WHEN THEY WALK IN, I lower my head, so I don't have to see Kyle. Eric is extremely tense and hasn't said a word since my mother's revelation.

I put my hand under the table and hold on to Eric's, his hands are in a tight fist... The moment I place my hand on his, he turns to look at me and his eyes soften, he holds my hand in his and gives it a light squeeze.

He's still tense and his lips are pressed in a thin line, teeth clenched.

I try to swallow the lump in my throat as I feel eyes on me and I know who it is.

Eric clasps my hand and lifts it to his lips, he grazes my knuckles with a small kiss.

"It's fine... I've got you." he whispers.

I look at him with a small smile on my lips and I nod.

"Sorry, Carol couldn't make it." Kyle says in his usual Stoic monotone.

I still wonder what happened to the sweet Kyle, the fun Kyle and the happy Kyle. Does it have anything to do with me leaving him? Oh, my...

We go on wordlessly with our dinner, the tension is so thick you can cut it with a knife.

Eric and Kyle occasionally glare at each other and I feel my chest tighten each time they do, because it's all my fault. I wish I hadn't cheated, I wish I had just let things be and not try to find out what Kyle wanted that day, after he texted me.

He and Eric seemed to be good friends and business partners, but I just had to ruin that and cause an enmity between them... I'm so fucked up.

"Hey... Are you okay?" Eric asks calmly, but I know he's anything but calm.

I look up at him and I feel a tear slide down my face, and he frowns.

"Excuse me." I say quickly and stand from the table.

"I'll come with." I hear my mum says from behind me.

I reach the bathroom and before I can shut the door my mum walks in and shuts the door behind her.

I lean against the sink, with my head down. The tears now streaming down.

"What's wrong baby?" my mum coos.

"I... I... C - Cheated ma." I murmur.

I hear her take in a deep breath.

"Oh my... How? When? With whom? Stop crying June... It's okay." she tries to calm me.

"I cheated ma, I cheated on my husband with Kyle... And now I'm pregnant for him."

She gasps and places her hand over her mouth, her eyes wide.

I sob even more.

"Does Eric know?" she asks with a worried tone.

"Yes, I told him... But with Kyle showing up like that, I don't know ma."

"It's going to be fine... Let's just get through this evening... Tomorrow we will talk about it and find a solution."

I just nod as I try to pull myself together.

"Does Kyle know it's his baby?" she asks.

I shake my head.

She breathes out and comes closer to pull me into a tight hug and I hug her back.

"Now pull yourself together... We don't need the others knowing what's going on, okay?" she says while handing me tissues.

I nod.

"Thank you mama." I sniffle.

She nods.

I dab on my makeup, in an effort to make myself look presentable, while trying to save what's left of the makeup.

We walk out of the bathroom hand in hand.

"You were lucky that one time Morgan." I hear Kyle say in a calm but deathly tone.

"I'll still be able to take you any time Sanders." I hear Eric's voice, though calm, is laced with underlying anger.

I freeze on my spot in the hallway and I squeeze my mum's hand in fear, and she winces a little... I release her hand immediately.

"Sorry ma."

"It's fine, let's go... Don't want those two brawling in my house." she tries to lighten the mood.

But that heightens my fear instead.

When we walk into the dining room, Eric and Kyle are glaring at each other hard, jaws ticking and the rest of my family oblivious to the tension as they are all engrossed in some conversation.

My appetite was lost a long time ago, and now I don't even know if I want to stay, but I don't want to leave abruptly. I can't sit here either, the tension is too thick, centred on just three of us.

I need sometime alone.

I turn to my mother who is looking at me expectantly.

"I'll be out in the backyard... I just need sometime, alone, I'll be back soon."

She nods.

I look back towards the table... Since Eric is backing me, he doesn't know I'm back in the room, but Kyle is facing me, so we lock eyes before I leave.

I walk to my childhood backyard... Very typical backyard, with a swing set on the side and my mum's garden on the other end. I smile to myself as I remember all the memories made in this place.

I sit on the swing and it creaks loudly into the silent night. I sigh and look up at the sky, which is filled with stars...

I hear the backdoor slide open and I look up, as he carefully slides it shut. Kyle walks confidently towards me, his hands tucked in his pockets, making me realize how cold it actually is out here and I'm not wearing a coat, just this flimsy short-sleeved t-shirt and mini dress... Shit!

He shrugs off his suit jacket and drapes it over my shoulders, then takes his seat on the other swing seat.

"Hi." he says.

"Hi." I murmur...

I can't bring my eyes to look at him, so I stare straight ahead.

"Congratulations..." he says with a strained voice.

I snap my head towards him, as I try to understand what he's congratulating me for.

He has a forced smile on his lips, which doesn't reach his eyes.

"On your baby." he says, answering my unasked question.

"Oh." I say.

"How have you been?" he asks.

"Been alright."

He nods.

An uncomfortable silence settles between us and before I can stop myself.

"I have something to tell you Kyle."

Why do I always do this?! Ahhhhh....

"What is it?... Are you okay?" he asks in a concerned tone.

"I'm okay... It's just uhm..."

He raises his brows urging me to continue.

I swallow the lump that's formed in my throat.

"This baby, is yours." I rush out.

He pauses his movement and his breathing stills.

"What?" he stands from the swing and takes a couple of steps backward.

"The baby is..."

"Mine." he says softly.

I stand too and his eyes are fixed on my bump. Then he looks at me and his eyes have hardened.

"So, you hid this from me all this while? Were you trying to give my baby to that dickhead in there?" he snarls.

And I try to take a step closer to him, but he raises his hand, stopping me in my tracks.

"I'm sorry Kyle... That wasn't our intention at all... I was going to tell you." I try to explain.

"Really?!"

I nod, the tears are back in full force.

"You've got to be kidding me!... Going to tell me?!... When the baby is born or when it's a teenager or perhaps an adult with kids!... You're so fucking unbelievable!"

I flinch.

"I was just waiting for the right..."

"Bullshit!"

I gasp...

"How far along are you?" he tries to level his voice.

"22 weeks." I squeak.

"22 MOTHER FUCKING WEEKS JUNE!" he yells.

And I flinch again.

He runs his hands through his hair and begins to pace... He let's out a string of profanities!

I try to walk closer to him... But I trip on a stone I didn't see there as it is quite dark and the light out here isn't exactly bright enough.

I panic and wrap my arms round my bump, bracing myself for the impact.

I feel a pair of strong arms wrap safely round me.

He holds me close to his chest, and we just stare into each other's eyes caught in a trance

"WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON Here?!!" Eric growls!

The spell between Kyle and I is broken and I push him off me.

I look at Eric, his eyes reflect a lot of emotions swirling in them, fear, regret, betrayal and the most prominent - anger.

His eyes blaze, and he grabs Kyle's collar and delivers, punch after punch. He has gone into full on beast mode. Kyle tries his best to protect his face as he manages to strike Eric as well.

"Please stop!... Please..." I plead with tears running down my eyes.

My brothers rush out after hearing the noise.

They manage to pull them apart.

My mum and Octavia wrap their arms around me, trying to comfort me.

Eric glares at me.

He has a burst lip, but that's nothing compared to Kyle's current state

I mouth a small 'I'm sorry', but he just shakes his head and walks away.

I cry into my hands as my mum and sister try to comfort me....

Guys do you know that underneath this chapter, there is a star button, and do you know when you click it, it turns orange 😲? Cool right?, you should totally try the magic 😉! 😚😚😚