DEAR EX, IT'S TOO LATE FOR REGRET.

Emma's POV.

"Mrs. Williams, are you sure this girl is your child?" The doctor, Mr. Frank, asked a question that sent shivers down my spine.

What the heck! Why would he even ask such?

"Of course she is. Who else's child would she be if not mine? I mean I did carry her for nine months." I told him and he sighed, while removing the gloves from his hands.

"I am sorry, Mrs. Williams but I think you are mistaken because after running a blood test now, I just realized that you and her share a completely different blood group." The doctor began and my lips parted in awe.

What did he just say? Was I mishearing things now?

"You are AB and she is O negative, so there are no matches at all and no way she can be your daughter." He ended as I began to feel my hands trembling.

"No. That's impossible." I shook my head sideways as I took a step backwards, refusing to believe the doctor's words.

He had to be playing a prank on me right? But now wasn't the time because my daughter, my little baby girl, Gina had an accident in school.

She fell off a swing, during lunch break and slammed her head against the floor's concrete hard so she was rushed here to the hospital but had lost a lot of blood.

I was called over for a blood transfusion because her blood group was super rare so the hospital didn't have it on standby.

I was ready to donate, only to discover that Gina might not be mine?

"No. This has to be some sort of Joke." I refuted the doctor's words and he rubbed the bridge of his nose, frustrated.

"You know what, ma'am? This is not the time to be arguing this. The child needs a donation fast so could you possibly get your husband here? His has to work." The doctor said and even though I wanted to argue more and prove him wrong, I had to get Derek here, first.

Gina had to be saved. I couldn't lose her too and she was definitely mine. It was probably the doctor's fault, who didn't know how to run a test well.

I dialed Derek's number immediately but it kept going straight into voicemail. I gritted my teeth against one another and kept trying till it finally rang and he picked up.

"What is it, woman?" He grunted heavily, like I had just disturbed him from something important.

I was about to speak when....

"Whatever you are about to say better be useful or you would regret ever disturbing me." He threatened and I went mute, my heart tightening in pain as I clenched my fists.

When did we become like this?

I thought he promised to never get tired or act annoyed around me.

"Gina is in the hospital. She had an accident and the doctor is demanding that you donate to her." I told him and the next thing I heard was a loud noise, like something had just crashed.

I jolted and was about to ask if everything was okay when Derek roared.

"You had just one Job, you failure of a woman. Keep my child safe and yet, once again, you failed. I am on my way." He ended the call without even awaiting my response but I wasn't fluttered.

That was how my husband who promised me heaven and earth after our marriage began to act some years after.

Also, naturally, Derek would always push stuffs like this on me and demand that the doctor let me donate instead, but why didn't he say that and agreed to come right away?

'That was very unlike him.' I thought as a feeling of dread began to arise in me.

A few minutes later, Derek dashed into the hospital, all sweaty. He was breathing heavily, the first few buttons of his shirt, unbuttoned.

"Where is she?" He demanded, his jaw tightening as he grabbed me by the arm. As he came closer, I perceived a familiar, lavender cologne from him and my heart stopped.

This wasn't Derek's perfume and only a certain woman I knew, used this type of perfume so how come it was all over Derek?

Just then I sighted a red lipstick on his collar and I froze.

'Could it be what I was thinking? Could D.....' I was still wondering when his nails dug into my flesh and I flinched from the pain.

"Answer me, woman." He snapped, obviously pissed as he started to shake me roughly.

I was about to answer him when just then;

"Over here, Mr. Williams. Please come quickly." I heard Mr. Frank's voice and turned to see him walking out of one of the wards.

Derek immediately released me and followed the doctor for a test, since he wanted to confirm if Derek would be a match too.

But he had to be right? And why didn't mine match?

'What the hell was going on.' I groaned as I began to feel my head ache from too much thinking.

But could I be blamed? I had so many questions to ask and I also needed answers for them.

But first of all, Gina had to be okay.

I began to pace the hospital, worried as my heart pounded heavily against my chest, with each step.

Finally, I couldn't take it anymore and decided to go meet up with my husband and Mr. Frank when I came across them, in the hallway.

Their backs were facing me so I couldn't be noticed.

"The transfusion was successful, Mr. Williams. Congratulations to you and your wife." Mr. Frank told Derek with a smile.

My heart soared with happiness as I controlled the urge to scream from excitement, while breathing out a sigh of relief.

Yes, my baby girl had been saved.

"Alright, Doctor. When can I see her?" Derek asked.

