Chapter Thirty -One
Eddie
I crash down into my chair, the weight of everything pressing into my shoulders. Closing my eyes, I rub my forehead, willing the pounding in my skull to ease. Everything is crumbling.
I knew Lawliss would react this way if she ever found out, but I hoped—God, I hoped—she wouldn’t. I did everything to keep it from her, to shield her from the truth. And now? I’m the one who put tears in her eyes. The same tears I swore I would destroy anyone for causing.
My chest tightens, my heart clenching at the memory of her standing in front of me, looking so hurt, so betrayed. I should be the one in pain, not her. I should be the one suffering. I wanted to marry her for the second time with everyone present. I never wanted her to find out about this. She loves me. I know she does. But what does love matter when she can’t even look at me without seeing a lie?
I drag a shaky breath and pick up my phone. My fingers hover over the screen before I press the number I’ve been avoiding for weeks. It barely rings before he picks up.
“Finally, you decide to return my call,” Grandpa’s voice booms through the line.
I hesitate, gripping the phone tighter. “I need your help.”
A sharp inhale crackles through the speaker. I haven’t asked him for anything since the day I showed up at his door after my parents died. I still remember how I trembled in his presence, a kid drowning in grief, and how he guided me through it. Even when he disapproved of my choices, even when he spoke against my revenge, he was there.
“What is it?” he asks, his voice steady.
I exhale slowly. “My wife is in pain because of me.”
A pause. Then, “Care to start from the beginning? How do you have a wife? I’m lost here.”
So I do. I tell him about Lawliss and how we ended up getting married, leaving out the gritty details. I tell him everything leading up to this moment, my voice heavy with the weight of it all.
He listens, silent until I finish. Then he exhales, his tone thoughtful. “Son, you can’t force everything, especially love.”
“I know.” The admission tastes bitter.
“What do I do?”
“It’s a hard one. She doesn’t trust you now and I wouldn’t if I were in her shoes. This isn’t about love anymore. You have to prove yourself.”
“How?”
“That’s for you to figure out.” He chuckles, a warmth in his voice that I haven’t heard in a while. “I must say, though, you chose well with that one. I liked her the first time she spoke to me. Not many have the guts to stand toe-to-toe with me, and she defended you.”
My grip on the phone tightens. Yes, she defended me. She always did have some blind faith in me, even when I told her I wasn’t the same man she knew. I swallow hard. Maybe I don’t deserve it. Maybe I never did. But if there’s still something left to fight for, I’ll be damned if I don’t fight for her.
“Bring her home if you’re able to convince her to be with you.”
I hear my grandma’s voice in the background. “What is it?” she asks him.
We say our goodbyes because I know Grandpa is in a hurry to fill her in on what’s going on in my life without needing me on the line. That’s the kind of bond they have. It’s the kind where words aren’t always necessary.
And that’s what I want with Lawliss. That, and so much more.
***
Lawliss
Every day, I ignore Eddie’s calls and texts. And every day, something feels... missing.
He still texts me though. If it’s not an apology, then its to tell me what he’s doing. Sometimes it’s little details about his life—a meeting gone wrong or what he cooked. It’s like he’s trying to keep me in it even from a distance. It’s been four days, and somehow, I feel even more lost than when I first found out we are married.
It’s not like I can ignore him forever because we need to have a talk about the child we are having. He still doesn’t know I’m pregnant and I haven’t told him yet. If I don’t tell him now, I will be doing the same thing he did. Lying by omission and I refuse to be caught up in that.
“You okay?”
I glance up as my mom steps into my room. Not knowing where else to go, I came here—home. I’m lucky to have the best parents in the world. They welcomed me without hesitation. The first night, I cried on their shoulders with just one sentence on my lips: ‘Eddie betrayed me’, and that was enough. They comforted me without pressing for details.
I know they want to know more, but they’re giving me space. That’s who they are.
“I’m getting there,” I say, sitting up.
Mom has been soft since I arrived. It’s as if she’s afraid I might break at any moment. Aria always said Mom had a softer side, but we thought she was joking since mom is the stern one, the no-nonsense, tough-love type. She’s not usually one for emotions or long talks. Seeing her like this feels... strange. But I love it. It’s like seeing Dad in Mom’s body.
Mom watches me carefully before speaking. “Don’t you think you should see a doctor?” Her voice is cautious and gentle.
I know I’ve grown paler, weaker, and more exhausted. It’s obvious I’m not okay. But my emotions are the real problem. They’re all over the place. I need to take better care of myself. I have a baby to think about now.
I also need to tell my parents about the pregnancy. It’s amazing my sisters have kept quiet about it for this long.
I shake my head. “I’m really fine, Mom.”
I stand and wrap my arms around her. She sighs, then pulls back just enough to look into my eyes, like she’s searching for the truth.
“That’s all I hope for,” she says, nodding slowly. Then she adds, “As long as all my children are fine and happy, I’m okay. Come on. Tonight’s dinner will have some guests.”
My breath hitches. “Maa…”
“We didn’t invite him,” she says before I can protest.
I don’t know why I feel disappointed. I shouldn’t. But the feeling creeps in before I can push it away. I force a smile and nod.
I hug her again, and she holds me tight as we walk downstairs together. It’s good to be home, surrounded by my family.
But I miss Eddie. I miss the feel of him. His chuckles and laughter, and most of all, I miss the way he made me feel—like I’m the most important thing in the world.
The doorbell dings, pulling me from my thoughts. I look up just as Dzifa and Dashiel walk in together. I raise a brow.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Dzifa demands before I can even speak or question how they are together. She marches up to me, touching my face, then my hands, then my neck as if checking for a fever.
“No fever,” she mutters.
A small smile slips from my lips.
“Let’s go in,” I say, pulling her toward the dining table.
