Chapter One Hundred and Five

Chapter One Hundred and Five
Alana 

I’m rudely woken from my sleep by loud knocking at my front door. I glance at the time and see it’s four o’clock in the morning. Who the hell is at my door at this time? I become nervous. My nervousness turns to fear as the knocking continues to grow louder. 

I switch the lamp on and climb out of bed quietly. Whoever it is, I don’t want them to hear me move. I look around for something to take with me in case I need to defend myself. I spot a plank of wood which belongs to a new set of drawers I need to build. I pick it up and creep my way over to the front door, avoiding all the squeaky spots that would give me away. My hands tremble, and my heart is pounding in my chest. It could be anyone at my door. 

The noise stops, and I wonder if whoever it is has left. Maybe they have the wrong address? But a moment later, knocking begins again, not as forceful this time, but gentler. 
I take a deep breath and peer through the peephole. The last person I expect to see is on the other side. Ezra is standing there. He’s looking at the ground, soaked from the rain. It had been pouring all day. What is he doing here? I toss the wood away and quickly unlock and open the door, excitedly, because I wasn’t expecting to see him. 

“Ezra!”

He lifts his head to look at me, and when he does, he doesn’t smile or seem excited to see me. He looks as though he has been crying and hasn't slept in days. Brokenness fills his eyes, a look on his face I haven’t seen in a long time. He seems utterly destroyed. 

“Ezra, what’s wrong?” I whimper. I’m worried because whatever it is, it has to be something awful. He wouldn’t be in such a state if it weren’t. 

“Alana. She lied to me. She isn’t mine.” He sobs. 

“Ezra, what are you talking about, my love?” I ask, confused. 

“Cora isn’t mine. Bella lied to me. She is somebody else's.” Tears run down his cheeks.

“Oh, God no! Ezra, I am so sorry.” How could she fucking do that to him? I swear to God, if I ever see her again, I will not hesitate to kick her ass. 

Ezra collapses into my arms and sobs. I hug him tightly and stroke his hair. “How could she be so horrible?” He whimpers. 

“I don’t know, my love. I am sorry she hurt you in such a terrible way, Ezra.” 

I am crying for him. He clings to me for dear life, and I hold him, letting him cry. I fucking hate that woman! She is a disgusting, pathetic excuse of a human being.

“Alana, I loved her.” 

“I know you did. I can’t believe she would stoop so low. I am sorry she took Cora away from you, Ezra.” Yes, I knew she was evil, I think we both did, but I don’t think either of us thought she would do something like this. Yes, I had doubts when we first found out she was pregnant, but she showed him a DNA test result. She must have paid someone to fake it. Stupid, psycho bitch. 

“I don’t know what to do. I have been through a lot in my life, but Bella making me believe Cora was mine—to snatch her away from me—is making me feel so much pain I didn’t know it was possible to hurt this much.” He’s struggling to speak as he is starting to hyperventilate. Ezra looks up to meet my eyes, and the look in them breaks my damn heart. 

“I need you to breathe, Ezra, before you pass out. I wish I could take the pain away for you. You don’t deserve this. No one deserves this.” 

I reach for his face to wipe his tears away. He takes a few deep breaths. “I can’t deal with it, Alana, especially not on my own.” 

I rest my forehead on his and stroke his cheeks. “You’re not alone, my love. I am right here. I promise.” 

He manages a nod. I take his hand and bring him inside, locking the door behind us. 

“Let’s get you out of these wet clothes before you end up sick,” I say softly. 

“Okay,” he whispers. 

I lead us to my bedroom. “You get out of those wet clothes. I will get you a towel and something dry to wear.” 

I sigh as I walk away. I don’t know what to do to make him feel better. There is something I want to share with him, but I don’t think right now is the best time to bring it up. I wish I could take his pain away or turn back time so he never met that vile woman. 

I grab what he needs and join him back in my bedroom. He’s standing at the window, staring out of it, still clad in his wet clothes. 

“Ezra, come here, love,” I say softly. 

He slowly turns around to face me and makes his way over. A blank expression covers his face. I don’t think I have ever seen someone look so broken the way he does now. I help him undress and wrap a towel around him. 

“Thank you,” he says in a soft voice. 
Ezra walks towards the bed after I tell him to do so. He sits on the edge of my bed and stares at the ground. I find a pair of his joggers and a tee, take them over to him and crouch down in front of him.

“What can I do to help?” I ask and stroke the wet hair away from his face. 

