Chapter - [ 3 ]

[ Madeline Parker ]

When I left Logan’s office building, I must have blacked out since I don’t remember how I drove back to my house. My mind couldn’t register, I still believed that it was just a horrible dream and it’d end when I wake up. My tears couldn’t stop.

The fate has played the cruelest joke with me.

Somehow, I made it back to my apartment and locked myself in my room. No one could see my breakdown. I haven’t allowed anyone to see my weak side. I have been living in some sort of trance where only my dreams exist. How could I be this stupid to not see the things clearly? The truth has always been in front of me. Logan abandoned me the day he asked me not to disclose our relationship to anyone.

His parents slowly drew themselves apart from us and we lost contact. Logan made excuses not to respond to my calls, I rarely received mails from him. I highly doubt if he sent them by himself or hired someone to keep me fooling around.

I didn’t realise how much time passed, it was when the door bell rang and I had to force myself out of my bed. I didn’t bother to look at myself in the mirror. I went to open the door. It was my best friend Ava.

“Oh My God! Maddie? What the hell happened to you?” She gasped in horror as soon as her eyes landed on me.

I didn’t say anything, instead new set of tears rolled from my swollen eyes. I threw my arms around her.

“Hey, calm down, I am here. Please, tell me what exactly happened? You went to meet your husband? Did he say something to you?” She wiped my tears and helped me to sit on the sofa.

“He married another woman three years ago, Ava. I was a fool who believed that he loves me truly and wait for me.” I wiped my tears and spoke the most bitter words, it’s like living those horrible moments again. It stabbed my heart.

Her eyes widened, “What?” She exclaimed.

I broke down again and told her everything. She had been my best friend since college because before  that, my life only revolved around one person, Logan Wesley.

“Madeline, I swear I am going to kill that bastard.” She growled in anger.

“No, Ava we won’t do anything. He was clear. He never saw me more than just a good friend and only married me because he wanted to fulfil his grandfather’s last wish. He was forced to marry me and when he got his chance, he chose his own free path. I am the one at fault who lived all these years in her own fairy land.” I shook my head in refusal.

My wounds are too deep to be healed soon. He gave me lifetime scars.

“No, it’s not fair, Maddie. You didn’t move on and waited for him like a loyal wife and he went out to find another woman. He must pay the price of betraying your trust and his family is also equally responsible. How could your parents not smell their conspiracy?” Ava, who thinks practically, raised a question.

I thought about her words. She’s right, how could my parents not know anything? They are close friends with the Wesley family and they were the happiest when I married Logan. I rose from the sofa and rushed inside my room to change my clothes. I need to confront my parents. Everything began to make sense to me. They dodged me whenever I expressed my wish to see Logan and his family with believable excuses.

“Ava, can you drop me at my parents’ house?” I asked her.

“Of course, it’s not a thing to ask. Your parents are definitely hiding something from you.” She said and we left for my parents’ house. I was on the edge entire time while driving to my parents’ house. Many questions were running in my head.

When we reached, I felt like my strength had given up. I couldn’t muster up the confidence to face them because I was scared to embrace another betrayal if my parents actually hid something from me.

“Mom! Dad! Where are you?” I shouted as soon as I entered in their house.

“Maddie, you’re already here? We thought we’ll have more time to spend with our grandson?” My mother walked out of the kitchen, behind her, a small face peeked at me and all my anger melt down.

My vision became blurry when I looked at my small boy.

He is the only symbol of my delusive marriage. I received him from the love of my life. A sad and painful smile crept on my lips. I knelt down and opened my arms for him and he wasted no time in running into my embrace. I cried more hugging his tiny frame.

I went to meet Logan for our son Christopher. I named him after Logan’s middle name which was his grandfather’s name as well. I gave birth to my little sunshine nine months after Logan left me. I kept him a secret as well and now, I feel glad that I never mentioned him to Wesley family. They don’t deserve to know about my son.

“Mom, why are you crying?” Chris broke the hug and looked at me with a frown between his brows. He is a replica of his father which broke me even more.

“It’s nothing, baby. I missed you so I came here to pick you.” I quickly wiped my tears and kissed his cheeks.

“I hate when you are sad, Mom.” He said in a low voice.

“I am not sad, Chris. It’s tiredness after long shift at hospital.” I lied to him but I couldn’t tell how I was actually feeling. He won’t get a whiff of the storm in my life. I have raised him alone and I’d continue doing it gladly.

“Chris, come with me. I’ll show you the new cats and puppies which are brought at the shelter.” Ava called Chris and the boy, who loves animals, left me and ran to his godmother. Ava took him from there so I could confront my parents.

“Maddie, what happened? Your eyes are swollen. You cried a lot. May I know the reason?” Mom asked me with worry.

I chuckled bitterly, “Since when you started caring for me, Mom?” I taunted her.

“What do you mean, Madeline? What exactly happened?” She was confused. Meanwhile, my father also came there.

“Maddie, you came back early from your shift?” Dad was also surprised to find me there.

“I went to meet Logan. I wanted to surprise him on our sixth wedding anniversary and guess what? I am the one who received the biggest shock of my life.” I spoke coldly and their faces lost colours.

“I think we need to talk and this time I won’t let you run from facing my questions, Mom and Dad.” I said crossing my arms across my chest. They looked at each other guiltily and then faced me with shame on their faces.

“Did you know about Logan’s marriage and how he only married me under family pressure?” I asked them straight but a part of me wanted to hear a negative answer.

They looked down and it was my answer which sliced my heart brutally. It pained more than Logan’s betrayal because my parents were my ideal. They love and pamper me like a princess. They supported and helped me when I decided to keep the pregnancy and proved the best grandparents for Chris.

“Why?” I managed to whisper.