Wilfred watched the embarrassment creep across her face. "Stop giving Hilary chocolate products. And start taking your responsibilities as a mother seriously."
"Don't make the child pay for your selfishness."
He turned to leave, but Hildegarde grabbed the car door, her eyes blazing. "Wilfred, you clearly still care about Hilary. You can't bear to leave her. Walking away now is the most irresponsible thing you could do."
"I'll say it one last time. Come home with me, and I'll act like none of this—"
"I'm not going back to the Pruitt house." Wilfred's voice was flat.
Slam.
He shut the door, ignoring her grip.
When that door closed, it shut out five years of loving her.
"Hildegarde, do you know what else happened the day you flew to Phuket to be with Patrick? It wasn't just our anniversary. That night, my appendix ruptured."
"I dragged myself to the hospital alone, in agony. But during the surgery, the doctors couldn't reach you. No one was there to sign the consent form. My appendix perforated. I nearly died on the operating table."
"That was the day I gave up on you completely."
Hildegarde stood frozen outside the car.
Appendix surgery?
