Chapter 361
She couldn’t tell if he was happy or angry; his eyes were a closed book.
After a moment, Bryan rose from the floor. His tall frame was highlighted by the light, his lips a firm line as he stared at the baby girl.
The baby, confused by the scene, babbled. Growing tired, she turned away, her tiny hands waving.
“She’s sleepy.” Eileen stood up as the baby’s voice edged toward a cry. “Don’t cry, Mommy’s here.”
She made the bed for the baby and lay down with her. Reaching for the binky on the bedside table, she guided it to Gabriela’s mouth.
Gabriela grasped Eileen’s arm and began sucking on the binky. Her bright eyes soon lost focus.
The room dimmed suddenly.
Bryan had turned off the light. When Eileen looked back, she saw him leaving the room.
Her heart tightened. She bit her lip and continued to soothe Gabriela to sleep.
Bryan walked out, his mind in chaos. He reached the window on the third floor, where the hot night wind blew in.
His half-dry hair quickly dried. He reached for a cigarette but remembered Eileen’s prohibition during his hospital stay. He couldn’t smoke around Gabriela in the future.
Ten minutes later, Eileen emerged from the room. She saw Bryan at the corridor’s end, leaning against the wall, his head tilted back as he fought to control his emotions.
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She approached slowly, lowering her head in front of him, unsure of what to say.
She only wondered if Bryan would be happy to learn Gabriela was his daughter. But she had never considered whether he could accept such a revelation so suddenly. Would he blame her for having the baby without his consent?
Eileen’s heart filled with unease as Bryan remained silent, a sense of suffocation enveloping her.
Suddenly, he lowered his head and extended his arms.
With veins prominent on the back of his hands, he grabbed her shoulders, his voice trembling. “Did you stay abroad to hide and have her?”
“Yes!” Eileen looked up at him. “All I wanted was to give birth to her safely, even if… even if you weren’t with me. I would still have her.”
Bryan’s eyes glistened with emotion. “You make me feel like a failure, like a useless father who couldn’t look after the woman he loves.”
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