Page 123 of Eternally Yours
But I can’t. If I stay, I’ll never truly be happy again. I’ll be resentful to a child that did nothing wrong. This wasn’t supposed to be our life... if things hadn’t gone south that night, it could have been me.
It was supposed to be me.
Clay shows up in the doorway at that moment, and I rush over to him, needing comfort and support, no longer able to do this on my own. My body crashes into his front as he circles his arms around me, one in my hair, the other at my back.
“I got you, C. I’m here now. Everything’s going to be okay, I promise,” he says into my hair as I weep in his arms, clutching his sweater in fistfuls. “Shh, it’s okay. You’re okay. Just breathe, baby. Just breathe. Once we pack your things, we can get out of here.”
I nod against his chest, unable to speak. He detaches my body from his and holds me at arm’s length, making sure I can look into his pale gray eyes. “Go grab what you need in the bathroom and your office. I’ll finish packing some clothes, then we can leave.”
I nod once more and hurry into the bathroom.
“Minnie, please...” Silas starts for me, but Clay steps in, blocking his pathand view of me.
“Back off, Hayes. She wants to leave, so she’s leaving. Don’t try to convince her otherwise.”
“Fuck you! You don’t know what my wife needs!”
“AND THIS IS WHAT SHE NEEDS!?To raise the child of your mistress as her own!? Or will it be shared custody, where she’ll have to face the woman that you cheated on her with every other week!? Is that really what you want for her? Is that the life you want for Cecilia?” Clay shouts back. “Or would you rather let her go, as much as it hurts, and give her a chance to be happy? Rather than staying in this relationship that will end up killing her?”
Those words are like a slap to my husband’s face. He drops to the bed, hands covering his face while his shoulders shake from his silent cries.
I force myself to look away and finish grabbing my things as Clay heads into the walk-in and proceeds to grab piles of clothes. We won’t be able to take everything, but it will be enough until I’m ready to grab the rest.
I leave the room and run down the stairs, grabbing my laptop and files from my office, and anything else lying around the house that I may need. I run back up and stuff everything in the duffle bag as Clay zips up the suitcase.
“We’ll be back for the rest another day.” He grabs the bag and the case and heads down the stairs. I follow quickly behind, and it only takes seconds for Silas to show up as well.
“I’m sorry, Minnie. I wish I could change this, make it all go away. I’ll find a way. Please don’t leave me. Please, I’m begging you! I don’t know how to do this without you. I can’t do it without you... I need you, Cecilia,” he pleads desperately as I slip on my shoes and pass through the now open front door.
Milo comes to the door, and I turn around, bending to kiss his snout. “I love you, Milo. Be a good boy to Daddy, okay? I’m going to miss you, bud...” Tears fall onto his fur as I nuzzle my face into him, then let go and stand.
“You promised... you promised you’d never leave me...” Silas chokes out the words from behind me, but I don’t turn around. I can’t see him like this. Because I’m seconds from giving in, and I know, right now, what we need is space.
“And you promised you’d never hurt me...” I whisper loud enough for him to hear me.
I walk down the steps and make my way to Clay’s car. With my hand on the handle, I hear Silas call out, “Wait. Please, just wait. There’s something I need to know... that night, you said you had something to ask me... what was it?”
The question stops me in my tracks. I stay frozen for a moment, then slowly turn to him. He’s still by the doorway, looking like his world just came to an end. I takea deep breath, forcing my voice to steady enough to answer. Because he deserves to know. And maybe once he does, he’ll understand why I have to leave.
I look up into his eyes. Even from this far away, I can see the devastation in them. It’s quiet, so quiet. I can hear my heart pounding in my ears, whatever is left of it.
“If you wanted to have a baby with me...” My voice breaks at the end, and I turn quickly, ripping open the door and falling into the seat, then shutting it quickly as Clay backs the car out of the driveway.
Through the windshield, I see my husband, the man who became my world. The man I thought I would spend the rest of my life with, fall to his knees...
Chapter thirty-five
Cecilia
I wish I really was Dracula.
~ One Week Later ~
All I’ve done is cry. But it’s not like last time, I don’t shut down and block the world out. No, this time I embrace the pain and let it take over.
During the day, I try to control my outbursts. But I’m not always successful. I’ve thrown things, broken glasses and plates. I’ve had meltdowns so bad the Burkley’s housekeeper had to take my screaming body into her arms while urgently calling Morgan to get home.
Just two days ago, I wandered into their home gym, thinking working out would help take some anger out of me. But that didn’t go as planned. After ten minutes on the treadmill, I lost my cool and ransacked the room. Taking weights and throwing them at the floor-to-ceiling mirrors, knocking over racks, and ripping up mats. An hour later, Morgan showed up and found me in a fetal position in the middle of the chaos, bawling my eyes out.
