, Happy DayMIKE "Mom!" She yelled, and my headshot in the direction of the dining table where her mother was, convulsing as she fell out of the chair. It was an appalling sight to behold and to think it happened because of the argument.Lucy , still retching and trying to catch her breath, pushed past me, bumping into my shoulder as she raced and went for her mother. For a brief moment there, my world stopped, everything stood still, and the only thing I could think about were the consequences of my own actions.Once again, I was the villain. Once again, I was the monster. Lucy could be right. I wasn't sure if I changed for the better or if I even changed at all. Against my body's still choice, I pulled towards the dining table, the side where Lucy was crouched with her mother, who was now foaming in the mouth as she shook vehemently against Lucy .With watery eyes, Lucy 's hasty arms carried her mother's head to her lap, and she looked up at me as if I should do something amidst
Square OneCLARAI definitely wasn't thinking about my ex-husband. Okay, maybe I was. Just a little, though. Yesterday was a bit overwhelming, and things had taken a turn that I didn't expect, nor appreciated, but it didn't feel completely bad.It really didn't. A part of me was fighting every thought of Mike that popped into my head, while the other gave in. Velma wasn't making it any easier, considering how she'd refused to stop talking about him. She rang Mike 's name in my head all day long from last night till this morning.Even right now, as she sat next to me in the car."Do you think Mike will visit us again?" She politely asked, raising her head to look at me while I kept my eyes on the road. "When should we have him over again?"Hm. Tempting, but how about never? It was enough that I was constantly lying and would have to reveal the truth about him being her father, soon. Having him stick around wouldn't make that any better for either of us."What do you say, Mama?"
Shades Of GrayMIKE She wouldn't speak to me or pick up my calls. Hell, I couldn't even reach her anymore- like I was suddenly erased from her existence in just a blink of an eye. I had no idea what I'd done wrong again, but I was sure as hell that I had to have done something for Clara to react that way.She wasn't particularly welcoming of me, I knew that, and I deserved it more than anything, but to the extent of her blatantly saying those things, something else was wrong, and I knew it. Her words rang in my head and replayed over and over again, up until the morning. It still did, as I drove to Beverly's office.I was just a step closer to putting an end to all of this, and actually focusing on being the best for Clara, and this happened? The main reason why I called her yesterday was to tell her that Lucy and I were divorced- it might not do her any good, but it made me feel a lot more better about the things to come.The things I was prepared to repair even if it meant I'd die
Fool Me Twice!CLARAMaybe a mature woman wouldn't have handled things the way I did, but I would gladly be immature if it meant I stayed away from Mike and his madness.It had been a few days, and I still couldn't pull the scene out of my head and my reaction to it. It was despicable. I showed weakness by picking up his call in the first place, thanks to that glass of wine.I knew it wasn't a pretty sight on me or the healed woman reputation I desperately tried to portray. I never wanted to see him again, and I meant it.I'd rather die than have Mike come close to me or my daughter ever again! Firstly, I was terribly embarrassed to face him; my reaction had been rash and utterly unreasonable.Today, we planned to visit Beverly again, Velma and I, probably to distract myself from the fact that I still remembered the birth date of my ex-husband that was today. The last time we celebrated his birthday was on happy notes- just a few months before he threw me under the bus.How convenie
August VisitorCLARAOh.Today was quite packed with activities, wasn't it? The first thing I said when I opened the door, was and Rodney was there, waiting, but as expected, he wasn't alone. I couldn't wait to get the full story on how they met, honestly, or why he thought bringing her so out of the blue was the best option, especially on a day I felt this way.According to him, he'd spoken to her about Velma more than once, and she insisted on meeting her in person. As Velma's mother, I didn't know how to feel about that, or possibly my judgment was still messed up from this whole thing with Beverly, but it seemed a bit too fast to be meeting Rodney's girlfriend now.I mean, it had barely been two weeks. I leaned against the door and looked up at them, trying to drop this cloak of passive aggressiveness that seemed to be hanging around my shoulder. "Hey," I said with a practiced smile as I opened the door wider. "Welcome aboard!"Welcome aboard? Screw me. Rodney laughed as she walke
Feelings and Disasters.CLARAHis response was as shocking as it was disappointing, and I really didn't know where to tackle the situation from, or how to tackle it. Jeez. The first question that popped into my mind was why? Then again, I wasn't so sure I wanted to know the reason, but I asked anyway."Why?" I pursed my lips and turned to him, unable to look Rodney in the eyes because I didn't know what to expect. Whatever this discussion was, it wasn't what I'd hoped to be having with him. "You're not sure you like her, and yet she's here, in my house? Why?"He sighed heavily, his eyes busying themselves by roaming around the kitchen. It was like Rodney was trying to gather his words. "Because she wanted to," he confessed. "Claire was so eager to meet Velma and you that she asked when I was going to travel back home. And here she is."I didn't understand it all. It still didn't feel like we spoke the same language because I didn't see any reason for anyone to lead their partners on w
