~ CHAPTER 29~

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"Scarlett we are going to be late" I scream from the bottom of the stairs, and I see my brothers wince from the sheer volume of my voice

"I'm coming," she says

We have lunch with the Shepherds planned today. Yes, Violet was just discharged from the hospital but she is doing much better.

"Come on Scar," I say again, and I see her blonde head pop out from behind the stairs

"Keep your pants on," she says and I point to my skirt

"Skirt, pants, same thing weirdo" she replies and I smirk at her

"Let's go," I say and she huffs pulling on the rest of her shoes and I shake my head

I say goodbye to my brothers and I strap Violet into the car, once she is all in I get in the driver's seat and let out a huge shaky sigh that I did not know that I was holding

The drive there is silent on my behalf but Scarlett is giggling about her date with Noah and I am trying to listen but all I can think about is Ellie and that guy. We get to the Shepherd household really quickly and are met by Chloe. She hugs us to say hi and lets us in.

I then see Jax and Ellie in the background. I walk towards them and I look at Jax

"Jax, can I talk to you," I say as soon as I see him

"Yeah sure Vic, I also wanted to talk to you-" he says but Ellie comes around the corner

"WE would like to talk to you about some things"

"Oh yeah, okay," I say and I place the baby carrier on the table to get Violet out and my stomach turns and I feel uneasy. I turn back and Jax and Ellie are behind me.

"Violet?" Ellie says and I sigh and remember that Jax and Ellie know. I'm used to it only being me or Scarlett with her and handing her off to other people

"Right sorry," I say and I grab the baby out and Ellie holds out her hands, but I hand her to Jax

"Sorry Jax, I forgot," I say and he laughs "Hold her head" I reply when he grabs her

"We got it," she says and I feel Scarlett pull me away and I say hello to the rest of the family

We make our way to the sitting room and I eye the two of them whilst Chloe and Max try to talk to me, but my attention keeps slipping.

"Lunch is ready!" Jane then calls and I get up

"Baby," I say to Ellie and she glares at me

"Can I have my baby" I repeat and she hands her over and we move to eat. Scarlett fills my plate and her plate while I hold the baby and I try to smile listening to everyone.

I'm staring at Ellie and she is laughing at something that Olivia is saying and as she brings her hand up to push her hair behind her ear I see something shiny catch my eye and I feel a lump in my throat.

I look at Scarlett and she hasn't seen it yet. When I turn back to look at her hand again, I see it as plain as day, a beautiful shiny engagement ring perched on her finger.

I think that I am going to vomit and I look at Violet. I don't think I am going to be coming around much longer. I can't stand to see them together.

Scarlett still hasn't noticed and is laughing so I go to text but the moment I pull out my phone I feel the table shift and chairs shuffle and when I look up I see Ellie and Jax standing up so everyone's view is shifting.

I look back down at my plate and my stomach turns again. I feel Scarlett look at me and I can feel my eyes welling up, she looks at me confused, but the attention turns back to Ellie as she clears her throat.

"Um so hi everyone, right, so we-" Ellie says stuttering

"Everything okay Ellie," Jane asks

"Ah yes, Jane-or should I say mum," she says and squeals and points her hand toward Jane where the table erupts into cheers

"Holy Cow," Jane says and she gets up to hug them, everyone takes turns saying congratulations to Ellie and Jax. I don't but I blame it on the fact that I am holding the baby. I look down back to my plate to eat.

"But wait, there is more," Ellie says "We're pregnant" I then hear Ellie say and my fork drops out of my hand and I look up to Jax and Ellie

The next round of congratulations follows and I almost vomit. Scarlett pulls me up this time and I muster congratulations to them. Everyone then sits down and talks of marriage and a new baby and I push my plate away from me. I cannot do this right now.

I sit in silence for the rest of the meal and I can see Scarlett try to make conversation but her ears are red, so I know she's not okay. As soon as lunch ends and we bring everything to the kitchen I corner Jax hoping to get him alone.

"Jax, I need to speak to you NOW," I say to him

"What you say to Shep you should be able to tell me? We are getting married after all" Ellie says walking beside him

"No please Ellie, I need to speak to Jax alone" I whisper and I look up at Jax

"Okay, Ellie can you help mum with the dishes"

"I don't do dishes Sheppie," she says and I groan

"Please El, I will be with you in a moment"

"Okay baby," she says and she kisses his cheek and skips away

"What is so important you need to tell me"

"Look, I want to tell you something but you have to promise not to flip out or some shit," I say

"Yeah, you can tell me," he says

"Look you need to promise"

"Yeah, whatever," he says

"I was at the mall with Gray and we saw Ellie with some dude, they were arguing"

"Again with this"

"I was with Gray, ask him," I say

"Vic, I know this is hard for you to acknowledge but she is going to be"

"Please Jax, you have to believe me" I whisper to him and I glance at Ellie

"Um okay, look I want to believe you Vic- but it is not her, she's going to be my wife, the mother of my child," he says to me

"I was going to be your wife and I am the mother of your daughter"

"But you aren't Vic"

"Fuck, Jax, listen to me. This is a mistake" I say and Ellie storms over

"A mistake, you know who a 'mistake' is Vicky, Violet. How do we even know that she is Sheppies,?" she says and I look at her shocked

"She is Jax's and this is non of your business" I say

"Really, if you was sleeping with him, who else were you sleeping with?" Ellie says back

"Shut up Ellie" I reply and stare at Jax waiting for him to stay something

"That's what I though, you are weak" she replies

"I'm weak, you need to tell the fucking truth, who were-" I start

"Vic, stop," he says and he puts his hands up and he walks away

Scarlett comes over to me and she frowns when I frown.

"No good?"

"Nope," I say and she puts her hand on my shoulder

"Tori, if he wants to fuck up his life. Then that is up to him" she says and I nod my head

Like he said. I'm not his wife. I'm not his girlfriend. I'm his baby mama. I am nothing to him.

I pick my head up and walk into the kitchen where Ellie is nowhere to be seen and I help dry the dishes and let Jane unload what is going to be our busy day at work tomorrow. Life never stops I guess. Lucky summer is around the corner, because believe me I need a break.

After everything is clean and tea has been made, we sit on the couch. Jane likes to have a wind-down before everyone leaves and I feel Ellie staring at me.

We leave soon after since we need to get Violet to bed. Scarlett and I don't say much for the rest of the night, nor the next day. I have to work and so does she. We eat and we watch a movie before she goes off to do her thing and me the same

Our nights have been super relaxing lately. The next day is super chill. I have to work and so does Scarlett.

"Hey, have you heard from Shep?" Grayson says, popping his head into my room, as I put Violet to sleep. Scarlett is taking a shower

"No, why?"

"Jane just messaged, she hasn't seen him since last night"

"Oh," I say "Chloe asked and I told her no too" I reply

I got a message from Chloe this morning, and she asked me if I had seen or heard from Jax, but I hadn't so I told her no. I didn't realise he was missing.

I wonder what happened that has made Jax go awol

"What happened?"

"FIght with Ellie," he says and I nod

"If you hear from him tell me" he adds

"Okay, yeah," I say and he walks out of my room.

I shake my head, this is not like Jax. I pull out my phone and message him

- Where are you, everyone is worried?

I put my phone down but it buzzes immediately and it is from Jax and I frown and read the message and it says

- I need you now

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