Chapter 64

~Eliana~

When Ian had blackmailed me emotionally to get him ice cream, I had agreed, without the slightest imagination that I could bump into Alistair. I had come back to Los Angeles, not knowing how I was going to approach Alistair, but fate had just brought him to me, without me having to do a thing.

For a second, I had been awestruck, and against my will, I had made it clear to him that I was surprised to see him, and instead of showing how angry I was at him, I was standing here like a fool, letting him hug me. I had missed his warm embrace, but the anger in my heart surpassed the urge to remain in his arms a little longer.

I pushed him away from him, and it was only because I laid eyes on my son that I was able to restrain myself from giving him a resounding slap. Ian had gone behind the counter to help the waiter pick up something, which we had both heard clattering to the floor, and he had just shown up before us. Thankfully, he hadn’t seven me in the arms of his father, which I claimed to have a terrible dislike for.

“Eliana,” Alistair called.

“You have no right to call me by my name,” I said, in defiance.

“I know that I was wrong, and trust me, I’m so sorry about everything I did to you. I’ve been longing to see you, and it is like a miracle that I finally get to see you after all this time. I’m so sorry, Eliana,” He apologised.

“Your apology isn’t going to cut it,” I said.

He nodded his head rapidly, agreeing with me. “I know, Eliana. Trust me, I do. Let’s just go somewhere and talk, please,” He said, looking really remorseful.

“I have absolutely nothing to say to you, Alistair,” I said.

“Please, Eliana, just give me a chance to explain myself,” He pleaded.

“Do you want to cause a scene? Don’t you get it? There’s nothing you can say or do that will make me just forgive you for what you did to my family and I,” I said.

“I had my reasons,” He told me.

“Exactly. So, stick with your reasons. You have no reason to apologise for what you did, since you clearly had reasons for doing them, so why are you apologising?” I asked.

He licked his lips. “That’s because I realised I was wrong. I misunderstood a whole lot of things, and I am so sorry about that,” He said.

“What did you misunderstand?” I inquired, folding my arms underneath my breasts.

“Jenny lied to me, and made me believe certain things about you which I later realised was all a setup. I wanted to see you immediately, and tell you how incredibly sorry I was, but you were gone, and I didn’t know where you went to. I tried to speak with your family, but your dad chased me away, and threatened to get a restraining order. I’ve lived everyday of my life, regretting what I did to you. I am so sorry,” He apologised.

I scoffed, then began to laugh in a hysterical manner. “You’re sorry?” I asked, in between laughs, not minding the fact that I could feel people’s gaze resting on us.

“Yes, I am sorry,” He said.

“Well, well, Alistair. Sorry won’t bring back my lost dignity, it won’t mend my broken heart, it won’t be enough to remove the pain you’ve buried deep in my heart. Your apology won’t do any good, Alistair. You’re justifying what you did by saying you never knew it was all a lie, but what if it was true, Alistair? What if I had cheated on you? What if I lied to you? What if I had broken your heart? What if I had gone back to my first love? What if I had kept you in the dark about it? Would it still have been enough to release explicit photos of me to the public, and taint my image?” I asked, getting even more angry than I already was.

“Eliana...”

“Answer the damn question, Alistair. Even if I had hurt you, did it serve as a criterion to publicly humiliate me?” I asked, trying so hard not to break down into tears.

A drop of tear fell from his eyes, as he shook his head sadly. “No, Eliana. Irrespective of what you may have done, I shouldn’t have done that. I was using what I thought you did as a way of justifying my stupid act, but I feel more sorry because you were innocent,” He said, looking at me, with a pitiful look in his eyes.

“Exactly. What you did to me is totally unforgiveable, and I’ll never forget it, so, please, don’t even bother to apologise. I wish I had never met you,” I told him.

“Mum,” Ian, who had been watching us silently all this time, called.

“My baby, what is it?” I asked, turning around, as he walked close to me.

“If you hadn’t met him, you wouldn’t have had me. Do you regret having me?” He asked.

Of course, Ian had to go and reveal his identity, as if the drama wasn’t enough for one day. Whether he had spoken or not, Alistair would have known he was his son once he looked at him and saw they shared a striking resemblance. I had just been saved the trouble of going to see Alistair, and telling him he had a son. For once, the universe had made things easy for me.

“It’s not like that, Ian. You’re the only good thing that came out of me knowing him,” I said, pressing my lips to his forehead.

“He’s...Is he my son?” Alistair asked, in disbelief, with his eyes almost popping out of his sockets, as he stared at Ian, with his mouth agape.

“Obviously, you dummy,” I said, and drew Ian to my side.

“You had my son all these years, and you didn’t think it was okay to inform me about it?” Alistair asked.