"In an hour or two. She should be awake then as she is currently resting." Mr. Frank responded and I was about to step forward to make them aware of my presence but......

"If you don't mind sir, I have a question. How come your wife isn't a match to your daughter whereas you are?" He inquired and his question made me pause as an ominous feeling began to brew in the air.

"I barely see rare cases like this, though it might be possible." Mr. Frank further said and Derek burst into a laugh that made my stomach drop.

"I guess but unfortunately this isn't one of those cases, because it's simple. My wife isn't the biological mother of Gina and would never be." His words knocked the air out of me as my blood turned cold.

What?

Emma's POV.

The air around me turned suffocating as I suddenly found it difficult to breathe, my stomach churning.

'No.' I thought. I must have misheard, it had to be that, because how could I not be the biological mother of Gina?

A child I carried for 9 months and had complications with, during labour. Derek had to be mistaken or be lying to the doctor.

He must have known I was around or hoped for me to eavesdrop on this conversation so I would be hurt, since he would do anything these days to see me in pain.

Mr. Frank's eyes flashed with confusion and he looked like he wanted to say more but instead, he just nodded.

"Alright sir. I have to go now, to attend to other patients." He told Derek who waved him away with his hand.

As I noticed Derek was about to turn, I immediately hid in a corner, till he walked past, despite the determination in my heart to confront and demand why he would say something like that to a stranger, who could have misunderstood.

I felt my palms growing sweaty as I lost the courage to speak up, a huge lump forming in my throat as my heart raced.

Was it from panic? I mean, what if my husband didn't lie?

What if Gina truly did not belong to me? The doctor did inform me about our mismatched blood group.

That shouldn't be possible right?

Before giving birth, I had always thought my daughter would look so much like me but instead, she ended up taking all features from her father.

I was disappointed but at least happy that I had a daughter.

I walked towards her ward to see her sleeping so peacefully, unaware that things might spiral out of control soon.

I decided to push those negative thoughts out of my head and walked towards her bed. I sat on the chair next to her and held her hand gently.

Her little hand felt cold.

"Don't worry, Gina. I am here." I whispered, feeling my eyelids heavy and before I knew it, I fell asleep.

Basically, I was too tired from all the work errands I had been running, before I was suddenly called to be informed that my daughter had an accident.

I dropped everything at work without thinking twice and dashed here.

.....

.....

"Mum, mum, wake up." I felt a rough tap on my arm and flicked my eyelids open to see Gina, my seven years old daughter, frowning down at me.

"You are awake." My heart soared with joy as I immediately reached forward to cup her cheeks but she flinched away from my touch, wrinkling her nose at me.

"When last did you take a bath? You stink." Gina half-yelled at me as she pushed my hands away from her.

A sharp pain hit me in the chest as I felt my hands trembling.

Did Gina just push me away?

Well I shouldn't be surprised since she does that most of the times, recently.

"Mum is sorry. I really had a busy day and despite that, I have been here, worried and trying to look after you, s...." I had barely completed my statement when she cut in rudely.

"So now, it's my fault for your incompetence? Now I see why Dad yells at you all the time. You act dirty, mum." Gina hissed as she looked around.

I went mute, dropping my hands to my side. I had no idea what to say since my daughter didn't seem to care much, that I was around.

"Besides where is Dad and Aunt Vera?" Gina asked and I froze.

"Didn't they hear about my accident? I want them here, especially Aunt Vera. She doesn't stink like you, mum." Gina continued and it felt like a blade sliced through me at her words.

My daughter preferred my husband's ex and best friend over her own mother?

"Y-your dad w-was here e-earlier." I struggled to say as I tried to contain the hurt in my heart.

"That I can see. Aunt Vera is the best." She suddenly giggled and I raised my head to see her holding up a big, giant teddy bear from the desk beside her.

"This is so lovely. I love you, Aunt Vera." Gina suddenly cried out as she kept hugging the teddy bear to her chest, like it was her greatest treasure.

I winced.

When last did she tell me she loved me?

"But I brought you a teddy bear too. The one you pointed to at the mall last week." I told her as I hurriedly opened my tote bag and brought out the Barbie bear I picked up at a store nearby, a few hours ago.

"Yuck! No. It looks cheap, mum." Gina slapped the bear away from my hand, hard as she glared at me.

My jaw dropped at her actions. I worked my butts off, day and nights, even taking extra shifts at the restaurant to be able to afford that.

I mean it cost over 300 dollars, something I didn't have at the moment because I recently payed her school fees.

