Chapter 66: The question of blood

Chapter 66: The question of blood [This Chapter is dedicated to Kourtney_Sspears! Thank you for your golden ticket] His expression twisted into something cruel—something almost too calm. "Let her?" he scoffed. "Heather, I never wanted to be with you. You knew I was in love with Lauren. Everyone knew. But you—" he broke off, then took another breath, like he needed the pause to justify what came next. "You decided to come to me the night I was drunk and heartbroken because. You crawled into my bed when I wasn’t thinking straight. You did that, not me. I would have never looked back... but then you got pregnant." His words slapped her harder than any physical blow ever had. She didn’t respond. There was no quick comeback. Back in high school, Heather had adored Caius from afar. He was kind, reserved and smart. The kind of boy who didn’t chase attention—but got it anyway. And he only ever had eyes for Lauren. Her confident half-sister had never wanted him. Not until she discovered Heather did. That’s when Lauren started showing up with that familiar smirk, wearing dresses just a little tighter, laughing too loud at his jokes, suddenly standing closer than she ever had before. Lauren didn’t want Caius. She just didn’t want Heather to have him. And yet, even after Lauren broke his heart and left the country with a richer man, Heather was the one who was the one he still treated like she had tricked him into love. She eventually lost the child after she married Caius. "You still want revenge, don’t you?" he said quietly. Heather didn’t answer right away. She let the silence speak for her. And the weight of everything between them stretch across the room until it pressed down on both of them. "No," she said, tilting her head just slightly, "what I want is for you to feel what it’s like to lose everything... while still pretending to smile for the cameras." Caius stared at her, like he was studying her. Maybe the way he said the words made it seem like he didn’t still want her. He inhaled sharply. "You say that like I haven’t already lost everything." Heather scoffs. "Don’t try to twist this into some sob story. You had everything. You ruined it all. That’s on you." "I regretted everything after you left. I searched for you. I even sent people to find you. You think I didn’t care, but I did." "When you left, I told myself you wouldn’t last long. Not because you were weak... but because you had nothing." "Until I saw you at the science convention," he added, "I didn’t know how you were surviving. That’s when I realized." She didn’t like where this is going. Not one bit. She was afraid of what was coming next. "I pity you, Heather," he said. "How does it feel to be a clone for the most powerful actress in the world?" Her breath caught. She blinked. "Excuse me?" "I know it must be hard," he went on, "being the shadow of someone that bright." He didn’t know. He actually didn’t know. He thought she was just a clone. That the woman in the spotlight wasn’t her. And that she couldn’t possibly be Miss H. That hurt more than any insult. She swallowed the truth. Let the anger boil inside her. He stepped closer, his voice soft now. "Come back to me and I’ll make you the most sought-after actress on the planet." He had made a grave mistake, he cared for someone else who wasn’t his wife and had lost the woman he truly loved. This man, he doesn’t know. "I’m already the most sort after actress." she thought. Leaving him was the best decision she made for herself." Heather almost laughed. "You really think you have that power?" "I chased you away once. I won’t do it again." She shook her head. "No, Caius. I’d rather go to jail than marry you again." Their eyes locked. And in that moment, something shifted. And he saw that she wasn’t bluffing. She wasn’t angry or emotional or unstable. She was serious. She’d rather rot in a cell than spend another day with him. Caius drew in a breath. "I’m not letting you go to jail." "Then maybe," she said coolly, "*you* can go for me." He blinked. "What?" "You say you love me, right?" "I do," he said, without hesitation. "Then prove it," she said. "Go to jail for me." She didn’t actually expect him to agree. It was just a way to silence him, to end this cruel theater of pretend affection. She was certain he’d say no. And when he did, she would walk out and never look back. "Fine." "What?" "If that’s what it takes for you to forgive me," he said, voice unwavering, "then yes. I’ll go to jail for you." No. No, this wasn’t right. He was supposed to say no. And act like he doesn’t care, because he actually didn’t. He steps closer again, hands now in his pockets like he’s trying to look harmless. But his eyes don’t lie. They’re searching. He’s digging for something beneath her rage. "When I saw him—calling me daddy—that first day—I knew. You didn’t even have to tell me." What was he talking about? "I have one question." He paused, "Is Alex my son?" Her heart stopped. "How do you know his name?" "Just answer the question." Heather’s throat closed. She didn’t want him ever near Alex. "No," she said firmly. "He’s not your child." He looked at her, his eyes heavy with certainty. "Are you sure?" "Yes." "Hmm," his eyes were on hers, as though he was trying to figure her out. " "Don’t you dare bring Alex into this." "He has your eyes," Caius says, softly. "But everything else—his walk, the way he doesn’t stop until he gets what he wants, the way he clenches his fists when he’s angry—that’s me. I know it is." Heather shook her head, but her throat tightened. She felt like she’s standing on cracking ice. "Caius, stop. He’s not yours." "You didn’t tell me because you thought I’d use him. Or maybe you were trying to protect him from me. Fine. But I’m not crazy, Heather. I know my own blood when I see him." "You don’t know anything. You think just because you saw a boy for five seconds, you’re suddenly a father?" "I’m not asking for anything. I’m not threatening to take him. I just want the truth." Heather didn’t say anything; he doesn’t deserve an answer from her. It’s not like he wanted Alex. He boldly told her to terminate the pregnancy and when they thought she lost it, he brought in the child he wanted and the mother. She didn’t know where this audacity was coming from, asking her to tell him the truth, like he even deserved it. "I brought him here, Heather. Because I had to know." Heather’s entire body tensed. "What?" "I know he’s my child, Heather." Heather stood still for a heartbeat. Then her fists clenched at her sides. Was he serious? She couldn’t tell, she had left Alex with his babysitter and she knew quite well the girl wouldn’t give Alex to Caius. Plus, Alex hadn’t feeling too well. "You brought him here?" Her voice cracked. "You took my child—without my permission—and brought him to your den of lies and snakes? Are you insane?" Caius didn’t flinch. "I had to be sure." "That’s abduction, Caius! That’s kidnapping! You don’t just take someone’s child because you ’had to be sure.’ Who the hell do you think you are?" He stepped closer, but she raised a hand, warning him not to come closer. "You don’t get to talk." "How am I supposed to explain myself then?" "You don’t get to explain yourself, you only listen." "Where is he?" "He’s in the room, I asked a maid to watch over him." Someone knocked on the door, loud enough to disrupt them without entering inside. "Sir, the guests are waiting. It’s time." Heather looked at the door, then back at him, and her jaw tightened like it might shatter. "I’m going to that party," she said slowly. "Because Grandma Ellie deserves that respect. She’s the only reason I haven’t burned this place down yet." She walked past him toward the door, stopping just at the threshold. "And when this party is over, you’ll stay away from me and Alex." She used her feet to kick the door open and walked out.