Chapter 60 Followed
“We worked together on Dave Wilton’s project and it seemed like they were dating,” one of them said.
“But he looked so tense when he got out of her office, do you think they fell out?”
“That I’m not sure of. But there’s definitely something wrong,” another replied.
Then one of them saw me.
“Shhh…” she whispered and they all went silent.
“Well done, ma’am,” they muttered as they dispersed.
I forced a small smile, pretending not to have heard them, even though I could feel my fingers trembling slightly.
My heart sank, not because of Alex, but because what I had feared was about to happen.
Unnecessary rumors going around my workplace.
I nodded to myself and reluctantly walked over to the vending machine.
ALEX HART’S POV
After leaving Joan’s office, I didn’t leave the parking lot immediately.
I couldn’t.
I just sat in my car, my hands locked around the steering wheel as I stared blankly outside the windscreen.
I had never seen Joan that angry.
Not once. Not even in the five years we dated. Back then, even when she was upset, she would speak softly as if she was scared her words might hurt me.
But today?
She was different.
Her voice was ice cold and her eyes were empty. It seemed like there was no love, patience, or even disappointment left in them.
I let out a shaky breath and leaned against the chair as I dragged my hand down my face.
“This is my fault,” I muttered to myself.
Then my mind drifted to my mother.
“No…” I muttered again.
The fault wasn’t just mine.
It all started with Mrs. Evelyn Hart.
Every problem in my life somehow traced back to her control, manipulation, and her obsession with status.
“Arghhh,” I groaned, hitting the steering wheel in frustration.
“None of this would have happened if she hadn’t pushed Cassandra into my life,” I thought to myself.
Just as I was still pondering on that, another thought cut in uninvited.
“Wait… what if… just what if Cassandra’s pregnancy isn’t mine?”
I straightened up slowly in my seat and leaned forward, replaying everything from that night till present.
“That day…” I whispered.
The day she told me about the pregnancy, I remembered the way she watched my reaction closely as if she was waiting to see if her lie had landed.
“I need to find out as soon as possible before I get swallowed up by this trap,” I muttered and quickly snapped myself out of the thought.
Immediately, I started my car and drove out into the street.
Soon, I arrived at my office. I didn’t waste any time; I headed straight to Marcus’s office.
That was the only person I could share my thoughts with.
I pushed the door open without knocking.
“I need to get a paternity test for the baby Cassandra is carrying,” I said, leaning against the door as I closed it.
Marcus, who had been typing on his laptop, paused and slowly lifted his head.
“Well… good morning to you too,” he said, leaning back in his chair.
“Care to explain why you just walked in here sounding like you are going to a war front?” he added, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.
I ran my fingers through my hair and started pacing in his office.
“I’m serious, Marcus. I need that test done.”
He looked at me for a few seconds, his hands on his desk, then he sighed.
“You think she might be lying?” he asked.
“Yes,” I replied without hesitation.
“Okay… what if you ask for it and your mother refuses?”
“Then I will make it my condition.”
“Condition?” Marcus repeated, his brows slightly raised.
“Yes,” I nodded slowly.
“If the baby is mine, I will take full responsibility, but… if the baby is not mine, I will cut ties with my mother completely.”
“Hmm,” Marcus breathed out slowly and folded his arms.
“You deserve certainty and that idea is a reasonable approach,” he started, his eyes searching my face.
“But Alex… you have to tread carefully. You know you are dealing with two people who don't like losing control,” he added.
“I know,” I muttered.
But at that point, I didn’t care.
That control was exactly what I wanted to take back.
The rest of the day went on too long.
When people spoke to me, I replied only when necessary, still my mind wasn’t in any of it. It kept replaying one scene over and over.
I, standing in front of my mother and telling her I want a paternity test.
I imagined how she would react.
I knew it wouldn’t be as easy as it seemed, but I was sure of one thing.
I would make sure the test happened.
Immediately after work, I drove straight to my mother’s house.
On my way there, I practiced what I would say and how I would say it countless times in my head, my fists tightening on the steering wheel with each unfinished thought because none of the versions felt strong for what I was about to do.
