Babies' Secret: My Ex Wants Me Back!-Chapter 81: Breakdown

Chapter 81

Aaron’s stomach was tumbling from nervousness and anxiety. He couldn’t wait to see Katherine in that dress he personally picked for her. He could already envision how the dress would look on her body, and he bit back a groan that wanted to escape his lips.

Fuck! No dirty thoughts now. He shook his head to keep his mind away from the unholy gutter.

He had already called the hotel to arrange everything. There mustn’t be any mistake tonight. He finally had time with Katherine for himself, not with the kids. Well, don’t get him wrong—it wasn’t like he didn’t love every moment with his kids—but he needed to work more on his wooing.

The shackle on him called a contract marriage with Amanda would soon end, and he couldn’t wait till then to sweep Katherine off her feet and do everything right.

When Aaron left Raymond at the bar, he had stopped at a florist shop and bought a bouquet. He could still remember the florist’s question and suggestion about the kind of flowers he wanted.

He looked at the bouquet on the table and inhaled the floral scent, and a smile curled on his lips.

He gulped, pulling his jacket as he clenched his hands together and placed them on the already decorated table while his feet tapped the tiled ground in anticipation.

The restaurant was a family-owned restaurant with a beautiful design, and he had specifically ordered for the room to be cleared—just the two of them.

Aaron had planned everything: have a meal, go to the open terrace—stargaze and reminisce about some beautiful past—then get comfortable. Maybe he would be rewarded with a kiss after everything. And Aaron could feel his body buzz in excitement at the thought.

He blinked, looked out of the transparent glass to the dark night. The sky was covered in dark hue; the stars and moon weren’t even in view as the sky rumbled.

Aaron glanced at his watch to see it was past 8 p.m. His brow creased in wonder. What could have happened? Why hadn’t Katherine arrived? Was there traffic? His feet continued to tap the ground as he opened the table water and gulped it down to calm his beating heart.

He looked at his phone and there was no message. Aaron blinked—maybe something happened? She’s coming, right? Katherine wasn’t someone to stand someone up. She was responsible, cool, and kind.

And he never did anything to require being ditched. He could feel his fingers shake from agitation.

To pass the time and calm his pounding heart and racing thoughts, he pulled out his phone to play a game he and the kids enjoyed.

The first time, he lost—second also. He nearly slammed his phone on the table in frustration as he stood up, pacing the empty hall, not caring about the eyes the waiters were giving him.

Maybe if he stood outside and watched the cars passing, she would arrive, Aaron thought and took the bouquet with him.

He stood outside, took out his phone, and read the last conversation between both of them from a few hours ago. About the gift. Katherine teasing him, and him sending an emoji with the address.

Aaron paced, his eyes scanning every car that passed, and his heart skipped whenever a car pulled up to the restaurant garage—yet his heart deflated immediately, even stung, when the person coming out from the car wasn’t Katherine.

He felt his phone buzz in his pocket, and in a lightning motion, he brought it out only to see it wasn’t a message from Katherine. His heart slumped. Like the sky understood his emotion, the first droplet fell, then two—before he knew it, the sky opened its mouth to grant people its blessing. And Aaron didn’t even move as he blinked.

The clock ticked, hours passed, minutes raced, and seconds disappeared.

One of the waiters held an umbrella and came to the man standing in the rain. "Sir, maybe something urgent came up," the waiter offered gently.

Aaron turned and looked at the other waiters inside through the transparent glass, all staring at him with pity. He smiled.

"Thank you," he responded. His chest ached, yet it did nothing to ease his worry. Aaron could only think of one thing and left the restaurant, not looking back again.

Aaron drove through the heavy rain in a haze, his heart beating vigorously from worry, fear, and anxiety. He didn’t know what held Katherine back. He called and called her, yet her number kept going to voicemail.

When he got to Katherine’s building, he strode to the elevator, which stopped at Katherine’s floor, and rang the bell.

"Who’s there?"

