BLEACHED (COMPLETED)

78: Just a Test for a Man.

'Desmond... I think pregnant....'

'Are you sure?'

'I know I'm pregnant, Desmond. How many tests should I go through?'

Desmond could hear it like it was yesterday. When Heather had told him she was pregnant with their first child.

It was days before their wedding and Desmond knew it wasn't part of their plan for Heather to be expecting so soon.

Desmond had always thought it wouldn't be a problem, that they would still get married since she'd only been a week pregnant.

But his mother didn't respond the way he'd have guessed, even though it didn't surprise him.

'And you think that's going to benefit the family? Are you trying to get our name mocked and disgraced? Have I wasted all these years just to raise you to bring the name I built with blood to shame?'

He can still remembers the tone of her voice.

Sharp and determined to inflict trauma into his soul.

He had told her with a wide smile but didn't get the response he was expecting.

'get rid of it this instance!'

'you know that's not a healthy option... You could hurt Heather that way.'

'then cancel the wedding, once that thing is born, I'll make sure it never happened.'

And she did.

He never even carried his child. Didn't see what he looked like but only heard for Heather as she was cursing at him for doing nothing about it.

She cried for days on end but he could only listen to her wailing and turn a blind eye to what his mother had done.

Later on, he was told that even after giving the child out to a family that needed a child, the child died.

He knew it was a lie.

But he didn't want to think of what his mother might have actually done.

A few years later, his mother had to come back and nag them to have children.

That they were growing too big and the media was starting to question.

Heather point blank refused to have another. So his mother took her, locked themselves in a room and spoke for over two hours.

Desmond doesn't know what she had told Heather to have Heather comply with her demands.

Domen was born a few months later.

Grandmother's most prized jewels.

'Maybe my grandson won't be a disappointment like you, Desmond. Make sure of it.'

That's as the first thing she told him once Domen was born. Not a congratulations or I'm proud of the two of you... But to simply tell him to make sure his son didn't repeat the same... Mistake.

Domen has done the exact same thing. Now he'll have to face the consequences.

I didn't prevent it.

"It's not their fault." Desmond shifts his gaze form the photos on the shelf just above the fireplace and glances towards Evette who's just walked in, dressed in a short baby pink dress and indoor slippers with her hair tied up into a messy bun.

Fully changed.

"They just like each other." Evette says as she laces her fingers together, feeling her knees shake form the fear of his unfazed eyes. "... They were only following their feelings."

"Are you unfazed by this, Evette?" Desmond asks as he raises a brow, getting the investigator and the body guard to glance at her with the same confused expression. "Aren't you aware that this affects you as well? Two mature adults, one of which is your fiancee and the other is supposed to be your close friend, mangling and resulting to an unplanned pregnancy. Just how childish are you as well?"

"I..." Evette turns her gaze elsewhere and sighs out in relief as she hears the front door open with the obvious hushed whispers of Domen and Lavender.

She steps aside as she glances towards the door and notices them walking towards the livingroom with Lavender hidden behind Domen's tall frame.

Domen steps into the livingroom and the confidence he had leaves his body the moment he stares into his father's eyes.

"Father... I know-"

"- Before you even utter a word. Come here so I can slap you. Because I'm not in the mood." Desmond says and Lavender widens her eyes in shock.

Domen clenches his jaw and balls his fists as he walks over to his father who watches him get close enough.

Thinking it was a bluff, Lavender gasps out in terror when Desmond actually slaps him.

The sound of the vicious slap echoes the entire house and the investigator and guard exchange worried glances before staring back at Domen who didn't even step back.

Let alone flinch.

"You're a man after all." Desmond says as he takes back his hand and clenches it for a bit before revealing his reddened palm. "But I haven't calmed down, not in the slightest. I'd have to slap Ms Carter as well."

His eyes shift from Domen and towards Lavender who takes a step back in fear as she watches him slowly approach her, horrified she'll have to go through that kind of a slap.

I won't survive... He'll kill me-

"I'll take it for her." Domen says as he steps in front of his father again, meeting his cold and empty eyes. "In her place."

Desmond raises a brow but takes a step back from Domen, seconds before landing another painfully loud slap than causes Evette to flinch and look away.

Lavender widens her eyes as she grips onto the edges of her dress as she watches Domen stumble a bit, taken aback by how hard that one hit for him.

"A slap like that can only be taken in once by anyone. The second time imbalances the body. A third one soon after could knock you out cold." Desmond says as he watches his son try to fix himself from falling and shifts his gaze back to his father.

"So why does it feel like I can take another? That one was a bit weaker than the first." Domen chuckles slightly and Evette couldn't help but roll her eyes at him.

Knowing too tell he's only digging his own grave.

"I hope you're calm now, we can talk?" Domen asks as he clenches his jaw just to dissipate the pain on his cheek.

"Not yet. I have a third anger." Desmond says as he glances back at Lavender who is staring back at him, a bit angered at how he's able to do that to his own child. "One left, for the illegitimate child you're keeping."

Evette furrows her brows at the oddity of it but knows too well Desmond is being serious.

"So Lavender has to take this one as well." He says and walks towards Lavender again, getting Domen to rush back in front of him, holding his hand out to stop his father.

"I'll take it too." Domen sighs as he stares into his father's eyes. "In place of it."

Before Lavender could shade her fear and volunteer to take it for Domen, the slap thundered like lighting, jolting her heart in her chest as she watches Domen stumble back and fall, only to have Evette catch in before he does.

"Hm." Desmond raises a brow as his watches his son blink from the intensity of the slap before he finally gives in and walks over to the couch. "I see, so you aren't a child."