Memory

Chapter 37

David P.O.V

It's been a couple of hours since Jennifer left me and her friend alone, and I can't help but feel like I should at least check up on her once I find out where she is.

This mansion is so huge I'm bound to get lost.

Then, a new worry entered my mind.

"Wait, where's my daughter? Is she still at the house?" I ask in a panic, praying nothing happened to her.

"She's perfectly fine, David. She didn't get gassed like you and Jennifer, so don't worry. She's in the library reading some books now," she answers, standing up. I can bring you to her if you like."

"Please, I just want her to know I'm safe. The last time I came home two hours late, she thought something bad happened to me," I lightly chuckled.

"Yeah, you always had a way with kids. You were really excited once you found out Jennifer was pregnant years ago," she says as we exit the living room and head towards the stairs.

"Can you tell me a little bit more about our relationship when we were young, you know since I can't remember myself?"

"Of course," she smiles, "How you first asked Jennifer out was probably one of the sweetest things I've ever seen. You created a little stop-motion art with these sticky notes you owned, and as each page was flipped, it was you asking her to be your girlfriend."

Sounds like something I would do.

"I'm guessing she was as red as a tomato but wasted no time telling me yes."

"Yep, such sentimental things easily fluster my best friend," we laugh.

"What about the pregnancy? How was I caring for her?".

"The way you took care of her throughout that whole pregnancy, would want any woman to get pregnant by you so that they could have that same treatment. You always cooked for her, gave her massages, bought her anything she asked for if you could afford it, and treated her like a queen".

Yeah, this all sounds like me.

Now that I know Jennifer and I have a daughter together, asking her if she would want to take up the stepmom role is out of the question because she already is her mom.

"Have you told Isabella yet that Jennifer is her mom, or do just the three of us know?".

"No, I feel that's something the two of you should tell her when you feel the time is right."

When I finally reached the library, I wasted no time opening the door, only to reveal Isa sleeping on the sofa with a book on her torso.

"I'll leave you two alone. I'll go find Jeni and see if she's ready to talk yet."

Nodding in agreement, I approach Isabella, gently shaking her until she wakes up.

Lazily opening her eyes, she sits up, wiping the sleep away.

"Daddy, how do you know that woman?"
_________________________________

(Emilia P.O.V)

I've checked all six guest bedrooms, so I hope the seventh one is the one.

I opened the door and saw that all the lights were turned off and the curtains were closed. At first, I thought she wasn't in here either, leaving me to continue searching for her, but then I heard the faint sound of crying.

Getting more profound in the room, I see Jennifer slumped against the bed, burying her head in her legs as she lets out weak sobs.

"Jeni?" I softly said, taking a seat next to her. "How are you feeling?"

Raising her head, she looks at me, and the view crushes my heart.

Her eyes are puffy and red, but she looks so...defeated.

I knew telling her all of that at once would be a mistake, but once Jennifer wants to find out some information, she's not going to let it go until she does.

"I feel a little bit better," she answers, wiping away her tears, "I just needed to let it all out and think about some things."

"Did it work?".

"Yeah, a whole lot. I was reflecting on Nicolas's relationship with me. I concluded that he's more psychotic than I thought," I weakly shrug, "You do all of that to have a woman to yourself but beat and mistreat her every just because-" she pauses, covering her mouth.

"Beats you?" I yell. "What the fuck do you mean he beat you."

"Emelia, no," she quickly said, covering my mouth, "Don't say it too loud. I don't want David to find out yet.

"First of he isn't going to hear us. All of these walls are soundproof. Secondly, he should know so he can march over there and kill that bastard, and while he's at it, I'll fucking help".

"I'm trying to figure out a way to tell him without that outcome happening. He-we have a child, and he can't afford to go to jail. Even though I'm her mother, she's only ever known David as a parental figure; I've just been her teacher."

Squinting my eyes at her in irritation, I agreed not to tell him, but only if she explained what was happening in their relationship.

"Fine, but promise me you won't say a single word about this, at least not until I tell him myself."

"I promise," I say, creating a fake x across my chest.

After telling me everything behind closed doors, my first thought was to comfort her. Trust me, I already wanted to kill that motherfucker for taking her away from me, but right now, she just needs comfort.

When I pulled her in for a hug, I expected her to protest or push away, but she just sank into me.

Call me crazy, but a best friend can always feel what the other person feels, and all I feel right now is this relief like a bolder being lifted off your heart.

"Take all the time you need. The three of you will be staying here for a while anyway."

"H-huh?" She lightly pushes away from me, "Three?".

"I wasn't going to leave Isabella all by herself at that apartment. Don't worry, she's fine. She's in the library with David right now". I assure her as she breathes a sigh of relief.

Wiping away the remaining tears, she stands, straightening her clothes to look somewhat better.

"So I'm just taking a wild guess here. Is the reason you're wearing sunglasses indoors because he hit you recently?".

"Yea," she nods her head, "he even tried to rape me again."

And when I thought he couldn't get worse.

"Ok, Jeni, um, I'm saying this cause I love you dearly, and I love the relationship the two of you have together," I say, intertwining my fingers together, "But you," I point both my index fingers at her, "Need to clutch your lady balls and tell him the truth, one of the most important things in a relationship is trust and you keeping this secret from him will probably make him think you don't trust him, and I'm a thousand percent sure you don't want that."

She turned away, giving me the answer I had wished for.

"Okay, then, you don't have to do it today, but at some point tomorrow, when you feel the time is right, tell him what goes on in the relationship. If he lashes out and tries to leave to do something to Nicolas, I'll have my men stop them, alright?"

"Alright".

It may seem a bit exaggerated, but I've seen the dangers of David's anger back when we were in college, and trust me, it was not a pretty picture.