92

92
With a heavy heart, Kate boarded a cab to Angela’s place after the guys left. Despite Alex offering to drop her off at Aiden’s place as they had initially agreed due to Kate’s health, she waved him off with an excuse of wanting to visit Angela before heading back to Aiden’s place.

Alex didn’t want to argue; he wanted quiet. He needed time to think about the next steps. So, he decided to seclude himself in his own house.

After Alex left, Kate headed to Angela’s place. The cab had already reached the destination, and like a total zombie, Kate alighted, paid, and walked to Angela’s porch. Standing before the white wooden door, she knocked.

Seconds later, Angela opened the door, and her eyes met Kate’s. Before Angela could speak, Kate’s tears started flowing.

“What happened, girl? Why are you in tears?” The question came from Angela as she guided Kate into the living room.

Unable to speak, Kate sobbed, and Angela allowed her to let out all her emotions. When Kate calmed down, Angela gently rubbed her shoulders and asked, 
“What happened, Kate?”

Kate hiccupped, wiped her tears, and whispered brokenly, “They fought tonight.”

If Angela was surprised by Kate’s words, she didn’t show it.

“Because of you? I thought they had already agreed to share you?” Angela asked gently, but before she could finish, Kate was already shaking her head.

“No. Because of someone… I do not know her, but I figured she was very important in their lives.”

The words hit Angela hard, and she felt sympathy for Kate. She thought the twins were cheating on Kate.

“Not that,” Kate whispered, trying to steer Angela away from her negative thoughts. “The girl was from their past.”

Brows furrowed, Angela asked, “What does their past have to do with the present?”

“Because Alex raped her.”

At Kate’s admission, Angela gasped in total shock. Everyone in Brazzers knew about their staunch devotion to helping rape victims, but here, Kate was revealing that Alex had forced himself on a girl, their ex.

“Aiden found out the truth today and went on a total rampage. But that’s not my main problem…” Kate trailed off as the words the men had said circulated through her mind again, almost making her dizzy.

“What is it, then?” Curiosity gnawed at Angela as she watched another trail of tears leave Kate’s eyes.

“Everything they described about what happened back in New Orleans years ago was exactly what happened to me, Sophia.”

Angela snorted, confused. “You mean about your affair with a stranger?”

Kate nodded, and Angela quickly pieced together the scattered pieces of the puzzle. “You mean to tell me Aiden was the one? That he got you pregnant?”

Angela practically shot to her feet, pacing between them. Kate still had her head lowered, lost in thought.

“We need a DNA test, Kate. Real quick. Gabby sure as hell has a father,” Angela said, shocked and happy.

If it turns out to be true, fate truly knows the game it has been playing all along.

“But… how do I get Gabby’s blood?” Kate asked, growing anxious. She stood up as Angela paused and stared.

“You don’t need blood to conduct a paternity test. I saw Gabby using a comb this morning, and a tiny strand of his hair was in it.”

As Angela spoke, she rushed into the room and grabbed the small red comb Tiffany had forgotten when they were heading back to New Orleans.

Angela found a transparent bag and placed the comb in it. Grabbing hold of it, Kate looked on.

“All you have to do, Kate, is get a strand of Aiden’s hair. Tomorrow, we'll hurry down to the hospital to conduct the test.”

Angela pulled Kate into a bear hug and whispered into the depth of her tears, “Let’s be hopeful.”

Aiden felt completely wasted, broken, and betrayed. He had destroyed his apartment in rage, with shards of glass strewn across the floor and couches.

He had injured himself in the process, and his wrists were bleeding heavily, but he didn’t care.

If only his bleeding wound could stop his bleeding heart. His bloody fist clenched tightly around the bottle of cognac as he took swig after swig.

That was all he could do since he had stepped foot into the apartment. Now, wasted, he lay on the floor, dozing.

Aiden wasn’t aware when Kate entered. She surveyed the room and moaned bitterly, especially when she saw Aiden’s bleeding wound.

If Aiden was as wasted as this, how about Alex?

Kate hurried to the bathroom, where a first aid kit was, and retrieved it. Making her way to where Aiden lay helplessly, she held his bloody hand in her lap.

Stirring, Aiden hiccupped as he looked at Kate. “Baby, is that you…?” He whispered, his gaze clouded so he couldn’t exactly see who it was.

“Yes, it’s me,” Kate muttered as he cupped her cheek with his free hand. “Why did you drink this much? Why did you turn into this mess?”

“I didn’t drink, baby. I’m sober,” he slurred.

Yeah, right. Completely sober, Kate thought.

She applied the saline solution to his wound, disinfecting it. Then she got the gauze and began wrapping up the wound.

With a hiccup, Aiden whispered, “She trusted us to protect her. But Alex… he broke her. He broke her future too, baby. I can’t believe my own brother could do that.”

Kate felt the sadness in his voice. He was truly hurt.

She settled down and cradled his head in her lap, running her fingers through his ebony tresses.

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she remembered that night. 
From her bosses' betrayal to the feeling of strong arms around her, those months of despair as her belly grew, Kate lost herself in the memories. She let them wash over her as if it were happening again.

She was just a minor when it all happened. She hadn’t figured her life out then. Her pain worsened as her son grew up without a father.

Those days were dark. Those were the days Kate wished she could forget. Being a single mother was not easy, which is why Kate made sure to appreciate those who were.

But now, it was time to find out if Gabby could have a chance at a real father. There was no need to waste any more time.

Kate picked up the scalpel, dug her fingers into Aiden’s mass of ebony hair, and cut a tiny piece.

A tiny piece that would determine her son’s future.

“Baby… I feel hurt. So hurt. I love him so much. But I’m hurt. He has always been there for me. For us. But I’m hurt. I never expected that.”

In his drowsy state, Aiden spoke. Somewhere in the recesses of his heart, his love for Alex remained. Though broken, his brother was still his brother.

“It’s okay to feel hurt. But in the end, family doesn’t hold grudges…” Leaning down, she kissed his forehead, tears in her eyes.