The Wife He Tried To Erase (by Gavin) novel Chapter 9

Tristan hung up the phone, cutting off Lona’s indignant squawking.

The room fell into a sudden, heavy silence, the kind that made every word feel weighty.

I fidgeted, my fingers twisting the edge of my shirt, before I finally mustered the courage to speak. “Can we… maybe keep this between us for now?”

His brow furrowed, a flicker of irritation crossing his face. “What’s that supposed to mean? You want me to be your dirty little secret?”

I shook my head frantically, my words tumbling out in a rush. “No, it’s not like that! It’s just… I don’t have many friends, and I’m scared of losing Lona over this.”

He tilted his head, his eyes narrowing as if trying to read between the lines. “Why would us being together mess with your friendships?”

Then, realization dawned, and his voice softened, but there was an edge to it. “Wait. You think we’re not going to last, don’t you?”

I dropped my gaze, my voice barely above a whisper. “I’m just not sure if we’re right for each

other.”

He let out a long sigh, his tone shifting to something earnest, almost raw. “Eleanore, from the moment we met, I knew you were it for me. Maybe I’ve given you reasons to doubt me, but I’m not some player. There’s never been anyone else.”

I stayed quiet, my thoughts a tangled mess. He studied me for a moment before asking, “Is this about Lucy’s father?”

His question caught me off guard, my eyes widening. “What?”

I hadn’t expected him to bring that up. Not

now, not ever.

He pressed on, his voice steady but probing. “All these years, has he ever come to see Lucy?”

I shook my head. “No.”

“Has he ever sent money? Anything at all?”

Another shake of my head. “Nothing.”

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Tristan’s lips curled into a cold smirk. “What a deadbeat. Don’t waste another second thinking about someone that worthless.”

I blinked, speechless.

He cursed so viciously that I didn’t even know how to defend the man anymore.

All I could manage was a quiet, “Just… give me a little time, okay?”

After leaving Tristan’s place, my phone buzzed with a call from my mom.

Her voice was laced with worry, asking where the thermometer was.

My heart sank.

It was that time of year–kindergarten season, when colds spread like wildfire.

Lucia had been sniffling last night, and it sounded like things had gotten worse.

Tristan overheard the call and insisted on coming with me.

My mom was too focused on Lucy to question why he was there, her mind consumed with worry.

Together, we took Lucia to the hospital for a blood test.

Thankfully, it was just a common cold. The doctor prescribed some meds, and we headed home, relieved.

Back at the house, Tristan glanced at the lab report and said casually, “Lucy’s type B blood. Same

as me.‘

My stomach lurched, a fleeting panic that he’d seen something more in those results. But he just grinned. “Talk about fate.”

Maybe it was that mysterious bond of blood, but Lucia took to him like he was her favorite

in the world.

person

She dragged him into her room to build a model airplane, her giggles filling the house as they played.

Lucia had to take a few days off from school, and with my shop keeping me busy, I couldn’t stay home to watch her.

Tristan stepped in without hesitation, offering to look after her.

My mom was skeptical at first, but by the second day, she was won over and went shopping with

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her friends, completely at ease.

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