Kelvin stepped Into the office a moment late, utterly confused. He blurted out, “Ingrid, what on earth did you do to make Laney so upset?”
“Honestly, you’re so thoughtless–you know she hasn’t been well lately.”
“Good thing you two broke up. Jeannette’s a far better match for you!”
Eager to win Eddy’s approval, Kelvin did everything he could in front of Blanche to cement his supposed relationship with Jeannette.
Blanche overheard this exchange and found it both pathetic and absurd.
Ingrid’s face was turned sharply to the side from the slap, her hair in wild disarray, hiding her expression. At her side, her hand was balled so tightly her knuckles went white.
Never in her life had anyone dared strike her.
Today, Blanche had done just that–humiliated her for the first time.
Ingrid silently vowed to pay her back, tenfold, a hundredfold if she had to. She unclenched her fist, pressing a hand to her stinging cheek, her eyes filling with tears. Looking up at Blanche, her gaze soft and pleading, she asked, “Laney, why did you hit me?”
For a split second, Loraine and Eddy held their breath, uncertain how much Blanche had overheard.
Blanche staggered backward, bumping into the wall before she finally steadied herself. She looked around at the strange, contorted faces of the people she’d once called friends. Even now, after everything, they refused to admit what they’d done. They were still testing her, still lying.
She wanted so badly to confront Ingrid, to ask why she’d done this–how she could be so cruel.
And then, a terrible thought shattered through her mind–so awful she could barely stand it.
Ingrid had introduced Jeannette to Loraine just to break her and Eddy apart.
Ingrid liked Eddy all along, but always acted like they were just friends? She’d even encouraged Blanche to accept Eddy’s advances?
What kind of person does that?
20-20
Had she ever truly been her friend, even for a moment?
In the span of a single heartbeat, Blanche realized she’d wasted half her life–half her love on Ingrid, half on Eddy.
She couldn’t bear to face any of them. All she could do was stumble blindly out of the executive office, the world spinning around her, her body swaying as if the floor was about to collapse.
Suddenly, strong arms wrapped around her waist from behind. No matter how she struggled, she couldn’t break free.
She was turned around abruptly, forced to meet Eddy’s anxious, brooding eyes. Every word he spoke seemed to burn itself into her soul. “If you’ve lied to me, I’ll never forgive you.”
“Did you?” she whispered, cradling his face in her trembling hands, her own face pale with pain. She no longer knew what she was hoping for.
He hadn’t been the one to bring Jeannette into her life. At least, not at first–he hadn’t known Jeannette was her sister.
Had he?
All those ten years of loving him–were they truly wasted?
“Sweetheart, I’d never lie to you.” Eddy’s gentle voice cut through her like a knife. Blanche clutched her pounding heart and crumpled into his arms.
She curled into herself, wracked with silent sobs, the pain overwhelming, her lips barely moving as she murmured, “It hurts… it hurts so much…”
“Darling, I’m taking you to the hospital right now.”
“Hold on for me, please–just hold on.”
Eddy’s desperate voice rang in her ears as she clung to her chest, forcing herself to stay conscious, to remember this agony.
Loraine, Kelvin, and Ingrid rushed after them, not wanting to be left behind.
At the hospital, Blanche’s secret was finally out–she was pregnant.
Loraine was overjoyed, nearly in tears. “This is wonderful news! Our family is growing again!”
“Laney, just rest now, all right?”
“I’ll have Vesta make you something nourishing. You need your strength!” Loraine
20-30
beamed as she hurried out of the hospital room.
Kelvin and Ingrid offered their congratulations in quick succession. Kelvin, never one for hospital stays, made his excuses and left soon after.
Blanche listened to their voices, but she didn’t move–just stared out the window, utterly detached, as if none of this had anything to do with her. Not even the baby.
Ingrid reached over and took her hand. “Laney, are you upset with me for telling Loraine?”
Blanche’s lashes fluttered at that.
Ingrid caught the subtle reaction and thought she’d guessed right.
Blanche hadn’t heard the part about her introducing Jeannette to Loraine, Ingrid thought–only that Loraine had scolded her because of Ingrid. Ingrid breathed a secrèt sigh of relief and continued, “Laney, I never meant for your aunt to misunderstand me.”
