La Familià (Lim X Vergara Family) Au

XXI

Mac reached for a glass of water, but her attention was suddenly drawn to the TV screen as the breaking news interrupted her quiet moment. A familiar face appeared Lizette Ricalde, the well-known actress, seated in an elegant studio, smiling as she discussed the joy of becoming a grandmother for the second time.

Mac raised an eyebrow, feeling puzzled. She knew Lizette well, not only as a celebrated actress but also as the mother of her ex, Loisa. But now, the interview claimed that Lizette was celebrating the birth of her  second grandson, and the mother was named Loyden.

"Loyden?" Mac murmured, frowning. She didn’t remember Loisa having a sibling named Loyden. She picked up her phone, mind spinning, wondering how she missed such a significant detail. As she sat back, her heart raced, and the pieces of her past with Loisa suddenly felt like a puzzle she hadn’t finished yet.

As Mac sat, still processing the news, Ariah walked into the living room, noticing her wife’s perplexed expression. "Bab, you okay?" she asked, sensing something was off.

Mac turned to Ariah, her eyes still glued to the screen, where Lizette Ricalde was talking animatedly about her family. "Do you know anything about this?" Mac gestured toward the TV, her voice edged with confusion. "Lizette is talking about her second grandson. I thought Loisa was her only daughter. Who’s Loyden?"

Ariah furrowed her brows and sat beside Mac, watching the interview for a moment. "That’s…odd. I’ve never heard of Lizette having another daughter either," Ariah said, equally baffled. "You’re sure about this?"

Mac leaned back, still gripping her glass of water, trying to piece together the strange revelation. Memories of her time with Loisa flooded her mind the highs and lows, the things left unsaid between them. But never once had Loisa mentioned a sister named Loyden, let alone any family drama that might have explained this revelation.

Ariah glanced over at Mac, sensing her tension. "I could reach out to Ensley," she suggested. "She might have connections in the industry. Maybe she knows something about Lizette’s family that we don’t."

Mac nodded, but her mind was racing elsewhere. If Loyden was Lizette’s daughter, why did Loisa never mention her?  It felt like a part of the puzzle was missing, something significant, and Mac hated that feeling of being in the dark.

Ariah grabbed her phone, typing out a quick message to Ensley, while Mac stared blankly at the TV. As Lizette continued to speak proudly of her growing family, the camera cut to a clip of Loyden with her newborn son, her face beaming as she cradled the baby. Mac’s eyes widened slightly. There was something familiar about Loyden. The resemblance to Lizette was undeniable, but there was something else something that tugged at a long-buried memory.

"Mac," Ariah’s voice brought her back to the present. "Ensley says she’ll look into it, but this is the first she’s hearing of it, too."

Mac nodded, her mind still racing. "Thanks, Love. This just feels...weird. I need to figure this out."

Ariah took her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "We’ll get to the bottom of it. Whatever this is, you’re not facing it alone."

Mac appreciated the support, but something told her that this revelation was just the beginning of something far more complicated. She couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to the story more to Lizette, Loyden, and Loisa than she had ever known.

Later that evening, after the strange news had settled in, Ariah found herself alone in their bedroom while Mac continued making calls and doing her own quiet research in the living room. Ariah couldn’t help but feel a slight heaviness in her chest. She knew Mac loved her there was no doubt about that but the idea of her wife diving so deep into her past with Loisa, her first greatest love, stirred an unexpected sadness.

Ariah sat on the edge of the bed, her thoughts wandering. She understood why Mac wanted answers anyone would feel the same if they were blindsided like that. But still, a part of her wondered if digging into old memories might bring back feelings that Mac had long buried. Ariah sighed, running her hand through her hair. She knew she needed to trust Mac, but the situation felt more complicated than she'd expected.

Eventually, Ariah stood up, deciding to step into the living room, where Mac was now scrolling through her phone, still looking pensive. She didn’t want to appear insecure, but maybe talking to Mac about how she was feeling would help ease her own worries.

"Hey," Ariah said softly as she approached Mac. "You’ve been at this for a while. Everything okay?"

Mac looked up, offering a small smile, though Ariah could see the weight of her thoughts behind her eyes. "Yeah, I just...I still can't wrap my head around it. I didn’t expect to be dealing with this tonight."

Ariah sat down beside her, placing a hand on Mac’s knee. "I get it. It’s a lot to process. But... I just want to make sure you’re okay. With all of this, you know? Your past with Loisa..."

Mac frowned, sensing Ariah's unspoken concern. "Love, I love you. Loisa was part of my past, but that’s all she is. I’m just trying to understand what’s happening with this news. I’m not digging up old feelings."

Ariah gave a small nod, her heart easing a bit at Mac’s words. "I know. It’s just... hard not to feel a little insecure when your first great love is suddenly back in the picture, even if it’s just through her family."

Mac gently pulled Ariah into a hug, kissing the top of her head. "You have nothing to worry about. I promise."