I Walked Away With His Love Child

Chapter 9

After that day at the park, Gideon never showed up again.

Lachlan, on the other hand, brought him up a few times, clearly uneasy about my ex.

He's always been the jealous type, so I told him everything that happened. It took some reassuring, but eventually, he let it go.

Not long after, I heard Gideon's company went under.

Turns out Fiona had developed a serious gambling problem behind his back.

She'd always had some bad habits, but once she got her hands on real money, it spiraled out of control.

Gideon, blinded by love, or maybe guilt, gave her full control over the company's finances, all because she insisted on helping.

That decision ruined him.

Someone had been watching Fiona, waiting for her to slip. Once she took the bait, they set the trap.

After an argument with Gideon about me, she stormed out and hit the casinos.

Drunk, desperate, and reckless, she lost everything.

Afraid of how Gideon would react, she embezzled company funds, thinking she could win it back.

But casinos don't work like that.

She didn't just lose more, she lost it all.

By the time Gideon realized what was happening, the company's accounts were dry.

It was already too late.

And because he and Fiona were legally married, the debt became marital debt.

I was at a banquet with Lachlan when I overheard people whispering about it.

"Such a shame," someone sighed. "Gideon was a rising star. But marrying that woman? Ruined him."

"Yeah, I heard she used to be a club girl. When she lost cash, she'd turn to shady stuff. I even heard her sugar daddy chased Gideon off when he tried to bring her home."

Lachlan frowned, visibly uncomfortable.

He was never fond of Gideon, but still, there was some sympathy there, man to man.

"I want to find him a lawyer," he said. "Help him get a divorce. What do you think?"

I nodded, a quiet sigh slipping out.

Gideon had chosen a different path. Now, he was paying for it in full.

After Fiona's sugar daddy roughed Gideon up, the lawyer Lachlan hired finally won the divorce.

Gideon landed in the hospital.

When he recovered, he asked to see me.

Lachlan scoffed. "Seriously? I'm the one who got him the damn lawyer. What does he want with you?"

Still, we went to the hospital together.

Lachlan didn't bother hiding his disdain.

"I helped you get the divorce," he told Gideon coldly. "But don't think I'm about to bail you out of your debts."

Gideon looked down, clearly embarrassed. He hesitated, then finally turned to Lachlan.

"Thank you," he said. "I was wrong… I should've kept my distance from Adeline."

"I'm not going to chase after her anymore."

He closed his eyes for a moment before continuing, his voice low.

"I know she loves you now."

I was surprised, for once, Gideon actually understood something.

"It's a good thing," I said quietly. "Letting go is the first step to healing."

He tried to smile, but with the bruises still marking his face, it came out more bitter than anything.

"Funny how that works," he muttered. "You don't realize what you had until it's gone. First Fiona… then you."

"But I get it now. If one of us can be happy… that's enough."

Then he turned and walked away.

Lachlan looked at me and asked, voice soft but steady, "You're not going to see him off?"

I wrapped my arms around him and smiled against his chest.

"No need," I whispered. "I already know who I want to hold on to."