Chapter 31-1

Kieran

I fucked up.

Instead of making things right with Sophia after I snapped at her once again, even though I promised myself to do a better job of controlling my temper around her, I screwed up worse than ever before.

It seemed like each time I was about to take a step in the right direction in this relationship, something major would happen, taking me two steps back. And today it was not my fault. I had nothing with the past catching up on me; the past I tried so hard to run away from.

The past… Nora.

For months, I had this crippling fear of facing her again, and I knew that day had to come. And when it was finally there, it almost cost me everything I held dear. Well, at least I hoped it was not too late and that I could still salvage the image of the future I painted so vividly in my head.

Because when I came face to face with my greatest failure in life, I realized the past would always remain right where it belonged and that what was to come was a hundred times more powerful.

But for the moment, I had to figure out a way to make Sophia stay long enough for me to fix the shit I’ve caused.

The mere thought of being without her hurt like hell! And I had to avoid those thoughts becoming real, no matter the price. I couldn’t lose her!

As I was going through the documents waiting for my signature, I kept glancing at the clock. Why was the time moving so fast? I wasn’t halfway through the paperwork and it was already noon! But then again, it also meant that I would see her soon. My eyes were deprived of her for too long.

At that moment, an incoming call rang from my laptop, and I was surprised to notice Philip on the identification since we had talked just yesterday. Either way, I answered it and was nonplused by his angry face appearing on my screen.

“What the fuck, Kieran?” Philip all but screamed at me, and I flinched back, having no bloody idea what he was talking about. “I told you to stay away from her!”

An anvil sank deep into my stomach, weighing it down. Damn it! I didn’t need another conflict with Philip. We barely patched things up last time.

“Marrying her? Really, brother? After everything you said?”

“I have a right to change my mind, don’t I?” I was fuming, barely controlling my fists that shook in anger. “Who told you?”

“Dad just called. He said, and I quote here: ‘Kieran and his lovely wife are to be his guests for dinner.’ Have you gone completely mad?” Philip kept ranting without a stop. “When did you do it?”

Should I even bother answering him, as I knew what his reaction would be?

“Right after you left,” I murmured, half-hoping he wouldn’t understand.

“Oh my God! You’re crazier than I thought!” he stopped talking as the realization drowned up on him. He tilted his head to the side and squinted his eyes. “Sophia was supposed to move to Richmond after the wedding. What did you do, you son of a…”

“Hey! Watch your language!” I’ve had enough of his tantrums. I just got all the strings of my life back together as the vision of how I wanted to spend the rest of it crystalized, and Philip only added unnecessary pressure to it.

Philip was my only brother and my best friend and seeing condemnation in his eyes hurt. I knew I didn’t give him enough to go with and not judge me so harshly, but he should’ve known me better than that. Still, I decided to be somewhat open with him and tell him the truth. At least part of it. Some things should forever stay between me and my wife.

But instead of telling him how I came to be married to his sister-in-law, I dropped another bomb on him.

“Nora showed up in the office yesterday.” Philip was there with me when the whole ordeal happened, and too late, I realized he was trying to warn me about her all along, but I never listened.

“What? How did…? What did you…?”

“Don’t worry, brother. I’m fine.” Sophia, standing next to me yesterday, annulled the poison Nora tried to flush me with. She turned what I fretted about for so long into nothing more than a mere shadow of the past.

I watched as Philip leaned forward and rested his head on his palm. He sighed a couple of times before he straightened up.

“Kieran, are you…” Even though Philip never got a chance to finish his sentence.

“Hey, babe, I thought I heard you arguing with someone. Is everything all right?” Ellie’s worried voice rang from somewhere in the back as she entered the room and it lit up the lightbulb in my head, giving me just the perfect idea of how to be more of an asshole I already was.

“Hey, Ellie!” I shouted, hoping she wouldn’t ignore me. It wasn’t like I left the best impression on her before they took off for their retreat. It was rather funny how she looked at me with a glint of suspicion and distrust. Rightfully so.

Luckily, Ellie appeared on the screen next to Philip.

“Hi, Kieran. How are you?”

“Good. How’s my nephew doing?”

An angelic smile I recognized painted her face. “He’s very active these days, playing football or something.” she giggled.

A realization that I’ll never get to experience the charms of being a father froze my blood for a second. What was worse, I had no remorse for denying that right to Sophia.

“Ellie,” I started reluctantly. “I know this might come as a surprise for you but your sister and I,” her face went pale at the mention of Sophia and I had her full attention. “Well, we decided to not waste precious time, so we got married. Sorry we didn’t wait for you two.” Liar. I wasn’t sorry. Not at all.

After an eternity of silence, I got worried about her well-being. “Ellie?” I glanced at Philip, but he just shook his head. Little prick knew I had an ulterior motive with this announcement and had no intention of being my accomplice.

“Why didn’t she tell me?” she was on the verge of crying, and the sight of her frown guilted me to no end. She was carrying my nephew, for heaven’s sake, and I…

“Don’t hold it over her head. It’s my fault, really. I asked her not to say anything, as I planned a surprise.” Liar! “But father told Philip and I’m sure he would’ve told you, so I figured it’s better you hear it from me.”

Almost instantly, Ellie smiled. “If you hurt her, I will hurt you. Got it?” When I nodded in confirmation, she quickly added before she jumped up: “Going to call sis to grill her up a bit. Walk later?” she asked Philip, and with that, she was off.

All along, Philip was quiet.

And without another word, he cut the connection, leaving me to stare at the black screen.

Well, that was something.