Chapter 131. Torn

Chapter 131. Torn
Laura's lips were set on a thin line before nodding to his question.

“Yes sir.” Her voice lowered slowly.

“Hmm. And should I take a guess that you've not spoken to Leonard since the incident?” 

Laura didn't know what to say at that point. She lowered her head before giving him another nod.

Silence followed after.

“It's just that…” she swallowed hard. “Leo and I had some sort of disagreement during the night of the whole…Rachel situation. And I've not really figured out what I was going to say to him. He's been calling but…I haven't picked nor returned any of those calls.”

Archibald listened silently as he didn't stare directly at her while they spoke. “Rachel's pregnancy came as a shock to everyone.” He said. “But is that going to be the factor in which you end your relationship?”

“Our…relationship has not quite ended. Yet.” She added without even realizing it.

“So you have intentions of wanting to quit?”

Laura sighed as she leaned back into her chair. “Another woman is pregnant for Leo, grandfather.” She said, trying to state the main point of focus in everything. “And Leo didn't even seem bothered about it. Not even in the least. There's no way I could possibly come in between Leo and his child, that wouldn't be right.”  She took a few deep breaths while trying to gather her thoughts together. “And the bond between Rachel and Leo is already heightened as a result of that child.”

“Leo had not presented the fact that he was getting back together with Rachel, has he?” Archibald asked 

“Well,” she said. “It hadn't been clearly expressed that way. But Leo obviously wants to raise that child with Rachel besides him.”

“And how can you be so sure of that?” 

“Because I could see everything in his eyes that night.” She said instantly as her voice began to crack. Clearing her throat, she sat up straight. “ There's no way I would stand a chance against someone who carries his own blood and heir. Most especially when that person happens to be his ex whom he had history with, even while we were married.”

Another silence formed in the room and Laura could feel a light heading forming in her head. Even with all the words she knew and could possibly say, none of them could come close to perfectly explaining how hurt the situation had left her. She felt like she had been brought out from the deep and solitary shadows she had been in for what seemed like decades to light, only to be dumbed back into that darkness. This time, she felt worse than she did when she first fell into it.

“Laura dear,” Archibald finally glanced high at Laura who did the same. She could quite decipher the emotions he held beneath the whole solid wall that he had always been so strong and confident to pull off even in the midst of chaos. It was something she hoped she had been able to pull off as well.

“We wouldn't deny the fact that right now, my grandson's mind would be completely occupied with nothing else but the thought of his unborn son which puts Rachel at the advantage here. It's a normal thing for everyone, especially men who realize that they are about to become parents. In this state, their child's well being would come first above every other thing.” He explained. Then he exhaled slowly. “Right now, it's your job as his girlfriend and someone who claims to love him to understand the situation he's in.”

A bitter chuckle escaped her lips. “Understand?” She asked slowly, more like she was asking herself. “Grandfather, how does someone understand something like this? How am I even supposed to stomach the whole thing? It probably wouldn't be long before I start feeling and being treated like a third will in the whole equation. It's going to be easier to understand things then.”

Archibald nodded. “Indeed, it would be. But still, the decision of staying regardless of everything boils down to you, Laura.” He said with a straight face. “You can decide to let the both of them be and probably raise the child in a loveless home. Or you can give yourself that little ounce of strength it would take to hang on.”

Laura stared at Archibald as she could feel her composure slowly crumbling right before her. He covered her face with her palm, feeling the tears prickling and threatening to fall.

“I'm tired grandpa.” Her voice broke. “I really thought things were going to be different this time.”

The older man watched her as she broke down in front of him and he let her. If he could guess, she had barely given herself the privilege to last out or cry over the situation like she needed to. That way, she could think more clearly and rational after the burden to release tension had been lifted off her shoulders.

“I believe it was indeed different while it lasted.” Archibald said. “You have no time to be pitying yourself or your situation. Rather, do what you need to do and think of the next step you think is the best for you to face. We Carters don't just let situations like this overwhelm us.” He told her.

Laura who cleaned the slobs and tears off her face looked up to pass him a warm smile. His words helped her relax and feel better to a certain extent than she felt earlier.

“I think I've cried enough for now.” She said as she maintained the smile on her lips. She stroked through her hair, releasing a heavy breath as the stiffness around her shoulders softened.

“Are you done with the tears now? Or you need 2 more hours to wallow in self pity?”

Laura couldn't help but snicker at the older man's words. She loved how blunt of a person he was. He was never one to sugarcoat his words, no matter how hurtful they would end up sounding at the end. But that was just how life worked sometimes; things wouldn't always be presented to you in colorful wraps. Some come in ugly and heavy forms that only the strongest would survive such a hit. And Laura knew that was basically how Archibald treated every sphere of his life and family being included.

Laura sat up straight; placed her two hands on her lap like she was in some business conference. Seeing the position she had suddenly taken, he knew she had a question dancing at the tip of her tongue.

He shook his hand in the air as he leaned back to rest. “Go ahead, ask what's on your mind.” He said without looking at her.

Laura on the other hand smiled at him as she found it funny how five years had not been able to change that attitude and sharp wits of his.

“Um…just by any chance, do you know where Leo is currently?” She asked. “Not because I want to visit or anything like that. I was just curious.”

Archibald stared at her, trying to throw around a flimsy lie, but he didn't say anything about it.
“He's currently at the estate now.” He said 

“Oh.” She said as she bit her bottom lip, contemplating asking the next question. But before she could get it out, Archibald beat her to it.

“Yes, Rachel is staying with him for now.” He said before she could voice out the question and Laura was taken aback by the response.

“You mean they're staying together?” She asked with wide eyes. Archibald nodded simply. Laura didn't know what to feel anymore. One moment she felt better like she may actually have a chance at surviving, and the next; she felt like shit.

“Leonard had insisted on Rachel moving in with him so he could watch her and her condition.” Archibald suddenly said. “But I asked them to come stay at the estate instead, that way she would have access to maids who could be of help whenever Leonard was absent.”

“So, that means you approve of Rachel and the child?”

Archibald didn't answer her question immediately. Instead, he picked up his cane and pulled it to stand in between his legs while his hands rested on them.

“It's not about approval, Laura.” He said calmly. “Even if I do not approve of the girl who carries the child, Leo is still and will forever be my grandson, and that makes whatever seed Rachel may be carrying a Carter as well.”