Please, Let's Talk!MIKE Rodney was there, and that preached nothing good. I couldn't tell whether or not to move, but I was sure as hell that going back was impossible- I needed to talk to her and know the reason she was acting this way. I was aware that it was utterly inconsiderate of me to have shown up so easily, but I was out of fireworks to light.At this point, I was the firework. I approached them, practically urging myself not to drown in shame, and the vision got cleared. There was a lady holding on to Rodney and they all stared at me like I was a misfit which wasn't entirely wrong. Just setting eyes on Clara made my heart hurt- in a good way.She was beautiful as always, clad in a white dress that had made her look like she had fallen from the heavens. Clara wore her hair down today, and it scattered around her face in the best way possible. I couldn't help staring, though I knew I shouldn't be.And I could feel the intensity of the stranger's gaze on me. It wasn't particu
Confrontations.CLARA"No!" He denied, shaking his head in bewilderment. "No, I didn't plant Beverly in your life! I wouldn't do that. I still don't know how she knows you or how you two met, but I had nothing to do with it!"He sounded so convincing, feeding me all the answers that he knew I'd be delighted to hear, but I knew better. The moment I believed this, my mind would be open to more of his lies. I didn't even know why we were still here, talking about this because, honestly, I'd rather not."Okay," I sucked my teeth. "Okay. I believe you.""You do?" His eyes lit up, and his forehead creased. "You do?" Mike asked again, his tone dripping with enough doubt to portray his emotions.I released a stifled laugh. "Yes, of course I do. I mean, it was a simple coincidence that your lawyer became my friend. It was so much of a coincidence that I became her friend, Mike . Do I look stupid to you?"Yes. Undeniably, I did look stupid. It felt like I was eager to always see him in a bad l
Chapter 122 :A New BeginningMike pov It’s strange how life changes in an instant. One moment, you’re proposing to the love of your life with sweaty palms and a missing ring, and the next, you’re staring at a pregnancy test that says “positive.” Clara’s still asleep next to me, her hair a mess of golden waves sprawled over the pillow, and I’m lying here trying to figure out how my life got so... perfect. Except, it’s also terrifying. “Dad, I’m hungry,” Velma’s voice cut through my thoughts. I blinked at the ceiling before turning to see her standing by my side of the bed, clutching a stuffed bunny with one hand and rubbing her eyes with the other. She looked up at me with that sleepy little pout that made me realize she wasn’t a baby anymore. She wasn’t even my “little girl” anymore. And soon, there was going to be another little one in the house. “I’ll make you something in a sec, kiddo,” I whispered, ruffling her hair. Velma narrowed her eyes at me, all suspicious-like.
Crossing T's And Dotting I's. CLARA The ride was quiet, tense even, and my head was glued in one position, staring outside the vehicle as the houses blurred by. It seemed like Mike had been an undeniable part of my life for too long. I thought when I got home, I would be able to get him out of my air, but here I was now, in his car. I didn't know what I was supposed to say. I had been judgy and undeniably mean to him, especially about Lucy . No, about everything, and I knew why I continuously did that. I just wanted to push him away, irk him, and show him all of the ugliest parts of me so he could get sick of it and go away! That didn't seem to be happening anytime soon, and the guilt I felt was only amplified. However does one get over this? Jeez. I glanced at him from the corner of my eyes; he even looked good from the side, focused on the road. The silence was so thick that I felt it in my chest. Felt it deep inside my heart like an ice-formed dagger and it was slowly pre
: Viva La Vida.THREE MONTHS LATER.MIKE "Ughh! This dude doesn't know how to give up, does he?" I rolled my eyes as I fell on the couch next to Clara and wrapped my arms around her. She was looking at her phone again, for the second time today. He just wouldn't stop sending her those pictures, would he? Clara snuggled closer, "I should just block him, right?" She joked. "Love really had made him mad. I mean, look at that smile!"I shrugged. "I mean, did you see what it did to me?" A giggle ripped out of her throat and I snatched the phone from her playfully. "Is it just me or does he look fatter here?""Claire must be doing such a wonderful job!" Clara beamed, sighing. "I'm just glad he's okay! He looks so happy!""He does." I pecked her. "But I look happier, look at me alone." Rodney had been on vacation with Claire for the past two months, so we get blessed with pictures like this every second.It was tons of Claire's pictures, literally every part of her had been sent to Clara a
Hope.CLARAMike didn't respond, and more tears trickled down his cheeks as he stared into my eyes. His eyes were red, and swollen, evidence that he had been crying for a longer time than right now. My eyes prickled at the sight of him crying, and tears began to roll down my cheeks as well.Why was he crying? And why was I crying too. I didn't know why but my heart felt heavy in my chest, and it ached terribly. His silence stung me all over like a thousand bees. Why was he answering? What had happened to our baby?"C-Mike ?" I stammered, arching a brow, "What happened to Velma?" The question barely left my lips, but again he was quiet. Almost like he couldn't speak, and I couldn't take it anymore.The silence was killing me, just as much as not knowing what had happened to my baby. Could she-No. I shook my head frantically at the thought of that. No way. I didn't even want to think about that. I couldn't bear the thought of it, and it felt like a part me died at that brief thought.