"Dad told me never to use cheap stuffs again and made me to understand that you can never grant me the luxuries I deserve because you are poor, mum." Gina told me and I chuckled, bitterly.

How funny and bold of him to call me poor. Wasn't I poor when he took money from me since the beginning of her relationship?

Wasn't I poor when he made me invest my personal wealth in his business, after our marriage?

The business skyrocked and ever since then, he forgot he had a wife who was pregnant and began to parade around with his ex-lover, claiming she was now his bestfriend and backbone all because she got a few people to invest in his business.

What about the times I stayed awake over-night, despite my pregnant situation, just to work on his portfolio and important documents so those investors would actually give him a chance?

He forgot all of that and now saw me as poor and disgusting?

I shook my head sideways as heavy tears began to sting my eyes.

No. I refuse to shed another tear because of him today. First, I had more important things to do, like prove him and the doctor wrong about Gina, not being my daughter.

I should be relieved though, considering how disrespectful and insulting she had become towards me, who tried to give her the best in life.

But I knew it was a childhood phase and mainly because she had been spending time with her father and Vera lately. Also, he might have been poisoning her mind against me.

I wonder what he stood to gain from all of these? I mean, I thought we made this child out of love and vowed to never drift apart.

How did things suddenly change one day?

What did I ever do wrong to deserve all of these?

"Enough talking, Gina. You need to eat and rest more." I scolded my daughter who wouldn't stop bragging about how nice Vera was.

I wanted to burst into laughter because Vera was the opposite of nice. She acted that way because that's what people would love to see.

An innocent, kind-hearted girl, due to her gentle features but I, personally knew she was one of the worst humans on earth.

Before I knew that she was dating or knew Derek, she and I went to school together during highschool.

I was unfortunately one of her victims, who thought she was an angel till she showed her true colors and backstabbed me but that was a story for another day.

Besides a kid like Gina wouldn't understand, now, would she?

"Mum. There is going to be a PTA meeting in my school this Friday and I want Daddy to be there." Gina ordered as she pouted at me.

I sighed.

Derek was too busy for that all of these days. If I should call and inform him now, I would only be bathed with insults and I didn't want that.

But Gina's adorable face couldn't make me say no so I nodded with a smile.

"No problem. Both Daddy and I would be there."

"Nope. I want Daddy and Aunt Vera. You look too old mum, especially with those acnes on your face. My friends at school would laugh at me if you come, especially since I lied that my mum is a professional model. I even showed them Aunt Vera's picture as my mum and they all said we look greatly alike." Gina cheerfully said while my heart stopped, my blood turning cold.

Looked alike?

Now that I thought about it. They do look alike and had almost the same behavior.

Could it be that....?

No, no, no. I was probably overthinking, but staring at Gina, made me realize so much so I turned around and dashed out of the ward, running to God knows where.

Just then, I bumped into someone.

"Oh my God! I am so sorry. I wasn't look...."

"Emma? Is that really you?" I heard a familiar voice and froze. "Gosh! Where have you been?"

I looked up to see it was Nurse Olivia I had bumped to, the lady that helped with my delivery the night, Gina was born.

Was this a coincidence or fate?

Emma's POV.

"Nurse Olivia?" I gasped in disbelief and she laughed as she hugged me tightly.

"Haven't I told you to stop adding the title "nurse", just Olivia is fine. Besides I am mad at you. Didn't you promise to contact me after that night?" She asked and I sighed.

"Yes. I am so sorry. I lost your previous contact." I told her as we disengaged from the hug.

"Oh! But I gave your husband the new one to give you when we saw a few years back." Olivia told me and I froze.

"You saw Derek? How come?" I asked and she laughed again.

"Of course, didn't he tell you? I asked for your contact at first but he told me you had issues with your phone and have been too focused at work to get a new one." Olivia said and I rolled my eyes.

Seriously? Derek was lying now? Why did he just like to isolate me from people?

This was exactly what he told my childhood friend, who personally went to his neighbor to ask of me, after I had given birth.

If only I didn't run into her at the mall, with her barely recognizing me because I had developed some weight, I wouldn't have known that he lied.

I clenched my fists as I felt the urge to curse at him but nope. I wasn't going to allow him to frustrate me enough to do that.

"That aside, what are you doing here?" She questioned and I smiled.

"I think I should be asking you the same. Didn't you have to hurriedly travel overseas that night since you finally got the scholarship to the nursing school, you waited and prayed so much about?" I threw back the question at her and she giggled.

