Chapter 3X
“Presley, can you stop already? We’re doing this for your own good. Besides, Blaire’s still a McDowell. And what’s done is done. Wouldn’t it be better if we all just lived peacefully together?”
I stared at the man I had loved for 20 freaking years.
‘Live peacefully? Together?! What the hell is he planning?!
‘What, he gets to enjoy two women? Me as the dutiful wife, and Blaire as his charming mistress? Or maybe he wants no labels at all. Just two women under one roof, worshipping him like some divine gift to womankind?‘
I opened my mouth, only to find that my voice had become unbearably hoarse.
“Orville… are you saying our baby died for nothing? And now you want me to share my husband with the woman who killed our baby?!” Before I could even finish, he cut me off–annoyed.
“Presley, it’s in the past. The baby’s gone. Talking about it now won’t change anything.§
“That baby just… didn’t make it. He wasn’t strong enough to live. That’s not on anyone.”
I had never seen him like this. Cold. Unbothered. Like it was just some small thing that happened.
That baby was our first! We picked his name together! We used to talk about what he might look like. Maybe he’d have thick eyebrows like his dad’s and almond eyes like mine!
‘But now? All Orville cares about is Blaire, Blaire, Blaire!
‘Three years. That’s all it took for him to forget our baby!‘
I braced myself and stood up, my gaze scanning the room before locking onto his face.”
“Orville. Tell her to leave. This is your last chance.“>
“No!” He didn’t even hesitate at all.
I rubbed my forehead in exhaustion and suddenly gave up any hope of fighting for him.§
“Fine. Then let’s get divorced. I’ll let her have you.”
My father stormed over in rage and before I knew it, he had already slapped me across the face.
“Orville’s a great husband and you want to divorce him? I’ll break your legs before I let that happen!”
His finger jabbed at me like a knife as he yelled.
“You’ve gotten so petty, Presley! Your sister’s been sick and Orville’s been taking care of everything while you sit around being bitter. And now you can’t even be civil to her? How could you be this selfish?!“}
I held my cheek, letting out a breathless laugh.
‘So that’s what I am now? Petty. Selfish. Spoiled. People destroy me, and I’m supposed to smile and thank them for it?‘
Orville’s face shifted a little when he saw me–like he felt a twinge of guilt.
“Presley, stop. You know I’ll never divorce you. Twenty years… No one else compares. My love for you-”
But he stopped mid–sentence.
He looked at Blaire.
And I saw it.%
Guilt.
She looked at my husband like a sad little angel after a stom, all shaky and pale, big teary eyes about to spill but not quite, staring at him like she was about to break.
“O–Orville… So you really love my sister? You’re just with me out of… pity?”
Orville frantically tried to explain.
“No, Blaire!” he rushed to say. “That’s not what I meant. You and Presley are…. different. She’s family. But you–you’re the one I want to protect.“%
He was scrambling now, talking way too fast.
Blaire sniffled and sobbed through her words. “It’s… all my fault. I… I ruined everything between you and my sister.
“If you hadn’t said… you loved me…. If you hadn’t promised… you’ll stay by my side forever, I never would’ve done it. I didn’t want to hurt my sister! I’m a monster’s
“I’ll end it. I’ll get rid of this baby! I don’t want to bring a child into a home with no love. I don’t want people pointing fingers at my
child
She cried and cried, and Orville freaked, trying to reassure her.
“Blaire, not Please don’t say that
“Look at me Things have changed now I love you now And this baby?
“This baby is ours. He’s proof of our love. No one’s gonna point fingers, okay? I promise.“%
