Chapter Nine
Kyle’s POV
Ever watched your life crumble right in front of you, while you stood powerless to stop it? Well, maybe you did have the power, but you let your self–control slip, leading you straight to your downfall. That’s exactly what I did. One mistake, a mistake that could have been avoided turned my life upside down, leaving me with two choices: Choose between the woman I love with every fiber of my being or the future of my unborn child.
Guess what I chose?
I chose my child. My unborn child.
Absurd, right?
To make matters worse. Not only did I betray her, but I had degraded her. My selfishness had clouded my mind for so long that, at some point, my decision had felt right, until I said it out loud. However, the moment the words left my lips. I saw it.
The look on her face.
God, that look…
My heart clenched painfully in my chest as the memory clouded my mind. I still can’t believe I said that to her. I can’t believe I was cruel and selfish enough to even consider something so absurd and demeaning, let alone say it to her face.
I had told her to divorce me… then be my mistress.
My fists clenched around the tie I was adjusting, my eyes darkening in anger and disgust as they met my reflection in the mirror. The look she gave me then struck my heart like lightning, leaving a scar that would never fade. It was a look that would haunt me for the rest of my life, but I was fine with that. I made my choice and I would embrace the pain if it meant she would be free. I would endure the agony of hurting her, of pushing her away, by staying trapped in a marriage for the sake of my child because I don’t think I can bear to watch my child grow up with the weight of illegitimacy hanging over his head.
A knock at the door pulled me back to the present.
“It’s time,” a voice announced.
My eyes flickered up to the reflection of a man who was almost a replica of me but just older standing at the doorway. My father. Like me, he was dressed in an impeccable suit. However, while his was grey, mine was plain black and had a single flower pinned to the chest pocket, a silent signal of a groom.
Today, I was getting married, not to a woman I loved, but to a stranger. A woman I had met briefly.
A mistake had led to this moment, and now, there was no turning back.
If only I could turn back time. If only I could undo that night.
I would pay any price for that chance. But I couldn’t.
So, I had to own up to my mistake, regardless of how I felt. Because feelings didn’t matter. Not anymore, especially not in a situation like this.
Chapter Nine
The night that led to all this flooded my memory, and for a moment, I was transported right back to it.
Flashback
“Cancel the rest of my meetings today,” Linstructed my secretary without looking up from my computer.
“Okay, sir,” she responded immediately, packing up the signed documents on my table.
The moment the door clicked shut, I leaned back in my chair with a sigh, then raised a hand to rub my temples. The pounding migraine was proof that I had overworked myself again. But I knew exactly what
would take it away.
Ava.
A tired smile tugged at my lips as I imagined her curled up on the couch, watching reels on her phone. The best part of my day was coming home and pulling her into my arms, pressing my face into her hair, and simply enjoying the warmth of her presence with no disturbance.
Still smiling, picturing Ava curled up in our bed, eyes glued to her screen as she scrolled through reels, I picked up my phone to message her. However, just as I tapped the messaging app, a new notification popped
- up.
Mother.
Immediately, my smile faded into a frown.
Receiving a message from her never meant anything good.
My eyes hastily scanned the content, and my brow furrowed in confusion. She wanted me to come home? That was new. Whenever I received a message or call from my mother, it was about some ridiculous woman she wanted me to meet, ignoring the fact that I was already married. It was one of the reasons I’d been avoiding her calls lately. But after Ava told me how my mother lashed out at her simply because I had been ignoring her, and begged me not to react on that for her sake, I knew I couldn’t keep ignoring her.
That was why, instead of ignoring this message, I sighed and quickly sent Ava a text letting her know I’d be home soon. Then, with so much irritation, I grabbed my keys and headed to my parents‘ house.
However, what I walked into was not what I expected.
The house was strangely silent which was unnatural for a place that was always filled with my mother’s loud, gossiping friends. The lights were dim, casting long shadows against the walls, and there wasn’t a single staff member in sight.
A strange chill crept up my spine as I stepped deeper into the house, my heavy boots echoing with each step.
I pulled out my phone to call my mother, but before the call could connect, I turned the corner and nearly dropped my phone.
“What the hell…“I muttered.
Sitting at the dining table was a woman I had never seen before.
The flickering candlelight cast a soft glow on her round face, highlighting her shy smile and the way her lips glistened under the dim light.
“Hello.”
My eyes flickered down to my phone, and I realized my mother had picked up.
2/4
Chatter Ne
“What the hell, Mom?” I hissed as I pressed the phone to my ear, spinning away from the dining room casting a glance at the lady, whose eyes were still on me.
“I presume you’ve met Lilian,” she responded smoothly.
and
I clenched my jaw. “Who the hell is Lilian? Mom, I thought we agreed to stop this nonsense. I’m a married man, for God’s sake! And where the hell are you?”
There was a shuffle on the other end before her voice returned, sickeningly sweet. “And what’s a married man
without a child?”
My stomach twisted, and I clenched my fist against the anger sprouting up inside me.
I wanted to snap at her. I wanted to tell her that my marriage and my wife were none of her business. But she was my mother. And no matter how cruel she could be, I could never bring myself to disrespect her even if she constantly disrespected me and my wife.
“Listen,” she continued, likely taking my silence as an invitation to keep talking. “I’m only looking out for you. A man is nothing without an heir. But if you truly believe I’m wrong, I’ll drop the subject. Just don’t be rude to the poor girl. Who knows? She might be the one.”
Ava is the only one.
I wanted to say it, but what was the point? She never listened.
“This ends here, Mom,” I warned, my voice low with barely controlled anger. “If you ever trick me into something like this again, I swear you’ll never hear from me again.”
“I promise,” she said immediately.
I frowned. That was… too easy. Too quick. Usually, she would drag out the conversation, but tonight, she just
gave up.
Everything about this night felt off.
My fingers hovered over Ava’s name on my call list, and guilt twisted in my heart. None of this would be happening if it weren’t for me.
With a sigh, I texted her: I’ll be late. But I’ll be home soon.
Then, bracing myself, I turned back toward the dining room.
The woman I came to know as Lilian straightened in her seat when she saw me return, her smile widening.
I resisted the urge to scoff. They all did that,
“I’m not interested in whatever this is,” I said bluntly, my tone cold and firm. “So, let’s just eat in silence and go our separate ways after.”
Her eyes widened, lips parting in surprise.
I didn’t care.
I was just being honest.
And there was no sin in honesty.