“I just need you close, Alana.” 

“I can do that for you.” I smile. 

He smiles back, but it’s forced. I stand and help him dry off and put his clothes on. Once I am done, he holds my hips and buries his face in my stomach. I can hear him crying again. I will never understand how one person can hurt another the way Bella has hurt Ezra. 

I play with his hair and kiss the top of his head. “I got you, Ezra.” 

Ezra pulls away and climbs onto the bed to lie down. I crawl over next to him. The second I am close, he pulls me to him and wraps his arms tightly around me. He falls completely silent, lost in his thoughts. I don’t say anything. If he wants to talk more, he will, I won’t force him to. I know he will open up when he is ready. 

“She told me I would be a terrible father because of the DNA I have running through me. Alana, she seriously thinks I would hurt a child. She told me it is probably good that I’m not Cora’s father because of my past.” 

His voice has mixed emotions—sadness, anger, and disappointment. 

My entire body tenses when he tells me. It was bad enough that she lied to him about Cora, but she had to go there, too. I swear the bitch better hope we never cross paths; I will not be held responsible for my actions. No one, I mean no one, gets to make Ezra feel this way and say such horrible things to him without consequences. I believe in karma, and I can’t wait until she gets hers, no matter how it comes around to her. It will happen. 

“Ezra, you know that is a lie, right? She said those things to hurt you on purpose.” 

“What if she’s right, Alana? What if one day I turn into my biological parents?” He whimpers and shakes his head. 

“No, don’t you dare let her get inside your head, Ezra? You are nothing like those monsters. You are a good man with a huge heart and lots of love to give. You will be an incredible dad. She used it to make you feel bad.” I make sure my words are firm because I refuse to let him believe those things, even for a second. 

“You don’t know that, Alana. What if I’m a terrible father when the day comes? What if I mess up or walk away when it gets too much?” He sobs. 

I pull away from him only so I can kneel in front of him. I take his face in my hands and look him dead in the eye. 

“Yes, I do know that, Ezra, because I know you better than anyone. I have faith in you, and I wish you would have it in yourself. When the day comes, you will love our child unconditionally. You will do whatever you need to do to take care of not only our babies but me, too, because it is the kind of man you are. So, get those damn thoughts out of your head, okay? Bella is gone for good, and she will never be near you again to bring you down, not while I am around.” 

“Promise? You aren’t just saying it to make me feel better?” 

“I mean every single word. I promise.” 

Ezra studies me closely, and I see a slight smile rise on his lips. It isn’t forced this time. 

“Okay. I hope I don’t ever need to see her again.” He sighs. 

“You won’t. There is no reason to now. Are you going to be okay, my love?” I ask and caress his cheek. 

“I will be in time. It feels like someone has ripped a part of me away. A strong feeling of loss.” Pain flashes in his eyes. “I don’t know how or when I will start to be okay, but I know I will get there because I have you. If I have you, then I have everything I need.” 

“You take as long as you need. I will be here every step of the way. Always and forever, Ezra.” I smile. 

“Always and forever,” he repeats and kisses me softly. 

“I think you should try and sleep, Ezra, because I assume you haven’t slept since you found out.” 

“I haven’t slept in two days. I couldn’t. There was too much going on in my head. I won’t lie, I drank myself into oblivion the day it happened. I soon realized it wouldn’t help, and being here with you was the only thing that could. So I booked a flight and came here,” he answers. 

“I am glad you came to me, Ezra, and didn’t stay at home and go through this alone. Do you think you can manage sleep tonight? You need it,” I say gently, rubbing his arm. 

“I will try. It will be easier with you next to me.” 

I switch the light off, and we settle down. Ezra cuddles into me, holding me tight. He buries his face in my neck. 

“I love you, Ezra. You will get through this,” I whisper as I tickle his back. 

“I love you too, Alana,” he whispers back. 

I really hope he can get some sleep because he’s exhausted mentally, physically, and emotionally. It doesn’t take long for his breathing to slow down as he falls asleep. With any luck, he will sleep until the late morning. I don’t know how he will feel tomorrow, but I will do whatever I can to improve his day. 

I close my eyes and hope sleep will take me soon. I will keep my secret to myself for now. I will tell him when I think he is ready to hear it. I don’t want to overwhelm him. 

I am happy he is here with me because I would be worried sick if I knew what happened and he was alone. I will take care of him and help him through this difficult time.