Chapter 17 One Year Later
Cara remained quiet all through the ride. She held back on her tears as they kept threatening to fall. It was a lot of work to keep those waters from pouring down her face.
Arriving at her complex building, she got out of the car and Romeo saw her off to her apartment. She still had to fake being okay even though it was very evident on her face that she was not.
Her legs trembled as she walked but anytime it happened, Romeo held her up with a gentle smile, knowing well what she was going through and not asking any questions.
It had hurt him– even though the words weren't directed at him– when Chris had talked about her inability to have children. It wasn't her fault and he wished he could tell that to her.
At the entrance of her apartment, she stopped and turned to him with a soft smile. “Thank you for today. You are always so helpful.” Her voice was empty of life.
Romeo felt so heartbroken looking at her like that. She was too shattered to be put back together by a few words but he still wanted to try.
“Hey, I–”
She shook her head, cutting him off. “Don't say anything.” A weak smile played on her face. “It's… not what I need right now.”
He nodded his head. “Okay.” He said softly. “I'll see you tomorrow?”
“See you tomorrow.” She partly muttered with a gentle smile.
He tapped her shoulders comfortingly. “Go on inside.”
She turned around and opened the door. With one last sad smile, she closed the door and leaned against it with her back.
Sliding down to the ground, the tears she had fought so hard began to trail down her face effortlessly and her heart felt like it would crush from the heavyweight it carried.
Romeo felt it like torture as he leaned against the door and heard her sobbing. He had expected it, but it crushed him anyway.
He blinked back on his own tears and walked away. Not wanting to intrude on her privacy.
Cara always held on to the hope that maybe she wasn't the problem for their inability to have a child. Maybe it wasn't her, maybe it was him. Maybe it was Chris.
But the fact that Jessica was carrying his baby crushed her soul. As much as she doubted the pregnancy belonged to Chris, she couldn't null out the fact that she could have been the problem even though medically, it said she wasn't.
The baby inside Jessica, if there was one, could belong to Chris after all since they had been sleeping with each other.
What she would give to know that Jessica was lying about her pregnancy and even if she wasn't, the baby didn't belong to Chris.
She didn't know how long she sat there, she didn't know how long she cried. But she knew her eyes had run dry of tears to cry. They had run empty. Just like how she felt inside.
She loved Chris. She really loved him. And she loved Jessica too. Jessica was like a sister to her. She felt so hurt because she still loved them. She had a weak heart.
It made her angry that she was the only one having a hard time getting over them and moving on. They had forgotten about her, gotten over her and moved on. It was high time she did the same.
It was impossible not to think about them, but she would try to make it as less often as possible.
Getting up to her feet, she dragged herself to her bedroom. She wanted to motivate herself, to tell herself that everything would be alright. To tell herself to look on the brighter future, the company, but she had no strength for all of that. She would do it tomorrow.
For now, she went into her bedroom and crawled up on her bed, curling into a ball and letting sleep carry her away.
ONE YEAR LATER
Cara picked up her hand bag and threw it on her shoulder as she walked out of her office. Her secretary gave her a bow as she sighted her and Cara smiled briefly before walking past her.
She was in a haste, she had barely even noticed how much time had passed that day.
Hopping into her car, she drove to green spring venue, where Joshua was being joined with his other half.
Arriving at the place, the wedding had already begun and she sat herself down with her parents.
Miranda smiled and held her hand. “I was afraid you wouldn't make it.” She whispered to her.
“Joshua would never forgive me.” Cara whispered back in response.
Joshua noticed his sister and smiled at her before looking back to the beautiful woman in white standing in front of him and holding his hand.
Soon after, the wedding was done and Cara went to say her congratulations. She smiled. “Finally, you're moving out.”
Joshua chuckled softly. He pulled her into his arms and hugged her. “Good to see you. You are always so busy.”
“You know I can't help it.” Her phone started ringing and she sighed. “Work. I have to go. I left congratulatory money and I promise to visit soon, okay?”
Joshua smirked. “Take it easy power suit.”
She chuckled and left the place.
Driving back to work, a car suddenly bumped into hers and her head hit against the steering wheel at the impact. Fresh blood sipped from the small cut on her forehead. She winced.
Getting down from the car, she went to check the damage but found herself standing in front of a face she had hoped to never see again.