Chapter 65 Freya
FREYA
This isn’t what I wanted. Not how I envisaged it ending. But they’ve left me with no choice.
“I don’t understand,” says Charlie, finally finding his voice. “We’ve lived together for almost three years.… We’re married!”
That’s what I always find surprising, the way that people instinctively question their own failings in not having seen it coming, rather than acknowledge the reality of what I’m actually capable of.
“And I loved you with all my heart,” I say, meaning it. “But the trust is gone. You’re not going to protect me anymore … so I can’t protect you.”
Charlie shakes his head. “So you’re going to turn yourself in? You’re going to tell the truth about what you’ve done and the lives you’ve destroyed?”
He must think I’m stupid. “I will, if that’s what you want me to do, but not yet.”
They both look at me as if questioning why I would think I have a choice.
“I’m not going to let them take my baby away. I won’t allow it to be born into the system.” I put a hand to my tummy. “If it can’t have its mother, at least let it have its dad.”
Charlie looks at me with tears in his eyes, and I know I’ve got him.
“Please don’t give up on our child,” I beg, choking on my words. “Give it a chance of a half-normal life. Let me have this baby—our baby—so that you can be the father I know you’ll be.”
“Charlie…,” warns my mother, knowing all too well that I’ve got him over a barrel. Again.
A tear falls and he wipes it away. “I’ve forgiven you for a lot of things.
I forgave you for that night. I lied about what happened to Marcus.
I tried to help you through recovery. I’ve shocked myself at what I’ve been prepared to do for you.
” He takes something out of his pocket. “But I can never forgive you for this.”
He holds up what looks like a pregnancy test, and I sway a little as my brain fast-tracks to what it might mean.
“I guess I haven’t trusted you for a while,” he says. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have needed to turn off the water supply to check.…”
My mouth dries up, fearing that my trump card isn’t quite the ace I thought it was.
“Your lies aren’t going to save you anymore,” he says coldly. “Nothing will.”