Chapter 42: After all these years

"I ran into Ralph recently" Rachael blurted out as she held the phone to her ear. Her hands shook. It was due to how scared she was.

"You what?" Chloe raised her voice at the other end of the phone. "That bastard. After all these years? What did he say? What did he do with Leia?"

"From what he said, Leia is fine" Tears gathered in her eyes. "I don't know what to do anymore. He is still the same. He even tried to kill me"

"Rachael he touched you? Oh, I wish I wasn't in this camp. I would rip his head off" she boiled in anger.

"I don't know what to do now. I want to see Leia, but I'm scared"

"He can't deny you access to your child"

"Ralph can do many things. I think he wants me to see her. That's why he approached me" Rachael sniffed. "She won't even recognize me. It's been so long"

"Don't you think its better to inform the police"

" After all these years? I think I will just carry my cross by myself"

"Have you told Xavier?"

Rachael pressed her lips together. "No" her voice didn't come out louder than a whisper.

"You won't tell him?"

"I don't think I have the balls for that. I'll just meet with Ralph, ask him for Leia. Xavier doesn't have to get involved in my mess"

"Of course he does."

"Leave it Chloe" There was no way she was telling Xavier. She prayed he wasn't going to find out on his own.

"I have to go" she whispered.

"Okay, take care"

"You too"

Rachael cut the call and lay on her bed. It was late at night. Instead of getting sleep, here she was panicking over something else. How could she help it? The father of her child showed up out of nowhere after ghosting her for way too long.

Rachael was 19, he was 23. They were so in love, that she didn't have any care in the world? After a year of dating, the relationship became toxic, very toxic. At that time she was living with him. Her mother wasn't okay with that arrangement, but naive Rachael didn't care.

He started hitting her at the slightest thing and apologized too quickly for her to react. Each time he apologized, she forgave him. She got pregnant for him after some time which he wasn't happy with. Her situation got worse. He despised her deeply.

Ralph was the son of a rich business tycoon, a spoilt brat. He didn't fail to rub his wealth on Rachael's face. When she gave birth, he broke up with her and took Leia with him. Not after telling Rachael, he was doing her a favor. She was still young so having a kid might slow her down. He assured her she can have the baby back when she was much older, but that was the last time she saw him. Until yesterday.

After tossing uncomfortably on the bed, in search of sleep, Rachael stood up once more. Her conscience judged her. She couldn't sleep especially when Ralph's face kept flashing in her head.

Once more, she grabbed her phone and walked over to the drawer where she kept his card. He had slipped it into her hands right before he choked her. Rachael could barely hold the phone properly. Her hand shook as she held the phone to her ear.

"Ralph" Rachael's voice came out in a whisper. Her throat felt tight. She was too scared.

"Rachael" he immediately recognized her voice. "I knew you would come around. But I didn't know it would take this long. Guess you have changed"

"Bastard" she muttered under her breath and prayed he didn't hear it, but he did.

"What did you say" he voiced out on the other end.

"Nothing"

"I thought so"

"Where is Leia"

"What do you mean where is she? She is safe"

"What lies did you tell her about me," Rachael asked through gritted teeth.

"I told her no lie. The only thing I told when is the truth. How you were a whore. A bitch"

"Ralph" Rachael's voice broke down. "You would tell a child that?"

"It's the truth"

He hasn't changed a bit. He was still the same Ralph she met a few years ago. She hated him. Hated him so much.

"I want to see her" she bit her lips nervously, waiting for him to give a response. If he denied her the right to meet her child, then he would see the other side of her.

"I thought so"

"You can't stop me from seeing my child"

"I can't" he repeated. That made Rachael angry. He spoke like he hadn't been denying her access to her child for years. "She is in Florida. I'll be leaving for there the day after tomorrow"

"I'm not going to Florida with you"

"Then you can't see Leia"

Rachael's heart sank. She stayed silent for a while before speaking. "Fine, but if you touch me" she warned.

"Even though I want to teach you a lesson for what your boyfriend did to me, I won't"

It took Rachael a while to realize he was talking about Lucas. "Lucas isn't my boyfriend"

"Your boyfriend, your fuck partner, I don't care"

"Then why make a fuse about it?"

"I see you are getting too chatty," he spat. "Anyway see you on Wednesday," he said and didn't let her utter another word before ending the call.

Rachael's lips trembled, her hands quivered as she settled the phone beside her. At this point, she doesn't know what to do. All she can do is hope and pray Leia accepts her. Will she tell Xavier she is going to Miami? not