What was supposed to be love, will never be love

Two hours later.

I walked through the large garden of the Petrelli cottage. Giant tents adorned the garden, protecting the mayor's guests from the scorching Texas sun. White tables were spread out, and there were waiters serving drinks and canapés. There was a huge picture of the mayor stretched out and the huge flag of the lone Texas flag next to that of the United States. Everything looked very different from the last time I was there. I kept walking slowly looking for Luck, trying not to attract attention, which was not working, since everyone was so overdressed, and I was just wearing a black tank top, jeans and Converse sneakers, as usual.

• No servants are allowed without being properly uniformed on this side of the event. - A tall, thin gentleman alerted me, before I continued my search outside the house.

• Err... I'm not... I'm with Anthony... - I lied, as Luck's friend from the previous party approached, sipping a glass of champagne.

The security guard closed his eyes as if he could see my lie.

• Antony! - he called, without taking his eyes off mine, startling me.

Okay, now I'm going to get kicked out. I'll be lucky if no one notices all this humiliation.

• Yes," he said, approaching the security guard. - he said, approaching the security guard.

• This girl said she knows you, that she came with you.

He looked at me for a moment and then confirmed.

• Yes, she is with me. Why don't you follow me? I'll give you the "Papers" you came for.

I hurriedly followed him to an internal staff area. He turned and looked at me.

• I have no idea why your friend was so insistent that you be here today. But I've been trying to go out with her for over a year. - he said, his voice dropping an octave. - I hope this doesn't get me into trouble.

• Thank you for that, I promise not to cause any problems. - I say softly, trying to bring calm to the situation.

He looks at me, not seeming to buy my lie.

• What could be so serious that I couldn't talk on the phone or Facebook? - He narrows his brown eyes at me. - He didn't hurt you, did he? Because I don't want any trouble, he's my friend, and I honestly don't remember anything about that night. I'm only doing this for your hot redheaded friend.

I rolled my eyes.

• You know she's not going out with you, right? - I let out unpretentiously.

A deep laugh crosses the room, and when I look at him, I realize that he is really amused by my line.

• Yeah, I know. She's too hot for me anyway. But you can't judge me for trying. - He shrugs his shoulders like it's nothing.

We walk through the house and I am not stopped again, when we are in a very familiar hallway, full of pictures from Luck's childhood, Antony stops.

• I really shouldn't be doing this, Luck will fucking kill me if he knows I brought a piece of pussy here today.

• I'm not a piece of pussy," I don't even complete, annoyed.

He gives me an apologetic look.

• Well, I don't know if talking about it will help. But he's engaged...and he seems, happy, a peculiar kind of happy, but he seems uh, happy.

• I know, it's not about that.

Now he looks at me curiously.

• Well, his mood today...well, it's kind of unstable.

• I'll deal with it. - I tried to convince myself that I wasn't as scared as I thought I was. But he clearly read my expression. - I just need to show him something. - My hands were so sweaty that they wet the envelope with the results of an ultrasound scan, already crumpled from the force with which I held it. - I'm pregnant," I said softly. By, I thought he hadn't heard. Then, Antony one corner of his mouth curved up sadly.

• I-I really shouldn't have brought you here. - He looked nervous.

I bit back an anguished groan.

• But since you're here I won't stop you from talking to him. - Complete. - Just...just leave me out of this mess. - He runs a hand over his face in frustration and then turns to leave.

I hurried down the hallway of pictures until I was facing the double doors, which were just leaning against them. I pushed them open a little and caught a glimpse of him in the reflection of the mirror, knotting his tie.

Damn... Damn... Damn... What do I do now? Insecure, I almost went back without saying anything, but it was too late. I was afraid of his reaction, I was afraid of everything. I kept looking at his reflection in the mirror and the instant he saw me, his face turned into a strong disgust.

• How did you find me here? - he said rudely, walking toward me.

toward me.

My first reaction was to flinch, but I assumed - I just came up - I said, unable to look him in the eye.

• What the fuck kind of security is this? - He spat aggressively. Then he turned, walking towards the cell phone that was on the bed.

• Security...

• Please, Luck...

• ... there's someone

• I don't want any confusion...

We spoke in unison.

I walked into the room, heading towards him before my courage crumbled.

• I'm pregnant! - I shouted at once, so that he hung up the phone.

Everything went silent.

• What? - he said, still holding the phone to his ear. - Ignore it - he spoke into the phone. - It's no big deal, just a mistake. - And hung up.

• What are you talking about? - he advanced violently, making me flinch again.

• I'm pregnant," he said, his voice trembling.

His gaze passed me as if I were a piece of garbage.

He pulled the envelope from my hand and looked at it for a few moments.

• And what the fuck does that prove? - he said sarcastically. - This baby could belong to anyone. - He threw the envelope in my direction.

• What do you think? What do you think? I gave you my virginity, you idiot! - I raised my voice, tired of being humiliated. - I gave you my first kiss. - I snapped, my voice rising with anger, but I couldn't keep the tears from flowing.

• I don't remember you acting like a virgin," he said with an evil grin. - And besides, where do you think this situation will lead us? What did you come here for? I think you remember well that I have a fiancée and future commitments that don't involve fathering a baby that might not even be mine.

