Silent Hearts: Operation Breaking His Ice Heart (Complete)

Chapter 40

The living room was heavy with silence, the only sound being Rhythm’s ragged breathing. His face was red, his jaw tight, but tears kept running freely.

“I said we’re done,” Rhythm repeated, his voice low but sharp, as if each word was cutting him from the inside. “Ada chose her over me. Chose that bitch and her baby over us.”

Gulf sat frozen beside Mew on the couch, hands gripping the hem of his shirt. This was the first time he had seen his son this broken. “Rhythm…” Gulf said softly, but it sounded more like a plea than a call.

Mew reached out and placed a hand on Rhythm’s shoulder. “Son, listen—maybe Ada just needs some time. Maybe you two can still fix this.”

Ada could barely see the road through the blur of his tears. His hands were trembling as he gripped the steering wheel, chest heaving as sob after sob escaped his lips. Rhythm’s words kept replaying in his head like a cruel echo:

“Choose — me or Anggie and that baby.”

And his own voice, breaking as he whispered, “I think… Anggie needs me.”

The moment he pulled into their driveway, Ada didn’t even bother turning off the engine right away. He leaned forward against the steering wheel and cried, his entire body shaking.

“Ada?”

His father was the first to come out of the house, frowning when he saw his son’s state. “Son? What happened?”

Ada stumbled out of the car, his legs weak. “D-Dad…” he choked, running straight into his father’s arms like a child, crying so hard he could barely breathe.

Inside the house, Lea and Rhea. Ada’s sister rushed toward them the moment they heard Ada’s sobs.

“Ada! Oh my God, what happened?!” Lea’s voice was high-pitched, panicked.

Rhea was quick to guide Ada to the couch, rubbing his back gently. “Breathe first. Please, breathe.”

But Ada couldn’t stop crying. His chest hurt, his throat was raw, and all he could say was Rhythm’s name over and over until finally, between hiccups and tears, he managed to speak.

“Rhythm… broke up with me.”

Lea gasped, covering her mouth. Rhea's  brows knitted together. “What? Why? You two were fine this morning!”

Ada shook his head, tears still streaming down his face. “It’s because of Anggie…" because of the baby…”

“What about the baby?” his father asked gently, crouching in front of him.

Ada swallowed hard, wiping his face with shaking hands. “She—she tricked us. She stole my… m-my semen. And she… she had it injected into her.”

Lea’s eyes went wide. “You mean IVF? She did in vitro fertilization without your consent?!”

Ada nodded miserably. “Rhythm found out. He said I should let it go because she’s only using the baby for money. But Dad… Mom… I can’t. I can’t abandon the baby. It’s still… mine.”

“You poor thing…” his mom whispered, pulling Ada into a tight hug, crying with him.

Rhea looked furious, his usual playfulness gone. “So she just took your DNA without permission? That’s illegal!”

“Yes,” Ada whispered, his voice breaking. “But Rhythm doesn’t care. He said… if I choose to help Anggie, then we’re over." And I—I chose her because…”