OUR LITTLE SECRET

Part 25

You read the article over and over again while Cillian spoke to his publicist on the phone but, even despite his publicist's best efforts, over the next ten days, the news spread like wildfire, and you quickly became the target of hate comments everywhere.

People insulted you relentlessly, calling you names and accusing you of ruining Cillian's marriage to Danielle. The pressure mounted on you, making you feel trapped and overwhelmed as even your own mother didn't shy away from sending hurtful messages after the article surfaced amongst her group of friends and colleagues.

"Thanks for ruining not only your life, but also mine," she texted you before sending you yet another message, telling you how everyone at her work was now asking her about the affair.

"I raised you better than this and I hope that this shameful kind of behavior won't rub off on your own child someday," she wrote, making you cry uncontrollably as you recalled all those beautiful memories you shared with your mother in the past.

Cillian watched helplessly as the storm raged around you, the intensity of the situation palpable. He wished he could shield you from the harsh words and judgmental glares, but he also knew that it was impossible.

"I'm so sorry, Y/N," he whispered, her voice hoarse with emotion. "This is my fault. None of this would have happened if I hadn't acted like such an idiot," he added, his gaze flickering between the magazine and the floor.

"No, Cillian," you protested softly, your voice trembling slightly. "I might be much younger than you are, but I am an adult nonetheless. We both made mistakes, and we must deal with the consequences," you added, squeezing his hand comfortingly as another message from your mother popped up, telling you that you were going to be incapable of raising a child of your own.

Telling Cillian about her messages, he decided that enough was enough and grabbed your phone.

"What are you doing?" you asked Cillian apprehensively, your voice trembling slightly. "Put my phone down, please," you pleaded, your gaze flickering between the device and Cillian's determined expression.

Ignoring your pleas, Cillian hit the 'call' button. "I am going to talk to your mother," he declared assertively, his voice steady yet angry. "Enough is enough," he added, his gaze flickering between the screen and the living room.

"No, Cillian," you protested vehemently, your voice trembling slightly. "She is still my mother. She is hurt and I don't...," you began, your gaze flickering between the phone and Cillian's determined expression as Cillian interrupted you.

"Look, Y/N," Cillian argued passionately, his voice firm yet compassionate. "I understand where you're coming from, but I can't stand by and watch her treat you like this," he explained, his gaze unwavering.

"She has no right to send you such hateful messages, especially now considering the state you're in," he added, his tone stern yet caring.

"Now, let me handle this," he assured you, his gaze flickering between the screen and the living room.

Your mother picked up the phone, seemingly surprised by what appeared to be a call from you.

"Y/N?" she uttered tentatively, her voice strained with hesitation. "What do you want?" she asked warily, her query laced with skepticism.

"Actually, it's Cillian," Cillian replied calmly, his voice authoritative and slightly annoyed. "And what I want is for you to stop sending your daughter those awful messages," he insisted, his gaze unwavering.

"I beg your pardon?" your mother gasped, her voice quivering with confusion. "What makes you think that you have the right to meddle in our affairs?" she demanded, her tone laced with indignation. "Just because you knocked her up doesn't mean that you can tell me what I can and cannot send my daughter," she retorted, her voice brimming with hostility.

"Actually, Sarah, yes I can," Cillian retorted. "Y/N is pregnant with my child, and I refuse to stand idly by while you subject her to emotional distress," Cillian retorted, his voice unwavering. "She is your daughter for fuck's sake, so why wouldn't you show her support during this difficult time instead of adding fuel to the fire?" he asked her, his voice growing louder and angrier.

His outburst caught your mother off guard, and she remained silent for a few seconds, clearly unsure of how to respond.

"Because she doesn't deserve it," your mother eventually responded, her voice trembling slightly. "The way she went after you, knowing full well that you were married, is disgusting," she continued, her voice rising with anger. "And now, she is paying the price for her selfishness," she concluded, her voice quivering with frustration.

"Sarah," Cillian replied calmly, his voice firm yet compassionate. "You need to let it go and, if you can't do that, then at the very least stop insulting her," he implored, his gaze unwavering. "Just back off, please," he finally demanded, his voice rising with impatience.

"Fine, fine," your mother relented, her voice wavering slightly. "I will leave her alone," she promised, her tone resigned yet stubborn. "But know that I will never forgive her for what she did to this family. It's her fault that my friends look sideways at me these days and this circus she has caused is now ruining my career," she added, her voice crackling with resentment, but causing Cillian to chuckle.

"Well, none of this would have happened if your own husband hadn't gone to the press for a quick paycheque," Cillian pointed out, his voice cynical. "So don't blame Y/N for that," he admonished her.

"What are you talking about?" Sarah asked, her voice laced with disbelief. "Why would Frank do something like that?" she wondered aloud, her tone laced with confusion.

"Because he needed the money," Cillian told her. "Frank made some bad investment choices in the past and I bailed him out a few times because he is my brother," Cillian explained, his voice calm but matter-of-fact. "I stopped making the repayments on his loans a few months ago after a fight we had a few months ago, and I think that his financial situation is quite dire now. So, to make ends meet, he sold the story to the highest bidder," Cillian informed her, his voice heavy with sadness knowing that his very own brother had sold him out to the press and, as soon as your mother heard this, she hung up abruptly. Cillian stared at the phone in his hand, sighing deeply before returning his attention to you.

"What the fuck," you uttered under your breath, pressing your hands against your eyes as tears welled up in your eyes. "Frank did this?" you whimpered, shaking your head incredulously. "I just can't believe it. I thought it would have been your crazy ex who went to the press," you moaned, your voice choked with sobs.

"I am sorry, Y/N. I should have told you first, but I only found out about it this morning and I am still trying to come to terms with it," Cillian murmured, his eyes downcast with remorse. "I promise I will sort this shit out with my brother," he vowed, reaching out to cup your cheeks gently.

"It's okay, Cillian," you murmured weakly, your voice quivering with emotion. "There is nothing you can do except focus on getting us through this nightmare that seems to get worse every day," you added, averting your gaze as fresh tears spilled over your cheeks. "How did you even find out?" you asked, your voice still choked with sobs.

Cillian sighed deeply, his gaze locked onto yours. "My agent told me. He called in a favor with his source at OK! and was told that Frank was paid 15,000 pounds for the story," Cillian said, shaking his head. "It's not much," he added bitterly, "but it's enough to keep him going for a little while longer."

"Unbelievable," you murmured, shaking your head in disbelief just as another bound of contractions rocked your body.

"Ahh...," you groaned, doubling over in pain as the pain radiated through your abdomen and back as, this time around, these contractions felt different. They came faster and closer together, leaving you feeling overwhelmed and panicked.

"I think they are real this time, Cillian," you managed to utter between agonizing contractions. "I need to go to the hospital," you cried, clutching your stomach tightly as a fresh wave of pain coursed through your body and, as soon as you stood up, a gush of fluids soaked through your pants and onto the hardwood floor beneath you.

"Oh my God," you groaned, pressing your hands against your stomach as you felt the baby dropping lower into your pelvis. "I think my waters has broken," you whimpered, stumbling backward as another contraction took hold, leaving you gasping for air.

"Shit," Cillian cursed, his heart pounding wildly in his chest as he rushed to help you towards the door.