Chapter 27

Clarissa mustered courage, got out of the vehicle, and walked along the concrete pathway leading to the house. The front door was a dark shade of red with a golden knocker in the middle and a bell at the side. As she reached for the button her hand trembled. It didn’t at all ring how she expected, instead of a dinging sound it was a buzzing noise. She takes a deep breath and blows it out slowly. The seconds that passed felt like hours. She was beginning to feel like she didn't know if she could do this, but it was too late. The door was pulled open and behind it was a young man with sandy brown hair and green eyes. He was dressed very casually in jeans and a black shirt, and she didn’t recognize him. “What the…” he mumbles as his jaw slackens in shock.

She curls hair behind her ear. “umm…Can I come in? I’d like to speak to Regina.” Baylee told her to barge in there like she owned the place and demanded answers, but it was instinct for her to politely ask.

“Um…”He scratched his head for a moment. She could tell he was so confused and she wanted to ask why but she was going to let her answers come from the horse's mouth. He widens the door. “Sure I guess.”

She brushed past him briskly and into the small house. She scans around the open floor plan. The living room, kitchen, and dining area were all visible but there was no sign of Jacob or Regina.
She turns to the person who opened the door and in a demanding tone asks “Where are they?”

“Backyard.” He points to the glass sliding door that was behind the two-seater table in the dining area.

She swallows and nears the clear doors. What she saw on the other side was painful. There was a small patio with tables, chairs, and a sofa swing that Jacob was sitting on with Regina in his lap. Her back was facing the doors as she leaned down and started a make-out session with him.

Clarissa squeezed her eyes shut and almost hightailed it out of there, but no, she was going to let him know that he was caught, at least that. Game over. She almost gagged when she thought about the lies he told. God would have believed him the way he swore on his children.

She slides the door open and steps out. Neither heard the door. They continued kissing but that soon ended when she started clapping.

Regina turns her head with a large smile that was wiped clean off when she connects her eyes with Clarissa. She stands immediately. “Oh my…”

“The world's best actor award goes to…” Clarissa announces.

Jacob stands and when she shifts her gaze on him she instantly realises that she isn’t looking at Jacob at all. Holy hell, this guy resembled Jacob almost exactly but it wasn’t him. Her eyes shoot open and she covers her mouth.

The sliding doors open again behind her. “Clair?” Jacobs's voice echoes.

Her shocked expression shifts to his.

“What are you doing here?” He steps out and nears her.

“I…Jacob…” words couldn’t form. “Jacob… what?...”

“Come here... Let's go outside. I'll explain everything to you.”

“No.” She shakes her head… why does he look so much like you?” She points to the large man guiltily standing near Regina.

“He’s my brother…Emmett, Jacob affirms. “From my dad’s second marriage. “So is he,” He points to the young man who opened the door. “Ethan.” He waves subtly.

“What?” She inspects both men and can suddenly see the resemblance.

“Nice meeting you.” Emmett extended his hand.

She doesn’t reciprocate. “You were the one…” she registered that it was him in all of the pictures. She could see it so clearly now. The difference in their jaws and noses.

“Yeah…” he looks at the ground and rubs the back of his neck.

“And you…” she shifts to the woman beside him. ”You set him up, didn't you?”

“I’m sorry.” Regina looks at the ground.

Clarissa began breathing heavily, almost hyperventilating. “But why?”

Jacob locks on her forearm. “Come, I’ll explain…”

She yanked her hand but there was no way he was letting go. “I wanna hear from them?” She forced him to stay put, but his hand didn’t release.

The guilty two, couldn’t meet her eyes or they just wouldn’t.

“What have I ever done to you?” She kept her interrogation. “Help me understand… why did I deserve to be hurt over and over?”

“We hated him… you were a casualty, unfortunately, Emmett glances at Jacob. “We wanted to destroy him. Starting with what he cares most about.”

She shakes her head. “I don’t get it… Why the need?”

