"I understand that sweetheart, and of course, you're angry and hurt. You have every right to be. Any woman in your position would be, but Shayla, I think you're giving up too easily. Tristan loves you, darling. Deep down, we both know you're the one he needs in his life, not that fiend Sophie. Are you really going to roll over and let her wreck everything you both fought so hard for?"
I pull my hand away from hers and look at her through my tears. "Too easy? Do you have any idea how much it hurt to stand there and have him scream in my face repeatedly that he doesn't love me? That he doesn't want me, or that he can't see himself loving anyone but her? How do you expect me to just brush that aside and stand by him like he never tore my heart right out of my chest and handed it to me? It's not like this is the first time either. Your son has destroyed me over and over again, and I forgave him--but not this time." I tell her. "I'm not his doormat, all I have left is my baby and my pride, and I plan on holding onto them both for dear life." I cry despairingly. "Cole chose a life without us, and that's a decision he's going to have to live with, whether his memory comes back or not."
Elaine reaches up and brushes my tears away with the back of her hand, "Shayla, he's lost without you. His life, his work, it's all slipping away from him, and he's drowning in it all. Tony is trying to help him, but you're the only one that knew the ins and outs of all these projects you were both working on. Word has gottenout about his amnesia, and investors are in a state of frenzy, and there's talk of them pulling out. I know it's incredibly selfish of me to even ask this of you, whether Tristan knows it or is too proud to admit that he needs you, but he does. Tristan has always been good at putting on a facade to hide his feelings, but I know my son, he's on a downward spiral, and he's lost the one person that's capable of pulling him out."
"I can't," I whisper, shaking my head. "It's just too hard to face him every day. I have to think about my mental state and my baby, first and foremost."
"Just think about it, okay? I'm hoping and praying the more Tristan sees you around, the more chance he's got of remembering you and how much he loves you and not that harpy Sophie." She voices, brushing my hair away from my face and tucking it behind my ear so that she could see my face.
"I'll think about it." I sigh.
"Very well. I also want you to know that even though Tristan doesn't..." She sighs and closes her eyes briefly. "Want to be any part of this baby's life, Tony and I do. We want to have a relationship with our granddaughter, and we want you to know that we're here for both of you emotionally and financially for whatever you need." Elaine expresses, and I nod, unable to hold back the sob any longer. "Oh honey, come here." Elaine hugs me tight while I weep into her chest.
"I wish I had the power to ease some of your grief." She cries, pulling my head up and wiping my tears away in a motherly manner. "You're the best thing to ever happen to my son, and you'll always be a part of our family no matter what, okay?"She states sincerely, and I nod. "Please think about what I said." She adds, rubbing my stomach before she stands up. I see her to the door, and we hug once more before she leaves.
I close the door and press myself against it. While everyone is asking me to save him—I'm wondering who's going to save me.