Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Henry
I stood at the door of my parent’s house with my hand on the handle and took in a long, deep breath. As soon as I stepped inside, my mother walked into the foyer.
“There you are.” She smiled as she placed her hands on each side of my face. “I didn’t think you were coming.”
“Sorry, I’m late. Traffic was horrible, and there was an accident.”
“That’s okay, darling.” She gave my face a light pat. “Come up to the living room, and I’ll pour you a drink. Your father is already in there.”
It took every ounce of strength I had to keep my mouth shut. I gave Addison my word and needed to keep my promise, no matter how much it killed me. When I walked into the living room, Kirsten immediately stood up.
“Hi, Henry.” She placed her hand on her belly.
“Hello, Kirsten. I didn’t know you’d be here tonight.”
“It was my idea,” my mother chimed in. “I thought the two of you could talk.”
“Thanks, Mom. I was actually going to call you.” I walked over to Kirsten.
“You were?”
“Yes. We have some things to discuss. I’ve given everything a lot of thought, and you’re right. The baby does need both of us. I just hope you can forgive me for how I behaved,” I choked out the words.
“Oh, Henry.” She smiled as tears formed in her eyes. “Of course, I forgive you.” She wrapped her arms around me.
I wanted to vomit, and I was going to kill Addison for making me do this.
“The three of us are going to be so happy together,” she said.
“We still have a lot to talk about, Kirsten.”
“I know, baby. But it’s a start.”
“That’s my boy,” my father spoke as he held up his glass. “Now, have a seat, and we can talk before dinner is ready.”
My mother hugged Kirsten, and they left the room so my father and I could talk.
“I’m proud of you son. You’re doing the right thing.”
I picked up my drink from the coffee table and brought it up to my lips.
“There’s going to be another Walker in the family, and I can’t wait to meet him or her. Now that you’re going to be a father and have a beautiful woman by your side, it’s time you took over my position at Walker Capital.”
“Really, Dad?”
“Yes, son. I’ll have Richard draw up all the paperwork tomorrow. In a matter of three months, you’ll be sitting in my office, your new office, running the show.”
“Thanks, Dad. I’m looking forward to it.”
“Gosh. I can’t wait to hear the pitter-patter of little feet in this house again. And with my retirement, I’ll get to see my grandchild anytime I want. Your mother and I will even babysit while you and Kirsten are at work.” He smiled. “Abigail would be so happy for you right now. I only wish she were here to celebrate with us.” He looked down.
“What about Addison? Where is she?”
“Your mother sent her to the Plaza for the night so the four of us could talk in private. This doesn’t concern her. To be honest, I’ll be happy when she goes back to school. She’s been a handful since she’s been home.”
“How so?”
“Everything good in here?” my mother asked with a smile.
Kirsten walked over, sat beside me on the couch, and grabbed my hand.
“I have a doctor’s appointment in a couple of days, and I’d like you to come with me.”
“Sure.” I gave her a small smile. “I need to use the bathroom. I’ll be right back.”
“Meet us in the dining room, darling. Dinner is ready.”
I got up from the couch and went into the bathroom. Pulling my phone from my pocket, I sent Addison a text message.
“Whatever the hell it is you’re doing, it’s time. I can’t take much more of this.”
“I’ll be in the house in five.”
Walking into the dining room, I took a seat next to Kirsten and counted down the minutes until Addison arrived.
“This looks delicious, Mom.”
“Thank you, Henry.”
“There you all are.” Addison smiled as she walked into the dining room.
“Addison, what are you doing here?” my mother asked. “I thought you were at the Plaza.”
“I was, and I was bored, so I decided to come home. I’m starving,” she said as she sat down across from me. “Kirsten, what are you doing here? I thought my brother broke up with you.”
“Addison, that’s very rude,” my father spoke.
“Henry asked me for my forgiveness, and we’re back together for the sake of the baby.”
“Aw, isn’t that sweet? Are you ever going to tell him that the baby you’re carrying isn’t his? Addison cocked her head.
“Excuse me?” Kirsten spoke. “How dare you.”
“Addison, what are you talking about?” I asked.
“Kirsten is further along than she says she is. So, there’s no way she got pregnant the night of her parent’s anniversary party.”
“That is ridiculous!” Kirsten shouted.
“Addison Anne Walker!” my mother shouted.
“Is that true?” I looked at Kirsten with furrowed brows.
“No! Of course not. How can you even doubt me? She’s lying.”
