Chapter 47
Elijah
I watch as the other half of my soul leaves to try to fix things with her brother, determined to mend something that was never meant to break like this. Despite what just happened, I am so damn proud of her.
Proud of the way she stood up to Rose.
There has been so much hatred between them for years, and Willow has had a valid reason, unlike Rose. She's just selfish and doesn't care for anyone but herself.
“Sleeping with my daughter is a low blow even for you, Elijah.”
Here we go.
“Is that why you never touched me?” she continues, her lips curling. “Already had someone younger to warm your bed?”
I let out a quiet breath, dragging my tongue over my teeth, more amused than anything else.
The bullshit that comes out of her mouth is almost laughable.
“You're completely wrong because she is not your daughter. You might have carried and brought her into this world, but you've never been her parent.”
I fold my arms loosely over my chest, weight shifting to one leg, completely at ease.
“The only parent she ever had and needed was Leon, and he did a damn good fucking job without you.”
I love the way all of her emotions wash over her face, and I hope everything I tell her hurts. Just how she hurt my princess.
“She’s a carbon copy of me,” she scoffs, tossing her hair behind her shoulder. “Just a badly printed version.”
My tongue presses against my cheek, jaw flexing once, but I don't rise to it the way she most likely wants me to.
“Can you actually see this lasting?” she pushes. “Long term?”
“Yes.”
There is no life without Willow anymore.
Her expression falters at the certainty in my tone.
“I shouldn't have to spell it out for you, but yes, I do, and I love her.”
She goes to touch me. “You loved me.”
“I did,” I say simply. “Once.”
A beat passes, and the word directed towards her feels repulsive now.
“I’m in love with her. What I felt for you is nothing in comparison to how I feel for her.”
Being with Willow has made me think back on my relationship with Rose and how wrong it was. There was no real love there, not for a long time. I was used for my money and for her dream little family life that she never truly wanted; all she wanted was for her to look good.
I realise what true happiness is.
“As for the ‘carbon copy’ comment. You couldn't be any more wrong.” I tilt my head, studying her like I’m seeing her clearly for the very first time. “You're bitter. Controlling. You tear people down to make yourself feel better.”
My gaze hardens.
“Your personality is ugly, and it shows.”
I straighten.
“She's nothing like you.”
Not even remotely.
“Willow is kind. She's strong. She actually gives a damn about the people around her. Unlike you, she has goals in life instead of sitting on her ass and spending money that doesn't belong to her.”
Even though I will be spoiling the hell out of her because that damn beautiful, bratty woman deserves it.
Nobody needs to know that.
A faint smile pulls at my mouth. “She's perfect, and everything I want.”
It feels God damn good getting all of this off my chest. Being able to speak about my feelings for Willow feels freeing, even if it is to Cruella Devil. Ezra was right, and I know for a fact he's going to rub my face in it for months to come.
“As I said, it's disgusting.”
She says it like it should mean something to me.
It doesn't.
“I couldn't give a flying fuck what you think,” I respond with a shrug. “What I do want is for you to get out of my house and my life. But before you go, I have one question.”
Her eyes narrow in annoyance.
“I expect you to be honest because I know when you lie.”
A short, sharp laugh leaves her. “Oh, you do, do you?”
“Yeah, your mouth moves. Your voice also goes all nasally.” I grimace faintly. “Hate that, by the way.”
“You're a dick,” she lashes out.
“I’m only a dick to people who deserve it, and you're right at the top of that list.”
Oh, she really doesn't like this version of me.
I can see it in the way her composure starts to slip, the tight control she clings to cracking at the surface. That polished, superior front? It's hanging on by a thread.
There's a vein pulsing in her forehead like it's about to give out completely.
Honestly, it would be doing us all a favour if it did.
“Now listen to me carefully. When Leon was diagnosed with cancer and Willow had to deal with it all on her own, did he try to contact me?”
I’m met with silence.
She doesn't answer me. She doesn't even look at me now.
Her eyes are everywhere but on me, and that's all I need to know the truth.
A slow breath leaves me, my body locking up as I absorb it.
“Yeah,” I mutter, more to myself than to her. “Thought so.”
I step aside, angling my body toward the door.
“Get the fuck out.”
“You can't force me.”
She has no idea what I would do.
“Count yourself lucky you're a woman, Rose, because if you weren't, you'd be in a hospital bed right now.”
I don't raise my voice.
I don't need to.
I just want her gone for good.
I've got a family to get back to. A life waiting for me—one I know is going to be everything with Willow in it.
“You're going to stay away from us.” I exhale slowly, reigning in the last of my patience. “If River wants a relationship with you, then that's his choice. I won't interfere. But you are done with Willow.”
I nod towards the door.
“Now, if you don't leave in the next few seconds, I’ll call my mam down here.”
A faint smirk appears on my face.
“And trust me, she won't hesitate to throw you out on your ass.”
“Where have you been?”
Mams on me the second I step through the door, hands flying to my face like she's checking I've still got my limbs attached.
Dad's right behind her, just as invested, both of them dressed in matching offensively green jumpers—flashing lights, stitched-on snowmen—and antlers sitting crooked on their heads.
I blink at him. “Nice look.”
Dad just grunts. “Your mother's idea.”
“Don’t change the subject,” Mam shoots back as she looks at me. “Who hit you?”
She looks like she's ready to fight someone. Best not to tell her it was her grandson.
“I take it River and Willow aren't here yet?” I ask, even though I already know the answer, hoping she doesn't question the bruise anymore.
Still… a part of me hopes.
Mam's expression softens. “We were hoping they'd be with ye,” she says, glancing out of the window. “It's getting dark, love.”
