Chapter 22

I still couldn't believe that he actually denied me and my baby on National TV.
An opportunist?!.
Those words kept ringing in my head.
I rubbed my tummy, "He doesn't deserve you or your mum, why would he say I blackmailed him ?."
All these while he has been faking his feelings.
What about those happy moments we shared?.
The plans of us taking care of the baby.
It was all a lie.
There's no point in staying here after all he has already cancelled the wedding, I deserve way better than a man who disgraced me on National TV.
I want to question him so bad, scream at him , cry in his arms but I couldn't because he's not mine, after all I'm just a secretary who got lucky, not even lucky because he doesn't want me, in the eyes of the world, I'm the second woman who snatched someone's love of their life.
I have his baby, I never for once regretted having this baby just because he decides to be stupid and immature.
I will bring this child to the world and take care of it, acting as a mother and father figure.
I took out my box from the wardrobe and started removing my clothes from the hangers to fold them into my box.
This is too toxic for me.
I grabbed my phone to call Preston.
"Hey, sis."
"You good?." He inquired.
I could imagine his worried expression right now.
"Please, come and pick me up."
"Why?."
"Don't ask questions, okay!."
"I need to know."
I sighed, " I can't.. I need to leave...make sure my child isn't born and brought in a toxic environment or treated like an outsider just because of his mother's mistake."
"Mistake,you say?."
"If I didn't open my damn legs, I wouldn't be in this situation."
"Stop putting the blame on yourself, you don't have to leave...just wait till he gets back and try to get the truth out of him." He advised.
"What truth exactly?, Look!, I don't want to know why he did, the deed has already been done and he can't undo the damages caused, I don't want my kid to have such a man as his or her father."
"At the end of the day, he's still the father."
"Are you done?, When you are done with your talks, please come and pick me up, I will be waiting, hurry up." I hung up before he had a chance to utter a word.
I gently sat on my bed, his words kept replaying in my head.
So I am the bad guy in this game.
We had sex and I got pregnant and he doesn't want to own up to it.
He seriously thinks I'm trying to tie him down or take half of his property with a child.
I squeezed the bedsheet as I clenched my jaw.
I breathed in and out, anger was the last thing I needed for my health.
I didn't need stress at all.
More reason why I have to leave this place, if I see his face and keep seeing it, it will only make me hate him and make me an emotional mess.
I calmly waited for Preston to come but I had a feeling that he wouldn't after all , he still believes that Alex has a reason for what he did.
Blind Faith and Hope.
I decided to not wait any longer and called a cab, I dragged my box and walked out of my room.
My slow movement wasn't helping matters because I wanted to leave as soon as possible.
If only Preston was here, he would have helped me to carry my box or something.
The stairs even made it much more difficult, so I successfully got downstairs.
I paused to catch my breath, I wanted to take a seat but the earlier I left, the better.
I was about to open the door when mum stopped me.
"Where do you think you are going with your box?." Her words halted my action.
I slowly turned around to see the curious look on her face.
"I can't stay anymore."
"Oh, dear...good thing, I decided to come check on you, you would have probably escaped without anybody's knowledge." She spoke to herself as if I wasn't there.
"You can't leave...I mean you need someone to take care of you in this condition."
"I am sorry, mum but it's best , I leave , what am I doing here?His mistress doesn't have a purpose anymore." I stated.
" Why would you call yourself his mistress, he's the reason you are in this situation, I won't even let him be with Skyler or whatever her name is called." She confessed.
I passed her a soft, weak smile.
" If Alex wants to marry her, he will do it regardless of anybody's opinion, I don't want my baby and I to be treated like a second class citizen in his or her father's house, it's better I leave, I can't bear or face any more disgrace."
" And you won't, trust me, I'm his mother, he will listen to me, I will talk sense into his head, he has to handle his responsibility."
"Mum, I appreciate your efforts but please, it's not worth the stress, just let me go before he gets back." I begged.
"No way!, I want to see my grandchild and take good care of my grandchild." She blatantly refused.
She wasn't going to let me leave , Preston had just one damn job.
She took my box and kept it to her side.
"You are going to stay put until all of this blows over" She said as she made her way back to the living room.
She sighed, "Fine, let's have a civil conversation."
