Again -n.h-

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

"How has everything been going since the visit to the emergency room?" Sydney's primary doctor asks, leaning down to take a look at her face.

Sydney's eyes dart to mine, causing me to give me an encouraging smile. Going to the doctor is always nerve wrecking but this is her story to tell, not mine.

"It's been okay. My face is a lot less swollen and the pain killers have helped a lot," Sydney says nervously, "It wasn't my boyfriend who did it. The doctor at the emergency room thought so but he didn't. They still haven't caught them."

I cross my arms across my chest, letting a shaky sigh escape my lips. We all thought it was Damien at first, but there was no evidence of it. Sydney continuously said it wasn't him, that it was a stranger who beat her when she was on her way home from a friends house.

I believe her. The police seemed to believe her after the story.

The doctor glances at me, raising an eyebrows. I nod in confirmation before she looks back at my daughter.

"From the notes that I read, it does seem like you have gotten better. I'd like for you to continue to take anti inflammatory medications and whatever you have left of your opiates for pain. Only take those for pain, not for when you're feeling fine with just the over the counter medications."

"Okay," Sydney says nodding.

Ten minutes later, Sydney and I are sitting in the car, about to drive home. The car ride home is completely silent, besides the noise of Sydney tapping on her phone screen to send messages to her friends and probably Damien.

When we get home, Niall is sitting on the couch with Emma and Nathan, watching a movie. Damien walks out of the kitchen with a big bowl of popcorn in his hands and I can't help but roll my eyes at the fact Niall made him get the popcorn.

Hospitality at its finest.

"Hey," Damien says smiling, walking over to Sydney and pulling her into a hug. I place my hand on his shoulder as if telling him hello before sitting down next to Nathan and placing him on my lap.

Niall throws his arm around my shoulder, pressing a kiss to my temple, "How'd your appointment go, Syd?"

Sydney guides Damien towards the other couch before telling Niall about the appointment. Everything is fine with her, and I think that the shock has finally left.

"I love you," I mumble against Nathan's ear, hugging him.

Nathan giggles at the hot air from my breath that fans his ear, wiping it away with his free hand, "I love you too, Mummy!"

I grin, kissing the top of his head before looking at Emma. She is biting down on her bottom lip as she scrolls her thumb across her phone screen.

"What's up, Em?" I ask leaning over Niall's lap and placing my hand on her knee.

Emma looks up, her bright blue eyes meeting mine. I can't exactly read her expression, but somethings up. I don't know what.

Her eyes dart to Niall, who doesn't notice the look that Emma is giving him. Emma hands me her phone, and I immediately grab it, looking at whatever Emma wants me to look at.

NIALL HORAN CHEATING ON WIFE JESSICA?

JESSICA HORAN THREATENING JOSIE RICHARDS. SOURCE TELLS US JOSIE IS IN HOSPITAL AFTER NUMEROUS OF THREATS.

ONE DIRECTION'S NIALL HORAN SIGNED WITH JOSIE RICHARDS FOR NEW ALBUM?

"Mum, my phone is blowing up," Sydney suddenly says glancing down in confusion, "I mean really blowing up."

Niall suddenly grabs Emma's phone from my hands. My heart is beating erratically at those headlines, they're not new, but they're getting fairly common. What the hell is going on? Why is it always me?

I pull Nathan from my lap, placing him on the couch before getting up to head towards our room. I hear Niall's heavy footsteps behind me, attempting to catch up to my small frame.

He closes the bedroom door behind him, and I let a shaky sigh escape my lips. I feel sick to my stomach. I feel absolutely awful. There's always drama. Always.

"Is the album thing true?" I ask, not turning around to look at him.

"Partly," Niall sighs. "This is what I needed to tell you when you were with the girls, and I couldn't. I -"

"Niall," I cry out in frustration, my eyes filling with tears.

I'm hurt. I'm so fucking hurt.

"It isn't with Josie. One Direction is making one more album and then we're -"

"Done?! Like you were five years ago? Or ten years ago?" I spit out, turning around in frustration.

When my blurry eyes focus on Niall, I see him standing in front of me with a look of defeat. His eyes are soft, he's standing with his arms at his side, biting down on his bottom lip to try and suppress himself from saying something.

"Niall, I can't do it," I say when the tears trickle down my cheek. "I can't do this anymore, not when you keep hiding everything from me. When you make these decisions on your own."

"Jessica," he says, his voice breaking, "it's not my decision."

Just as the sentence leaves his mouth, his phone starts ringing. He doesn't answer, he just throws it onto the bed and walks over to me. Niall cups my face in his hands, looking down at me, "If I could, I'd stay home with you. I know you're tired, baby, I know."

I sob. I cry.

I'm tired of the rumors, I'm tired of being the only one taking care of the kids, tired of him leaving whenever his management calls.

I'm tired.

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It's been a little bit. Sorry. Just been really busy 😊 hopefully y'all liked it