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Chloe’s eyes dart nervously, a hint of guilt flickering across her face. "I… I didn’t think you wanted to know."
"You thought… never mind. You were just gonna run off with my baby without a word? How could you deceive me like this?"
"I was going to tell you, Jeremy. I just needed to figure things out first."
"Figure things out? When were you gonna tell me, when I get a graduation announcement in the mail for my own child?" My frustration is nearly boiling over. "Cut the crap, Chloe. You had no intention of telling me. You were planning to disappear!"
Chloe meets my gaze, her eyes filled with regret and fear, and a hint of anger. " Can you blame me? You’re the one who said you don’t want children! You’ve done a hell of a job alienating the one you already have! I thought it would be easier this way. For everyone."
Tears fall free from her eyes. She doesn’t bother wiping them away. I shake my head, incredulous at the betrayal.
"Easier? Chloe, this is my child, our child. Let me make something perfectly clear. You don't get to decide without involving me. You will never leave New York, not with my child."
Chloe’s eyes dart to the door, and she instantly turns pale. She presses her hand to her mouth like she has seen a ghost. I turn to where her eyes are fixed and see Ella standing there.
"Ella," I call out, but her eyes are burning holes at Chloe, who is already shivering. She takes a menacing step towards her. I don’t know how long she's been there and how much she’s heard until she shouts at her.
"My dad is the father of your baby?" Ella rails. Chloe swallows hard, her eyes pleading.
"I can explain, I promise," Chloe says, the desperation in her voice stabbing at me.
"Let me get this straight. You–my best friend in the world–have been screwing my dad all this time, and now you’re pregnant with his kid?!"
Chloe’s lips tremble, and despite being mad at her, I want to wrap her in my arms and soothe her.
"Ella, please. Please let me tell you what–"
A new sound echoes loudly in the room. It’s only when Chloe’s hand flies to her cheek that I realize Ella has slapped her.
"You disgusting whore! You’ve been sleeping with my father behind my back, and you call me your friend?" Ella is about to slap her again, but one of her friends catches her arm and stops her. I’m frozen, numb with fury and confusion as the scene unfolds in front of me.
"Ella, it’s not what you think." Chloe is crying now. seeing her in tears makes my anger dissipate at once.
"Now I understand why your mother hates you. Maybe she doesn’t want a slut like you for a daughter!" Ella screams, still flailing at Chloe.
For her part, Chloe looks like someone has just punched her. She’s staring at Ella in horror. I rush to her side, pulling her into my arms. Surprisingly, she doesn’t fight me. She looks pale and lifeless but worst of all, she looks filled with regret. Her eyes are fixed on Ella as tears stream down her face. I wonder if she can even see her.
Of all the things to run through my mind at that moment, it hits me that I’ve never asked Chloe about her parents. I only know that her father has died, but I’ve never asked about her mom.
Ella turns to the person who’s holding her back and sobs against their shoulder. She lifts her head one last time to issue a command to Chloe: "I want you gone by the time I get back."
As her boyfriend moves to lead her from the room, Ella’s eyes meet mine for the first time since she walked upstairs. They’re filled with such loathing, such betrayal.
"I thought you had finally seen me as your daughter. You only did all this because Chloe asked you to, didn’t you? And to think I believed you actually cared. I’m better off without you." Her shoulders sag as she turns to walk out with Anthony. She turns to throw one more spear in my direction. "Enjoy your new kid. Maybe this one will love you."
16
CHLOE
The sting of Ella’s slap lingers on my cheek as I stand here, shaken and vulnerable. Jeremy approaches me, concern etched across his face, and he tries to comfort me. I allow myself to lean into him. I feel like my legs can no longer carry me. I’m probably going to find myself on the floor any moment from now. The truth is out, and it feels like the ground beneath me is crumbling.
The sound of the slap still seems to echo in the air, but it’s nowhere near the pain I feel at the mess I’ve caused. The murderous look Ella gives me makes me tremble. I’ve never seen her like this. It’s like I don’t know her. It’s as if she can’t even see me anymore when she looks at me. I can’t blame her. All she sees now is a monster she needs to get rid of.
She narrows her eyes at me, and then she storms out of the room, leaving me standing there with everyone watching, both physically and emotionally shaken. The reality of the situation sinks in as I feel the world crumbling around me.
"What have I done?" I whisper to myself, grappling with the ugly reality unfolding before me. I feel torn, pulled in two directions. I need to clarify things with her.
Nothing you say can justify what you’ve done,my inner voice jabs at me, and it stings almost as much as Ella’s slap.
