35
Dean
D ean looked at the scene before him.
It was a mess.
It reminded him of a war film or a fantasy film where everyone was either dead, bleeding or suffering before the hero rose back up and won the day.
The hero here was obvious, it was just that he hadn’t seen it before.
Ella.
It was a mess, and it was all on him.
A part of him wished he’d ended this stupid pact the moment he had the chance to. He’d had that power, and if Ella knew about it, she’d probably kill him herself.
As Dean walked out after Adrian to leave Martha to clean up the bloodied, sobbing mess of Ella and Matthew on the floor, he sighed. If he had just kept his mouth shut, they wouldn’t be in this mess.
“You did well, Dean. You’ll make a fine son-in-law once we get rid of this… mess.” Adrian sighed and pulled out a cigarette as they stood outside on the lawn. Dean shook his head when he was offered one. He needed to quit the habit.
“This isn’t about us though, is it?” Dean mentioned, and instantly regretted his words when he was met with a questioning look. But he said it, so he knew he was going to have to finish the thought. “She’s pregnant. It’s not about me, you, my parents or even what happened. This is about them, and their child.”
“Don’t tell me you’ve signed up to be Catholic. That’s the last thing we need.” Adrian guffawed and took a puff. “She’ll be rid of that bastard, unborn thing before anyone even remembers this happened. She’s lucky I didn’t kill the little orphaned runt.”
The words made Dean shiver. He didn’t respond. He couldn’t quite put his finger on why he was suddenly having a change of heart on all of this. More than anything, the money he would lose if he didn’t marry Ella was more than heart-breaking; in fact, it stabbed him every single time he thought about it. But the thought of Ella still in there, sobbing, cradling Matthew as if he was the only thing in the room. The thought of her being forced into getting rid of her unborn child… he couldn’t deny it hurt. And if it hurt him, how on earth would Ella be feeling?
Dean even wondered how Matthew would be feeling. For all the curses Dean had thought about him, for all the names he’d called him in private, Dean did feel bad for the boy. He’d lost his parents, yet still, he managed to go to university. He’d found Ella, and apart from his brother, she was the only person he loved. Anyone could see how much he was in love with her. Martha was right when she pointed out to the whole room how in love they were. She’d also been right: the contract was off. Even if Ella walked down the aisle, she would never, ever belong to Dean; they all shared that knowledge. She’d go behind everyone’s back. Dean should have stepped in years ago, the moment he found out. He didn’t realise just how deep this love was. But it was obvious to everyone after that… mess.
Dean didn’t even blame Matthew for falling for Ella; they both shared the feeling. Matthew had done nothing wrong, and yet he was lying in a bloodied pool in his front room, all because he’d fallen in love and got a girl pregnant.
It was Dean’s fault, and despite everything he’d done, everything he’d put in place, and as much as he loved Ella and his money… he felt awful.
Was his money worth the pain he and his family were putting her through? He wasn’t even sure if he could fully answer that question anymore.