Page 112 of Ruthless Lullaby

A love that once was whole, now beyond repair.”

Her tears are now flowing freely. She’s not even trying to hold them back anymore. Why is she crying on that stage, not giving a damn about the drunken fucktards in the audience? What the hell happened to her? Did someone hurt her?

I grip the armrest of my seat and my heart thunders as something dawns on me: she’s singing about us.

Unless of course…

Unless of course, she isn’t. What if…

What if she’s singing about Maurice?

Is she crying over my loser brother?

Like a bullet piercing through steel, a surge of possessiveness emerges in me once again. The cozy little coffee date, the way they held each other's hands... It makes me want to explode with jealousy.

I feel my fists clench at my sides, my blood boiling with my rage threatening to spill over. I want to lash out again, to break something, to make someone pay for the pain that's tearing me apart inside.

My mind is unraveling, like a thread being pulled from a tapestry. First, Maurice tells me that he and Mindy have split. Then, he claims that she wants him back. Then, he tells me that they’re back together. And then, I get a bunch of doctored photos and a video of her sitting in a café with my brother... Who the fuck sent those anyway? Is someone trying to fuck with me? Did one of my enemies get wind of my obsession with Mindy? Is my mind playing tricks on me?

I'm lost in this tangled web of lies. I don't know what to think or feel. I’m not good at that shit. All I know is that I’m completely fucked in the head when it comes to this woman. And that I’m going to lose my mind if I don’t find out the truth and have her back with me.

Fuck my paranoia.

I have to confront this thing, head-on.

Chapter Forty-Three

Mindy

"Thank you, gentlemen." My voice echoes through the club. "I hope you enjoyed tonight's songs."

The room erupts in a burst of cheers and claps. "Come on, don't leave yet," someone yells out drunkenly. "Sing us one more!" The crowd joins in, encouraging me to stay.

I manage a smile before quickly stepping off the stage. My heart still feels raw from pouring it all out during my set. The audience is going crazy, but I can barely hear them over the hurricane of emotions inside me.

I quickly gather my belongings and make my way off stage.

I almost canceled tonight’s show. Between losing my mom, my surprise pregnancy, and the things that happened between Alexis and me, I wasn’t sure I can pull it off. But then, I reminded myself how singing has always been my therapy, a way to center myself. At least I can let it all out if I’m on stage. The tears, the emotion, the pain, they only enhance the performance.

I make my way towards the dressing room, desperate for a moment of peace and quiet. My mind is flooded with chaotic thoughts as I walk down the corridor. Being on stage tonight was intense. Not a single person in that audience noticed my tears. They were too busy drowning themselves in their own vices. So, I let it all out. Channeled all my pain into the songs. Every note,every word, was a tribute to my mom. To our bond and all the memories we shared.

Mom is gone.

Losing her is like losing my only lifeline. And what’s worse is that the pain makes me miss Maron even more.

It wasn't just my mom I was grieving on stage tonight. With every breath, every melody, my mind kept drifting to Maron. The pain of his absence, the ache for his touch, his love... it all came pouring out of me, raw and uncensored.

My rational mind knows it was my decision to run away. And I ran away for a reason. A really good reason. But my heart tells a different story.

An unexpected sob escapes me.

“Emily, I'm pregnant. I don’t know how, but I am. And Maron doesn't even know.”

“Take a deep breath, Mindy. You're not alone in this, okay? I'm right here with you.”

“Maybe I should tell Maron. He has the right to know. But... what if he freaks out?”

“Hey, Min, slow down. Maron said it himself. He needs an heir, remember? He’s not going to freak out.”

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