“Here’s my theory,” Addison said as she grabbed a piece of bread from the basket. “She slept with someone else, and when she found out she was pregnant, she needed to make sure you two slept together without a condom so she could pass the baby off as yours. But she had to wait until enough time had passed. The last thing she expected was you breaking up with her. So, she waited and used it as a weapon to get you back.”
“She’s lying, Henry!”
“How do you know this?” I asked Addison.
“I can’t reveal my source. But what I’m telling you is the honest to God’s truth. I swear on Abigail’s life, Kirsten is lying to you.”
“Okay. That’s enough, young lady,” my father yelled. “You have caused enough trouble for one night.”
“Dad, wait.” I held my hand up and turned to Kirsten. “Did you sleep with another man when we were together?” I spoke in a serious tone. “Because if you’re lying to me, I will find out when I talk to your doctor at your appointment. In fact, I might just give him a call tomorrow morning.”
“Henry, stop,” my mother said. “Kirsten would never cheat on you. She loves you.”
“This is your last chance to tell me the truth.” I grabbed hold of her arm and held it tight. “In light of Addison’s information, I have doubts because some things just aren’t adding up. And if I must, I will demand that a paternity test be done right away. In fact, I’ll talk to the doctor about it.”
Tears streamed down her face as she stared at me. I already knew the answer because of the fear in her eyes.
“It was one time,” she spoke in a shaky voice.
Normally when a man found out their fiancée cheated on them, he would be pissed off and full of rage. In my case, I’d never been so grateful for anything in my life.
“Kirsten, how could you?” my mother asked.
“It was one time, and I was drunk.” She stared at me. “You were so distant, and you made me feel like you didn’t want me anymore.”
I sighed as I rubbed my face.
“So that baby isn’t our grandchild?” my father asked with anger in his voice.
“No, Daddy. It’s not,” Addison said with a delightful tone and a wide grin on her face.
“Who’s baby is it?” I demanded to know.
“I don’t know his name. We met in a bar in Chicago when I went on that business trip. He bought me a drink, paid attention to me, and it just happened. I swear it’ll never happen again. I love you so much.” She pleaded as she grabbed my hand.
Jerking my hand away from her, I threw my napkin on the table and stood up.
“We are one hundred percent over.” I pointed at her. “I never want to see or talk to you again.”
She sat at the table and sobbed as both my parents stared at her with anger.
“You’re obviously not the woman we thought you were,” my mother spoke. “I think it’s best you leave. You are not welcome in our home anymore.”
Kirsten got up from her seat and looked at Addison.
“I hate you!” She pointed at her.
“Feelings mutual, bitch.” Addison smirked.
Kirsten ran out of the house as I stood there with my hands tucked tightly in my pants pockets.
“Who the hell do you think you are?” My father directed his anger to Addison.
“Just a little sister looking out for her older brother and his future.”
“The real question here is, who do you two think you are?” I pointed to my parents.
“Excuse me?” my mother said.
“What the hell are you talking about, son?”
“I’m talking about Ellie. I know what you did and what you told her,” I spoke through gritted teeth. “Do you have any idea how much you’ve hurt her and me?”
“You did that yourself by lying to her,” my mother said as she shifted in her seat. “I’ll do anything to protect this family and its reputation.
“And I’ll do anything to protect what’s mine,” I shouted as I walked out of the dining room and out of the house.
“Henry, wait,” Addison shouted as she ran after me.
Opening the door to the limo, I told her to get inside. Sliding next to her, I shut the door and took a deep breath.
“Thank you.” I grabbed her hand with a smile on my face.
“Don’t mention it. You’ve always had my back since the day I was born and now it’s my turn to have yours.”
“How did you find out?”
“You can’t tell anyone.”
“You know I won’t, Addison.”
“I asked Paulie for help. He hacked into her doctor’s computer system and peeked at her file.”
“What made you think she was lying?”
“When you told me about the night of her parent’s anniversary party and how your condoms were missing. I know you, Henry, and if you said you had just bought a box, and you thought it was strange they weren’t in there, I knew something wasn’t right.”
“You are way too smart.” The corners of my mouth curved upward.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“I’m great now that Kirsten is out of my life forever. Now I need to work on getting Ellie to forgive me.”
“You can do it. Christian, take me to the Plaza Hotel, please.”
“Of course, Addison.”
“You don’t want to stay with me tonight at the penthouse?”
“Nah, I have that amazing suite Mom already paid for. I’m going to order a ton of room service and purchase every spa service available.” She smirked. “Can I have the day off tomorrow?”
“Yes. You have earned a day off, little sister.” I kissed her forehead. “I’m not too sure what my future holds at Walker Capital in light of all of this, but I guess I’ll find out soon enough.”