Outside Work We... •[TNN One-shots]•

Surprise, Surprise •|| MARJOREECE ||• [Another Woman Pt. 3]

Prompt: Reece reveals the truth.

The front door swung open with an audible creak as Reece stepped inside, his brow furrowed with confusion and concern. His gaze landed on Marjorie, curled up on the couch, her face blotchy and red from crying. The sight made his heart twist painfully. He barely had time to open his mouth before a voice sliced through the tense silence.

“You absolute fucking idiot!” Mia spat, striding up to him like a storm on legs. Without warning, she kicked him sharply in the shin.

“Ow! What the hell, Mia?” Reece winced, clutching his leg as he stumbled back a step.

“You know why I’m mad,” Mia shot back, her arms crossed, eyes blazing. “Fix this, you moron. Now.”

Reece’s shoulders sagged as realization dawned on him. His eyes flicked back to Marjorie, who avoided his gaze, her lips pressed into a trembling line. “Marj… I can explain.”

“You’d better,” Mia snapped, pointing at him like an angry drill sergeant before retreating to the kitchen, where Charlotte was watching the scene unfold in quiet concern.

Reece sat down on the coffee table across from Marjorie, his posture tense. His voice was soft, laced with regret. “Marj, I never meant to hurt you. But I can see now how badly I messed up.”

Marjorie didn’t look at him, her voice low and shaky. “Then tell me the truth. Who is she, Reece? Who’s Olive?”

He took a deep breath, running a hand through his hair. “Olive… she’s my daughter.”

Marjorie’s head snapped up, her tear-streaked face full of shock. “Your daughter?”

Reece nodded, his expression a mixture of guilt and vulnerability. “It happened during my uni days. I was twenty, and I had a girlfriend named Eliza. She was… incredible. Smart, funny, absolutely beautiful. But we were young, and we made mistakes.” He paused, his voice growing heavier. “She got pregnant. We were terrified, but we decided to face it together.”

Marjorie’s breath hitched as she listened, her anger giving way to curiosity—and something softer.

“She was only eighteen when she had Olive,” Reece continued, his voice cracking. “But there were complications during the birth, and… she didn’t make it.”

“Oh, Reece…” Marjorie whispered, her anger dissolving completely as her chest ached for him.

“It’s been just me and Olive ever since,” he said, his gaze dropping to his hands. “Mia helped in the beginning—more than I could ever thank her for—but we lost touch when I moved away from everything. I did my best to raise Olive, but things got easier when she started attending an international school abroad.”

“That’s why I never met her?” Marjorie asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Reece nodded. “Yeah. She’s been studying abroad for years now. But that doesn’t mean she’s not still my whole world. I—” He hesitated, his next words clearly difficult for him. “I didn’t tell you because… I was scared, Marj. I’ve lost girlfriends in the past when they found out about Olive. They didn’t want to deal with a child that wasn't theirs. And I… I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you.”

Marjorie’s lips parted slightly, but no words came. Reece pressed on.

“I love you, Marj. More than I’ve ever loved anyone since Eliza. And Olive—she knows about you. She’s been telling me for months to stop being a coward and just tell you everything. She thinks you’re a sweetheart and that if you really love me, you wouldn’t mind that I have a daughter.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “I should’ve trusted her. And you.”

Marjorie stared at him, her emotions a storm she couldn’t quite sort out. Hurt. Relief. Love. “I just… I wish you’d told me sooner. Reece, I’ve been here for you through everything. Did you really think I’d leave over this?”

“I didn’t want to risk it,” he admitted, his voice trembling. “I’m sorry. I was wrong.”

For a long moment, silence filled the room. Then Marjorie stood, closing the distance between them. She reached out, her hand finding his. “You’re an idiot, Reece Knight. But… I love you too.”

His breath hitched, and he looked up at her, hope glimmering in his eyes. “You mean that?”

“I do,” Marjorie said, a small smile tugging at her lips. “But you’re making it up to me. Starting with a proper introduction to Olive.”

From the kitchen, Mia’s voice rang out. “You’re damn right he is!” Then, quieter, “Sweetheart, pour me another coffee. I think we all need it after this mess.”

Charlotte chuckled softly, grabbing the pot. Meanwhile, Reece pulled Marjorie into a tight hug, silently vowing to never let fear keep him from being honest with her again.