“And we've got a house full of starving animals,” Dad adds, jerking his thumb toward the living room.
“We are growing boys,” Ezra calls out, his voice loud and dramatic as ever.
Mam snorts. “You haven't grown since you were seventeen, Ezra, and even that was generous.”
“Genetics failed me. I demand a recount.”
Dad lets out a low laugh. “The only thing that failed you was your effort in hiding the vegetables you refused to eat in plant pots.”
I shake my head.
To be honest, I think we all did that at some point.
“I turned out just fine. All the ladies want me.” He pipes up, appearing in the doorway, leaning against the frame.
Elliot steps up beside him, dressed in the same ridiculous Christmas get-up, and I huff out a laugh at the pair of them.
“Don’t be laughing. Yours is in the living room waiting for ye.”
I groan. Fucksake.
“No lady wants your disease-riddled dick,” Elliot tells him with a smirk.
“Elliot, language,” Mam snaps, pointing a warning finger at him. “Or do I need to get the wooden spoon out?”
His whole posture shifts.
“Right, okay. No need for the threats,” he mutters quickly, actually looking a bit shaken.
I bite back a laugh.
“At least mine hasn't got anyone pregnant—”
“Oi—”
Ezra doesn't even finish before Elliot punches him square in the shoulder.
“Fuck,” he winces, grabbing at it. “You prick.”
I glance between them, something clicking into place. “Wait… Is Aria pregnant?”
Elliot rubs the back of his neck. “Yeah. We were gonna tell you properly when everyone was here, but gobshite over here can't keep his mouth shut.”
I don't even think about it.
I’m pulling him into a hug, clapping a hand against his back.
“That’s fucking brilliant news,” I tell him, meaning every word. “Congratulations.”
He lets out a quiet laugh against my shoulder, some of the tension leaving him.
I know why he hesitated.
He was there for me when I lost my little girl. He saw what it did to me.
This is different, though.
Even though I lost mine, I still have River, and I am so excited for them.
Our family is growing.
“You sure you're alright?” Elliot asks as I pull back, studying me a little too closely.
It happened a long time ago.
“I’m better than alright. That's the best news I've heard all day.”
“You'd better hope it's a boy. Millie's already got enough attitude for an entire football team.”
We all agree. She's a little madam, but we all love her.
I peer into the room behind them. Emmets sat on the couch, scowling down at his phone while Ethan was out cold next to him, glasses crooked halfway down his face.
“Where are they?” I ask.
“Millie passed out,” Elliot answers. “Aria took her up and then passed out herself.”
Sounds about right. I remember the pregnancy tiredness.
Elliot’s smiling, and for a moment, I forget what happened today.
We all look over at our parents, who are currently whispering about something, forgetting we are in the room with them.
I also notice Ezra has gone a bit shifty, too.
“Alright, what's going on with you two?”
“We’re talkin' about food,” my dad says, far too quickly.
I just look at him.
“No, you're not.”
Mam lets out a breath through her nose, like she's been caught out, then fixes me with a look.
“Well,” she starts, brushing her hands together. “Ezra might have… mentioned somethin’ earlier.”
“Accidentally,” he cuts in. “Very accidentally.”
She ignores him. “I know it wasn't his place, god knows that boy can't keep a secret if his life depended on it—”
“Alright, steady on—”
“—It just slipped out of him like a bar of soap.”
I’m so confused right now.
Dad laughs beside her. “Love… you're rambling.”
“I am not,” she snaps lightly, giving him a half-hearted nudge before looking back at me.
“What I’m tryin’ to say is there is no judgement from us.”
Dad nods along. “Not at all, son.”
There's a pause, and Ezra suddenly looks very interested in the ceiling.
I know exactly what he said.
“You're bloody lucky River found out today; otherwise, I’d be down a brother right now.”
I joke, mainly. I am grateful that he kept it a secret all these months, though.
“Elijah,” Mam says softly, placing her hands gently on my arms. I meet her blue eyes.
“I get why ye kept it a secret. But Willow is a lovely girl, and I can see how happy she's made ye.
River, well, he will struggle at first, and all ye can do is give him time.
The rest? Well… screw the lot of them. You didn't raise that girl, ye fell in love with her, didn't ye?”
I swallow and nod, a grin tugging at the corner of my mouth. “Yeah… I really did. You're not weirded out by it?”
Mam tuts and gives my cheek a small pinch. “Elijah Reed Lawson, ye don't choose who ye fall in love with. Ye two make each other happy, and you both absolutely deserve it. I had an inkling from the little looks.”
I scrunch up my face, confused. “The little looks?”
She curls a brow at me, but Dad answers for her. “Son, ye look at her the same way I look at your Mam.”
I hadn't even realised. I love her more than anything—obviously—but I’d never realised anyone could actually see it. The way I look at her, the way I can't keep my eyes off her no matter what she's doing… Apparently, it's written all over me.
“She’s hot too, and clearly blind if she wants your ugly old ass instead of my perky one,” Ezra adds in. I elbow him, even if I know he's joking.
“So, you're okay with it?” I ask them, and I feel my chest tighten. Their approval matters more than ever thought it could. Even if they didn't, it wouldn't stop me from being with Willow. She's mine forever and always.
Mam smiles at me, and Dad lets out a soft chuckle. “She makes ye happy, Elijah,” she says, resting her hands on my shoulders. “She's family. We have missed that goofy grin of yours, and she's the reason it's back. So yeah, we’re more than happy for you.”
They pull me into a hug, the kind that makes you feel lighter. Their pride, their acceptance, their unconditional love—it hits me all at once, and I can't help grinning.
My brothers pile in, laughing and pushing with the occasional “fuck off”, and I just take it all in.
All that's missing is my son and Willow.