“I know I shouldn’t say this in front of him, but it would be better off if he didn’t know he had a father like you, who makes irrational decisions, and hurts those he claims to love,” I said.

“Eliana!” Alistair called, angrily.

I paid him no attention, majorly because I didn’t want to create more of a scene than I had already done, and turned around to pay the waiter, who had informed us that the ice cream, which Ian wanted, was ready.

“We'll be on our way now, ciao,” I said, giving the ice cream cone to Ian, who started taking it happily, after muttering a ‘thank you’.

“Eliana, you can’t just go like that. I demand an explanation,” He said.

“Do you? Are you sure you do?” I asked him, but before he could respond, a redhead walked towards us, stamping her feet on the ground, like a two-year-old about to throw tantrums.

“Care to explain to me what’s going on here?” She asked, eyeing Alistair, in an aggressive manner.

“Gina, I’m in the middle of something important. I’ll be with you shortly,” Alistair said, looking pissed as hell.

“Is that all you’re going to say? If you don’t come back right this minute, you and I are over,” She said.

“We were never in a relationship, so, it’s cool,” Alistair told her.

“And I thought you were different,” The so-called Gina said.

“He’s the worst actually,” I said.

“Apparently,” She agreed, turned around and walked away.

“Can we talk now?” He asked.

“No, Alistair,” I told him, and began to walk away.

“Eliana, please,” He said, running after me.

“Leave me alone, and go back to your redhead,” I said, leaving the ice cream shop.

“Are you jealous?” He asked.

I scoffed, as I got outside. “You wish. Listen, I don’t have time to speak about anything with you. You hurt me, I’m still upset about that, and I’m never going to forgive you for what you did,” I said.

“Can’t we talk about our son?” He asked.

I stopped right in my tracks, and scoffed. “You want to talk about a son that you just found about two minutes ago?” I asked.

“It’s not my fault that I just found out about him. Irrespective of our differences, I had every right to know about him long before now. Why did you have to keep it a secret from me?” He asked.

“Why didn’t I have to?” I retorted.

“I don’t understand,” He said.

“You accused me...sorry, you didn’t even accuse me of cheating. You clearly concluded that I was cheating on you in front of the whole world, and I tried to tell you that I was carrying your child, but I was scared that you were going to say it wasn’t your child since you felt I was having something to do with another man, and I didn’t want to cause myself any further embarrassment,” I explained.

He heaved a sigh. “Fine. I get it, but now, you know that I regret my actions, and I would love to be a part of my son's life,” He said.

“Why would you want to be a part of the life of someone you don’t even know?” Ian asked.

It was about time he said something. Honestly, I was even so surprised that he hadn’t said a word since he saw Alistair talking to me, being the talkative that he was. He had behaved himself well so far, that I was even considering making pancakes for him when we got home, but of course, Ian just had to say something when adults were talking.

“I don’t know you, yes, but we share the same blood. I am your father, and that is why I want to be a part of your life,” Alistair said, looking at him.

“You’re not a good man. I don’t want to have anything to do with you,” Ian said.

“Ian, that’s enough,” I said.

“No, mum. I don’t know why you brought me to this place, but I don’t want to have anything to do with this man. I don’t want to be with someone who makes you angry. I don’t want a father who caused you and your family so much pain. Grandfather said he took away his business, and he’s the reason your family lost everything. I’ve also heard your sisters discuss about him, and I don’t want him to be my father,” Ian said.

“Your family has poisoned my own son against me. Is this payback for what I did, because if it is, then I guess we are even after all. There’s no greater pain than your own child telling you to your face that he hates you,” Alistair said.

“He didn’t say that...”

“Well, he implied it. What was I thinking? That I could just show up after six years and claim what is rightfully mine? Of course, you’ve filled his head with lies about me, but just so you know, I’m never giving up on my own blood. I don’t mind going to court because of this,” Alistair said.

“You never miss an opportunity to show the kind of person you are. A few minutes ago, you were apologising and pretending to be sorry, and now, you’re ready to go to court just like that to gain custody of my son...”

“He is our son,” Alistair yelled.

“When you’re ready to have a proper conversation with me, you know where I live. It’s the same house Ian’s seed was sown,” I said, and took Ian by the hand, and we walked away.

“Eliana, I’m sorry. Eliana, wait,” He called after me, walking behind me.

“If you follow me, I’ll get a restraining order against you,” I warned him sternly, and walked off with my son.

I had been stupid to have almost fallen for his pathetic lies and apologies. How dare he threaten me with going to court to fight for Ian’s custody, instead of pleading with me to see his son? Ian was right: We never should have come back, Alistair shouldn’t be his father; but it’s sad that we can’t choose our own family.