as if he were afraid I’d pull away—which I did.

“No,” I snapped, yanking my hand out of his grasp. “You don’t get to touch me. Not after everything you’ve done.”

“Daphne…” His voice cracked, and for a moment, I saw tears glistening in his eyes.

It hurt to see him like this, to see him vulnerable, but the pain he’d caused me was still too fresh. Too raw. I couldn’t let my guard down, not now.

“This marriage is contractual,” I repeated, my voice hard as steel. “And sadly, you took advantage of me before the contract even began, resulting in this child. You claim you never stopped loving me, but your actions say otherwise.”

“Let me explain—”

“Explain what?” I cut him off, my voice rising. “Explain how you treated me like some cheap slut? Explain how you had the audacity to call my child a bastard, just because I didn’t know who the father was at the time? You used me, Jayden. But spoiler alert—I’m not some pawn in your game. And I won’t let you use her either.”

Jayden’s face crumpled at my words, but I wasn’t done.

“If my baby is mistreated in any way—any way at all—I swear, I’ll go straight to your grandfather and tell him everything. About the contract, about this sham of a marriage. Let’s see how you deal with the fallout from that.”

Jayden opened his mouth to respond, but I raised my hand again, silencing him. His shoulders sagged, and he looked away, defeated. For a fleeting moment, I thought I saw regret in his expression, but I didn’t care.

I turned back to the incubator, my eyes softening as they landed on my daughter. My precious Jade. She was so small, so fragile, but she was mine. I would protect her with everything I had.

Jayden stood a few feet behind me, silent now. I could feel the weight of his gaze on me, but I refused to acknowledge him.

The door opened, and a nurse stepped in, her clipboard in hand. She gave me a kind smile before glancing at the machines monitoring Jade’s vitals.

“Your daughter is doing well,” she said gently. “Her condition is stable, and her vital signs are improving. If you’d like, you can hold her now.”

The words took a moment to sink in. Hold her? My heart skipped a beat, and tears sprang to my eyes.

“Yes,” I said quickly, my voice trembling with emotion. “I’d like that.”

“So would I,” Jayden added, stepping forward.

I shot him a sharp glare, my protective instincts flaring. He raised his hands in surrender, taking a step back.

The nurse, oblivious to the tension between us, carefully opened the incubator and lifted Jade out. She was so tiny, wrapped in a soft blanket, her little face peaceful as she slept.

“Here you go,” the nurse said, handing her to me.

I held her close, tears streaming down my face as I looked at her. She was perfect. Her tiny fingers, her soft skin, the way she fit so perfectly in my arms—it was overwhelming.

“She’s beautiful,” Jayden said softly, standing beside me now. His voice was thick with emotion, and when I glanced at him, I saw tears in his eyes too.

“She is,” I whispered, my gaze never leaving Jade.

The nurse spoke again, her tone gentle. “Skin-to-skin contact is very beneficial for preemies. It helps regulate their body temperature, heart rate, and breathing. Would you like to try it?”

I hesitated for a moment, glancing at Jayden. His presence made me uncomfortable, but if this was what Jade needed, I would do it.

“Of course,” I said, my voice steady. I began to unbutton my blouse, but Jayden suddenly stepped forward.

“Wait,” he said.

I froze, my hands pausing on the buttons. “What now?”

“Can we turn off the CCTV cameras in this room?” he asked the nurse, his voice firm. “And I’d like everyone to step out for a moment. My wife and I need privacy.”

I stared at him, stunned. His request caught me completely off guard.

The nurse hesitated but nodded. “Of course, Mr. Horton. I’ll take care of that.” She left the room, leaving the three of us alone.

Jayden turned back to me, his expression unreadable. “You don’t have to feel uncomfortable, Daphne. I just want you to feel safe. That’s all.”

For a moment, I didn’t know what to say. His gesture touched me in a way I wasn’t ready to admit, even to myself.

I finished unbuttoning my blouse and held Jade against my chest, her tiny body warm and fragile. The feeling was indescribable. I felt her breathing, her heartbeat, and for the first time, I felt a connection so deep it brought fresh tears to my eyes.

Jayden stayed silent, his eyes fixed on us. I could see the longing in his expression, the love and regret mingling there.

After a while, I reluctantly handed Jade to him. “Be careful,” I warned, my voice sharp. “She’s fragile.”

“I know,” he said softly, cradling her in his arms. His movements were gentle, almost reverent, as if he were holding the most precious thing in the world.

“She’s our daughter, Daphne,” he said quietly, his eyes meeting mine.

Before I could respond, Jade let out a soft wheezing sound, followed by a weak cry. Panic shot through me like lightning.

“She’s wheezing!” I cried, rushing to press the call button.

Jayden’s face paled as he held her closer, his expression filled with fear. “What’s happening?”

The door burst open, and a doctor hurried in, followed by a nurse. They quickly took Jade from Jayden, examining her closely.

“She’s having some difficulty breathing,” the doctor said calmly, though his tone was serious. “We’ll need to stabilize her.”

I watched helplessly as they worked, my heart pounding in my chest. Jayden stood beside me, his hand hovering near mine but not touching.

“Please,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “Please let her be okay.”

Jayden’s hand finally found mine, and though I wanted to pull away, I didn’t. We stood there together, united in our fear, as we waited for news.