CHAPTER 30

His eyes widened when he saw me, probably now understanding my reaction that day

When she saw me, her eyes were full of alarm

"Shannon..." she stopped

It changed to confusion

I wasn't looking nor focusing at him, it was at her

I'm sure I'll see the fear inside if I search for it, but right now, I was worried for her and angry at him

Why does he always show up when we are trying to or have already moved on with our lives? I asked myself

"He's the one, right?"

I turned and saw Aiden

I nodded

He held my hand, and I was grateful for that

"Are you okay?" he asked

"Just angry, and worried"

"She'll be okay," he said

"What's going on?" Jessica asked

She was outside, saying goodbye to her guests

"What are you doing here?" she asked him

"Do... Do you know him?" mom asked

"He's my husband"

The color left her face, she would have fallen if Lucas didn't hold her

She got her footing back with his help then left his grip

"Susan" the man called, which was a mistake

The next thing, Edward came forward and started punching him

"You son of a b****. How dare you? What you did to us wasn't enough? What you did to Shannon wasn't enough?" he talked as he punched

"Edward" mom called for him as she approached him

"Now you come to them? To ruin them? How dare you?" he continued

"Edward, stop. You'll only hurt your hand" she said as she raised him up

She retreated away from him and looked at me

"The day you weren't at school, what happened?" she asked me

I looked at the floor

"I saw him," I said

My eyes were blurry due to the tears. I got rid of them, remembering when I told myself that I wouldn't cry because of him again

Aiden gently left my hand when she approached. She held my hands

"Are you okay?" she asked

"I'm sorry, mom. But I couldn't tell you. I didn't want to see you have a hard time because of him again. I'm sorry"

Tears fell down her cheeks

She hugged me

"It's okay" she hushed rubbing my back

After a while, she pulled me back

"Let's go home," she told me

"Susan, what's going on?"

My mom stopped and stood just like that for a while. Then she turned and said

"He's my ex-husband"

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It was now just the two families along with Lucas. I told him to stay and mom didn't object; whatever happens, he needs to make his decision

Everything was now on the table, everyone knew what happened, both in my point of view and my mom's

Nobody talked, rather, no one knew what to say

"Well, I'm for sure getting a divorce" Jessica said which made us laugh

"So that's why you were like that the other day? I'm sorry for not noticing it" Kim said

"You couldn't have known. No one would have thought that someone could have done that, not to talk of trash that calls himself a dad to his daughter"

"Shannon..."

"If you call her name with that mouth of yours again, I'll make sure you never use it again. I mean, I know it's a relief, but you didn't even remember her. You caused a huge turmoil in her life that she suffers from till now, but you couldn't even remember her?"

"Susan, give me a chance to explain. I..."

He walked towards her but was stopped by Lucas

"And who are you?" he asked

"I don't think you should be asking that question," Edward said to him

Edward was about to approach him but was stopped by mom

"Let him be. He's not worth it" she told him

Then turned her attention to the jerk

"As for you, I'm going to make sure you receive the punishment you managed to escape from. Shannon, call the police"

"No bother," Alex said

"I already did"

"Susan, please... Will you move from my way?!" he shouted at Lucas

Mom got up, walked towards him, and gave him a slap that made even me react

"Who do you think you are, raising your voice?" she asked him

"Susan..."

She cut his talk with another slap to his mouth

"I don't think I can bear him any longer. When are the police coming?" she asked Alex

"Very soon" he replied

He changed his course. He went towards Jessica

"Je..."

Before he could complete her name, she kicked him where the sun doesn't shine

"Don't you even dare. I'm not as kind as Susan, and you should know that well enough by now" she said

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It wasn't as bad as I thought it would have been. The police had taken him

"Shannon"

"Hey" I smiled at her

We walked for a while

"I'm..."

"Don't" I stopped her

I looked at her

"Don't apologize"

I'm both tired of apologizing and people apologizing to me

"Nobody is at fault. Just him. No one else, okay?"

She smiled

"Okay"

"But I guess we are actually sisters, isn't it?"

"You do know that he isn't my birth father, right?"

"Of course, but it doesn't matter"

"Right?"

"Right"

We walked for a while before we met Lucas

"I'll come back later tonight"

"You don't need to. You guys were also shocked. Have tonight, at least, to yourselves" I told her

We smiled at each other and she left

"So?" I asked him

"My decision doesn't change"

"Are you sure?"

"More than ever before," he said

"Thank you," I told him

"Is it okay if she stays with me?"

"Tell her I'll lock the door on her if she tries to come home. She should rest and clear her mind"

"Yes, ma'am. You too" he said and went to meet my mom

After a few steps, my phone rang

"Hey"

"How'd it go?" he asked

"Better than I expected. He was beaten, and then taken to custody"

"Are you okay?"

"Well, I've been better than now"

"Should we meet?"

"I can't go to your place. I didn't bring my car"

"I'm coming. I saw a park nearby, let's meet there" he said

"Sure"

We hung up

"Where are you going?" Edward asked

"To see Aiden"

"Don't make that face as if I'm going to sleep with him"

"You better not"

I scoffed

"How're you doing?"

"Good. What of your arm?"

"Well, just a little bit of throbbing pain"

"Why did you bother beating him up?"

"He deserves it"

"Wow, you never change. No matter how many years"

"I should have protected you. Both then and now. I',..."

"You're sorry? Don't"

"You're stuck up in your brain, aren't you? Who said I was about to apologize?"

"Then what?"

"Just go. Go and meet Aiden or whoever"

Before I left, I hugged him, then smiled

It was obvious that I'll be there first, so I waited

I blinked when something came in front of my face. I leaned back to see it clearly. Ice cream

I looked up to see the holder, even though I already knew, subconsciously, who it was

"Hey," I said as I took the ice cream from his hand

He sat down beside

"I'll be good to you just for today," he said

I laughed

"Thank you, your highness" I mocked

He looked at me and smiled. I chuckled at his smile

"It's over now, right?"

"Yes, it's all over," I said

We stayed there, talking, not talking, enjoying the cool spring night breeze

After a while, he got up and stretched his arms wide. I gave him a questioning gaze, but he just showed me his hand

I got up and slowly got into his arms in case he's up to something. But he wasn't, instead, he wrapped his arms around me

"You did well," he said

"Right?"

"Now, enjoy your life and be happy," he said, pecking my forehead