Chapter 23 Damian didn't like being turned down . " Suit yourself , " he said , heading upstairs . " Damian , do you have time tomorrow ? I want us to pick a burial plot for our baby . I want to lay her to rest properly , " I called after him before I lost my nerve . Just as I finished , Eleanor came down the stairs . " Dami , when are we setting off ? Maureen's been begging for a trip abroad before school starts . She's been looking forward to it forever ! " Damian paused and turned to look at me . I held his gaze , waiting anxiously , wishing he would choose me . Our daughter in heaven would want to see that her father really cared . " Just tomorrow morning , " I said quietly . " It won't take long . " I knew how small I sounded , how much pride I'd swallowed . For my child , it was worth it . Damian paused , thinking it over . Then he said , " I'll be back Friday afternoon . Just wait two days . " I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding . A yes , thank goodness ! On the way home , I called the funeral home . They said 0.00 % d morning was 06:06 Chapter 23 better for the burial ; afternoons weren't ideal . But I didn't push it , afraid he'd change his mind . 288 Vouchers My child would finally get a moment of love from her father in two days . Damian barely confirmed the time before heading upstairs with Eleanor . I went back to the guest room and stood by the window , watching them walk off with Maureen between them , each holding one of her hands as she bounced along . The driver and assistant followed behind , dragging two big suitcases . Even the Labrador was going with them . I gave a small , sad smile and took the medication . The bitterness stayed , not just on my tongue but deep in my chest . *** The days slipped by , and suddenly it was Friday . That week , I finally got a call back . A company wanted to interview me on Friday afternoon . With the burial set , I asked to reschedule . They refused , as I had expected . The interview I'd waited so long for was gone . Still , I didn't regret it . I got up early Friday morning . 28.29 % 190.90 288 iVouchers Chapter 23 After breakfast , I headed to the cemetery . There were a lot of steps before the burial . Since Damian wouldn't be back until later, I took care of it all , like saying goodbye and offering prayers . By noon , I got a call from Eaststone Villa . Damian still hadn't come back . I tried calling him . No answer . It was twelve . If he were on a flight , his phone should've been off . I tried again . It was still on , but no one picked up . A bad feeling started creeping in . Damian promised he'd be back Friday afternoon and told me to wait . He would come , right ? I stood in front of the headstone I'd picked , waiting . Then a staff member came over and said gently , "Ms. Whitmore , it's already four thirty . If we don't begin soon , it'll be dark . " My heart went cold . Everything inside me broke . Damian wasn't coming . " Okay . Let's begin . " My voice caught . It took everything I had to get the words out . Damian called on my way back . 55.15 % 06:07 Chapter 23 I glanced at the screen and turned the phone off immediately . It was the first time I'd begged him for anything since I found out he cheated , and the only time I thought we might still have something left between us . But he ghosted me . After that , I knew there was nothing left to say . 288 Vouchers I thought I'd made peace with it and let go . But that night , sleep wouldn't come . I lay there , scrolling through Twitter . Then I saw Eleanor's latest post : she was crouched on the ground in a delicate pink dress , hugging the Labrador , cheeks puffed out in a playful pout . The caption read , " Poor pup's got diarrhea , so we're stuck here a bit longer . Does anyone know a good vet on Balyra Isle ? " 80 989