Where Is She?CLARAI knew it was stupid and I shouldn't be here alone but what else could I do?! Lucy had threatened to harm her if I told anyone. I'd rather get hurt in her place as long as nothing happens to my daughter!I parked the car and looked up ahead at the building. No one lived there and the whole thing looked like it would fall apart at any moment.My heart thumped in my chest when fear gripped me and the possibility of all the bad things that could happen flashed before my mind. I closed the car door immediately I stepped out, my hands balled into fists.I'd rather die than have anything happen to Velma! Oh, god! Oh god! Agatha, too! I desperately clung to the hope that she had nothing to do with this, and that she was safe, just as Velma was.The video replayed in my head in an unending loop and I almost burst into tears.My baby. My little girl was fucking tied to a chair. I was going to kill Lucy ! I was going to rip her to shreds the moment I set my eyes on her. I s
The Foe.CLARAI felt a knot immediately tighten in the pit of my stomach as my eyes scanned the empty room from the doorway. The bed was empty, Velma wasn't here. Velma wasn't here?It was 2 a.m. Why wasn't she in bed by this time? Panic was slowly setting in, and I could feel it claw it way up my stomach. Where was she?My eyes shot to the restroom at the corner of the room, and I felt a bit of calm wash over me. Perhaps she was in there. I swallowed the uneasiness that had crawled its way to my throat, slightly panicking as I dashed across the room to her bathroom. "Velma," I called as I knocked on the door or rather banged it but there was no answer, and I pushed it open, "Velma," I called again.The door swung open, and my heart sank as it turned out empty too. She wasn't in the restroom. My head spun around the room, and my palm was beginning to feel clammy as I released the door and it slammed shut in my face. Where the hell was she? Where could she go?My stomach tightened, a
More Trouble!CLARA I came out of Velma's room after I'd registered that she was asleep and I took Mike into mine.We barely made it past the door. My urges were all over the place and I'd clenched my thighs all through the ride. I needed him so badly.Mike managed to slam the door behind me and pushed me in, crashing his lips into mine! "I'll take care of you," he whispered between kisses. "I'm so sorry, Clara. I'm so sorry I made you doubt me."His breath was hot against my face and he nibbled kisses everywhere. I was dripping wet, unable to contain my hunger.He whispered lovingly as he placed kisses on my naked body. I hastily unbuttoned his trousers, and he pulled it off before tossing it aside."Mike ," his tongue twirled with mine as if I'm trying to taste all his secrets. "I know. And I'm sorry too," I replied, out of breath. "Please. I'm ready. I want this. I want you. I'm done fighting you. Let me feel you, please."I reached down between us and gripped his cock, a little
Misconceptions.ClaraMy eyes locked onto Alice as she stepped inside my home, and I clenched my palm into a fist, feeling the slight tremble of my hands, and body as the rage simmered inside of me. It felt like a fucking earthquake was happening inside of me, and I hated that she made me feel this way-this small.What the hell was she doing here? How dare she even show her face here after what she had done? How dare she? Anger clawed it way up my throat, and I swallowed it back down, struggling to stay in control as my gaze fixed on her.My mind raced with a mix of emotions-Anger, hurt, betrayal, each feeling fighting for dominance, but I kept my expression blank, masking my feelings. I couldn't let her know how much her presence was affecting me or how much she had hurt me. No way. I didn't want to give her the satisfaction of a reaction so I feigned calm even if I felt nothing like that.Even if I felt like I was caught in the middle of a freaking storm or hurricane. My emotions we
Loss!MIKE *THREE HOURS EARLIER*I didn't touch Alice! I didn't do anything with her so who captured these incriminating photos? My eyes burned when I looked down at the envelope once more. The weight had multiplied in my hand, like I carried the problems of the world inside that piece of paper.Fuck! Who the hell took this?Why?I was...just a step away from having my entire life together and this happens? I felt like a car running on fumes. Why was I stupid enough to think things would continue to go smoothly like they had these past few days?My heart had ripped from my chest and my hands wouldn't stop shaking no matter how I tried. I gulped hard as I tottered towards my car from Clara's building.She'd shut down and those entrances were slammed in my face. The ones I'd worked so hard to reopen. It felt like a knife was being carved into my chest and I swear, I couldn't breathe!I couldn't breathe. Who sent those photos? What did I do? If only she'd let me explain! Nothing happene