CHAPTER NINETY-ONE

**OLIVER**
The days after Carrie’s call were a blur of confusion, fear, and guilt. The weight of the news that she was pregnant hung over me like a storm cloud, darkening every moment of what was supposed to be the happiest time of my life. Gabriel and I had finally found some semblance of peace. Our bond was healing, and for the first time in months, I allowed myself to believe that we might actually make it. We were building something new—something stronger, more genuine.
But that fragile happiness felt like it was teetering on the edge, and Carrie’s words were the push that could send it all tumbling down.
I had no idea what to do.
Gabriel and I were still so raw, still so fragile. Our relationship was far from stable, and the thought of telling him the truth—that I had an affair with Carrie, his cousin, his sister in every sense of the word—and that she was carrying my child, was unfathomable. It was the kind of thing that could break him beyond repair. I couldn’t do that to him. Not after everything we’d been through.
But I also couldn’t ignore the reality of what was happening. This was my life, my mess, and it was only a matter of time before it all came crashing down.
I needed advice. Someone who would understand the depth of the situation without judging me. Someone who might know how to navigate this twisted, tangled web I’d found myself trapped in.
I didn’t want to go to Gabriel—not yet. He was still trying to rebuild the trust between us, and I wasn’t about to destroy that just because I couldn’t handle the weight of my own guilt.
That left only one person: Shanice.
Her house was as I remembered—quiet, unassuming, a little too neat for my taste. I had never been fond of the way she kept things so pristine, but there was no denying that she had a certain order to her life. I parked outside, staring at the familiar surroundings. I hadn’t seen Shanice since our argument months ago, when the bitterness between us had reached its peak. That confrontation, with all its raw emotion and accusations, still felt fresh in my mind.
But I needed her now. She had always been someone I could rely on, even when we weren’t on the best terms. If there was anyone who understood the goddess and the twisted path she had set me on, it was Shanice.
I grabbed a box of freshly made doughnuts and a bouquet of flowers, hoping they would soften the blow of what I was about to ask. When I knocked on the door, my heart was pounding so loudly I thought she might hear it.
“Who is it?” Shanice’s voice called from inside, her tone sharp and guarded, as if she could sense the heaviness in the air.
“It’s me,” I said, taking a deep breath. “Oliver.”
There was a long pause before the sound of the door unlocking. She opened it just wide enough to peer at me, her face expressionless. I didn’t know if she would slam the door in my face or invite me in, but I braced myself for whatever was coming.
“What do you want?” she asked, her tone colder than I expected.
“I came to apologize,” I said, holding up the box of doughnuts and flowers. “I’ve been an asshole, Shanice. I’m sorry for the way I treated you before. I shouldn’t have acted like that.”
Her expression softened, but only slightly. “Apology accepted,” she said, taking the doughnuts from me with a small nod. “You’re not the first to apologize for their behavior.”
I wasn’t sure if that was meant to make me feel better or worse, but I stepped inside when she motioned for me to. Shanice didn’t waste time with pleasantries, guiding me through her small living room with a sense of purpose.
“Sit,” she said, her voice more neutral now. “I’ll get us something to drink.”
I sat on the couch, trying to steady my breathing as she disappeared into the kitchen. I looked around, the silence in the house feeling deafening. I had never quite gotten used to the way she navigated the space, despite being blind. It was a skill she’d developed over the years, and she never seemed to need anyone’s help.
She returned with two glasses of iced tea, setting one down in front of me before sitting across from me, her posture relaxed but her expression still unreadable.
“All right, now talk,” she said, settling in. “What’s going on?”
I hesitated, then took a deep breath, letting the words spill out. “Carrie called me yesterday.”
Her head tilted slightly, her unseeing gaze fixed somewhere near my face. “Oh? That’s unexpected.”
“Yeah,” I muttered, feeling the weight of her call settle deeper into my chest. “She’s… pregnant.”
Shanice’s lips curled into a smile that was far too pleased for the situation. “That’s great news, Oliver.”
I blinked, caught off guard. “What?”
Her smile widened. “Well, isn’t it? The goddess will be very proud of you. This is exactly what she wanted.”
I couldn’t suppress the shock that surged through me. “You’re happy about this? How can you be?”
Her smile faltered, but she didn’t back down. “Why not? This is a gift, Oliver. The goddess is giving you a chance to fulfill her wishes. It’s been a long time coming.”
I stared at her, trying to process her words. “You’re missing the point. Gabriel’s not going to take this well. He’s my mate, Shanice. I can’t tell him this. I—”
“Why?” she interrupted, her voice soft but insistent. “Why not? This is the next step. The goddess will finally have her vessel, and she’ll be pleased. This is the fulfillment of her plan.”
I shook my head, my chest tightening. “You don’t get it. Gabriel won’t understand. He’ll never understand why I did it. He’ll never forgive me. This is going to ruin everything we’ve just rebuilt.”
Shanice’s smile faded completely as she took in my words. She folded her hands in her lap, leaning back. “I see.”
For a long moment, neither of us spoke. The silence was heavy, thick with the weight of everything I had just said.
“You’ve got to tell him eventually,” Shanice said finally, her voice low and measured. “It won’t be easy, but it’s the only way forward.”
“I don’t know if I can,” I admitted, the words catching in my throat. “I don’t want to lose him, Shanice. I just got him back.”
Her expression softened, and she reached across the table, resting her hand on mine. “You’re afraid. I get it. But sometimes you have to face the hard truths. Gabriel will be hurt, yes. But he will understand, in time. You just need to be honest with him.”
I looked at her, my thoughts swirling. “I don’t know what to do.”
“Do nothing for now,” she said. “Wait. Let things unfold. If Carrie calls again, try to reach a compromise with her. But don’t act out of fear. Let things play out. If you can find a way to make peace with Gabriel, then maybe—just maybe—there’s a way forward.”
I felt a strange sense of relief wash over me, even though the weight of the decision still hung over me. “You really think I can fix this?”
Shanice gave a soft laugh. “Of course, you can. You’ve made mistakes, but you’re not beyond redemption.”
“Thanks,” I said quietly, squeezing her hand. “I didn’t know where else to turn.”
She smiled. “You always know where to turn, Oliver. You just don’t always want to listen to what you know.”
The rest of the afternoon passed in a haze. Shanice and I talked more about the situation, though my mind kept returning to Gabriel. What would he say? How could I ever make him understand? The weight of my lies and omissions felt heavier than ever, but Shanice’s words stayed with me. Maybe, just maybe, there was a way through this.
But as I left her house, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the storm was just beginning. The goddess’s plans were in motion, and I had no idea where they would take me.