Mason narrates.
I still can't believe what I've seen. That baby is not mine, and here I was, thinking of marrying her. I had noticed the changes in her behavior, but I blamed it on hormones. The truth is, she has always been like this. She just didn't show me her true self.
I hear everything they say, but my mind can only think of Paige. Nothing is stopping me now from going after her and begging for her forgiveness.
"Love, you can't believe all this. It's a trap set by your mother, who has never liked me," Peyton says, crying.
"Who is the father?" I ask, furious.
"You are the father. That document must be fake. Trust me," she says, almost kneeling.
"Hah! You can't say something like that to me. How dare you ask me to trust you when your 'friend' was disappointed to find out that it's not his child either! I can't even imagine how many men you've deceived. And you know what's funny about this situation? I don't feel jealous! On the contrary, I'm relieved to know that I don't have to feel remorse for you. It makes me happy to know that I'm free from you and that I can seek my own happiness," I say, smiling.
"You can't be serious. I am your happiness. We can still be the family we wanted. You're the love of my life, and all this talk about me caring about money is not true. Don't you remember that I signed the prenuptial agreement?" she says, crying indignantly at my words.
"Of course, I remember. I remember your anger when you found out about that document, and your change when you signed it. I have always been blind when I looked at you, but it won't happen again. Now I know the real Peyton and believe me when I say that I don't feel anything for you. I think I never did. I was just deluded by a woman who isn't who she claims to be. I let myself be deceived by your falsehood, but now my eyes are open," I say, serious and sincere.
"This can't be happening to me!" she says, more to herself than to me, while grabbing her hair and pacing back and forth.
"By the way, I want to let you know that you have one week to leave the house. I'll talk to the nurse and settle her services. I don't want to hear from you again. And as a gift for making me so happy by revealing your lie, you can take all the clothes you've bought with my money. Do whatever you want with them," I say, leaving the place, leaving her alone and screaming my name.
I call my friend Ethan. He's the only one who can help me now to find Paige. I need to talk to her, tell her the whole truth, and beg her to forgive me.
"Friend, I need you," I say as soon as he answers the call.
"I've been waiting for your call. Come to my house," he says, ending the call.
On the way, I'm thinking about what my mother said, that he and Riley helped her uncover all this. Why didn't he tell me about all the suspicions earlier? I need to ask him this. I thought we had no secrets between us, but I realize that we do, at least he does with me.
I arrive at his house quickly, and he opens the door. As we sit down, I notice that Sarah isn't here. That's even better, as we can talk calmly.
"Did you know about all this and didn't tell me anything?" I ask, unable to hold back.
"Yes, the truth is, even before your mother, I started investigating that woman. I always felt that something was off about her, and I was right. As for telling you, I didn't want to until I had evidence, which your mother helped with. And then I promised her that I wouldn't tell you until we had all the documents in hand. There are even things she didn't tell you because they weren't necessary," he says nervously.
"I don't care about that. Tell me everything you know," I demand.
"Well, when you were studying, she was cheating on you. When you were paying for her apartment in another city, she was living with the neighbor. That's why he had hope of being the father of that baby. Although I found out about this two days ago from an investigator we hired with your mother. We also know about her family, whom she doesn't see because they are poor and without money. Her mother has always seen her for who she truly is, but her father is blind to the love he feels for his daughter. These details are not worth revealing now because they don't change anything," he says nervously.
"You're right about that. What's important now is that I need to know where Paige is and how I can find her. I need to talk to her," I say, desperate.
— I can't do that. Sarah is the only one who can talk to her now. She doesn't even speak to me lately — she says sadly.
— Then call Sarah. I need her to know that I love her more than anything in the world — I say eagerly.
— My beautiful daughter is resting. She has a headache, that's why she's sleeping. I don't think it's a good idea to wake her up to tell her this. You know, hormones have made her a bit grumpy — she says, trying to smile.
— I can't wait, but I understand if she's not feeling well, and one more day won't make much of a difference. When she wakes up tomorrow, tell her that I'll come to see her — I say, getting up to leave.
Ethan stops me, looking at me, and says, — Do you want a drink? I think you need one. — I nod, and we go to his office.
One drink leads to another, and another. I lost count. All I know is that I'm laughing like crazy, happy, repeating that I'm free to go after the love of my life. I hope I have enough time left to ask for her forgiveness, and if necessary, I will beg her every day just to have her in my life.
I don't know what time it is. All I know is that I feel liberated from chains that had me imprisoned in a place where I was dying a little bit every day.