Facade of Love

Chapter 446 There's No Turning Back Now

I gave Emily a nod, and we headed to the coffee shop.

She got me a cup of milk and said with a warm smile, "Here, drink up the hot milk. It'll warm you right up."

I accepted the cup with a soft, "Thanks."

She peered at me with concern. "Look, Grandma just got the news and kind of lost it for a moment. That's why she said what she did. Don't let it get to you, okay?"

I shook my head, pressing my lips together. "I'm okay."

After a decade of yearning for news about her son, there was still no word. Finally, when she learned about her son, it was the heartbreaking news of his tragic death, leaving no remains. It was a piece of information that would sadden anyone who heard it.

I did not hold it against Grandma. If anyone was to blame, it was me. If I had not been so stubborn, maybe Kobe would still be alive.

The truth was, I could not shake the feeling that I was tied to Kobe's death.

Emily saw the pain in my eyes and let out a gentle sigh, giving my hand a reassuring pat. "It's going to be okay. Idris's out of the woods. The doc says once he's up from the anesthesia and gets some rest, he'll be as good as new. Don't stress too much. And about Grandma, give her a few days to calm down. I'll chat with her, then you can come see Iddy."

I knew she was just trying to help. "Thanks," I murmured.

She gave a small shake of her head, her gaze steady on mine. "You don't need to keep thanking me. You were there for me when I needed it, right? I'm not about to sit on the sidelines when you're

in trouble. But Yvette, what's plan for Iddy now? You've been gone for a while, so you might not have heard, but Alice is pregnant. She’s two months along. Grandma's pushing for her and Iddy to tie the knot ASAP and move into the old manor. Has Iddy talked to you about this?"

I had seen that coming a mile away, but it still felt like a punch to the gut to hear it out loud. I shook my head, my voice coming out scratchy and strained. "He and I are done. We’re divorced. He doesn't owe me any explanations. Alice is great. She’s pretty and kind. They'll have a beautiful kid."

"Yvette!" Emily's voice broke through as she caught my gaze. "Please, don't say things you don't believe. It's obvious to anyone that you and Iddy are head over heels for each other. Why pretend otherwise? I can't fathom Alice ended up pregnant, but I know for sure he cares about you. Now that you're back, you've got to clear the air. If it's all just a big mix-up, there's still time to make things right and just be happy together. Don't make the same mistakes I did."

Her eyes held a story of their own, one filled with loss and what-ifs. I hesitated, her past with Liam flashing through my mind, and my heart ached for her. I had been away for a while and had no clue how things were between them then.

With that thought, I asked gently, "How are things with you and Liam? …Are you guys okay?"

Her eyes dimmed with a shadow of sadness, and she managed a wistful smile. "Once people drift apart, finding the way back to each other is harder than you’d think." Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

I mistook her words for a breakup and blurted out, "Emily, Liam cares about you, I'm sure of it. Whatever happened that night, it might just be a big misunderstanding. I mean, it's clear he's not into Sweety..."

"Yvette!" She cut me off with a forced smile, her voice tinged with resignation, "What's going on between him and me isn’t the same as you and Idris. Sweety's pregnant."

Her words hit me like a ton of bricks. It was the kind of twist someone would expect in a cheesy TV drama, not real life. My eyes widened as I stared at her, struggling to process the bombshell.

She let out a rueful chuckle. "He's put his overseas job on hold to stay here and look after her."

I was speechless, the irony of the situation not lost on me. Both Idris and Liam were caught in a web of complications that seemed straight out of a novel.

"Hah," I laughed at myself, turning to Emily. "Looks like we're both in the same messed-up club now. Let's not try to talk each other out of it, okay?"

Emily gave a small, helpless shake of her head. "It's not the same, you know. Idris and Liam are different cases. Maybe things between him and Alice aren't what we think. Grandma's been on his case to marry Alice forever, but Iddy never agreed. We must be missing something."

A misunderstanding?

I could not help but smile wryly. What kind of misunderstanding could it be? Sure, maybe Lucas had his schemes, but if Idris's heart was not in it with Alice, why did they end up with a kid? Some things could not be undone.

I did not know how to explain the New Year's Eve disaster to Emily. With a heavy heart, I took a sip of my milk and lapsed into silence.

After a bit more small talk, I headed back to the Scotts. I was dying to clear the air with my mom, but she was still giving me the cold shoulder. Of course, it was Alice who answered the door.

She was as beautiful and poised as ever, her greeting composed and distant. She did not budge from the doorway, making it crystal clear she was not about to let me inside.