He leans into my space, so close that I can smell the spicy notes of his cologne. Then a dark smile comes across his lips.

• And on top of that, you want me to believe that you, a poor little rich girl, were innocent." He pauses dramatically and smiles as if I had told a very funny joke. You didn't look like a virgin when I fucked you.

Swallowing the huge lump in my throat, I run my hand down my face wiping away the tears.

• If only I had known. - I swallow the tears that form, not letting them fall again for him. - If I had known who you really were I never would have slept with you. I never would have gone to that party. I just came here to tell you that I am pregnant and that the baby is yours!

He raises a thick eyebrow, looking handsome, beautiful even, but it is the kind of beauty that notorious serial killers use to lure their victims. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if he killed for sport.

• I think you're a great actress, girl. - He gives me that nervous smile again. But every month a whore like you comes to me saying she's pregnant with my child. Is that what they want anyway? A rich guy like me, handsome, successful. But that's not going to happen, not with me and not with you. Is that a solution you want?

I gritted my teeth, disgusted by your accusations.

• You can bet I wouldn't want that at all. - I said bitterly.

• You know what? - he said, walking past me and bumping into turbulence. He came back a few minutes later. - Here! - he said, flipping through a thick stack of green notes held together by a rubber band and tossing them at me. I grabbed it out of reflex.

• What does this mean?

• Your solution. You said you didn't want this. Well, neither did I. With this money you can pay a butcher around to take this thing off.

• I never said I was going to take the baby out," I said, reinforcing the word baby.

He lowered his eyes. When he looked up, it was that violent Luck I had seen for a long time.

• I swear, if you do anything to harm me. - he said, stepping closer. This time I didn't move away, I was tired of being afraid. I looked deep into his eyes as he came face to face with me.

Luck whispered slowly:

• Who knows? - He ran his hand over my flat belly, not taking his eyes off mine. - I'm not taking this baby out myself. Simple accidents cause miscarriages all the time.

I shuddered at the coldness in his voice.

-You will never lay a finger on me again! - I said, fighting back tears, but proud that my voice had not weakened.

• You don't know me at all! - His expression remains callous and indifferent. He clicks his tongue on the roof of his mouth. - You have no idea what I've done for so much less. - His jaw throbs with fury. - I am capable of anything to get rid of a stone in my path.

So there he is. Luck, held my face tightly, causing my mouth to involuntarily pucker.

• Don't touch me! - I pulled his hand away from my face. Moving again would scar me.

I can feel the heat and anger pouring from him in waves as he stares at me, breathing heavily, teeth bared in a snarl, eyes blue, almost completely black.

• Don't test my fucking patience. I will not take on this child! I have no guarantee that this child is mine, and even if I did, I can't have a child now. -His whole body is vibrating with anger. - I don't even like them!

My stomach churns at her words.

• I don't want this thing, and I'm sure you don't either. Get a clinic and fix this. Not that I believe it's mine, really. A virgin doesn't act like you did that night, in fact, I honestly don't even remember, but if there's one thing I do remember, it's that it's impossible for me to fuck a woman who looks unwilling, innocent, or a virgin.

I honestly ignore everything he says about me and focus only on my baby.

"This thing" he just called my baby "thing".

I stand with my fists clenched at my sides, my heart beating violently against my chest. Something inside me snapped. If I had to choose one moment in which I knew my life would be different from then on - that I knew I would be different - it would be this one.

It was my fault, my fault for having believed him, for having fallen in love with my enemy, for really believing that he would ever love me. Now I was pregnant and alone.

• I hate you. - My voice is not a whisper. - If you think that you can ever go back on this decision, you are sorely mistaken. You can shove that money up your ass, you son of a bitch. - I say with all the strength I have in me.

His jaw tightened and he looked like he wanted to break my neck, just like the first time. But now something shone in his eyes, something different. He was uncertain of the accusations he had made, and worst of all. He knew that I was serious. He knew that I would never go back.

I took an Uber. I didn't ask Matthew to drive me, I didn't want him to pick me up either. He was a good person, but I couldn't forget that he worked for Madeleine. And if she asked, no doubt he would answer, and I didn't need her to create a thousand suspicions. I wouldn't hide it, I really didn't know what I was going to do, but crying was no longer in the plans. I climbed into the uber, still trembling from the attempted conversation with Luck. My eyes insisted on filling with water involuntarily every time I thought about how fucked up I was.

The car stopped in front of my house and I quickly got in. The house was silent, something that was quite normal, I was just surprised not to see Summer. I walked around the rooms and found, for the first time in three days, Madeleine, sitting in the armchair in the living room in front of the fireplace, with her back to me, only the tip of her head visible. Her hands were relaxed and resting on the arm of the armchair, holding a glass of bourbon. I thought about running up the stairs, I didn't want her to see me and fill me with questions. When I turned around, I was startled to see Vivian.

-Vivian, what a fright! - I rested my hand on my chest, and she silently pulled me into the hallway.

Vivian looked down and then whispered, shaking her head in the negative. - I'm sorry, Nicole.