Chapter 247

"Back then, when Maddy got kicked out of the Landry family, she found out she was pregnant not long after. At first, she wanted to terminate it, but her health was too fragile. Any attempt at an abortion could've caused massive bleeding, even cost her womb. But keeping the baby was just as risky for her life." Dane lowered his head, fingers clenched tightly in guilt. "Maddy struggled with the decision for a long time but ended up keeping the baby. We were broke then. I'd just left the military due to injury, no real income. All I had, I gave to Georgia, hoping she'd help take care of Maddy… but—" He let out a heavy sigh. Maddy had just been through way too much. "She never complained. Even when she was in pain, she kept it to herself. Barely went to the hospital for checkups during the pregnancy. When the time came… it was my mom who took her to some small clinic a relative ran in town to deliver." The guilt in Dane's voice was hard to miss. "You were there at the time?" Beckett's voic