I forced a smile and decided to sit, I didn't like the stress either.
"Do you trust him?." She threw the question at me.
Silence took over before I replied, " I do."
"If you do then there's no need to leave."
"I don't want to, I still can't believe it but he looked like he meant what he said in his interview."
"He looked like...just wait until he gets back, he must have a logical explanation for this.
She assured me.
~Alex's POV~
I could not stop thinking of how upset and angry she must be, the stress and the pain I put her through, the disgrace and humiliation and it's all because of Skyler.
Actually, it's not because of her, if I didn't get into a relationship with her in the first place, I wouldn't be in this mess, if I didn't get drunk that day , I wouldn't be in this deep shit, if I only I had controlled myself and not raped her to death, my kitten wouldn't be in this mess with me.
She doesn't deserve this, will she ever forgive me?.
Different thoughts ran through, my head was getting blocked.
What if she decides to leave the house and move to an unknown location.
I won't be able to see my child or her again.
I can't marry Skyler, no matter what.
There must be a way.
"Stop overthinking, I will explain everything to her, to them." Liam assured while his eyes were still fixed on the road.
I sighed, " That's if we meet her still at home."
"Don't say that, she can't give up just like that."
" Who wouldn't?, I said a lot of mean things about her."
" I hope this stress doesn't push her into early labor."
"Stop panicking, everything will be fine, we will sort this out."
I didn't say a word, I was already feeling a slight headache.
Skyler.
When we got to the mansion, the gate opened and we drove in.
I hesitated before stepping out of the car , will they understand?.
Liam opened the door and we saw her sitting with my mum, her box was beside mum.
She was already leaving.
My heart dropped, if my mum wasn't at home , she would have successfully left the house without a trace, she would probably change numbers and even her name.
She avoided making eye contact with me but when she finally did, I regretted the words I said to the press.
What is Skyler even doing to me?.
Petra has gone through alot because of her, she doesn't deserve to be punished for my mistake.
Her eyes made me confused, at first it held anger then it weakened and turned to that pain.
I want to tell her how much I loved her and that I would never hurt her intentionally but I couldn't, she won't even listen to me , not after what I said.
~Petra~
I was still thinking of one thousand ways to leave this house when the door flung open with Liam and Alex.
I instantly looked away, not wanting to make eye contact with a coward.
"What's with the box?." Liam questioned.
That's a question but just maybe if the question was asked by my dear Alex Montero, maybe it would have shown a little bit of concern and remorse.
"She wanted to leave but I stopped her." Mum answered.
Liam sighed and looked at me then at Alex with pity in his eyes.
"You already gave up huh?." Alex finally spoke up.
"Why won't I?What do you really expect an opportunist to do?."
"Petra , don't stress about it , you are pregnant." Liam stated the obvious.
" And he should have known that before vomiting rubbish for the press." I glared at him.
" He should have known that the mother of his child doesn't need stress,oh, I'm sorry, I forgot, it was never meant to happen, it was just a one night stand that is making your life a living nightmare."
"Petra...." Liam called but I ignored him.
" Mr Alexandra Montero, I'm really sorry , I should have known my boundaries and my place. I'm sorry for ending your perfect relationship with the love of your life, I'm sorry for blackmailing you into marrying me....I made a mistake." I walked to meet mum so I could get my box but Liam seized it.
"You don't understand the reason why he did it." Liam said.
" Then make me understand because I want to know why this man standing in front of me decided to accuse me wrongly of things I never did, I'm really ashamed of the fact that you are the father of my child."
"Kitten..." He tried to call my name.
"Don't you dare!." I warned him.
"You have to calm down, consider the baby." Mum brought me to sit down.
I had flashbacks of his hurtful statements on TV and the moment we shared together.
"He was forced to do it."
"Huh?."
"What?."
"He was blackmailed by Skyler." Liam confessed.
I raised my head to look at Alex to maybe search for truth in his eyes and indeed it was there.
" I don't understand why and with what exactly?." I threw questions.
Liam sighed and looked at Alex, he gave him the go ahead, " He raped a girl in his drunken state at a party."
I looked at him in shock, I couldn't be angry at him after all alcohol makes people do crazy things that they always regret afterwards.
He kept silent but I knew that wasn't the whole truth.
