The Twisted Obsession-Chapter 328: Surprise

It had been three months since Abby had started therapy. Three months of fighting her own demons, with Remo by her side every step of the way. At first, she had resisted—every session felt like a battle, every question like a trap. But slowly, piece by piece, the walls around her heart began to crumble. The bitter anger that had consumed her life for so long started to soften, and she began to find glimpses of peace amidst the storm.

Abby looked over at Remo as they left the therapist’s office that afternoon. His hand was warm around hers, grounding her, as it always did. She glanced up, catching his calm, steady expression. Despite everything, Remo had never wavered, never let her fall. He was the one constant in her life—her anchor.

"How are you feeling?" he asked gently, squeezing her hand.

She exhaled, letting the cool December air fill her lungs. "Better," she admitted. "A lot better than when we started."

Remo smiled, a rare softness in his eyes. "You’ve come a long way, Abby. I’m proud of you."

She smiled back, though a flicker of unease stirred inside her. "I couldn’t have done it without you," she whispered, knowing how true those words were. Remo had pulled her from the edge, coaxed her out of the darkness she had been trapped in. Without him, she wasn’t sure where she’d be.

As they approached the car, Abby’s phone buzzed in her pocket. She fished it out, seeing Cage’s name on the screen. Her thumb hovered over the answer button, but a knot of anxiety twisted in her stomach. Cage had called a few times over the last week, but Abby had ignored his calls. She didn’t feel ready to face him—or Lily. Not after everything.

"Answer it," Remo urged softly, sensing her hesitation.

Abby swallowed and hit the button. "Hey," she said, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Abby!" Cage’s voice boomed through the phone, full of excitement. "I’ve been trying to reach you! I’ve got a surprise for you."

Abby’s heart sank a little at the mention of a ’surprise.’ She wasn’t in the mood for surprises, and truth be told, she was still ashamed of how she had lashed out at Cage months ago. Their relationship hadn’t been the same since, and Abby didn’t know how to fix it.

"I don’t know, Cage," she started, glancing at Remo for support. "I’m not sure if I’m up for anything right now."

"Please, just come by the house. It’s important," Cage insisted. "Trust me, you’ll want to see this."

Abby chewed her bottom lip. Every fiber of her being wanted to say no. She didn’t want to face the awkwardness, the tension that still lingered between her and Lily. But then she remembered what her therapist had said about holding on to bitterness—about how it could poison the soul.

And Remo, ever the voice of reason, nodded at her encouragingly. "Maybe it’s time to let go of some of that weight," he said quietly. "You’ve been through a lot. But this could be a fresh start."

Abby hesitated for a moment longer before sighing in resignation. "Okay, Cage. I’ll come by. But don’t expect me to stay long."

Cage laughed, the sound full of relief. "That’s all I ask. See you soon."

She ended the call and looked at Remo. "I don’t know if I can do this."

"You can," he said simply. "And you don’t have to do it alone."

An hour later, they pulled up outside Cage and Lily’s house, which was decked out in Christmas decorations. The large wreath on the front door twinkled with tiny white lights, and a row of candy canes lined the path leading up to the house. Abby swallowed hard, trying to push down the rising nerves in her chest.

Remo, ever calm, placed his hand on the small of her back as they walked up to the door. "You’ve got this," he murmured. "Just take it one step at a time."

The door opened before they could even knock, and Cage stood there, grinning from ear to ear. "There you are!" he said, pulling Abby into a warm hug. His familiar scent surrounded her, and for a moment, it was like old times—before everything had gone to hell.

Cage pulled back and turned to Remo, giving him a firm handshake before stepping aside. "Come in, come in," he said, ushering them inside.

Abby hesitated on the threshold, her eyes scanning the living room for any sign of Lily. A flash of guilt crept up her spine. She hadn’t seen Lily since their last explosive encounter, and the thought of facing her now made Abby’s stomach churn.

"Where’s Lily?" she asked, her voice a bit too tight.

Cage smiled softly. "She’s in the living room. I think you’ll want to see her."

With Remo at her side, Abby followed Cage into the house, her steps slow and deliberate. The living room was warm, the fireplace crackling softly in the corner. And there, standing by the Christmas tree, was Lily.

Abby’s breath caught in her throat.

Lily turned around, and that’s when Abby saw it—the unmistakable swell of her stomach. She was pregnant. Her hands rested gently over the baby bump, her eyes glowing with a soft, nervous smile as she looked at Abby.

For a moment, Abby couldn’t move. She felt like she had been punched in the gut, her emotions swirling in a chaotic mess of surprise, joy, and guilt.

"I... I’m going to be a mom," Lily said quietly, her voice trembling with emotion.

Abby’s hand instinctively went to her mouth, her heart thudding in her chest. "You’re... pregnant?" she whispered, as if saying it aloud would make it more real.

Lily nodded, her eyes filling with tears. "I know we’ve had our issues, Abby. And I know... I know I’ve made mistakes. But I wanted you to know. I wanted you to be part of this."

Abby stared at her, speechless, the weight of the moment pressing down on her. She felt Remo’s hand on her back, steadying her, but her mind was spinning.

Christmas lights twinkled in the background, the soft scent of pine filling the air. And yet, Abby’s thoughts were tangled with memories of everything that had happened—the betrayal, the anger, the guilt. But something else stirred within her, something she hadn’t felt in a long time.

Hope.

She didn’t know how long she stood there, staring at Lily’s growing belly, but finally, she took a deep breath and stepped forward. Slowly, hesitantly, she reached out her hand and placed it over Lily’s.

Lily looked up at her, surprise flickering in her eyes.

"Congratulations," Abby whispered, her voice barely above a breath. And for the first time in months, she meant it.

The past wasn’t forgotten, but maybe... just maybe, it didn’t have to define their future.

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