My 100th Secretary's
Bonchap - Because Keira Looks Like You

The Broadway Area Restaurant

Kimberly holds a paper containing the results of DNA tests between Douglas O'Leary and Keira Wyatt which shows 99.9% of Douglas is Keira's biological father.

"Kimmy?" call Doogie again by calling his nickname and only Doogie is allowed to call him that, others are Kimberly or Kim.

"A.I... Douglas... " Kimberly faltered. "You.not coming... That time... I'm..." Kimberly's tears fell on her cheeks. "Yes... Kei is... Your daughter..."

Despite knowing and preparing, Doogie's heart was punched umpteenth time after Kimberly said it herself. Doogie rubbed his face over and over again a sign that he was arranging his heart.

"I'm sorry Kimmy... Ii'm sorry... I'll tell you why I didn't come by then." said Doogie, who later told him what happened on their wedding day.

The two fell silent as the ordered food and drinks came. Kimberly stared at Doogie's sad face. Kimberly's tears evaporate when she learns that Doogie didn't come not because she didn't want to marry him but because of state duties.

Kimberly has given up, unwilling to deal with Doogie and determined to raise her son alone. Kimberly found out she was pregnant two days before the wedding and was about to tell her when they got married. But fate says otherwise, Doogie did not come in front of the altar, himself and the priest.

"Kimmy, why didn't you tell me you were pregnant?" ask Doogie.

"I... I was about to tell you after marriage but... You didn't come .." replied Kimberly slowly.

"I came three weeks later... But you're gone. Where're you?"

"I... To Dublin. I just don't want to stay in Cork and see I'm pregnant. I was in Dublin working in a bakery until my pregnancy... " Kimberly faltered how she struggled to earn money for childbirth. "I work for the sake of getting state insurance because the terms are already working. Lucky the store owner was nice and I could... Registering insurance."

Doogie looked down at Kimberly and held the woman's hand. "I'm sorry ..."

Kimberly smiled wryly. "I worked until I was 8.5 months pregnant and I had to stop preparing for the birth but at least... I have insurance."

"How was Keira's birth?"

"Thanks God is good, Douglas. Keira is a very beautiful and healthy baby." Kimberly smiled softly as if she had just given birth to a beautiful red-haired baby like herself yesterday.

"I'm sorry I'm not next to you." said Doogie in a guilty tone.

"It's okay, Douglas... We just... Miss communication..."

"But why can't your number be reached?" ask Doogie.

"My phone sold Douglas. For the cost of going to Dublin..."

It felt like Doogie wanted to hug Kimberly because she made the woman suffer. "I'm sorry, Kimmy..."

Kimberly smiled. "It's okay. Is cailin crua me (i'm a strong girl )."

"But you're only 19 !"

"Then what happened after giving birth to Keira ?"

"Keira was five months old, I moved to Leeds. I got information that I had a grandmother from a web of DNA gene ancestors. We have the same DNA line because I'm curious about my family. We moved there and my grandmother helped me with my design school fees at the Leeds campus while I took care of Keira. I graduated, Grandma died and her family took all the houses and assets despite having my name transferred but since I was considered an impostor, they took it using a lawyer that I did not understand the law at all. Even though I gave the results of DNA tests and letters from my grandmother's notary, I lost in court... " Kimberly rubbed her eyes. "I moved to London and worked in a print company for two years, then there was an offer in Oklahoma. Without thinking much, I moved there with Keira. I felt like our lives were perfect even if it was just the two of us, but Keira was sick. I've been trying to find a donor but the queue is long..."

"How did you get to New York?" ask Doogie.

"Three months ago, there was a job offer in Soho and I took it in the hope that getting a liver donor in a big city would be more possible. But still had to wait and a month in New York, the job in Soho didn't make me any better. Almost 16 hours, Douglas. Then I saw the offer on LinkedIn and tried my luck. It turned out that God gave way to me and I was accepted into the PRC Group."

"Then why is your ring finger in a wedding ring?" Doogie flicked his chin towards Kimberly's finger.

"Let no prankster tease me. If I wear this, people will think I'm a widow with my husband dead." Kimberly replied.

"Have you thought about dating all this time?" ask Doogie curiously.

Kimberly laughs. "Douglas, I never thought about dating because my focus was on Keira. Keira is everything to me... " And he's part of you, Douglas.

"Kimmy... What did you tell Keira about her father?"

Kimberly smiled. "I said that his father went to defend the country and would one day return but I don't know when..."

In his heart Doogie was grateful Kimberly did not say anything ugly about him and indeed that was the reality. "Why did you say that?"

"Because of Douglas, I don't want to instill Keira's thought that her evil father abandoned me and her. I've always said his father worked in the British army full of secrets. You know, he always thought his father was an agent of the IMF or the Navy Seals... At least I gave a positive thought that his father was a good man who was forced to go to defend his homeland and save the people."

Doogie took Kimberly's hand and brought it to her lips. The man's greenish hazel eyes looked teary. "Thank you Kimmy... I've been scared if you tell me the truth and Keira will hate me later if she finds out." Doogie said, kissing Kimberly's hand.

"No, Douglas. Although I wanted to because I hurt you to stay at the altar alone but I can't do it .." Kimberly replied quietly.

"Why?"

"Because Kei's face is very similar to yours and I know you're a good person, Douglas. I don't want Keira to hate you if you meet one day ... I don't want Kei to lose you like I lost both my parents to their selfishness." Kimberly replied.

***

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