Feeling that he was about to lose, Henry used one final attempt. He needed her to see sense. He needed her to remember whom he had been to her. He finally asked with deep doubts. "My biggest mistake towards you was not making sure that I had used a condom."He felt her fury as her breath hitched and he could tell she was pausing to consider if he was worth having as the father to her child. Would she behave for the sake of her child? He had caught her thankfully before she threw it all away. But just as quickly as she had changed, Ellie resumed her cold expression of indifference as she spoke with ice. "I haven"t checked because I was so distraught over everything happening so quickly. Did you do it on purpose to try and trap me? Thinking I"d stay with you just because there"s a child involved. I"m not stupid to think my child needs a father who doesn"t love me. I"ll just leave you with whatever it happens to be. I"m sure your new acquaintance would positively sparkle at the idea of having a ready-made family for her to latch on to. You know I heard she can"t have kids which is why she"s had so much trouble with men. You could hold it out to her like a zygote rose as a romantic gesture. I"m sure your nuptials would be forthcoming as she"d want to have a complete fairy tale with you as her charming savior."
"No. I don"t want that." Henry shook his head vehemently as she shifted her weight in an effort to slip under one of his gate-like arms. Henry"s body was almost fluid like a cat"s as he anch.o.r.ed himself like a determined troll in front of the way out. "I"m going to change your mind or you"re never leaving this room."
Ellie huffed as a small hair danced in front of her eye, out of place. "How abusive of you. Now you"re really turning into the father that you definitely despise so much. I could go to a station and have them arrest you if I caught that on tape. But, I have a little ounce left of respect after all that you"ve done for myself and Nolan. Change is hard on us all, Mr. Wong, you need to learn to adapt much better. I don"t want to be another mistake, Henry, you need to let go." There was a sudden slack in his shoulders which was when Ellie chosen to open the gates of his hands so she was standing in the light of the illuminated hallway.
She was leaving him, Henry was struck with sudden fear and a final desperate attempt was pushed forth. He turned, even though he felt it was demeaning to try after being refused so many times. Henry Wong would not quit while he still had her here. His pride was so thin, he could feel the heat of emotions about to touch tears. "I know you were pre-law at NYU which is a prestigious path to take at a prestigious place. I don"t doubt that you worked very hard to earn your grades and achievements to get there. You understand the value of how daily efforts will add up to an overall goal. I know you have some faith still in how I tried to understand you every day. You trust my willingness to keep trying even if it"s a strain on me. I"ll let you leave fully without any regrets the moment I"m done. I"ll have Michael escort you out with a full settlement check blank with any amount you want for all the pain I cause you. You could take everything from me which as a business person is the only thing of value I have. All I ask in return is just hear me out this once."
She smirked at his ploy. "I have all the money I need, Henry. I"ve lived with such little money my whole life that whether I have it or not is of little consequence. I don"t need anything from you. Why would I hear you out? I saw that your family"s been contacting you about one last bit of the will I didn"t know about. You need a child to have all the money you want. It makes complete sense that when I cease being your wife, then I become your incubator. Of course, that"s why a condom was the last thing on your mind when we were intimate. Now that your deed is done and you gave me your terms. Here you are safe and sound with the woman you"ve been pining after for months who cannot give you what you need. I don"t think a trial would be needed when the facts are so straightforward. You got everything you wanted."
Henry"s eyes widened as he realized the timing was perfect for what she had deduced. Oh what a great lawyer she would have made. He looked at her and hated the way she was looking at him. "No, I would never do that. Pregnancy isn"t a sure thing. Sure once time theoretically could be enough, but there"s no guarantees. Did you really think I made such a beautiful night for you because I wanted to have my way with you? I wasn"t thinking at all. You"re the love of my life, you deserve to have a fabulous birthday as your last one was in a hospital. You were frail and small and I never want to see you without the vivacity and vibrance of good health. I know I"m not a person who can really express what"s in my mind or emotions. But, I"ve always treated you preciously. I"ve always thought of you as something I want to build up to such a height that you"ll never have to struggle ever again. I just acted on that because I want to offer you comfort and joy. It"s very new to me that these emotions are parallel with the life partner I"ve always needed to be my other half."
Ellie bit her lip and Henry watched it split open slightly as it was incredibly chapped. He wanted to touch her, he needed to. But, she needed to allow it. "I"m hearing all these things now when it would have been brilliant timing to hear them last night instead of that letter. G.o.d, I have to talk about it and think about all those horrible things that you wrote. I can"t believe that the same man is talking to me now. Where do I even begin? Why would you leave me alone and literally fly to another country to get away from me? Why would you write and insist that I"m wrong for you and that I need to stay away from you?"