Chapter 96

Chapter 96
JACKSON’S POV
I stood up to get my phone from my pocket, feeling a little awkward standing there with a kid who seemed lost in his own world. I could see how much Malone was struggling to adjust. It hurt me to watch him hurt Vera by shutting her out, even if he didn’t mean to. As I unlocked my phone and saw the new message, I turned to look at Vera.
There was no point telling her again that I had to leave and couldn’t stick to our original plan for the day. Instead, I told her we’d talk when I got back. I had made up my mind to leave without having breakfast, but seeing her pale face made me pause.
"You don't look well," I said quietly, brushing some hair away from her face and tucking it behind her ear.
"I'm going to be fine," she replied, turning from me and walking over to the kitchen counter where she had lined up some canned juice.
Her words confirmed what I feared, she wasn’t okay. I walked over, ready to gently explain my side of things, but her phone rang. It was like she had been expecting it because she quickly pulled it out of her night robe pocket and answered.
"Hannah?" she said, pressing a palm to her forehead like she had a bad headache.
I stayed back, watching her. My hands slid into my pants pockets. I knew better than to try and touch her, not when she looked that distressed. But I couldn’t bring myself to leave either, not when she looked so pale and fragile. I needed to know what was going on.
"Oh, that is… please, calm down. Don’t give in to—" Her voice dropped to a whisper, and then her eyes locked with mine, wide with fear. Without warning, she ran off toward the guest bathroom.
I chased after her and caught her just in time, holding her hand as she bent over and threw up into the sink. She would have collapsed if I hadn’t been there to hold her steady. I rubbed her shoulder gently, whispering every soothing word I could think of.
After a moment, I helped her stand and splashed some water on her face. Then she turned into me and pressed her face against my shirt, quietly sobbing.
That’s when I noticed Timothy and Malone standing by the door. Tim rushed over and hugged my leg tightly.
"Is Mummy going to be all right, Dad?" he asked, his little face full of worry.
"Yes, she will be," I told him with confidence, then looked at Malone, who silently turned and walked away.
"I don't think my brother likes me. He doesn’t talk to me, and he barely sleeps at night. Is something wrong with him?" Tim asked again, looking up at me.
"Of course he likes you," Vera answered quickly, kneeling to hug him. "He’s just used to being alone. Don’t worry, he’ll come around."
I knew then that I couldn’t leave. Vera needed me. And from everything happening, I already had a good idea of what was causing her sickness. Stress was the last thing she needed now.
We sat down for breakfast, but it was unusually quiet. It felt more like an obligation than a meal. Malone didn’t join us, and Vera kept glancing at the door like she hoped he’d walk in at any moment. But that didn’t happen.
Hours passed, and I ignored the messages on my phone. They kept reminding me to go out and look for Monica. I didn’t know if the texts were legit or just some sick prank like Vera had suggested. Still, the first time I saw the message, I had believed it, hook, line, and sinker.
"I don’t know what to do anymore," Vera said suddenly, her voice low and tired. "It’s painful to see what Ken has done to my son. If—"
She stopped mid-sentence, choking on her words as though something bitter was caught in her throat. She turned and walked into our bedroom, standing by the window with a hand on her forehead. She sniffled, trying to hold back tears.
I quietly followed and closed the door behind me. Standing next to her, I wrapped my arm around her waist.
She stiffened, but I gently pulled her closer.
"He’ll come around," I told her, repeating the same words she’d told Timothy earlier. "Give him time. This is all a lot for him. He’s probably overwhelmed by the changes. He’s just a kid."
She stayed in my arms, not pulling away like she had done earlier when we were clearing the table. After breakfast, she had started avoiding me the moment Tim went to his room, still sad about Malone’s silence. But now she was quiet and calm in my embrace. It felt good. Peaceful.
Suddenly, she pulled away like she had just remembered something.
"You were going somewhere," she said flatly.
"I’m sorry," I said, knowing my quick reaction to the text had upset her. "Trust me, Vera."
"You know what it means if you find her, right? If it’s true, everything changes. I thought you were over her."
Her voice cracked. I could hear the pain. She wasn’t just worried, I had hurt her.
I knew what she was really saying. If Monica was truly alive, then who had we buried? Who did we mourn? Who had a gravestone with her name? What kind of lie had we been living?
If Monica had faked her death, then she had pulled off the cruelest kind of betrayal. What reason could she possibly have for that? None of it made sense. But I wouldn’t find the answers unless I went. That’s why I had to try. I wouldn’t know peace otherwise.
"Be careful. You know we need you," Vera said quietly, placing a hand on her stomach. She didn’t have to say it, I already suspected. Her symptoms earlier weren’t random. She was pregnant again.
"I will," I promised and kissed her forehead. "You should call Hannah back. I’m sure she’s just as shaken as you are."
Without waiting for a reply, I walked out the door.