Worship Him

12. Destiny

12

DESTINY

I stand outside Adam’s house, the weight of my decision heavy on my shoulders. My finger hovers over the doorbell, and I take a deep breath before pressing it.

After a moment, the door swings open, and there he is—Adam, looking as composed and intimidating as ever. His expression hardens the moment he sees me.

"Destiny," he says, his voice cold.

"Adam," I reply, my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me. "Can I come in?"

He steps aside, allowing me to enter. The tension between us is almost tangible, thickening the air as we move to the living room.

His home is just as I remember it—minimalistic yet luxurious and beautiful. Every piece of furniture screams wealth and power, just like it did when I still lived here.

"Why are you here?" he asks once we’re both seated.

"I need to talk to you," I say, meeting his gaze head-on.

He leans back, crossing his legs and simply looks at me, not seeming at all interested in what I have to say.

My voice trembles as I start, "Adam, Avery... she’s your daughter."

He stares at me, stunned into silence. His usual composed demeanor cracks only the slightest, revealing raw confusion.

"I didn’t cheat," I continue, my hands shaking. "She’s yours."

Adam's eyes narrow. "Why the hell didn’t you tell me?"

"I was scared," I admit, my heart pounding. "I was afraid you'd feel obligated to stay with me for Avery’s sake. That it would ruin us even more, especially in the long run."

He abruptly stands up and starts to pace the room, running his hands through his hair. "I would never do something so short-sighted." He glares at me. "Destiny, this isn’t just about us. It’s about…our daughter."

"I know!" I say, my voice breaking. "But I didn’t want her growing up in a home where her parents were together out of obligation."

His eyes flash with anger. "So you decided for both of us? You hid my daughter from me?"

I look down in shame and nod. "I wanted to wait until the divorce was finalized before I told you the truth. But my lawyer, Barrett didn’t like the idea."

I look back up at Adam, searching his eyes for understanding but finding none. "Barrett has been stalling the divorce," I explain. "He wouldn’t let it go through until I told you. He thought it was wrong to keep Avery a secret."

"And he was right!" Adam’s voice rises. "I missed her birth, Destiny! Her first year of life! Do you have any idea what you’ve done?"

Tears blur my vision, but I hold my ground. "I thought I was protecting her! Doing what was best for her!"

His anger is palpable, filling the room like a storm ready to break. "You didn’t protect anyone. You robbed me of precious time with my daughter. And stole from her the chance to bond with her father."

"I’m sorry," I whisper, the words feeling inadequate.

"Sorry?" he scoffs, his eyes flashing with fury. "Sorry doesn’t give me back all those months."

I stand up and step closer, desperate for him to understand. "We were falling apart. I didn’t want Avery to be the reason we stayed in a broken relationship."

His fists clench at his sides as he fights to control his anger. "You don’t get to make that call alone."

"I see that now," I say softly, my heart breaking all over again.

He shakes his head in disbelief. "This isn’t just about our relationship. It’s about being there for our daughter."

"I know," I say again, my voice trembling with emotion.

He turns away from me, staring out the window as if searching for answers in the bright, blue sky. "This changes everything."

The weight of his words hangs heavy between us, and for the first time since stepping into his house, I feel the full magnitude of what I've done.

When he turns around to face me again, Adam's eyes blaze with fury, his jaw clenched tight. The tension in the room is suffocating, pressing down on my chest like a physical weight.

"You had no right," he growls, his voice low and dangerous. "No fucking right to keep this from me."

I flinch at the venom in his words. "Adam, I?—"

"Don't," he cuts me off, holding up a hand. "Just don't. You've said enough."

He turns away, running his hands through his hair in frustration. I want to reach out, to touch him, but I know it would only make things worse.

"I swear I wasn’t being malicious, I really felt that I was doing the right thing," I whisper, my voice breaking.

"The right thing? You hid my own child from me for nearly a year. I couldn’t even be there when she was still growing inside you. How is that right?"

Tears sting my eyes, but I blink them back. "I was scared, okay? I didn't want you to feel trapped and then trap me in a broken marriage."

"I don’t care," he snaps. "You should have told me the moment you found out."

The truth of his words hits me like a punch to the gut. I've royally screwed up, and I know it.

He takes a deep breath, visibly trying to calm himself. "I need to meet her. Avery. I need to see my daughter."

"Of course," I nod quickly. "When?"

He runs a hand over his face, suddenly looking exhausted. "Not now. I can't... I can't even look at you right now. I need time to process this."

His words cut deep, but I know I deserve them. I've made a terrible mistake, and now I'm facing the consequences.

"I understand," I say softly, moving towards the door. "Just... let me know when you're ready."

He doesn't respond, just turns away from me again. As I step outside, the tears I've been holding back finally spill over. I've fucked up so badly, and I have no idea how to fix it.

I climb into my car and drive off, not sure where I’m going. I just want to hit the road until I feel better.

The memory of Adam’s anger is still fresh, burning like a brand. I grip the steering wheel tighter, trying to keep my emotions in check. The trees blur past, their tall forms swaying in the wind, almost mocking my turmoil.

Finally, I reach the secluded spot just outside the city I didn’t even realize I was driving to.

The clearing by the lake is exactly as I remember it—peaceful, serene, untouched by time. I step out of the car and make my way to the water's edge. The cool breeze rustles my hair, and I close my eyes, letting the memories wash over me.

This is where we had our first kiss. Adam had taken me here after a long day at work, insisting that we needed a break from the chaos of the city. I remember how he looked at me, his dark blue eyes filled with an intensity that took my breath away.

I was intoxicated by the view and his presence, whispering how beautiful the scene was.

"Not as beautiful as you," he had whispered before pulling me close.

I open my eyes and look at the spot where we stood. It feels like a lifetime ago.

Back then, I was so happy, so in love with him and his strong, dominant personality. Adam always knew what he wanted and went after it with unwavering determination. It’s one of the things that drew me to him.

Now, standing here alone, I can’t ignore the harsh reality—I’ve betrayed him in the worst possible way. He may never forgive me for keeping Avery a secret.

I sink down onto a large rock by the water, wrapping my arms around myself. The sound of the gentle waves lapping against the shore is almost soothing.

Almost.

"I’m sorry," I whisper into the empty air, as if he can hear me.

My mind drifts back to all our moments together—the laughter, the passion, the love that seemed unbreakable. But now it’s shattered into a million pieces because of my fear and mistakes.

I pull out my phone and stare at it for a long moment before dialing Barrett’s number.

"Destiny?" he answers on the second ring.

"I told him," I say quietly.

There’s a pause on his end. "How did it go?"

"About as well as you’d expect," I reply bitterly. "He’s furious."

Barrett sighs. "It was inevitable."

"I know," I say softly. "I...I don’t know what to do now."

"You’ve taken the first step," he reassures me. "Give him time."

Time. It’s something I stole from Adam when I kept Avery from him. Now it’s what he needs to process everything.

"Yeah. Thanks, Barrett," I say before ending the call.

As I sit there by the lake, surrounded by memories and regrets, one thing becomes clear, though I’d love to deny it: I still love Adam as much as the day I married him. But whether or not he can ever forgive me is something only time will tell.

The sun sits high in the sky, casting a lively orange glow over the water. The beauty of it all contrasts sharply with the chaos inside me.

For now, all I can do is wait and hope that somehow we can find a way to make things work so Avery can live the happy life she deserves.