20. Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty
Kevin
Three days had passed since Licia’s distressing encounter with Chloe, and I was still grappling with the fallout.
The haunting look on Licia’s face when I emerged from the house had become a constant replay in my mind, like an endless loop of guilt and regret. It was as if I could still see her eyes, reflecting shock and hurt.
Sleep had become a distant memory. Despite my attempts to eat, each meal felt like an obligation rather than a comfort.
My life, which had seemed so promising just days ago, was unraveling before me, and I felt powerless to stop it. Just when I thought I was on the brink of something good, trouble came knocking.
Realizing that I needed to address the issue head-on, I decided to confront Chloe. I had to find a way to manage this situation, no matter how uncomfortable it was.
“Mascot, have you seen Chloe around?” I called out as I made my way down the stairs, my steps purposeful and deliberate.
“Not recently, Sir. Would you like me to find her for you? She should be around here somewhere.”
“No, that won’t be necessary. I’ll track her down myself. You can go back to your work.”
“Understood, Sir.” Mascot responded and turned back to his duties.
I searched the house until I found Chloe lounging by the pool. The sight of her, basking in the sun with her auburn hair peeking from under her hat and her skin glowing, seemed almost surreal against the storm of emotions I was battling. She appeared relaxed, a stark contrast to the turmoil inside me.
I must have been staring for too long because she eventually noticed me, removing her sunglasses and fixing her gaze on me. “You’re welcome to join me if you like.”
“Thanks, but I need to talk to you. It’s important. Where’s Noah?”
“He’s in Lexie’s room, playing with her. They’ve become quite close since we arrived. Lexie’s taken a real shine to him.”
“I see.” I nodded, trying to steady my nerves. “We need to discuss something serious.”
Chloe’s sultry smile did little to ease my tension. “What’s on your mind, honey?”
Her casual tone only heightened my anxiety. “When are you planning to go back to Austria?” I asked, trying to sound as firm as possible.
Chloe looked at me as if I’d asked a ludicrous question. “Why would I go back when we’re here?”
“Do you intend to stay here indefinitely?” I pressed, needing clarity.
“I was hoping we could build a life together for Noah. He deserves to grow up with both his parents’ love. There’s no plan to return to Austria unless you decide to come with us.”
Her response felt like a punch to the gut. Was she serious, or was this some cruel joke?
“You’re completely out of touch with reality. I have a girlfriend whom I love deeply, and I’m not abandoning her to fulfill some fantasy you’ve concocted. It’s not happening.”
Her laughter was sharp and dismissive. “You mean Licia? Do you really think she’ll take you back after all this? It’s over, Kevin. You need to accept that.”
“It’s not your place to decide that. And what about Noah? Why did you keep him from me for so long? What if I had gotten married already? Would you still have barged into my life with this ‘family’ nonsense?”
“Well, you’re not married, so the timing works out perfectly.”
“That’s irrelevant. I can’t be with someone I don’t love. I’ve made it clear that Licia is the only woman I’ve ever loved. That won’t change, no matter what you want.”
Chloe’s face reddened with anger. “There’s no way I’m letting my son be raised without his father. I’m sure your parents wouldn’t want their grandchild to grow up without them either.”
“Don’t try to manipulate me with guilt. I will be responsible for Noah’s upbringing and provide support. We can arrange shared custody for holidays and family events.”
She shook her head vehemently. “Shared custody isn’t enough. Noah needs stability, a home with both of his parents. We should be raising him together.”
“ Chloe, you’re missing the point. I cannot endure a relationship with someone I don’t love. Licia is the only one for me.”
“Kevin, I’m willing to do anything for Noah’s happiness. I sacrificed my career and my life to be here. No sacrifice is too great for him.”
Her determination to force me into a relationship was infuriating. I could see no resolution through this contentious conversation.
“Please, let’s end this discussion. Think about what I’ve said. You can stay for a short while, but you will need to leave eventually. I want to avoid a protracted custody battle.”
“Are you threatening me?” Chloe’s voice was sharp with indignation.
“I’m not threatening you. I’m trying to reach a reasonable agreement.” I turned and walked away, leaving her to ponder our conversation.
As I made my way back to my room, Lexie nearly collided with me in the hallway.
“Watch where you’re going, Lexie,” I snapped, but immediately regretted my tone. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap.”
“Something’s clearly bothering you. You look like you’re about to explode. Is everything alright?”
I rubbed my forehead, trying to keep my emotions in check. “Don’t worry about it, Lexie. I’ll be fine. Just let me know when Dad gets back from his meeting, okay?”
“Are you sure you don’t want a glass of water? You look like you could use one.”
“That would be great. Is Noah asleep?”
“Yes, he’s sleeping. He’s so energetic when he’s awake. Do you want to see him?”
“Not right now.”
“I hope he doesn’t inherit your temper. He’s too sweet for that.”
I managed a half-smile despite my stress. “Nice one, Lexie. You don’t pull any punches.”
“I’m just being honest.”
“Alright, thanks for the honesty. Can I get that water now, or are there more truths you want to share?”
“I’ll save those for another time,” she giggled. “I’ll get the water for you.”
***
Later that evening, I sat on my bed, staring at my phone, contemplating the next steps. I wanted to talk to Licia, but I needed a solid plan before doing so. Time was slipping away, and I couldn’t keep hurting her with my mistakes.
When I heard Dad’s car pull into the driveway, I hurried downstairs, eager to discuss the matter with him. Chloe was nowhere in sight, which was a relief.
“Hi, Dad.”
“Hello, Kevin. I didn’t expect to see you downstairs. Is everything alright?”
“I’m not sure. I need to talk to you and Mom about something urgent.”
His expression grew serious. “On a scale of one to ten, how bad is it?”
“Nine.”
“Meet me in the man cave in five minutes. We’ll figure this out together.” Dad always referred to his study as his man cave, a place where he could focus and tackle problems head-on.
When I entered the room, Dad was seated behind his large desk, puffing on his cigar, the smoke swirling in the dim light. Mom joined us shortly and took her place beside him.
“All right, what’s the problem?” Dad motioned for me to start.
“I’m in a difficult situation. Chloe wants us to raise Noah together, but I don’t love her and don’t want to marry her.”
Dad chuckled softly. “You told her you didn’t love her, right?”
“Yes, but she’s being persistent.”
“Does she know about Licia?” Mom asked, concern evident in her voice.
“Yes, they met, and Licia was visibly upset. She ran out before I could explain.”
“Have you spoken to Licia since then?” Dad asked.
“Not yet. I haven’t had the courage to approach her, and I don’t have a concrete plan for handling Chloe. I’m afraid Licia might not want to hear from me.”
“Never say never, son.”
I nodded, appreciating his perspective. “Okay.”
“I’ve been meaning to ask why you didn’t inform us about Chloe and Noah earlier.”
“I wasn’t aware Chloe was pregnant. It was a one-night mistake.”
“This is quite a situation. How could she keep such significant news and then disrupt your life like this?”
“As much as I want Noah in our lives, I need to think about my future as well. How about we suggest shared custody? That way, Noah can have a relationship with both parents without missing out.”
“I proposed that, but she rejected it outright.”
“Your mom and I will talk to her. If she can’t reason, we may need to take it to court. We don’t want to hinder her aspirations, but Noah’s well-being is a priority.”
“I agree. There’s no other way.”
“Leave it to us. We’ll handle it from here.