Chapter Eighteen
ELLA
T his is hell. God, if I wanted a life scrutinized by the media I would have become a famous actress or something. I can’t even snort at my own train of thought as I try to find something to watch on TV while stuffing my face with ice cream. Mom is having a picnic with Macie and Ollie in the backyard, soaking up the summer sun, and I’m here alone, at eleven thirty a.m. on a Tuesday.
It’s been a few days since Harvey leaked the photos to the press, and apparently, I’ve been identified in them. Though knowing him, he probably sent them with a little note saying “The woman is Ella Parsons and she works at the Ridgewood Vet Clinic, here’s their phone number.” Which is why they asked me to not come to work. The day after Harvey leaked the pictures, the paparazzi invaded the vet’s office, asking all sorts of invasive, personal questions.
I suppose it’s my fault for trying to be the voice of reason, telling the press that I had no idea who Liam was when I met him, or that he was actually “William Stokes.” That I know for one hundred percent sure that Macie is his baby. Also, I may have said that if they thought with their brains instead of their asses, they might just notice how much she looks like him.
Clearly that was the wrong thing to say because they started asking me if I had convinced Liam to sleep with me with no birth control or if I tricked him. Another asked me if I intentionally got pregnant with the goal of blackmailing the Stokes family.
The office finally got them to leave by calling the police, but that didn’t stop the hateful calls and voicemails, berating Linda for hiring someone “like me.”
At least Liam isn’t knocking on the door right now. He’s been coming to the door the last two days, but I just can’t deal with him right now. I don’t let him in, I don’t answer, but he hangs out on the porch. He hasn’t shown up today though, but I do have an unread text that probably has an explanation. I haven’t read it yet, though. I tend to save his texts and voicemails for the end of the day, so I’ll feel less obligated to answer them. Apparently, my people-pleasing knows no bounds.
I’m just glad my brothers haven’t been in town to visit since the news broke, they’re pretty pissed at him for lying… or, as Brynn likes to say, “withholding the truth,” but everyone’s mad either way. I’ve been on the phone with them a few times, where they beg me to let them “take care of it.” But so far, all of the attention has been on me. Not my brothers, and not my parents. Regardless of Harvey’s threats. And I want to keep it that way. I don’t need Nolan and Jayce drawing attention to themselves for me and risking their company in the process. Doesn’t prevent them from being pissed off at me for refusing their help.
My parents, however, are more worried about me. I’m not sure I’ve ever slipped this far into a depression, even when I found out I was pregnant. Dad has been keeping the freezer stocked with mint chip ice cream and Mom makes a point to sit with me whenever she can.
My phone goes off when my spoon of ice cream is halfway to my mouth. A text from Brynn pops up with a link and a message.
Brynn: I’m sorry, but you have to see this.
My blood freezes at the ominous words, but I still click on it. The headline “Boston Mayor and Matriarch of Stokes Family Fortune Demands Paternity Test” flashes in my face.
What the hell? An actual paternity test? I thought the press were just running wild, but is Liam’s mom the one actually behind this?
Anger at the unfairness of the situation lights my veins with each word the Mayor of Boston, aka Liam’s mom, speaks. “I am having our lawyer reach out to Ella Parsons, demanding a paternity test. If she?—”
The stream is interrupted by a call coming through and I’m sure my irritation is clear in my voice when I answer. Liam had to have known about this. Why the hell wouldn’t he tell me?
“Hello?”
“Is this Ella Parsons?” The male voice sounds older, but I don’t recognize it.
“Speaking.”
“Miss Parsons, my name is Jonathan Kerrigan, and I represent the Stokes family.”
“Okay?” I ask, tapping my fingers against my leg. Wow, they really did work fast on that whole lawyer thing.
“I’m not sure if you’ve seen the press conference, but Mayor Stokes is formally requesting a paternity test for the child.”
I figured as much. There’s no way in hell I’m doing it, though.
“I’m going to have to politely decline,” I tell him, secretly seething at Liam for not giving me a fucking heads up this was coming in any of his texts and voicemails.
“Ms. Parsons, if the child truly is William’s, then you have nothing to fear?—”
“That is not the point, Mr. Kerrigan.” I exhale deeply through my nose, trying to calm my pulse that’s roaring in my ears. “This is a matter of principle. I have given Liam the choice to be involved if he wants to be, but I’m not forcing the issue. I haven’t asked for money, and I have no intention of doing so.”
“Refusing the test is not advisable,” he says in a tired voice. Yeah? Well, join the club, buddy. “I’m afraid I’m under strict instructions to tell you that if you refuse the test, we will be forced to take legal action.”
“I appreciate the advice.” My voice is tight, and I have to keep from gritting my teeth. “But I will not be getting a paternity test. Goodbye, Mr. Kerrigan.”
Hanging up the phone, I pick up a throw pillow and scream into it as loudly as I can. This is ridiculous. They act like I’m trying to trap Liam and take him for everything he’s worth.
He wants to take responsibility. His endless calls and texts since I turned my phone back on are proof enough of that. My text thread with him is full of messages practically begging for forgiveness, saying that he misses me and he knows he should have told me about who he really is. How much he wants to fight for both me and Macie.
And then there’s Macie. Why did she have to start calling him “Daddy” right before shit hit the fan? Now every time she asks for Daddy, or says she misses her daddy, my heart breaks just a little more and I feel guilty on top of everything else for not letting her see him.
I just can’t face him yet. I’m embarrassed and angry, and now with this whole paternity test business…Why do things always have to be so complicated?
I’m halfway through a romantic comedy and the female lead just found out the guy lied about his identity, wow, shocker, when my phone rings again.
“Why is it so hard for guys to tell the truth?” I ask around a mouth full of ice cream. “Like, let’s evolve past subpar rom-com tropes, shall we?”
