Chapter 1793:


    “Mr. Martel, let go,” Gillian said, facing him with irritation shing in her eyes as she tried to wrench herself free.


    “What are you so afraid of?” Alban frowned, his voice gentle yet edged with frustration.


    She met his eyes for a split second before turning away once more. “I don’t know what you mean.”


    Alban exhaled heavily, weariness seeping into his words. “I’ve already told you — I won’t challenge you for Adide’s custody. If you don’t consent, I won’t cross that boundary. I’ll honor whatever choice you make. So why are you still so tense all the time? What are you keeping from me?”


    Gillian pressed her lips together, refusing to speak, her only desire being to wrench herself free from Alban’s hold.


    There truly was a burden gnawing at her thoughts — she didn’t know whether she would be able to walk away once shey down on the operating table.


    Quality trantions on


    If the worst happened, who would she entrust Adide to?


    At first, she had been almost certain that leaving Adide with Christina and her family was the right choice. Yet the more she thought about it, the more it felt like she would be cing an unbearable weight on Christina’s shoulders. Christina was her rescuer — how could she possibly impose something so heavy on her?


    But after spending so much time togethertely, Gillian hade to see that Alban truly cared for Adide. Because of that, the idea of sending Adide back to the Martel household had begun to take shape in her mind.


    And yet — wouldn’t that be a betrayal of Christina? She had given her word that she and her daughter would remain at Christina’s side and devote themselves to her for life.


    Gillian’s chest felt ripped apart, her thoughts tangled in agony, unable to choose a path.


    “Let go of me.” She lowered her voice, shooting Alban a hard, cold re.


    What an exasperating man he was. Why did he have to appear now and scatter her emotions? He had been missing since the day Adide was born — so why barge back into their lives at this moment? Wouldn’t it have been better if he had stayed away forever? Why return at all?


    Deep inside, Gillian harbored a dense, silent resentment toward Alban, something she had always kept locked away. But the longer she dwelled on it now, the more wronged she felt, the bitterness inside her swelling, ready to erupt.


    When Alban met the fury and hurt zing in her eyes, a sharp pain tore through his chest, guilt crashing over him. Bit by bit, his fingers ckened.


    The instant Gillian yanked her hand free, Alban felt as though something essential was slipping beyond his grasp. Panic seized him, and as she turned to leave, he stepped forward and pulled her into his arms from behind.


    Gillian went rigid, her thoughts wipedpletely nk.


    His arms were so warm — so unbearably warm that she nearly leaned into them without thinking. Just as she steeled herself to break away, his voice fell over her from above, raw and almost frantic.


    “Don’t shut me out, Gillian. I don’t know what it will take for you to forgive me, but I’ll do anything to atone for what I’ve done. I won’t let either of you be hurt again. Please — don’t push me away.” A faint tremor lingered in Alban’s voice, as though he was terrified they would be nothing more than strangers.


    At that instant, something struck Gillian straight through the heart, and the emotions she had suppressed came surging up. A deep sense of grievance welled within her — her nose burned sharply. In just a few breaths, her eyes flushed red, and tears spilled over.


    One tear sshed onto the back of Alban’s taut hand, scorching him like boiling water and cutting straight into his heart.


    .


    .


    .