ZACK’S POV
I was numb after hearing what she said and had no idea how to react to her. She got to know everything but how? Who told her that? And what was she going to do about that??
“Who told you?” I was worried to hell and she began to scoff contemptuously scaring me more. Dear lord, what was exactly happening in my life??
“You told everything to me yourself, Zack. When your drinks had gotten into your head, you didn’t stay back from pouring your heart out" she came to me and held my shoulders and I was flabbergasted.
What the heck?? Did I really do that?? Why on earth would I do that?? That shouldn’t have happened!!
“You confessed to me that you don’t want to be with Caroline. You told me that Zoe’s better than her and you also told me how she had ditched you for her popularity in the high-school” her voice was so emotional that I couldn’t handle the pressure anymore and I broke off from her hold and turned away from her.
“Don’t take any of that seriously. I might have told all that but it doesn’t mean that I’ll do to her what she did to me. We are having a child together and that’s all I can think of now" I gulped down and gave her my stern and firm decision regarding Caroline but she was not ready to accept it.
“What about your life? Will you be ever happy being in such a forced relationship?” my mom was only thinking about me and me of my child. We both were right on our parts but our views were definitely contradicting and Caroline had to prove herself to mom if she had to gain back the lost trust.
“Mrs. Grover, can I speak?” Caroline had come downstairs after hearing our screams and mom gave her a death stare. That was not at all a good sign!!!
“What more do you want to say or do Caroline? Do you really think that I’ll let you play with my son and his emotions like you wish?” mom hissed at her furiously and Caroline was on the verge of crying in an instant.
“I know I did a big mistake and I have already apologized for everything I did from everyone. They have also forgiven me and this is my second chance to make everything right and I can promise that I won’t repeat my mistake" sobbingly she begged for forgiveness from mom and I simply wished to run away from these mess. It was literally eating my mental peace.
“Yeah, that obvious. But do you really think it’s easy for my son to accept it so easily forgetting everything. Girl, you don’t even know that he doesn’t even love you anymore” mom was growing so furious that she kept of shooting at Caroline and what she said last had a terrible impact on Caroline.
“Mom…. stop it" I was appalled when she told that to her and screamed at her for doing that. It wasn’t an appreciated move she made!!!!
I gave mom a death stare when she had crossed her limits by shattering Caroline and she, being not able to control the overwhelming guilt and regret in her mind, started crying and then ran out of the house in distress while I was dumbstruck seeing her do that.
“Caroline" I yelled her name in an attempt to stop her but she gave no ear to it and ran right into the middle of the road which was a very damn dangerous thing to do because a car was on its way and she had jumped in front of it.
“Aaahhh" when she turned and saw the car ready to hit her, she screamed her heart out and by God’s grace, I was able to pull her aside on the right time and she got no injuries.
I had pulled her so close that she landed on my chest and was so scared of what happened that she started to cry out loudly and I hugged her tightly wanting to calm her down.
“It’s all right. I’m here" I consoled her and she clung onto my shirt in much distress. I calmly took her to the yard and cupped her face in my arms.
“Don’t you dare ever do such a stupidity ever okay" I wanted to scold her to make right her nerve but seeing her condition, I could only tell her in concern.
“Everyone hates me here for my past I. Your mom’s right, I don’t deserve anything, not even your sympathy” her eyes had turned red and her sobbing was so hard making it impossible to breathe.
“Just shut up alright. There’s nothing like that. I mean, there might be but not like you think. And above all, I have forgiven you, then why do you even care about others?” I had no other option than to be there for her and consoled her in the best way I could.
She looked at me and then clenched my shirt tighter. I cupped her in my arms and I could say that her eyes were waiting for my kiss of love and I too wanted to give her one. I smiled at her and leaned closer to her face for that and then I stopped. Actually, I wasn’t me, but I felt that someone was literally stopping from doing that. I wasn’t able to do that and I had no idea why?? She had her eyes closed seeing me lean over and I could only stare at her reddened face for a moment before I moved above her face to give her a peck on her forehead. That was the only thing I could do.
I then took her back to the house and asked her to go to her room so that she could have some rest. For me, I needed to have a talk with mom and it was very much necessary to happen.
“You still care for that gold digger?” seeing her back in the house, mom lashed at me again and I had to make her understand our situation.
“Come on, don’t start again with that. I know everything and she had come clean of it. I don’t want to judge anyone for their past so why don’t we just shake it all off and move ahead in peace" I held her hands and asked her in a worried humble tone which she couldn’t resist. And whatever I said, nothing was going to change her heart towards Caroline who, for her, was the girl who gave much more deadly pain to her already broken son mercilessly!!!
“For the sake of your baby. Or else I would have kicked her out hours ago" She finally gave up her hatred and calmed down. I have her a hug and was relieved that the storm had subdued.
(A week later)
Things were going pretty fine after that beach incident for me as mom had chosen over her care for Caroline and her baby for my happiness and Caroline had also got adjusted to the new life she was given. I was also mentally relaxed with Zoe by my side and Mike on the other. By this time, it had been months since I had contacted Dash and Will. They had rung my number and also messaged me a million times yet I hadn’t responded to a single one of that.
I was just not able to look back at that life of mine anymore. I had struggled a lot to give up the memories of those days and my buddies would have just brought all that nostalgia back to me in a second washing away all my hard work in just a phone call and I had no courage to live through that so the best thing I could do was to leave them behind even when I knew that it was the worst betrayal, I could do to them!!!
Working at the grocery store without Caroline’s knowledge was a thing that had kept me engaged in life along with Mike’s support. It was lots of fun and time-consuming work that was paying us pretty well and this pocket money was enough for me to take care of our baby’s needs while mom took care of us. At least, I had shortened the pressure of finance on her because of this job and she too was proud of my help. Poor Caroline, she still believed that I was playing video games at Mike’s house as a distraction from unnecessary dramas of my life. Everything was going smoothly until the day came when Noah had to again poke his nose in my business.
“Hello brother. Just got to know that you work here" with his minions, Noah came into the grocery store with the arrogance as if his father owned the store.
“Poor you, crying over that huh? Next time you’ll be the first to know” I gave him a befitting reply for his belittling and that wasn’t taken by him so nicely.
“Awww. So sweet of you baby daddy" he taunted me and I was appalled when he said that to me. Even Mike was perplexed thinking how he got to know that!!!
“Don’t give me that look. Only I know your little secret" he winked at me smirking and how I wished to punch his face!!!
“How the hell did you know?” I asked him aghast.
“Your innocent little girlfriend accidentally blurted it out when the girls were talking. And you know such news doesn't stay silent for so long” he smirked at me. Okay, that simply meant that I’m doomed from the peace I hoped to have!!!!
“Noah, maybe you don’t want to go there" I gave him a warning so that he wouldn’t cross his limits but how could I forget that he was Noah???
“Are we offending you daddy?” he taunted me much more and all his minions started laughing their evil laughter that was so tedious that my control broke loose and I leaped onto him like an angry lion ready to bite of his head!!!
“Zack nooo" Mike came running to me so that he could stop me but it was in vain, I was so post in my anger over his taunts.
“At least I have the guts to own it unlike you, who changes bed if you were in my place" I screamed at him and that words were enough to hurt his ego that he pushed me aside and grabbed my collars ravenously. This was not going to end well for both of us…...