Paige narrates:
I take a breath and begin to speak.
“I do know about the pregnancy and not because of you. I think that's what hurt and disappointed me the most. I waited when you came back from seeing her for you to tell me what happened, however, you told me you had nothing to tell me. Being that at that moment you found out about her pregnancy. We have only one month left of marriage; I have been thinking and I will leave. I'm not interested in staying by your side, destroying a family for a company. Tell my parents whatever you want, I don't care, I'll go live in Brazil. You can keep everything; I'm not interested in material things. I just want to get away from you and start again. You can say whatever you want, the most important thing for me right now is to get away from you. I hope you will be happy with your new family, and I am leaving in two days, the ones I will not stay here. I will say goodbye to your parents, but I will only tell them that I have to travel. I will not go into details that it is not my place to divulge” I say getting up from my seat.
I don't think I have anything more to say. I have been thinking a lot about this idea, I am looking out for my emotional health, nothing economic will bring me back to live next to a man I love and who I am taking away from his wife and son. I could not live peacefully, besides seeing him every day will not help me to forget him, on the contrary, my heart will suffer as the days go by. I prefer to go away and leave everything in order to heal my heart. It is the best I can do.
“I won't allow you to lose your inheritance, especially just a month away from fulfilling the contract. It will hurt not to see you because you are the love of my life," I interrupt him.
"Please don't say things like that anymore. It's not healthy for either of us," I say with pain.
"I understand. I will find a way to stay married, even if you're not here. I'll just say that you're away for work during this time, and you'll return when it's time to sign the divorce papers, ensuring you keep your company. I don't want to live know that you gave up everything because of me, because of my mistakes," he pleads with sadness.
"I could do that, but I don't want you to pursue me only under those conditions. When the time comes, ask Sarah to notify me," I tell him, and it's the last thing I say before leaving the room.
I walk to the room that will be mine for tonight, retrieve my suitcase, and start packing my clothes neatly. I grab my phone and send a message to my friend I met in Brazil. He responds immediately. I had already informed him that I'm coming to his country, but what made me happy was knowing that I can stay with him for a while until I find a place to live. He will help me settle in, and he'll even pick me up from the airport. I was fortunate to meet him.
Mason narrates:
I continue to sit in the seat, I can't believe my life went to shit so quickly. Don't get me wrong, I'm excited to be a father, it's something I've always wanted. However, I didn't dream it this way, I lost the love of my life because of my past attitudes and decisions.
How right Ethan was, I have always been in love with Paige, I was just blindly believing that Peyton was the love of my life. How did I not realize it sooner? I don't know and I won't be able to know for much longer.
I listen as she moves around the room, I imagine putting her things away and without realizing it tears stream down my cheeks at the thought of never seeing her again. Remembering that she was going to leave everything to never see me again breaks my heart, how could I be such an idiot and blind.
I close my eyes and images of our trip come to my mind when we were happy. Memories that are engraved in my retina and that I will not let go of my mind. I will live dreaming of those moments, of the time when I was happiest in my whole life. With the dreams I had with her by my side.
I hear her coming down the stairs and I don't want to open my eyes; I don't want to leave this moment I'm living in my mind. She clears her throat and I have no choice but to open my eyes and look at her.
“Will you have a problem if I take Simba with me?" he asks coldly.
"He'll be better off with you. After all, he's always been more attached to you. It would hurt both of us to leave him here with me. Could you send pictures of him to Sarah so that I can still see him?" I ask, my voice breaking.
"I can do that, and thank you," he replies before leaving the room again.
I sigh and stay in the same seat all night. I wish I could freeze time and never stop seeing her. I think about what she said, and she's right. Living together without being able to be together would only cause us more pain because my beautiful wife would never accept being something of mine knowing that I'm going to be a father.
I don't know how I'm going to manage living with Peyton, constantly thinking about Paige, with my heart occupied by her. Maybe when my child is born, I'll suffer less. I won't know that until the moment arrives.
My phone interrupts my thoughts, and I look at the screen. It's Peyton.
"Are you okay?" I ask as soon as I answer.
"Darling, can we talk? I feel sad and lonely," she says with a dull voice.
"I would like to tell her that I don't want to, that now all I want is to spend the last night talking or looking at Paige, but I can't do it. Her mood is like that of the baby. I remind myself.
'Of course,' I say, getting up and walking to my room.
'I don't know what to watch on TV, and the nurse has already gone to rest. I miss you so much,' she says, sighing.
'Me too,' I reply, sighing, although in my mind I tell her that we saw each other just a few hours ago.
'I feel you're distant, does it bother you if I call?' she asks with a broken voice.
'No, darling, it's just that I'm tired, you know I hardly slept last night,' I justify myself.
'I understand, love. Will you call me when you wake up? You can say good morning to the baby over the phone,' she says excitedly.
'I would love to,' I say before saying goodbye.
I stare at my phone until a question comes to my mind, and I get up to ask Paige.
How did Paige find out about the pregnancy? Ethan told me that she already knew, but that's all.
I walk to Paige's room and knock on the door, but there's no response. I don't hear any sound from the other side..."