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Liz shook her head. “My health has been a huge burden, I know, but you can rest assured that I’ll be around to see you start your own family.”

“Mom.” Kiera embraced her.

My phone rang, and I excused myself to take the call and let mother and daughter have their private moment.

CHAPTERFIFTY-FIVE

KIERA

Today had been one of the best days of my life. I knew good news was waiting for me, but I didn’t expect a complete recovery. The luxurious hospital room was a bonus I needed to talk to him about. It must have cost a fortune.

I loved he was helping me and my mom, but I didn’t want him to feel obligated. I certainly didn’t want him to think I was taking advantage of him.

Despite that, my heart overflowed with love and gratitude. I went from stressing about money, thinking about selling my apartment to move in with my mom to save on costs, to not having to worry about anything. Anxiety had weighed on me for too long, that the sudden liberation left me a bit confused. I’d snap out of it soon enough.

Dr. Schaeffer’s behavior pissed me off. I wished he’d get the punishment he deserved. How many lives had he ruined?

Mom squeezed my hand, bringing my thoughts back to her. “So how did you meet him?”

“I told you already—during the accident.”

“You know what I mean.” She smiled, her face blossoming with much color and life.

I explained how we’d been friends for a while, but had been with different people.

“It’s good to know the person before you take things seriously.” Mom leaned back into her pillow. “I was young and infatuated with your dad. If I had known before we started dating, maybe I would’ve known he didn’t want the same things I did.”

The memory of him at the auction made me want to puke. My dad was involved with bad people—the crime organization that had threatened Forrest and his friends. He’d been there to buy a woman. It made me sick that I was related to him.

Despite that, I wanted to know the man who had gotten my mom pregnant and left.

“How did you meet him?”

“He attended a conference at the hospital, saw me, and asked me to dinner. He was handsome and knew some doctors working at the hospital. I was single, so I didn’t see any harm in a meal. We dated for six months, and then I found out I was pregnant. I was on the pill, but I’d missed a few days.” She sighed, and there was no sadness in her voice. “He was a councilman working his way up the political ladder. I was a hindrance to him. A family would keep him tied down.”

“Work was his life.” Based on what I saw on the news in Texas, it was still his life.

“It was all he talked about. He was working on several projects that could make him millions. He said he didn’t want a baby and told me to get an abortion.” She caressed my face. “I couldn’t do that. You were part of me. Even if he didn’t want you,Iwanted you.”

I debated telling my mom about what I knew about him. Though Mom had moved on, she should know the current affairs regarding her ex in case she saw him on the news.

“I’m happy I didn’t have him in my life. He’s a senator in Texas, and it seems like nothing has changed. He’s still selfish and wants to climb the political ladder.”

“People don’t change easily,” Mom said.

“I looked him up when I was eight years old.”

Mom had told me his name during a casual conversation one night. She probably thought that I’d dismissed his identity long ago because he hadn’t been part of my life. But I clung to the name and investigated.

I wanted to know who this man was. The truth wasn’t as beautiful as I had hoped. It was human nature to find out your roots, even if they were poisonous.

“Sweetie, I thought keeping him from you protected you.”

It wasn’t my mom’s fault. She protected me the best way she could.

“I know, Mom, and I appreciate it. I’m blessed to have you as my mother. My curious mind wanted to know. Finding out the person he was—is—didn’t make me any happier. But I needed that closure. I wanted to know why he left you.”

“Andyou. You didn’t have a father growing up. I understand, sweetheart.” Mom drew me in for a kiss on my forehead.