It's been awhile...

Are you?

"Are you?" Ryan asked.

Stevie lowered her eyes, nodding, then added. "I mean, it was just a home pregnancy test..."

"It doesn't matter, because the fact is, you have been fucking someone behind my back. It's a shame you can't say it's mine, isn't it?" He said, almost mocking her. "Remember that procedure I had almost right after Liam was born? I told you, I didn't want more kids."

She didn't know what to say, staying silent instead. There was no telling what Ryan might do.

"I want to slap the hell out of you." Teeth gritted, as he glared at her. "But I'm not going to that. And you know why? Because if I did, you'd lose it and it would be my fault. I can't have that happen."

"Oh my God..." She couldn't believe the words coming out of his mouth. "I knew you haven't changed at all." Eyes welling up with tears. 

"I was right all along." Ryan sighed, shaking his head. "I knew it!"

"Yes! Yes, you were right and it's because I hate you! My life is miserable with you! You stopped loving me a long time ago if you loved me at all! You stopped caring for me, you stopped paying attention to me! I can't remember the last time you held me or kissed me and meant it, when you did any of that because you felt like it, not just because you had to keep up with your act!"

"I suggest you shut that mouth of yours right now." Breathing heavily, he was coming closer. 

"I can't stand when you touch me, because it never feels like my husband, whom I love, is making love to me. You get off and you throw me aside. Well, I need it too! And so much more... I need someone who cares for me, truly cares for me."

Without thinking twice, his hand flew across her face. "You're not supposed to look elsewhere. I'm your husband!" 

"I wish you weren't." Stevie admitted at last, her voice barely audible, tears falling down her cheeks.

Closing his eyes, Ryan took a moment. He had already stepped over the line, he had to restrain himself from doing it again. "Is this why you don't want to move? Because you don't want to stop seeing him?"

"That's a big part of it."

"Is it just sex? Or have you fallen in love with him?" Speaking very calmly. Stevie hesitated to answer. "Tell me, damn it!"

"I've never fallen out of love with him."

Ryan froze. Speechless. 

He knew exactly who the man was and he was torn between attacking Stevie and paying a visit to Lindsey and breaking his nose and several of his ribs at least. The silence was killing her. She wanted to get away badly, but she knew that was obviously not going to happen. 

"You're getting rid of it."

"I'm not." 

"Yes, you are. Tomorrow. And I'll be going with you. I'm not going anywhere tonight."

"Ryan, I'm not terminating the pregnancy, that is if I am carrying a child." She cried. "It was you who didn't want any more children, not me. I just couldn't stop you from going through with the procedure. I want this baby, I might not ever have this chance again."

"It's HIS. HE fucked you and HE got you pregnant! What's not clear to you? I won't be raising HIS child!"

She thought this would be it. She was almost sure he would be the one bringing up divorce any minute now. But he wasn't. He wanted to stay with her. Why? Why on earth he would want to stay married to her? She had one more thing to say, but...

"First thing in the morning, we're going to a clinic, so I can be sure you're clean."

That brought a fresh set of tears. "It's a baby. How can you say something like that?"

"It's not my baby, so I don't give a shit. Especially, when it's his. I've already told you, I refuse to raise his bastard child."

That was as much as she could take, swallowing the lump in her throat as she couldn't stop the words, escaping her mouth. "You've been raising Lindsey's child for the past four years."

"What did you just say?"

"Liam isn't your son. I thought it was obvious, he looks nothing like you."

"You whore!" Grabbing her by the hair, he dragged her off the bed and on the floor. "You made me believe he was mine?! You thought it was never going to come out?!" Forgetting all what he said, he slapped her again.  

"STOP!" She screamed. "Just get away from me!"

"Stop? This is nothing compared to what you deserve! You disgust me!" 

"Then leave me! LEAVE ME!"

"Oh, no... No way are you getting away from me so easily! You're going to pay for what you've done! Starting with abortion! Then we're leaving right away and we're never coming back!" Kneeling down, he got close, face to face. "I will never let you divorce me. You said your life with me is miserable? Well, it's going to be hell from now on."

"I hate you! I hate you with every fiber of my being!"

Ryan raised his hand again, but at the same moment, the door to the room opened and in came Maria, having heard all the shouting. "What is going on?" She frowned, seeing her mother a crying mess on the floor and her father, what seemed like, ready to hit her. "Dad? What are you doing? Why is Mom crying?"

Clenching his fist, Ryan backed off, without saying anything, he then left the room. 

Confused, Maria approached Stevie, helping her get up, then pulling her into a hug. "What the hell is happening?"

"I need you to do something for me, baby, please..." Stevie begged weakly. "Gather your absolute essentials and get your brother, okay?"

"But why?"

"Do as I say, I'm begging you." 

The fear in her mother's eyes stopped Maria from questioning her further as she gave a small nod of her head. Left alone, Stevie quickly threw some things into a bag, before calling Lindsey once again.

"Don't ask me anything. Please, come here as soon as you can. Park somewhere close to the house, but DO NOT drive through the gates."

"What the hell, Stevie?" He asked anyway. 

"Just do it. Please..."