Chapter 12
OWEN
I rushed over to Everly, ignoring all my reservations in favour of getting her safely to the hospital. The military man staggered backwards as I guided Everly to my car. Once she was situated inside, he managed to splutter that he’d meet us there.
“Why would he come to the hospital? Who is he?” I asked. Not gently either.
Everly viciously glared my way before a sudden contraction had her overtaken. Between panting breaths, she managed to spit, “Not the time, Owen.”
How fucking convenient. I knew I sounded bitter, and that it was the worst moment to question her, but something sinister was going on.
Before I could rattle her with questions, we arrived at the hospital. Biting my tongue, I sourced a wheelchair and raced her to the maternity ward.
With the impending birth, I had managed to get my head straight. The baby’s safety was paramount, as well as the mother’s. That definitely was not the time for me to have a conniption over a possible misunderstanding.
When we rolled into the birth suite, Everly was calling out in pain, body tensing from the onslaught of childbirth.
Worry and concern consumed me as I thought of how selfish I was. That moment wasn’t about me.
As the midwives congregated around Everly, they threw out a multitude of questions, one specifically asking how far along she was.
“I’m full term. Forty weeks,” Everly managed to grit through her teeth.
For the second time in my twenty-seven years—my world imploded.
I slumped back in one of those uncomfortable plastic chairs in the waiting area—unfortunately, not alone. Across from me sat the military guy, posture rigid, face blank. He wouldn’t even look at me.
Everly’s mother had arrived not long after we did, running past us without a glance, her sole attention focused on her daughter.
I felt unhinged, unable to pinpoint a single emotion as they all raged and rioted within. A convoluted hurricane of unknowns and questions barraged to be set free.
I managed to confront the stranger only once. “Who are you, and why are you here?”
Maybe he is her cousin or a long lost relative? That is plausible, right?
He answered with a nonanswer. “Talk with Everly.”
That was it. He didn’t succumb to any other forms of communication, choosing to blatantly ignore me instead.
I didn’t have to wait much longer before a smiling midwife swept into the room. “Mum and baby are healthy. Does the father want to come and meet his daughter?”
The statement itself was innocent, however, the connotation behind it had my heart beating out of rhythm. The midwife wasn’t addressing me… She was looking at the only other male in the room.
As if in slow motion, the military man stood ramrod straight, and with complete confidence and pride, he said, “Take me to my girl.”
I stood in the archway of the hospital room, looking in on the scene with a sense of doom.
Everly sat in the centre of the single bed, fingers fidgeting with the worn hospital blanket. The baby was sleeping soundly in the bassinet next to her.
She offered for me to sit beside her. I refused. I needed to be near my only form of escape.
I probably appeared how I felt—a total mess.
Although only one day had passed, it felt like a lifetime.
I think I was broken. Destroyed and fucking crushed at the realisation that everything was a lie.
“She’s definitely not mine?” I managed to croak through the strained silence.
Everly shook her head. “I was already four weeks pregnant when we slept together.”
Crack.
“The paternity test?”
“I used my mum’s access to forge the results.” I was surprised she was being so forthcoming. Although, I supposed she didn’t have a choice anymore as all her lies had caught up to her.
Why the fuck did I believe her? How was I so easily taken advantage of?
Embarrassed by my own stupidity, I couldn’t help the bitterness from seeping out. “I just made it so easy for you, huh? I was so deep in my grief I was barely conversing with my own family, let alone in my right mind enough to question you and your intentions. Why? Why did you do this to me?”
“Because I was jealous.” Everly sighed, then looked at me—really looked at me. “I saw what you and Alexis had, and I wanted that for myself. For my girl. You were hard-working, reliable and honourable. I knew that in whatever scenario, you would always care for a child who was yours. You would always take responsibility. You’re a good guy, Owen.”
I had never wanted to hit a woman. Not ever in my life. But in that moment, newborn mother or not, I would have paid to see her demon soul drain from her eyes.
I shook my head, steering away from that dangerous thought process.
“And the real father?” I required all the facts to try to come to terms with whatever the fuck was happening, to learn the extent of her betrayal. I needed to know everything… And finally, she gave it to me.
“For years, I’ve had an on-and-off relationship with Barry. The main source of our issues always stems from his not wanting to commit. He is regularly deployed to different locations, which means he is always on the move. Away for long periods of time, sometimes several months.” Everly gulped, eyes regretful.
“When I found out I was pregnant, I panicked. When he left that last time, I vowed that it was over, that I was going to put a stop to our toxic relationship. Barry was gone, and I had no idea where he was or how to get in contact with him. He was unreliable. And now I had a baby to think of. That’s where you came in.”
“You used me?” Fuck, maybe I can’t handle the truth. I felt sick, almost like I was going to pass out.
Everly sighed. “Yes, I seduced you, but you went along with it, Owen. You accepted my flirting, never shut down my advances. You left yourself open.”
Crack. My heart splintered from each statement, each revelation.
“Lies,” I vowed. “So, you planned to baby-trap me… with a child who isn’t even mine?”
Everly began to tear up, which made resentment spike through my system. “I’m sorry, Owen. I was blinded by fear. But I only wanted what was best for my baby. That’s all I ever wanted. A safe space for my baby to come into this world.”
“And now what? You think everything is magically taken care of? Barry is back to claim his daughter, and you can all run away and pretend you didn’t just fuck over everyone in your path?”
Everly averted her eyes in guilt before nodding. “I will be leaving with Barry for a fresh start. He spoke with his supervisor and has received a permanent position on the other side of the country.”
God, the audacity of this woman. I was being sarcastic, but she really was a conniving witch. Full of absolute shit.
“And what of me , Everly? Where does that leave me in your grand plans?”
She flinched at my scathing tone, and I didn’t care. She deserved far worse for what she had done.
Everly began to cry. “I only did what I thought was best for me. Best for my baby—”
“At what cost?!”
As soon as the scream was out, the baby started squawking alongside me. Fuck, could this get any worse?
What a stupid notion. Of course it could.
Macho Man Barry chose that moment to stampede into the room like the perfect father protecting his family. Except he proceeded to shove me up against the wall with all manner of threats leaving his mouth.
I let him. I didn’t have the energy anyway.
Everly jolted out of bed, pulling on his shoulder, begging him to let go. I didn’t know why she bothered. What was the point?
As soon as he released me, I slumped down the wall, my ass hitting the ground with a thud.
“You destroyed my life, Everly,” I muttered, all monotone and dead. I didn’t feel a thing. “You’ve destroyed multiple lives… all for your own selfishness.”
She was practically hysterical by that point, sputtering “sorry” over and over. As if that would make up for her deplorable actions.
In that moment all I wanted— needed —was to make her feel as miniscule and tiny as I felt. I didn’t care that she had just given birth less than twenty-four hours before. I didn’t care that a newborn baby cried out for its poisonous mother. I just didn’t care.
“I feel sorry for your child,” I said. “Stuck with a cruel mother to be raised in a house full of lies and manipulation. Your daughter deserves better than you. She deserves better than both of you. I hope you never find happiness, Everly. I truly wish that upon you… And I’m going to make sure I try my damned hardest to make sure that wish comes true.”
I saw it coming, but didn’t do anything to prevent it. Barry’s solid fist launched towards my face and made direct contact. That pain was nothing compared to what was happening inside my chest.
I had lost everything . First, my wife, and now my unborn child, who wasn’t even mine to begin with.
I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t fucking breathe.
I barely processed a team of medical staff surrounding me, sporting concerned expressions before everything went black.
What was the point?
Shatter.