I felt Damon pick me up and I let him. At the moment, I felt weak. Emotionally and physically, I felt weak. Without my best friend by my side, I felt completely drained. I sighed and leaned my head on Damon's chest, as he carried me. He leaned down and kissed my hair and I flinched. Hurt flashed across his face but he covered it. I closed my eyes.
"Daddy? What happened to mommy?" I could hear Evan ask.
“Nothing. Your mum is fine." He said and carried me upstairs. I felt the softness of my sheets and sighed. "Are you okay?"
"This is all my fault." I whispered to myself, rather to him.
"No, baby.” He started.
“Don't call me that." I snapped and he sighed, shaking his head.
"It's actually my fault." He said. I didn't say anything. He placed his hand on mine but I jerked away. "I hurt you so much, Lucy. I know. But I regret it. I regret everything. I love you and I want us to start afresh. I want to make up for what I did. Make up for the years I was absent in our children's lives. Please, let me make it up to you and them. I love you all so much.”
“Leave me alone," I said.
“Lucia,-" He started but I cut him off.
"Please." I whispered, strengthless. And he sighed in defeat or maybe exasperation. He stood up and leaned down to kiss my hair.
I picked my mobile from the night stand and tried to call Liam. It kept on ringing but he didn't pick up. I tried a few more times, but it kept going into voicemail. I sighed in defeat.
I know what I did was wrong but I couldn't tell him. I know it hurt him a lot that I hid such a vital deal and I wish I could give a proper reason for not telling him. I was scared. I was scared of his reaction, I was scared that I might lose him, but after everything, after all of the attempts not to lose my best Buddy, my fears still came to pass.
I lost him, I lost my best friend. I tried to call him once more, even though I know I will hear the robotic voice, and shut my phone. I lay on the bed and sighed for the one millionth time.
Damon's POV
“Daddy? Is mommy okay?" Evan asked.
"Yes, buddy. She's just tired." I said and ruffled his hair. He nodded and went back to coloring the book in front of him.
Liam's words ran through my mind. He had seen her pain these past five years and nobody knew better than him how much I hurt her. I wish I could turn back the hands of time, and make up for my mistakes. Why did I even believe those pictures and not my wife? She hates me now.
All these years, I made myself a workaholic. I overworked myself, just to get over her. I slept with other women to get over the woman I have loved for years, and I regretted everything when I came to know the truth. I remember when Zayn sent me the copies and proof that Lucy was innocent. Everyone had been so upset with me.
They thought I made the biggest mistake and I hate to admit it, but it is the truth. I made the biggest mistake of my life. I wish I could make it up to her but she's being too stubborn.
Don't I at least deserve a second chance?
'No! You don't.' My subconscious snapped at me and I know it's true, but I am way too selfish to let her go. And I love her. I love her and my kids. I am interrupted when my phone rings and I look at it to see that my stepmother was the one calling. It's been nearly eight months since I last spoke with or met them and she's been calling a lot lately. I sighed and picked up the phone.
"Mom." I greeted her.
"How are you? Where have you been? Why aren't you calling me anymore? Why aren't you coming to see me and your dad?” She rambled.
"I am a busy man," I said rather harshly than I was intending to. The line goes silent before she starts to sob. And I groaned in frustration. "Please stop crying, mom." I said.
"Why are you doing this, Damon?" She sobbed. "Are you so busy that you can't call your mother?"
"Don't push it Julietta. Stepmother and not my mother."
“Where are you now?" She asked. Shall I tell the truth? Should I? What will be her reaction?
"Damon." She calls when I take too long to reply.
"I am at Lucia's place." I admitted and the line went silent once again.
"Lucia, the nanny?" She started to cry again. "So it's true that you two are engaged." She says, excitement evident in her voice.
"Yes. I'm going to marry her again." I informed her.
"Oh my god!" She exclaimed in clear excitement. I am so happy. You finally realize your mistake." She said, The doorbell rings and the kids look at me.
"I Gotta go, Bye." I said.
"Bye, Take care and please visit soon. I love you.” She said and I hung up without a word. The doorbell rang again and I stood up to walk to the door. I heard footsteps and saw Lucia already walking down the stairs.
“What are you doing here?" I asked.
"I came to open the door." She said,
"I can do that." I rolled my eyes at her.