It’s already full and splurged with food, with most of it being my favorites. My sisters are already seated, but something’s off. They’re quiet. Too quiet.
I can’t believe I let my emotions change the usual energy of this house. There’s always laughter here.
“What’s going on?” I ask no one in particular as I take my seat. “Why the hell are you all so quiet?”
I grab a fried chicken wing, nibbling on it as I raise a brow at them.
“Fire away,” I say. I’m tired of everyone walking on eggshells around me and I know they’re all dying to know what’s going on.
“What do you mean by Eddie betrayed you?” Elisa asks bluntly and I laugh because, of course, she’s not going to beat around the bush.
I stab my fork into a salad, chewing slowly.
“Were you able to murder Eddie?” Lauren asks.
Dad, who has been silently listening, chokes on his water.
I had texted I'd murder Eddie in the family group chat one night when I was furious. Guess Lauren didn’t forget.
I reach for another chicken wing, and that’s when I belatedly realize I started eating before we were even asked to. Usually, Mom or Dad says, “Let’s eat” before we all dig in.
I open my mouth to comment on it, but then I notice something.
No one calls me out; instead, they quietly pick up their cutlery and start eating too, like nothing happened.
I guess I’m off the hook today. I reach for a drink, pouring what I think is Sprite, when suddenly—
“NO!”
Three voices shout at once. I blink, looking at my sisters like they’ve lost their minds.
“It’s alcohol,” Aria says.
Understanding dawns. We replaced all the alcohol with water bottles when Aria was pregnant so she wouldn’t feel left out at gatherings. Guess they’re doing the same for me.
“Why are you banning your sister from drinking? She needs to let loose,” Mom says as she joins us, sitting beside Dad.
“Because I’m pregnant,” I reply nonchalantly, popping another bite into my mouth.
Silence.
Mom gasps.
Dad chokes on his cutlery.
“The father is Edmund,” I add, unfazed.
There’s more silence, then, just for the hell of it, I say, “Oh, and he’s my husband.”
Dad’s eyes widen so much I swear his eyeballs are about to fall out of their sockets.
Elisa, still reeling, nods vigorously. “You said he betrayed you, right?”
I chuckle. “Yeah. He got married to me without me knowing.”
The entire table erupts.
“WHAT?!”
I keep chewing, completely unbothered.
“Can you rewind for us?” Aria asks, skeptical.
“So…” I start, but Dad cuts me off.
“You’re pregnant. As in pregnancy... having a baby...”
I chuckle. “Yes, Dad. You’re going to be a grandfather again. Congratulations.”
My sisters giggle, and Mom walks over to me, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder.
“This is not the time for you to be worried or stressed. It’s not good for the baby.”
“Here we go again,” Aria mutters, shaking her head.
I close my eyes for a second. Great. It looks like I’m about to experience all the motherly overprotectiveness Aria warned me about.
“Mom, we’ll all make sure she and the baby are fine,” Lauren reassures her, then turns to me. “But right now, the father... ’s going on with that one?”
“Can you forgive him?” Dash, who has been quietly observing, finally asks.
“Yeah… I mean, he did propose to you, so he had plans of marrying you…” Dzifa adds. “Although you were both already married, Elisa interjects, but Dzifa ignores her and continues, "...and even though he didn’t go about it the right way, he loves you. You know he wouldn’t cheat on you or even look at another person.” like my ex-husband. I know she wants to add that.
My sisters nod in agreement.
Wait. Do they want me to forgive him?
“What’s your deal breaker?” Aria asks. I look at her confused. “What’s the one thing you’re not willing to let go of in a relationship?” she adds
“Relationships are all about compromise, love, and understanding,” Dad chimes in. “He’s a good boy, that one.”
Good boy? If only Dad knew.
Mom’s voice pulls me from my thoughts. “Do you see yourself living without him in the future? Imagine him being with someone else who isn’t you.”
My blood boils at the mere thought of it.
Mom gives me a knowing look. “There’s your answer. Take your time with forgiving him, but know what you want—and what you don’t.”
Security steps in, and my heart skips. It’s never good when they do.
“Isn’t the phone working?” Elisa asks.
“Do you have to walk in here?” Lauren adds, raising a brow.
The guard nods at them before turning to Mom. “Ma’am, the gentleman you asked us to turn away is back again.”
My breath hitches. The fork in my hand trembles. I don’t need to ask who it is. It’s Eddie.
Mom nods, dismissing the guard, then turns to me.
“He’s been showing up every day,” she says, her voice even, unreadable. “Sometimes parking is on the far left side of the street. The first night you came, he knocked, but we turned him away.”
I swallow, my pulse hammering. Every day?
“But knowing he’s your husband..." Dad continues, pausing for dramatic effect.
I shoot him a look. This man is actually enjoying this.
“And my son-in-law, we have no choice but to welcome him.”
“Yeah, dinners are for family,” Mom adds.
The table erupts into laughter and somehow that calms me.
I exhale, my grip on the fork loosening. The fight inside me begins to settle, piece by piece, because the truth is—I think I can forgive him.
A life without him now seems impossible. I can’t see myself without him. And the fact that he still showed up, even when I had no idea, even when he knew he’d be turned away—that means something.
I love him and he loves me. He’s said it a thousand times, and even though he went about things the wrong way, I believe him.
I wouldn’t marry anyone else because he is my husband and at the end of the day, love isn’t about perfection. It’s about choosing someone despite their flaws. And I still choose him. Yes, he broke my trust, but trust can be rebuilt. And if he’s willing to fight for us, then maybe... maybe I should, too.
I stand and turn toward the door, ignoring the laughter and giggles behind me. My focus is set, my steps unrelenting as I walk straight for the gate. I don’t know what I’m going to say when I see him, but I know I need to see him. And that’s enough for now.