"It’s me, Aaron." Aaron replied, though he felt a bit relieved that nothing had happened since Katherine just responded in a calm voice.

"Go away," her voice came through the square talkie.

"Katherine..."

"Don’t finish the words. Go away. I don’t want to see you." Aaron pressed the button again but got no response. He blinked, confused. He didn’t understand what happened or why Katherine was turning away from him.

Aaron shivered. His wet, drenched clothes dripped with water as he swallowed, slumping down at the door. "Katherine, I don’t know what happened tonight or why you are sending me away, but I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I don’t know what I’ve done wrong, but know that it wasn’t intentional. I won’t do anything to make you sad or angry. I’ll come back later when you are calm." Aaron mumbled.

Fuck! He cursed loudly as he punched the wall beside the door, making a dent yet he turned away and dragged his body back to his car while the rain continued to pour.

.

At the other side, Katherine slumped down at the door. Her body shook with tears as she bit her palm to muffle her sobs so as not to disturb the kids. She had acted like she was nonchalant earlier, not to give Amanda the satisfaction of seeing her fall. And here she was, in her room, crying her broken heart out.

Immediately after leaving Amanda, Katherine had run into her apartment, and in a haze, she tore the dress off her body. It felt like the cloth was suffocating her. She was unable to breathe, her eyes blurry and the bitter taste in her throat and at the top of her tongue. It was so hard that she had to put her hands between her teeth to stop herself from hyperventilating.

It was so difficult. With trembling fingers, she blocked Aaron’s number. She didn’t want to think about it. She had been left alone again. She had been discarded again. The first time didn’t teach her a good lesson, and yet she trusted him again.

Katherine curled up, her eyes swollen from crying. Amanda’s words from earlier played over and over in her head like a mantra she mustn’t forget.

"It’s Aaron’s."

Aaron’s child—that wasn’t hers. That was not her kids.

God! She sucked in a breath and sniffed.

Katherine couldn’t bring herself to see Aaron or talk to him tonight. The revelation was enough to break her nerves as the empty can of beer rolled.

She had promised not to drink again, and here she was, running back to it tonight.

She heard the bell ring, and Katherine jolted, pressing the button to see whether Aaron was still at the door—but was relieved to see Mathew with worry marking his face.

She had called Mathew earlier because it was unbearable. She needed to vent out.

Katherine pushed herself up sluggishly yet wobbled a little as she unlocked the door. Mathew peeked in first.

"God, Katty!" Mathew dropped the polythene bag with him as he entered the living room. He quickly took in Katherine’s state—her makeup was smeared and smudged, her eyes were puffy, and she was only in a torn dress.

Mathew looked at the ground and saw the mess of empty beer cans and exhaled. "Kathy," he called softly like he was scared Katherine would break more than she already was tonight. Mathew opened his arms, and Katherine rushed into them, making him crouch as Katherine buried her head in his collarbone.

"It’s okay, Katty," Mathew said gently, patting her heaving back softly.

"H—he," she hiccuped, her voice stuck. "He—he," the words couldn’t come out.

"Ssh, Kathy," he murmured softly, pulling her a little to stare at her face. "Kathy, look at me," he mumbled, using the pad of his thumb to wipe her tear-streaked face. "Breathe for me, Kathy," he said quietly, making sure she was looking at him.

"So follow my voice," Mathew muttered, counting as he let Katherine follow the inhale and exhale softly.

"So what happened, Kathy?"

"He got Amanda pregnant."

"What?!" Mathew shouted but quickly controlled his voice as his jaw clenched in anger. "That motherfucker!"

Katherine clutched the front of his shirt weakly, her body still trembling. Had it been a normal day and Mathew cursed, she would have laughed. But now, she choked on her tears.

"I can’t be with him. H—he’s not mine anymore," she cried. "I can’t do this anymore. It’s so painful. It is hard to breathe. It’s difficult to think," she sobbed in anguish. "I can’t be the other woman."

This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