“To be fair, Ella, you didn’t even tell him the truth about Macie, he had to guess.” Brynn’s tone is no nonsense. Oof. Guess we’re done being gentle with my fragile state then.
“Low blow,” I mutter, putting the phone on speaker. “Did you call just to point out that I’m deflecting the real reason I’m upset?”
“No, babe. I’m outside. Come let me in.” She hangs up before I can answer, and a groan leaves me as I heave myself off the couch, put my ice cream on the coffee table, and walk to the front door. After unlocking and opening it, I let Brynn inside, who sighs when she sees me.
“Let’s go sit.” She guides me back to the couch and I let her, ready for whatever verbal ass-whooping I know she’s planning on giving me. I am one hundred percent aware that I’m wallowing. I just can’t seem to shake myself out of it.
“Say what you have to say,” I sigh, plopping back down on the couch and turning the TV off with the remote.
“Have you talked to him yet?” She looks at me like she damn well knows the answer to that is a resounding “no.”
“No,” I say anyway. “I just… I just can’t talk to him yet. This whole situation… I never signed up for this. I mean, the damn lawyer already called about the paternity test! With the paparazzi and every move I make being scrutinized, I’m still so damn mad at him for keeping this from me. If I had known, I never would have…” Trailing off, I huff a sigh. Would I have still slept with him if I knew who he was? It would have been terribly difficult to resist the pull between us.
“Never would have what, babe?” Brynn asks gently, and when I don’t answer, she sighs, pulling out her phone. “Time to bring in the cavalry.”
The phone rings twice on speaker before Khloe answers, “Hey, Brynn.”
“Hey, Khloe. We’ve got a situation.” She looks at me pointedly. “With Ella.”
“What’s going on? Is everything okay?” I hate how worried she sounds.
“Well, it turns out, her hunky mystery man, car crash savior, and father of her child is actually William Stokes, billionaire bachelor and doctor in training. We don’t know why he didn’t tell her because Ella won’t talk to him.”
The line is silent for a moment, and Brynn looks at me with raised brows before Khloe clears her throat. “Why… Why won’t you talk to him, Ella?”
“I guess…” I bite my lip, contemplating the thoughts that have been swimming in my mind since I found out the truth a few days ago. “When I met him, he was just a guy. A guy that I had this amazing, surreal connection to. Now though, it turns out he’s this billionaire? In what world am I good enough to be with someone like that? Rich and powerful, and in the eye of the media all the time? Not to mention all he’s doing is disappointing his mom by being with me. Their relationship wasn’t great before all this, and I’ve just made it worse. Part of me wonders if he was embarrassed, and that’s why he kept us a secret.” My eyes are down, and I can’t help but play with the hem of my pajama shirt. “All my life, all I’ve wanted is to not disappoint the people that I love and care about. How can I put Liam in a position to disappoint the only family he has left? What if he regrets putting everything on the line to be with us? I’m not sure I could handle that.”
Brynn’s hand lands on my shoulder, and I look up to see her sympathetic expression. Her words leave no room for argument when she speaks, though. “Ella. You worry so fucking much about disappointing everyone around you that you’re the one that ends up hurt and disappointed all the time. You’re the only one who got hurt when you didn’t tell your brothers about what happened with Harvey, and you’re hurting yourself again now. Stop choosing to put everyone else first and choose you for once. You deserve it. Give him a chance to show that he loves you and will stand by you.”
Khloe murmurs her agreement as Brynn’s words bounce around my head. Choose myself? It’s so much harder than it sounds. How am I supposed to ignore the instinct that’s so deeply ingrained in me that it makes me feel sick to do anything else?
Brynn frowns as her phone chirps, tapping the screen a few times. “Um… Ella? I think you should turn on the TV. Channel Nine News.”
Matching her frown, I pick up the remote and turn the TV back on, switching to the news channels instead of the streaming service. My stomach drops when I see Liam on the screen, the banner at the bottom reading “Billionaire William Stokes Renounces Mother’s Actions.” He has dark circles under his eyes like he hasn’t been sleeping properly, I can’t help but feel a little guilty, knowing I’m the one who put them there.
Tears fill my eyes as I hear his words.
“That little girl is my daughter and the best thing to have ever happened to me. Ella Parsons, the woman you guys are unrightfully dragging through the mud, is the love of my life. We had lost contact until recently, but now we are in each other's lives and I don’t plan on changing that. I do not need a paternity test to know that Macie is mine. Any media outlet that says differently will be hearing from my personal lawyer.” His eyes move from the reporters to make contact with the camera. “This has nothing to do with my mother, Allison Stokes, or the upcoming election. I am nothing but loyal to my family and always will be. Ella, baby, if you’re watching, I love you. We’re going to fix this.”
My heart pounds in my chest as the screen switches to coverage of the stock market, and my mind reels. He just told the whole world that Macie is his. He said I was the love of his life. “Did I hear that right?” I choke out, still staring at the screen.
“Wow,” Khloe says, still on the phone. “That was…”
“Romantic?” Brynn supplies.
“I was going to say brave,” Khloe huffs.
“Life-changing,” I whisper. “I need to call him.”
My heart is shattering into a million pieces, breaking for Liam and everything he’s been through. The fact that he even has to go against his own mother over something like this. But he did. He stood up for us, and he did it in a way to where nobody can dispute his meaning. He loves us. And we’re his.
I can’t deny myself anymore. I love him. I’ve known it for a while, but have been afraid that maybe I thought our connection was more profound than it is. After hearing that though? It’s not just me. Scrambling for my phone, I stand as I tap his name and wait for the call to connect.
“Ella?” He answers frantically, and I can’t help the tears of relief that fill my eyes.
“Do you…” I swallow roughly, my voice cracking slightly. “Do you have some time to talk?”