"And?."
"He raped her to death."
Mum's eyes popped out of the socket.
"Oh my God.' I covered my mouth with my hands as I looked at him.
"How's that possible?Did you hit her or what?."
"I can't remember vividly but I remembered that she stopped breathing and I ran to Skyler for help and she lied to me that he will cover the trace meanwhile she recorded a video of the crime." Alex confessed.
She's such a snake.
" I can't believe she was actually your ex, she's such a devil." Mum said.
" So she did that for future purposes, wow, she's really something."
" She wants me to marry her or she will make sure I rot in jail."
" How does she expect you to spend the rest of your life with someone as psychopathic and evil as her?"
That part of me was right, I knew he wouldn't throw everything away just like that , he still cared.
" Kitten, I'm so sorry for the words I said , I didn't mean any of that, I love you and I cherish our baby, you aren't an opportunist , you are the mother of my unborn kids and my soon to be wife, I will try to get us out of this mess, I promise."
I smiled at him, he placed a kiss on my tummy.
" That's the man, I know." Liam said.
" So how are we going to fix this?." I asked them.
" We can lure her in by deceiving her that you are gone and Alex wants her back then we will find a way to delete the evidence from her." Liam answered.
" It won't be that easy, she's smart, you know." Alex stated.
"I know, we will think of something except my kitten, don't stress too much about it okay, just take good care of our baby and everything will be alright." He assured me.
I couldn't stop smiling but everytime I remembered the trouble he was in, I had to stop.
He stood the chance of going to jail, his family's name dragged to the mud, his unborn child would be called the son of a rapist but I knew there was light at the end of the tunnel.
He led me upstairs to my room while Liam carried my box.
"Get some rest." Liam told me before leaving.
I turned to see him staring, " I hope you mean so much to me, once this is over, I will correct the information I gave to the press, I promise, we just have to lay low until we figure something out."
He placed a kiss on my forehead then my tummy, he gave me a forced smile, my eyes became teary.
He's going through all these because of me.
If we didn't have a one night stand, he wouldn't be in this situation but then, I'm also grateful because I found peace and love in this wonderful man and he has given me a reason to keep smiling with his unborn child.
He leaned in and I closed my eyes but I could feel we were touching noses, his lips rubbed against mine before enveloping it in a kiss.
" I love you and nothing is ever going to change and nothing is going to come between us, this is a phase and we will pass through it." He assured me before leaving.
I hope everything turns out fine.
My phone rang and I checked to see it was Preston, I rolled my eyes before answering.
"Right timing."
"Hey sis, I'm on my way, do you still want to leave?."
"Don't bother, I have changed my mind."
"Wow, that's good news, in fact it's a miracle." I could imagine the smile on his face.
"Yeah, whatever."
"See ya in a minute." He ended the call.
I decided to take a nap before he would arrive but he was already here.
"When did you become Flash?."
"I was already close to the house when I called."
"Oh."
"I just wanted to take a nap."
"Then, I should leave you."
"Nah, did you get me anything?."
"I got you fruits."
" Thanks."
"So has the whole dilemma been resolved?." Worry was evident on his face.
I sighed, "It just got worse."
"What do you mean?."
"Alex is being blackmailed by Skyler."
"The hell?!, How and why?!."
"Apparently, his past is unto him."
" Just go straight to the point." He stated impatiently.
I rolled my eyes at him and took the plate of fruit salad and started eating.
"He killed a girl."
"What?!."
"Sorry, he didn't kill her, he raped her and she died."
"Fuck!, That's so bad."
"And Skyler knows?."
"Yeah, pretty obvious"
"Does the police know about this?."
"Not yet."
"Okay, good."
"There's nothing that's good."
"If he doesn't marry her, she will tell the corps, she has the evidence."
"She's such a sneaky bastard."
"Has Louisa reached you?" He whispered.
"Oh my gosh, I totally forgot about our sister!."
"She's fine, I spoke to her, not quite long."
"Okay, good, I won't be able to handle any more issues."
" And you won't." He assured me.
" We will figure something out, you should take a nap, I will see Alex and Liam." He stated before leaving.
I smiled at his retreating figure, men always find a way to handle things.
Skyler won't be the death of us.