Soon, I got to her place.
I pulled into her compound and parked.
For a moment, I just sat in my car, staring at the door.
After that, I stepped out of my car and headed toward the front door.
I knocked softly this time and waited for an answer before going in.
“Come in,” I heard my mother’s voice coming from inside.
When I walked in, she looked up from the magazine she was reading, wrapped it, and placed it carefully on the table.
“Son… you are here,” she said with a small smile.
I greeted her respectfully and sat across from her.
For a few seconds after the pleasantry, I didn’t say anything. I just looked at her.
“Is everything alright?” she asked, breaking the silence.
I breathed in slowly, then I dropped the bombshell.
“I came to talk about Cassandra’s pregnancy.”
She straightened up immediately and her eyes widened.
“What about it?” she asked.
I clasped my hands together, leaning a bit forward.
“I’ve been thinking about it… and the truth is… I’m not supposed to take responsibility for that pregnancy,” I said, keeping my voice calm deliberately.
“What do you mean?” she asked, her brows furrowed.
“It happened without my consent,” I replied blankly.
“You and Cassandra put me in a position I didn’t agree to.”
She wanted to talk, but I didn’t allow her to.
“However,” I continued, my voice still calm but firm.
“I wouldn’t want my child to grow up fatherless. If that baby is mine, I will take responsibility. Full responsibility on that child.”
She relaxed, clearly pleased with what I had just said.
But she relaxed too soon, because I wasn’t done yet.
Then I leaned in slightly, intentionally locking eyes with her.
“I have a condition,” I muttered.
Her brows furrowed again.
“What condition?”
“I want a paternity test,” I said simply.
She went silent for a while as if she was searching for a befitting reply to my request.
“Is that all?” she said.
“Yes. If the baby is truly mine, I will take responsibility,” I replied, then I paused, letting my next words sink in before I said them.
“If this is what you need to clear your doubts, there is no problem about that,” she replied.
“But if the baby isn’t mine, I will never forgive you, Mom,” I added.
She stared at me, clearly dumbfounded.
For the first time in my life, I wasn’t talking like a son seeking approval, I was talking to her like a grown man drawing a line.
“And I mean it,” I added subtly.
Just then, Cassandra walked out of the kitchen, holding a glass of wine.
“She was here all along?” I thought to myself.
She pushed the moment she saw me sitting, her eyes moving from me to my mother, then back to me.
She looked like someone who had walked into a room where they were gossiping about her.
“Oh, Alex… you are here,” she said softly.
I didn’t answer.
Then my mother gestured for her to sit beside her.
“He was just talking about you,” she said as Cassandra walked closer to her.
Cassandra’s brows drew together slightly, confusion clear on her face.
“What about?”
“He wants a paternity test…” my mother replied.
I watched Cassandra closely, and I noticed that the glass in her hand trembled slightly, but I didn’t say anything.
However, my mother went on as if she was discussing something casual.
“So… when will you be free for us to visit the hospital and have it done?”
I watched her again.
But she had steadied her expression.
“Anytime is fine,” she replied, her voice slightly shaking.
After that conversation, I didn’t stay long.
I couldn’t stay in the house with those two again. My mother was pretending to be calm, Cassandra was pretending not to be scared, and I was done with that.
So I left.
I walked out without another word, got into my car, and drove off.
Just as I drove into the street, I noticed a black car behind me.
I wouldn’t have thought too much about it, but the car kept the same distance and pace with me.
When I slowed down slightly, it slowed down too.
My palms instantly became sweaty.
“What’s happening?” I thought to myself.
I kept my eyes on the rearview mirror, trying to see if the car would change direction, but it didn’t, it kept following my pace.
“It’s a coincidence,” I told myself and continued driving.
Still, my mind wasn’t at ease.
I decided to test it, so when I got to the next junction, I took a sudden right turn.
The black car turned too.
My grip tightened on the steering wheel and my heart started beating rapidly.
“God, please. I know I don’t worship you enough, but please save me this one time,” I mumbled under my breath, sweat already dripping down my face.