"This is my house." She snapped and walked to the door. I sighed and sat back on the couch. She turned her gaze toward the kids but they were ignoring us. She sighed in relief and walked to the door. Few minutes passed but Lucia didn't come back. So I went to check on her.
The sight near the door made my heart stop and my blood boil. She was hugging someone and it happened to be a man. I walked closer to them and my heart skips a beat when I realize whose embrace she was. She pulled away from him and he kissed her head.
"I missed you, Louis." She said and hugs
him again.
"I missed you too, sweet cheeks." He smiled and kissed her head again. He raised his eyes and they fell on me. The spark and happiness in his eyes disappeared and was replaced with anger. And before I knew it, I was on the ground with Louis on top of me holding me by the collar.
Here we go again.
Lucia's POV
"Louis!" I scream when Louis' fist collides with Damon's jaw. Damon groans in pain but Louis continues to punch him. I move out of my motionless state and wrap my fingers around Louis' shirt to pull him away. Emma and Evan were watching the drama in shock.
"Louis, Please!" I beg him and try to pull him again. "Please Louis. The kids are watching." I say calmly, and as if that was all it needed, he stands up and glares at Damon.
I bend down to Damon. "Are you okay?" I ask, touching his shoulder. He nods slightly. I help him off the ground and to the guest room.
"I'm sorry." I say as I pull out the first aid box from the cupboard.
"It's not your fault." He mumbles. "I can do it, thanks." He takes the box from me and walks into the bathroom. I sigh before I make my way back downstairs. Why can't I have a normal evening. I lost my best friend and now my brother jumps on Damon.
I'm sure Damon would be surprised to hear that I have a brother, well I only got to know about him like four years ago.
He didn't die in the accident, he was saved by a good family.
"You didn't have to do that, Louis."
"I had to do that! That bastard broke your heart and left you alone with your kids! And now he comes back and the worst thing is you let him into your lives, and your home?!" Louis screams at me. "How on earth were you able to be his God damn nanny?"
"I didn't let him come back to me. I didn't forgive him and I never can." I Said.
"Maybe you didn't forgive him now, but you will. I know you love him even though he hurt you so much. I know you do, don't even try to deny it. You stopped me from beating his ass that day, if you didn't stop me that day, I wouldn't have hit him today." He continues to shout. "And why did he come back?"
"Because I realized my mistake.” Damon says from behind me. Louis scoffs. "Believe me Louis, I know, I know what I did was so fucking wrong but I was in a situation that everything I saw and heard was true.” He defends himself.
"Bullshit!" Louis shouts.
"That's enough! There are kids around you!" I cut in. "Louis, go back home. I'll visit later.” I say.
"Seriously? You're gonna kick me out?" Louis screams at me.
"I'm not kicking you out, Louis." I defend.
“Whatever.” He rolls his eyes and makes his way out.
I sit on the couch, my head in my hands and sigh loudly. This day keeps getting worse and worse. First, Liam fights with me and now, Louis? I sigh again.
"Lucia?" Damon starts to speak.
“Why did you come back, Damon?" I ask, quietly. "Why did you come back and ruin everything?"
"I didn't come back to ruin things. I came back to make up things.” He sighs and I shake my head.
"Mommy?" I hear Emma. I look at her and all I see is worry. "Why is uncle mad?" She asks softly.
And the first thing I do is laugh. I laugh.
Damon's POV
Her laughter fills the room. Her laughter isn't carefree and happy, but it's sad, like someone whose life has been ripped apart, maybe someone did. Maybe, I did.
“Lucia, you need to rest." I say. Emma and Evan are watching us curiously.
"Why?" Evan asks. "She's tired." I say turning to him.
"Yes. I am tired. Tired of everything.” She mumbles. She stands up abruptly, startling me and slowly makes her way upstairs. I sigh loudly.
"Daddy." Emma's voice cracks. I look up at her and my heart breaks when I see tears in her eyes. I pull her into my arms and she starts to sob.
"What's wrong, baby? Why are you crying?” I ask her as she hides her face in my neck.
"Mommy is crying.” She sobs. I remain quiet. "Please make her stop." She says again.
"I will.” I promise her. I don't know if I can, because I know, I am the reason for her pain, her tears.