Page 118 of A Lie so Dangerous and Fragile

I cared about her and loved her regardless of the part she’d played in destroying everything I’d had with Chloe. She was the type who was too scared to lose someone, so she’d do anything to keep them around. She’d witnessed me spiral out of control after I lost Fiona and Nadia. After several attempts at taking my own life, she had decided to take everything into her own hands. She arranged a marriage for me and Sofia, and when everything failed with Sofia and after the stunt I pulled in the church, she’d still put my well-being first.

I’d wanted to let Chloe go the first day she stepped into my house. I was ready to buy her a place to stay and give her some money because she drove me crazy and I couldn’t stand her even if she was the same girl I’d been curious about after our first encounter at the café. Mom convinced me to keep her around till the rumor died down, but things changed. I grew attached to her and fell so deeply for her. My mom noticed and begged me not to let her go because she was good for me. She was a light through the darkness I hadn’t been able to escape from.

She engraved it in my head that if I told Chloe the truth, she’d leave and hate me, so it was best to keep everything a secret. I was selfish, too afraid to lose her. Mom did go to the extent of faking an illness to make Chloe stay. I didn’t know about it till I got to the hospital in a panic, only for my grandmother to tell me it was an act to bring Chloe back. Before I could stop everything, Chloe had arrived, and I’d found myself playing along. I hated myself for it. I couldn’t stop her meddling.

“Things are different now, Mom. I love you, but no more interfering in my life—you promised.”

“It was a harmless question,” she said as she opened a jar of cookies for Kayla, whose tiny hand reached into it quickly.

“I have to get ready for work.” I smiled at her and walked out of the kitchen while she sighed.

I opened the door to Chloe’s room and found it empty.

I took off my damp tank top as I entered my room. Chloe lay in my bed with Kayden asleep on top of her. Her arms were wrapped around his small body while Kayden’s tiny hand stayed on her shoulder. I smiled and grabbed my phone. I needed to capture this moment.

I walked quietly to the bathroom and stripped for a shower. When I came outside, they were still asleep. I entered my closet and dressed for work. I walked to the bed as I knotted my black tie. I brushed the hair out of her face and got lost in her beauty for a while before kissing her on the cheek. Her eyes opened, and her lips curled upward.

“Hey,” she whispered.

“I’m leaving for work.”

“Okay,” she said in a hushed tone, her hand reaching to touch me.

I brushed my fingers through hers and brought her knuckle to my lips. I kissed the back of her palm and whispered, “I love you.”

She only smiled, not saying the words back. I knew it won’t be easy to earn those words from her, but when she finally did say it, I would be the happiest man alive. I was ready to lay my heart before her, to be vulnerable and say the words to her every day till there was no doubt left in her heart. I brushed Kayden’s hair back and stood up.

“Are you free this weekend?” I asked.

“I think so.”

“I wanna take you somewhere,” I said and walked out of the room before she could say anything.

There were a few things I needed to do. I texted Adrian as I walked down the stairs. I needed Belvina’s contact. We didn’t get along, but I needed to speak to her. I owed her an apology, and I couldn’t have Chloe’s best friend hating me.

Adrian came through quickly with her number and addedgood luckat the end of his text.

I found Kayla with my mom in the living room, watching a reality show. Kayla stood up immediately when she saw me. I grinned as she approached me with a small smile. I scooped her up in my arms, threw her in the air, and caught her smoothly, and she burst into a fit of giggles.

“Have fun with Grandma. Daddy needs to go to work.” I peppered her face with kisses before putting her down.

“I’m leaving,” I told my mom.

I contemplated calling Vina’s number as I stepped outside the house. Maybe a text would do. What if she ignored me? I gave a curt nod to Eduardo, who held the back door open for me.

I decided to call instead. My heart thumped in my chest as I waited. I didn’t know why someone so tiny terrified me. She picked up on the third ring.

“This had better be an emergency,” she said with a groan.

It was past eight, and I’d heard she worked night shifts. I’d probably just woken her up.

“Hi, Belvina.”

“Who is this?”

“It’s Tristan.”

“Oh my God. Is Chloe okay?”

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