Chapter 45

Chapter 45
I stood there frozen, shocked at Ximena’s move. I mean, would Elliot even agree to it? Chloe is pregnant, and abandoning her now would be stupid.

I looked back to see if Dylan was still there, but he’d disappeared. I couldn’t even spot the faint glow of his cigarette anymore. Sighing, I walked inside just as Paris moved out of my way.

“I’m in a good mood because I’m getting married,” she said, following behind me. But I didn’t bother asking more as I focused on something else.

“Who did you come with?”

“Oh, Mom and Dad. And of course, your little devil sister.”

“Emma is here?” My whole face lit up as I rushed toward the living area. “Emma!” I called out, dropping my bag to the floor as she came running.

“Alexis!” Her arms flew around me, and I hugged her tight. She was ten now, if I wasn’t mistaken, so I couldn’t quite lift her the way I used to.

“Oh my God, you’re so big!”

“Yes, I think I’ve added three centimeters since you last saw me.”

“I bet you did.” I smiled, picking up my bag as we walked in.

“Alex, you made it,” Ximena said, standing up and pretending to hug me. The same way Helena always does. Speaking of Helena, she stood up too and gave me one of those fake hugs I hated.

“You missed everything. Elliot proposed.”

“What?” I pulled away, frowning. “Where’s Dad?”

“Oh, he’s in the game room with Elliot’s father,” Helena answered, taking Emma from me, insisting I should settle in.

“Sorry, we gave the room close to Elliot to Paris since they’re getting married,” Ximena added. God, she knew how much that room meant to me. Not only did it put me close to Elliot—it was my safe space.

“It’s fine. I guess I’m going to the room close to Dylan, right?”

“Unfortunately, yes. Now go settle in and come down for game night. We’ve got a lot to do as women too.”

I sighed and looked over at Emma who was already curled on the couch, focused on a game. Without a word, I headed for the room that would be mine for the weekend. Weird, but I had to make it work.

Inside, I dropped the bag and threw myself on the bed, breathing in deep. Okay—at least coming here let me see Emma and spend some time with her.

That had been my plan for the weekend, anyway. But now? I didn’t feel like I had a place here. In a twisted way, they’d done me a favor.

Still, Elliot... why would he propose to Paris while Chloe’s expecting his child?

And Dylan—why does he keep rejecting me like that? How do I even face him after what happened between us? I mean, I basically laid there... I gave myself to him, but nothing happened. Nothing.

“There you are. You didn’t see my engagement ring?” Paris’s voice startled me. I sat up quickly.

“Paris, what are you doing here?”

“I came to show you my ring, sis. And you didn’t even congratulate me on achieving my goal.” Of course. Since high school, her goal had been to marry rich and become a housewife.

“Oh. Congratulations, Paris. I hope you and Elliot have lots of babies.”

“Thank you—but no. I’ll only have babies if I need to secure my position. Otherwise, I’m good.”

“Oh. Okay. Please get out of my face.”

“Ximena said this ring belonged to her mother-in-law’s grandmother.” She smiled, admiring it.

“Great. So, it’s ancestral.”

“A family helium. Aren’t the pearls amazing?”

“I mean... I would prefer a flashy oval diamond, but if little white pearls are what you—what’s funny?” I asked as she burst into laughter.

“You… you are funny.”

“Okay, I don’t see how.”

“Did you just say you’d prefer a diamond ring? I mean, who would waste a ring on you, sister?”

“Oh. Okay. Now that your ring is so beautiful, could you please leave me alone?”

I walked back to the bed, trying so hard not to cry in front of her. Because she was actually right. Who would waste a ring on me?

Even if someone did, I’d just mess it up. Like Mom did. Like Grandma, like everyone in our family—unstable, chaotic, cursed.

No matter how much I moved states, tried to be normal, tried to be different... the curse was in my blood. Because look at me—the man I’ve loved for years was marrying my stepsister, and I was single… alone and miserable.

“I’ll go, but only because I need to make my fiancé a glass of milk. He—”

“Bye, Paris,” I said, falling back onto the bed as she finally left.

I sighed and reached for my phone. I almost texted Sandra but then remembered our last argument. A second later, a call came in from Ray. I declined it instantly.

“Can’t a fake girlfriend get a break?” I muttered, stood up, headed to the bathroom, only to be interrupted again by another call. Expecting it to be someone else I wasn’t in the mood for, I checked the screen.

Correctional service.

“Call connects in five, four, three, two, one: Hi baby. It’s me. Cristina. Your mom.”

“Mom?”

“I’ve been arrested—and I’m not joking this time.”

“I know you’re not. This is directly from prison,” I said, pressing the phone to my ear. Goddammit.

“Yeah. I’m sorry. I’ve always been a bad mother. Honey, I can’t survive this place. I only have five minutes, so I’m just calling to tell you I love you and your sister so much.”

She sniffed, and I could tell she was crying. No matter how much I hated what she did, she was still my mom. And I couldn’t stop my heart from breaking.

“How much is your bail?”

“Oh, sweetheart, thank you so much. Bail is half a million.”

“Half what?!” The phone nearly fell from my hands. I barely caught it. Where on earth was I supposed to get such an insane amount?

“Do anything to get it, baby. I promise I’ll get clean when I come out. I’ll die here if I stay another—” the call cut.

“Half a million? Fuck!” I cursed, tossing the phone onto the bed.

I started pacing, fingers digging into my scalp as panic set in. Still—no matter what—I had to find a way. She was my mom. And I would never abandon her. Never.

With sudden determination, I rushed back to the bed, grabbed my phone, and dialed the number that had just formed in my mind. Holding it tightly to my ear, I waited for the call to be picked up.