He looked away and swiped over his front teeth with his tongue. “He never cared about us. He sat high and mighty with the Aldens and his real family didn’t matter to him.” He rubs the side of his chin as if he had an itch and continues. “Our dad left our mom to raise us alone. Sixteen-hour shifts, eighteen-hour shifts, we barely saw her, but we never went to bed hungry. Then one day, I got a call from the counsellor's office at school, and she told me my mother had a stroke. She had worked herself to death. I blamed my father, and I blamed my rich brother who didn’t give a crap about us.”

“How dare you?” She raised her voice. “You….” She got cut off when Jacob pulled her. He led her out of the house and onto the sidewalk where his truck was parked and finally unclamped his grip. He was staring at her so intently when spontaneously rain began falling without warning, not even drizzles. It heavily poured down.

He reaches for her again but she steps back.

“Get in the truck...” he orders.

“All those pictures… that was all him.” She blinked profusely as large drops blurred her vision. A state of processing and shock took her over. How could she not see?

“Yes…” He shoves his hands in his pocket. “It’s raining Clair, get in the truck.”

“I…” She runs her fingers through her wet hair. “How long have you known?”

“Not long…”

“So you forgive them?”

“If it was just me they hurt, maybe, but they hurt you, and they hurt my kids.”

“So then what are you doing here?” She yells.

His jaw tightens. ”Because they are going to give you a heartfelt apology on national TV.”

“I don’t understand…”

“I came here tonight to go over their statement to all the media outlets.’ Emmet is going to admit that it was him in those pictures and he is going to apologize to my family for all the pain he caused them... Can we get in the truck now?”

She looks away and drifts off into deep thought.

At the same time, Baylee pulls up beside them and rolls down the car window. “Hey, are you okay?”

Clarissa was in a bit of shock. She felt kinda stuck and didn’t respond.

“Get in the car Clair…” he instructs . “get out of the rain.”

She blinks and turns to her sister. “He is going to take me home.”

“Are you sure?” Her brows join.

“Yeah… I’ll call you tomorrow and give you all the details.”

Baylee’s eyes narrow to Jacob. “Are you okay with that?”

“Of course I am.” He states sternly. He reaches for her and clamps down on her upper arm. He pulls her on the passenger side of his truck and inserts her in before shutting the door.

Baylee drives off.

Once he got in the driver's seat he started the car up and turned the heat on. “What are you doing here?” He questions.

The lost gaze she wore was still apparent. “I followed you…”

“I know that... but why?”

“Because I wanted to catch you.” She meets his gaze.

He nods as if he is taking in her response. “And how do you feel now that you’ve caught me?”

“Relieved…”

“Why?”

She blinks. “Because… At least you’re not a liar.”

“No…” he confirms while letting out a breath. “ at least I’m not.” He changed gears and manoeuvres the truck out of its parking. “Let’s get you home so you can change.”

“How did you get them to agree to come clean?”

“I told them I wouldn’t sue.” He makes a right turn.

“I just want the world to know it wasn’t you.” She declares.

“And they will…”

The car became silent while both went into deep thought, and then out of nowhere she asked the question, “When was the last time you were intimate with a woman?”

His neck snaps her way. That was completely unexpected, but he answered. “The last time we were together if I’m being completely honest.”

“That was a long time.” She comments. “Don’t you, you know...want to.”

He chuckles.

“Seriously…” she goes on. “Why haven’t you been with anyone else?”

“You know I want you… so why even the question?”

She swallows. “But…”

He cuts her off. “When was the last time you were intimate with a man?”

She clears her throat uncomfortably and looks out the window. “Same.”

“I know.” He admits.

“Then why ask?” She turns back.

“It's nice to be reminded…”

She rolls her eyes. “I’m trying to be serious with you.”

“I’m all ears.” He turns onto the exit ramp for Brentwood.

Her lungs inflate and deflate. “Our marriage is irreparable, but I think I can stop being angry with you now.”

He glances at her with smiling eyes. “Believe it or not Clair, that sounds so good.”

She smiles back and when he turns in the driveway and parks up she sticks out her hand. “Friends.”

He leans back while taking a deep breath. It’s not the way he saw their future originally, but he would take anything with her. “Friends.”
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