Forced To Marry My Cousin's Fiancé

Chapter 101: Chapter 101

Lane’s breath hitched. Her heart was pounding in her ears. So she hadn’t been imagining it. Like the shift in his behavior and the way he looked at her back then. It wasn’t just in her head.

"And I did care, Lane. I cared about our baby way more than you ever knew. I never thought our child was some mistake or something insignificant," he added.

Lane blinked fast, her eyes welling up. She couldn’t believe he remembered her fears about that.

"And it wasn’t just the baby. I cared about you, too. You got under my skin, Lane... and I fell in love with you."

The tears finally spilled over. She tried to wipe them away, but as soon as she cleared her cheeks, more took their place.

She eventually just gave up and let them fall.

Ethan stepped closer, his own eyes full of love and regret. He reached out and gently wiped a tear from her cheek with his thumb.

"You’re dead wrong if you think I wouldn’t have chosen you back then," he said, his voice thick with conviction.

"I would have chosen you every single time. I didn’t even need to think about it."

Another tear escaped, and Ethan caught it. Through her blurred vision, she could see the pain in his eyes. She knew he hated seeing her cry.

Lane wanted to ask the one question that had been haunting her: If you would have chosen me, why did you save Olivia first? And it was like he read her mind when he said,

"About what happened at the pool... when I saw you fall, you were the only one I wanted to save. But before I could get to you, I saw Brad already had you. Then I heard someone screaming at me to save Olivia. Since you were already being helped, I went for her. But God knows, Lane, you were the only one I was worried about."

Ethan took another deep breath, his voice cracking slightly.

"Do you have any idea how much I spiraled when I found out you were gone? I looked everywhere for you. I swear to God, I tried. I begged your parents and your friends to tell me where you were, but they went totally silent. I kept going back. I practically stalked them, thinking if I followed them long enough, they’d lead me to you. But I struck out every time. It was like they were always one step ahead of me."

He paused, looking down at her.

"I hired multiple private investigators, but nobody could find a trace of you. It felt like someone was intentionally keeping you hidden. But I never gave up hope. I waited. I prayed every night that you’d come back. I promised myself that if I ever saw you again, I would never let you go. I promised I’d do whatever it took to earn your forgiveness. I want you and Calvin in my life, Lane. Like I told you... I can’t live without you. You’re the air I breathe."

Lane was sobbing now, the weight of everything he’d said crashing down on her. She felt a wave of shame wash over her for running away without giving him a chance to explain. Because she’d been so impulsive, she’d robbed Ethan of years with his son and robbed Calvin of his father.

She felt Ethan pull her into a tight, protective embrace.

"I’m... so sorry," she choked out. It was all she could manage.

"Shh... it’s okay, Lane. You don’t have to apologize for anything," he whispered, tightening his hold on her.

"All I need to know is... do you still love me?"

Instead of saying anything, Lane just buried her face in his chest and hugged him back as hard as she could. She knew she didn’t need to say a word. He already knew.

_________

When she woke up, Lane felt so much lighter. After five years, it was the first time she’d opened her eyes feeling this way, and she knew exactly why. It was because of the talk she had with Ethan yesterday.

When she learned that they were his choice, that he had loved her all along and had been searching for them, and when she heard his side of the story, the heaviness she’d carried for nearly five years vanished like a popped balloon.

She felt weightless. In truth, that was all they talked about. They didn’t hash out the specifics of their relationship, but she figured whatever happens, happens.

After a while, Lane glanced beside her for Calvin. She couldn’t help but frown when she saw he was gone, but the look quickly faded when she remembered he probably woke up early to be with Ethan again.

Ethan had asked if he could crash there, acting like he had no intention of ever leaving their condo.

The father and son duo had played and chatted all evening.

They tried to loop her in, but she’d declined, telling them it was their moment. Even though she and Ethan had somewhat reconciled, she still hadn’t officially introduced him as Calvin’s father.

Seeing Ethan’s sincerity made her want to, but she didn’t want to rush her son. She wanted to prepare his heart and mind first.

It wasn’t easy to explain their situation, especially since Ethan had another child, Tyler, with a different woman. She found it tough to figure out how to tell her son why his dad had two kids with different moms.

Lane took a deep breath and shook her head to clear her mind. She’d deal with that later.

She got out of bed, ran her fingers through her hair, and headed to the bathroom for her morning routine.

She didn’t stay long. She hurried out of the room, immediately looking for Ethan and Calvin. The father and son.

Father and son. When those words crossed her mind, it felt like a warm hand caressed her heart.

She spotted them in the kitchen right away. Ethan was busy cooking while Calvin stood on a chair beside him, watching intently.

She noticed Ethan had one hand steadying Calvin to keep him from falling. She couldn’t help but smile seeing them both in aprons. Even her son, who was just spectating, was fully geared up.

"Uncle Daddy, do you think Mommy will like what we made?" Calvin asked.

"Of course, Calvin," Ethan replied. "We made this with love. I’m sure your mom will dig it."

Calvin was about to respond when he spotted her. "Mommy!" he called out, spinning around.

Ethan glanced over, his gaze locking onto hers. He only looked away to help Calvin scramble down from the chair.

"Mommy!" Calvin ran toward her with his arms up. She immediately scooped him up.

"Good morning, Mommy," Calvin greeted, planting a kiss on her cheek.

She kissed him back. "Good morning, my Calvin."

She looked up as she felt Ethan stepping closer. Her heart raced at the intensity in his dark eyes.

He stopped right in front of them, and as she and Calvin looked up at him, Ethan raised a hand to cover the boy’s eyes.

"Close your eyes, Calvin," Ethan said. Then, he looked at her.

Lane gasped at the sheer heat in his gaze. She held her breath as Ethan leaned in. She closed her eyes the moment their lips met, feeling their softness and warmth.

The kiss lingered for a long moment before he finally pulled away.

"Good morning, my Lane," Ethan whispered, uncovering Calvin’s eyes.

Even without a mirror, she knew her cheeks were beet red. Ethan saw it too and smirked.

She averted her eyes. "Your... cooking. I’m hungry," she managed to say.

"It’s ready," he replied. He placed a hand on the small of her back to guide her to the table, pulling out chairs for both of them.

Lane let him take the lead because he seemed so happy doing it. He even plated their food, looking like he wanted to feed them himself.

"I’ll do the dishes," Lane offered once they finished.

"I’ll help," he insisted.

"Mommy, Uncle Daddy, I’ll be in the living room," Calvin announced.

"Okay," they said in unison.

Once Calvin left, she started clearing the table and moved to the sink. After a moment, she paused, feeling Ethan’s presence right behind her. She turned to face him and was immediately met by those dark eyes.

"Ethan..." she breathed his name as he cornered her, trapping her against the sink with his hands on either side of her.

She felt the heat of his body. She watched his gaze drop to her lips and noticed the way his Adam’s apple moved as he swallowed.

"Can I kiss you, Lane?" he asked.

She stared at him for a beat. Instead of answering, she simply closed her eyes. She knew he’d get the message.

A second later, their lips met again. Unlike the quick peck from earlier, this was different.

She felt the gentle movement of his mouth against hers before the rhythm shifted, turning deep and sensual. Ethan intensified the kiss, pressing against her.

He slid one hand to her nape while the other wrapped around her waist, hauling her flush against him.

Lane opened her mouth, giving him total control, and began to kiss him back with the same fire. They stayed like that for minutes before he finally broke away, though their noses remained brushed together.

"Fuck, Lane. I can’t get enough of you," he growled, before claiming her mouth all over again.

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