Decides to keep the truth

Chapter fifty-four
Henry
Does Jayde love me? She does?
The revelation kept me motionless and speechless for a moment. Even my heart races at the fact.
But the fact that I'm happy about this is surprising. Why should I be glad she loves me?
She's not meant to love me, just like Declan has said. She's not even supposed to look at me like that.
She will be gone whenever Hattie shows up. She's just like a show, she will be gone and I won't be able to bring her back because I will be with the real Hattie.
I won't even notice her disappearance but she doesn't care.
What kind of a lady is Jayde?
"If you won't do it, then I will!" Declan says strongly. I'm not sure if he's only jealous or he's pained at what Jayde will pass through whenever Hattie comes back.
"Please," Jayde says softly, "Please don't do this!"
I should walk in now. No more eavesdropping before Jayde decides to tell me.
I knock on the door slightly before walking in. I look at Jayde and watch her wipe off the tears from her cheeks.
I don't know why she's doing this but it shows how brave she is. I've been trying my best to stop myself from falling in love with her because I don't want to be left alone and I don't want to face the penalty that comes with it.
"Hattie, why are you here," I ask her instead. Her face is reddish from crying. I wonder why it's so painful to her. Is it because I said I never loved Hattie?
But well, I never did. It was her fault, she shouldn't have fallen in love with me.
"There's something she wanted to tell you but she couldn't do it herself. So, she came here to beg me to do it on her behalf. What are you doing here by the way?"
I look up at Declan, " I was going by and I decided to say hi."
" There's something you need to know."
" Is that why she's crying?" I feign ignorance and step towards her. I wipe off the tears that linger on her cheek, "You shouldn't cry. No matter how big it is, I will forgive you."
She looks up at me, with eyes big and darker. She looks cute this way. Now that I see it, Jayde's eyes are bigger than Hattie's own.
And it makes her look so beautiful, especially whenever she looks up at me and they get wider.
"Henry, she's not_,"
"I will wait!" I scream, cutting him off. I know what he wanted to say but I don't want to hear it. Not yet.
Does he think I'm not aware of the fact? As far as I'm concerned, I got to find out before he did. Why is he acting all hero?
If she doesn't want to tell me, he should respect her decision.
Well, I know what's doing Declan. He loves her but it turns out Jayde's heart is already beating for me.
For no reason, the thought made me feel good. I can't believe she loves me.
"Henry, you need to hear this!" He says hurriedly.
I turn to look at her, " If she's crying so hard, then that means she doesn't want to tell me just yet. I will respect her decision then and wait for it."
" Henry, you don't understand. This thing is very important."
I scoff, " I don't care. It doesn't matter much to me other than my wife. I will wait for her to tell me herself."
" But Henry, you need to hear this!" He says hurriedly as if he couldn't bear to split it out.
I take a step closer to him, calmly, "Why does this look like a threat to me? It doesn't matter if you know her secret, why must you threaten her into telling me. If she doesn't want to, then it's fine."
Declan let out a sigh, " If it's something harmful to you. Will you still accept not to listen?"
"The truth is left for me to hear it. If I choose not to, it doesn't matter. Even if it's harmful to me, I will wait until she's ready to tell me. I won't force her either and I won't make her cry."
" Also, if it's something so difficult to say. Then perhaps it might be something that will affect me if she says it."
Yes, it will greatly affect me if she tells me she's Jayde. I will be left with two choices.
I will either tell the world I got married to Jayde or face my parent's wrath of not knowing where my wife is.
I'm still receiving the punishment and I don't want to add more, I seriously don't.
"And, how come you two are close. The last time I checked you guys haven't met."
Declan went stiff for a moment, then he look past me, towards Jayde, " We met recently, and well if I tell you what she's trying so hard to hide. Then you will know how our relationship got so close."
" Are you guys having a secret relationship?" I raise a brow, skeptical and curious if that is the case.
Declan looks away, "No."
"Then we will leave. I won't want people to go around carrying rumors of you guys having something going on in secret," I walk to Jayde.
She's still looking at me, with such a gaze I'm getting familiar with. Now that I've heard the truth, I can't help but reason about it.
The gaze she gives me was always so soft and loving. I mistook it but that's the case.
And this started the moment she came back home. It started in the car. She even kissed me and we almost did the impossible in the car.
I wouldn't have hesitated if she was Hattie.
"Let's go home," I pull at her slowly. She looks back at Declan before she suddenly follows me to my car.
I open the door for her and watch her get in before I walk to the driver's seat.
She didn't say a word throughout our drive. I didn't ask her any questions or start a conversation either.
Well, I already know the secret she's keeping.
I need to know what had happened to Hattie and why she's in the hospital.
Why is she not getting up? Why must Jayde have to come back?
What's there that I don't know of.
I pull off in front of the house, "You should go in. I have somewhere to be."
She nods briefly and gets down.
I watch her enter the house before I start the car again and drive towards Beatrice's house.
I was ushered in immediately. I walk to the living room. Beatrice sat, together with Mercy and they seem to be watching a movie show.
Nice one! I like the fact that Mercy is here.
Mercy is a close friend of Hattie but recently, they haven't been meeting except the day I invited them home. Do they think I was not going to notice the changes?
Well, I might but there was no way in the world I would settle my mind on the fact that there was someone somewhere that looks like my wife. And she's the one I've been living with, I've been kissing and was also about to have sex with.
"Henry!" Beatrice smiles and stands to hug me.
I smile and hug her slightly. She pulls back and I hug Mercy too.
I sit, 'How have you been doing?"
" Fine! Are you with your wife?" Beatrice asks.
I shake my head negatively, " No. I came here to speak with the two of you. And fortunately for me, I found you both at home."
" Yes, what's it about?"
" Wheres Hattie?"
Beatrice and Mercy look at each other amazingly, then back at me, "Didn't you just say you left your wife at home just now? Why will you ask her from us?"
I relax back in my chair, " Yes. I left the lady you married off to me at home but I'm asking of Hattie Everett, the one I was supposed to marry."
Beatrice's eyes went wider, " What are you talking about."
I chuckle silently. She looks shocked and yet she's trying to say she doesn't know what I'm saying.
"Will you like it if I call the polices? Jayde and every one of you might be imprisoned because you deceived me and every one of us."
Beatrice swallow harder, " How did you know?"
"Did you think I wouldn't discover earlier? Jayde wouldn't even let me touch her and she acts so different from Hattie."
" Now, where is Hattie and why is she not yet back?"
Mercy looks downcast.
Beatrice looks away.
I move closer to them, "I know Hattie is in the hospital. I just don't know what she's doing there. And I'm here to hear all the answers that I need. If you don't tell me, I will be forced to take legal actions."
They both look up at me at the same time.
I smile and relax in my chair, "Now, tell me:"