Chapter 81: Hidden Agenda
"I was raped... I didn't want any of it to happen, but I can't bring myself to abort the child." Titania sobbed as she said those words. "The baby is innocent. I can't... I don't want to kill a child..." Titania sat on the ground, placing her hands over her face so Randall couldn't see her crying. He was too shocked to approach her as she wept.
He didn't know what to do. He didn't even know how he should feel. He understood the pain Titania was going through, but he wasn't hurt by what he had just learned. Randall looked up at the ceiling, biting his lower lip. His grip tightened on the chair he was leaning against.
"S-Sorry, Randall... I didn't mean for this to happen..." Titania's voice was barely audible. "If you want to curse me now, or if you want to break up with me, I'll accept it-" But she didn't finish her sentence when she felt two arms wrap around her waist.
"Randall..." she whispered, calling out to the man now embracing her.
He hugged her tightly, as if afraid that Titania would disappear in front of him at any moment. He had held her like this earlier too. Both of them were terrified of losing each other. "I-I'll accept..." Randall took a deep breath before burying his face in Titania's neck. "I'll accept the child, Titania."
It felt as if there was a heavy stone lodged in Randall's throat when he said that. He couldn't bear the thought of losing Titania. The things Titania had just shared with him hurt deeply. Each passing second only intensified the pain, especially since he was holding her.
"I'll raise the child and treat them as if they were my own," he stammered, not because he didn't accept the child in Titania's womb, but because he couldn't accept what his girlfriend had gone through when she was away from him. Right now, Randall felt like he wanted to kill someone, but he saw the fear in Titania's eyes. He knew it wouldn't be easy if he chose to go back there.
"I-If you're just doing this out of obligation, y-you don't have to," Titania said as she gripped the hem of his shirt tightly.
He immediately took her hand.
"I love you, Titania." He kissed her on the lips, slow and full of love.
It hurt him deeply, but he would endure that pain for her.
"Always. I will always choose you. No matter how hard things get for us, I will always love you. I hope you know that."
YEARS PASSED, and together they faced life's challenges with their child, Sapphire.
To Titania, Sapphire was the reason she could still carry on, despite the heavy burdens they faced, even though Randall now had a regular job.
Even though Sapphire came from unfortunate circumstances, Titania never regretted standing by her decision to keep her. Especially since Randall accepted Sapphire and treated her as if she were his own child. But that didn't last.
Over the years, Randall changed. What happened to Titania had left him traumatized. As Titania had overcome her dark past, Randall had become consumed by it.
He was always paranoid, doubting whether what Titania had told him was true, especially seeing how much Titania treasured the photos she took back at the mansion where she had once worked.
Because of this, Randall's behavior became harsh. He wasn't the same as before. He often drank, and he barely went to work anymore... until his resentment towards Titania gradually consumed him.
He hated the person he once loved just because he couldn't trust her enough.
"Why would I lie to you, Randall?!" Titania couldn't help but yell as Randall suddenly confronted her. "Do you think I wanted this to happen? How many times do I have to tell you that I was the victim here, Randall?!" But Randall doesn't even listen to him. He looked like he had lost his mind. His hair was disheveled, and he looked worse than a beast.
"Why does it seem like you're blaming me-what the-Randall!"
He suddenly pushed her onto the bed and began kissing her neck roughly. Tears fell from Titania's eyes as Randall bit her skin harshly, but he didn't stop. Randall thought this was what Titania wanted, but in truth... she was hurting because of him.
Titania had told herself she would leave if she ever stopped loving Randall... but years had passed, and that never happened. She might have been a masochist, but she was unconsciously fulfilling her promise to him. "Forever, you alone, Randall."
AS TITANIA remembered that moment from the past, so did Randall, as he writhed in pain after being punched in the gut by Silver. At that moment, he forgot about the physical pain because the pain in his heart was far worse. "You don't deserve her," he remembered Silver telling him while continuing to beat him up. "She told you everything, but you still didn't trust her? You're stupid."
It was those words from Silver that brought Randall to his senses. Silver confirmed everything Titania had told him before.
"I liked her, but she stayed loyal to you. I don't know what she saw in you. I think you're worthless," Silver added, as if Randall's punches meant nothing to him.
Randall grabbed his hair in frustration as he lay on the floor. That's when he felt regret for everything he had done. Titania was his treasure... yet he had thrown her away.
In that instant, he realized what he had done. He wanted to smash his head against the wall.
He wished he could make it up to her, despite all the horrible things he had done, even to Sapphire. He hoped there was still time to show Titania and Sapphire his remorse. He hoped it wasn't too late to do so.
Planning your weekend reading? Ensure you're on 000005s.org for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively available on our site. Happy reading! "AREN'T YOU going to sleep?" Evangeline asked, glancing at the guest room's wall clock.
She turned her gaze back at me. "I'm no expert, but I know it's bad for pregnant women to stay up at night. You should get some sleep."
"I'll sleep once Ash gets here with my mom," I replied. "He promised he'd bring my mom with him."
I glanced at her to see her reaction, but she didn't even look at me. She was busy on her phone.
"Don't be stupid." She rolled her eyes. "If you really trust him, you don't need to worry about him. Rest and try to sleep. Think about the baby you're carrying."
It felt like it wasn't even Evangeline talking for a moment. She was too concerned about me, something I wasn't used to.
It was eleven o'clock, and Ash still wasn't here. He hadn't answered my texts or calls. I couldn't help but worry, feeling my heart racing.
What if something was happening back at our house? Ash could handle himself, but I wasn't sure he could stand up to his father.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.
And my mom... I hope she was safe. I wanted to go back, but I couldn't since Evangeline was keeping a close watch on me.
I thought she was pretending to be nice just because other people were watching, but ever since she found out I was pregnant, her attitude toward me changed. "Do you have a hidden agenda?" I couldn't help but ask, frowning.
She told me to calm my mind, but here she was, confusing me even more.