Page 50 of Finding Forgiveness
“I had a few more calls from my father’s number, but I didn’t answer them in case it was her.”
“Good. I’m going to look into getting you a new number.”
I gulp air into my lungs as I prepare myself for the things I’m about to say. “You know how we broke up?”
“Technically we never broke up, you just ghosted me and then started dating that tool from your school.”
I blow out a puff of air. “I never liked that guy, I only pretended to date him.”
“Why did you do that, Cass? To hurt me? As if ghosting me wasn’t enough … I thought you loved me.”
“I did.”
“Right,” he scoffs. “If you loved me, you never would’ve—”
I steel myself and blurt out the words before I chicken out. “I was pregnant, Con.”
“What?”
“I fell pregnant.”
“To him?”
“No.”
He gives me a confused look as he runs his hand through his hair. “You were pregnant withourchild or someone else’s?”
“Ours, I never cheated on you.” The tears bubble to the surface and begin to cascade down my cheeks.
“Let me get this straight, you fell pregnant, and instead of telling me you broke it off?”
He takes a step backwards when I nod my head. “I’m sorry.”
“You’re sorry,” he roars as his face turns red. “You’re fucking sorry.”
Turning, he storms from the kitchen, and my stomach drops. He has every right to be angry, but he hasn’t even heard the half of it yet. That news was just the tip of the iceberg.
“Connor,” I cry, chasing after him. Ignoring me, he picks up his suitcase and starts storming towards the front door. “Connor please let me explain.”
His back is to me as he pauses at the doorway and raises his hand. “I can’t even look at you right now. For years I beat myself up, wondering what I had done to make you hate me so much … I guess I finally have my answer.”
“I never hated you, please believe me. I meant it when I said I loved you, but I didn’t have a choice.”
“You always have a choice, Cassandra.”
“It was my mother … she threatened to destroy you if I told anyone … I was trying to protect you.”
He blows out an exasperated breath as his shoulders deflate. For a split second, I think I’m getting through to him, but then he grasps the doorknob and walks over the threshold, slamming the door behind him as he leaves.
I fall to my knees, burying my face in my hands and sob like a baby. Just like I did that fateful day—all those years ago—when my world fell apart.
I was jolted awake when my bedroom door flew open so violently, it hit the adjoining wall with a loud thud. “Get up,” my mother shrieked from the doorway.
I rolled onto my stomach and pressed my face into the pillow. After being screamed at for two hours straight last night, I was in no mood for another round that morning.
I was nauseous, tired, and scared. So fucking scared. She wasn’t supposed to find out … not yet anyway. I hadn’t even told Connor the news. He was supposed to be the first person I told. I may only be sixteen years old and far too young to be a mother, but I already loved this baby and I’d make it work … somehow, even if Connor decided he wasn’t ready for that type of commitment.
“Go away.”