"Yes. I am done now actually." She told me and I hugged her again.

"That's good to hear."

"Yes and I will say this again. You and your baby girl, that night was my good luck charm. I waited ages for that scholarship and even thought I was going to be declined because they were closing up their portal soon. Too bad, what happened to that little cutie of yours." Olivia said and my heart stopped.

"Something happened to Gina?" I half-yelled and she flinched, the laugh disappearing from her eyes.

"I don't understand. Didn't you know? It's been years or are you trying to be funny? What is going on?" Olivia demanded to know while it felt like my world was spiraling.

"That night. After I delivered your baby and I got my mail. You collapsed due to exhaustion and losing too much blood. I panicked as the doctors were attending to you, when suddenly your baby stopped breathing and crying, due to birth asphyxia. A situation where she didn't get enough oxygen." Olivia explained and my legs wobbled as the air around suddenly turned suffocating.

I placed my hand on my chest as everywhere suddenly seemed blurry. I blinked repeatedly and before I knew it, collapsed to the floor with a loud thud.

No! This couldn't be happening. Was she trying to say that my baby died at birth?

"Oh my God! Emma, are you alright?" Olivia hurriedly dashed to help me up and led me to sit down on one of the benches around.

"Damn! You look so stressed, pale and heavy. Haven't you been taking care of yourself? I barely recognized you earlier, if not for your rare, white hair. Were you sick?" Olivia continued to ask questions and I wanted to speak but my voice disappeared.

My legs quivered as I continued to shiver on the seat in Emma's arms, while trying to hold back my tears.

My baby girl died of lack of oxygen at birth?

But how come I never knew?

Then who was that child that I raised for seven, good years?

Just then, Gina's earlier words resurfaced in my mind.

"I even showed them Aunt Vera's picture as my mum and they all said we look greatly alike."

"Noooooo." I immediately got up and screamed in the hospital hall, startling everyone who paused to widen their eyes at me.

Olivia's jaw dropped as she immediately got up to calm me down but I slapped her hand away and ran out of the hospital outside, heavy tears rolling down my cheeks.

My heart was hurting against my chest like hell as I realized that what I was fearing, might actually be the truth.

But would Derek betray me that way? After everything I had done for him?

Also, how was I made to believe all these years that Gina was my daughter, if she truly wasn't? I needed answers.

So I turned to look at Olivia, who was running towards me with worries in her eyes.

"What is it, Emma? Why scream that way and why are you crying? Did something terrible just happen?"

'Yes.' I wanted to scream again but her next words froze my actions.

"I thought you knew about this. Derek promised to tell you once you were out of danger then, since I hurriedly had to leave the country. Also, his friend that he brought into the clinic for an unexpected labor, did she deliver successfully?" Olivia questioned and my blood turned cold.

"What friend?"

Olivia looked confused as she continued to speak. "Her file said Vera Hawkins. She was pregnant too and went into labor, even though it wasn't her due date yet. Your husband stayed with her all through. I was even surprised to see him in the ward with her despite you being in labor yourself, but he told me that you insisted he stayed by her side, since she is family."

Words couldn't describe how shocked and in disbelief I stood there, looking at Olivia.

Vera was pregnant? How? When?

Just then, I remembered it was during the time I was pregnant that she returned to the country but Derek never allowed me to see her and when I insisted, then finally saw her, she had a stomach bulge but told me, it was eating too much and weight growing.

And I believed her, even though she showed symptoms of pregnancy.

How could I have been that native?

Just then, my phone rang and with shaky hands, I picked.

"Emma. My friend told me that she saw you looking so haggard. Just when are you going to leave that good-for-nothing boy, who doesn't deserve you and come home." My mum yelled into my ears, obviously pissed but I couldn't blame her, now, could I?

All of these were my fault, if only I wasn't too blinded by love and saw the signs.

The secret business trips he always went with Vera on, the ones his secretary couldn't have an explanation for or even an idea about.

The way Vera was always so protective of Gina and tried to teach me how to raise her, the trips Derek took Gina on and made sure I didn't attend, while Vera went in my place.

I allowed it all because I thought I had failed in my duties as a wife to him and wanted him to be free again with me, but all those were stupidity.

'How they all must have laughed behind my back.' rage burned in my veins at that thought as I finally came to a decision.

"I can't even believe you still want us to give him that project after all he has done to you. Just come home, baby. Mother misses you." My mom pleaded and I faked a smile.

"Alright mum, but I have to fix something first." I said and there was silence for awhile.