but before he walked out, he turned to me.
“Don’t let your pride and emotions or the past ruin your son’s life. You claim he is my son, my blood, yet you’re too selfish to even let me know him. I hope you don’t regret your decision.” Then he was gone, vanished just as he had appeared.
I closed the door and went back to Dylan. I stared into his sleeping content face.
“I’m sorry son, but one day you’ll understand why I had to do that.” Yet even as I spoke the words, I could feel a stabbing in my chest, like I had just made a very bad mistake. One that would cost me.
Nikki
I t had been three weeks since that fateful day. Three weeks of not seeing or hearing from Damien. Three weeks of being hounded by the paparazzi while caring for a new-born. Three weeks of hell.
I had sworn never to return, never to give in, because my pride was all I had left. Yet my pride was standing in the way of my son’s future. And my son was all that mattered.
After a few days, I had come to realize that I really was putting my feelings and emotions ahead of my son’s future. I was being proud and selfish and not thinking about Dylan’s future and stability at all.
I had realized that Damien was right and that I really needed his help. But I wasn’t about to go ahead and admit that to him. I had really tried to take care of Dylan and keep sane all on my own.
When Dylan had gotten sick, I had paid for the best medical care without batting an eyelash. I had made sure that with whatever little money I had saved up, Dylan got whatever he needed. It was with no surprise then that I hadn’t had enough money for the rent that month, especially since the landlord had just increased the amount.
I had managed to get an allowance of a week within which I would have to pay the full amount, but it seems that the landlord got a change of heart after two days.
I had taken Dylan for a stroll in the nearby park. When we got back, I found my things thrown out of my apartment and the door chained shut. I tried to find another place nearby because that was the only area where I could afford rent, but to no avail. Either they were full, or they just didn’t want the attention of the press.
And so, being without any friends or family, I hailed a cab and with Dylan and our meager things that could fit into two suitcases, travelled to the house where I had lost my dignity. The house in which I had suffered immeasurable pain and loss. The house which held both my happiness and my destruction. Damien’s house.
I got out of the car, and carrying Dylan in arms as my lifeline, I walked up the to the door and knocked. It didn’t take long for a bewildered Damien to answer the door.
“Nikki. What are you doing here?”
I took in a deep breath knowing that my next words would change everything. Then I forced a smile and said, “Where do I sign?”
Just as I said those words I realized that I had done the one thing that I had sworn I would never do.
I had returned to him.
Interested in reading more of Damien’s and Nikki’s story?
Watch out for the next book:
Break Me (Book 2 in Love Gone Rogue Series)
By Kahlin Rogue.
Exiles At the Well of Souls