Forced To Marry My Cousin's Fiancé

Chapter 78: Chapter 78

Lane was drying her hair as she stepped out of the bathroom. Just as she crossed the room, her phone started buzzing on the bed. She hurried over to see who was calling.

Seeing it was Mae, she picked up immediately.

"Hello, Mae?" she said, sitting on the edge of the bed so she could focus on the call.

"Ma’am Lane."

Lane shifted her position, her stomach dropping at the obvious worry in Mae’s voice.

"Is something wrong, Mae?" she asked. She didn’t know why, but she was suddenly hit with a wave of anxiety.

"Ma’am Lane, it’s about Calvin," Mae started.

"Did something happen to him?" Lane’s heart started pounding.

"Calvin has a fever, Ma’am. I already gave him some medicine, but his temperature just won’t go down," she replied. Lane felt a surge of panic.

"How long has he been like this?"

"Since this morning. It was just a mild fever then, so I gave him something to keep it from getting worse. It went down for a while, but by six this evening, it came roaring back," Mae added.

Lane let out a long, shaky breath. She glanced at the alarm clock on her nightstand. If she hit the road for Richmond right now, she’d make it there by midnight.

"Okay, Mae. Keep a close eye on him.

Please keep checking his temperature and text me the second anything changes, okay? I’m going to get ready and head home," she said.

"It’s already so late, Ma’am," Mae replied.

"You could just come tomorrow. I’ve got him."

"I’m coming now, Mae. I won’t be able to sleep a wink staying here," she countered.

She knew she’d just spiral if she stayed behind and couldn’t look after her son herself. Her little boy needed her.

"If you’re sure, Ma’am. Please drive safe," Mae said.

After hanging up, Lane called her mother to fill her in. Her mom didn’t even try to talk her out of it, knowing Lane wouldn’t take no for an answer when it came to Calvin.

She just suggested taking the family driver so Lane wouldn’t be exhausted by the time she arrived.

Lane kept the call short and rushed to get ready. Since she was already in her pajamas, she just threw on some real clothes, grabbed her bag, and headed out.

Her mother must have worked fast, because the family driver was already out front with the car idling.

She hopped into the back, and soon they were on the long trek to Richmond. The driver told her she should try to get some shut-eye, but she was way too wired with worry to sleep.

She gripped her phone tight, waiting for any news from Mae. She felt a tiny bit of relief when the latest update came through: the fever was finally starting to break.

After several hours on the road, they finally pulled into the driveway.

"Sir, you should get some rest, too," she told the driver.

"Will do, Ma’am," he replied.

Lane bolted into the house and went straight to her son’s room. She found Mae still awake, sitting faithfully by his bedside.

"Ma’am Lane," Mae whispered when she saw her.

"Mae, go get some sleep. I’ve got him from here," Lane told her.

Once Mae nodded and slipped out, Lane sat on the edge of the bed and touched Calvin’s neck. He was still warm, but the heat wasn’t nearly as intense as before.

She gently peeled the damp cloth off his forehead and pressed a tender kiss there.

It was almost dawn by the time Lane finally drifted off. She was jolted awake a few hours later by the sound of Calvin crying.

"What’s wrong, my Calvin? Does something hurt?" she asked, her heart in her throat.

"Can you tell Mommy where it hurts?"

He just shook his head, but that didn’t make her feel any better. If nothing hurt, why was he sobbing?

"Then why the tears, baby?" she asked, wiping his eyes.

"M-mommy, are you just a dream?"

"What?"

To her shock, he suddenly pinched his own arm. "Ow!" he squeaked.

Lane’s eyes went wide. "Why would you do that, Calvin?" she asked, rubbing the spot he’d pinched.

"I’m not dreaming, am I? You’re really, really here?"

It felt like a giant hand just crushed her heart. He actually thought his own mother being there was too good to be true. She bit her lip hard to keep from breaking down right in front of him.

She pulled him into a tight hug, and he started crying even harder once he felt her arms around him. When it came to her son, Lane was totally vulnerable; she couldn’t stop her own tears from falling.

"M-my Mommy, please don’t leave me again, okay? I promise I’ll be good, just don’t go," he sobbed.

"And w-when you have to go, take me with you? I promise I won’t be a bother."

Lane pulled back just enough to cup his face in her hands. She used her thumbs to brush away his tears.

"I’m never leaving you behind again, Calvin. I’m taking you with me, no matter where I go," she promised.

He let out a little hiccup and held up his right hand.

"P-promise, Mommy?"

Lane held up her hand, too. "Promise," she said, before pulling him back into her chest.

She made a vow right then and there. She wasn’t leaving him again. She was bringing him back

____________________

Just like the day before, Ethan woke up early so he could head to Lane’s house and escort her to the office.

He had been dying to be with her for a long time. He’d waited five years for her to come back, so he was going to seize even the slightest chance to be near her.

He wanted to see her constantly and hear her voice. Even if she didn’t talk much or pay him any mind, that was fine by him. Just being able to look at her was what mattered most.

Ethan adjusted his tie, satisfied with his look, and stepped out of his walk-in closet.

He headed straight out of the room and left the mansion. His driver was already waiting, holding the door open. Ethan didn’t even have to say where they were going.

The driver already knew the drill.

Checking his watch, Ethan saw it was still early. He was sure he’d catch Lane and be able to accompany her to work.

He couldn’t help but smirk, picturing her reaction when she saw him waiting outside. She always froze up, her eyes going wide, and he really wanted to see that again.

Soon enough, Ethan arrived at Lane’s place. The second the car stopped, he hopped out and settled in for his patient wait.

He kept an eye on the front door, checking the time every few minutes. He knew she should be coming out any second. But five minutes turned into ten, and she still hadn’t appeared.

He figured maybe she’d overslept or was running behind because she was busy packing her lunch. The thought made him smile again. If anyone saw him, they’d think he was a total nutcase, standing there grinning at nothing.

He was just happy. After five years, he was finally getting a taste of what he’d been craving: Lane’s cooking. To him, nothing tasted better than her food.

When she’d handed him that lunch yesterday, his heart had nearly burst. The idea that she had actually cooked for him again was overwhelming.

So, he waited. He stood outside for thirty minutes, then an hour. Two hours passed, and there was still no sign of her.

His brow furrowed in concern. Was he late? Did she leave early? Ethan let out a long sigh, feeling a sharp sting of disappointment. Since it seemed like she was already gone, he decided to head to the office.

His heart felt empty without her by his side, but he told himself everything would be fine once he saw her at the desk.

But the disappointment he felt when he walked into the office and saw an empty chair was crushing.

He even peeked at the bathroom door to see if she was just out of the room, but the place was deserted.

He walked back out and caught Michael’s attention. "Yes, Sir?"

"Where’s Lane?" Ethan asked, his voice dead serious.

"Sir, Ma’am Lane hasn’t come in yet," Michael replied.

Ethan frowned. Where could she be? Then he remembered. Today was Uncle Richard’s discharge day. She was probably at the hospital helping her mother.

If he’d remembered that earlier, he would have gone straight there. He felt like his whole day was a wash if he didn’t see her or hear that sweet voice.

He sighed heavily for the second time and went back into the office. Since he was already there, he decided to grind through some work, even though his mind was miles away with Lane.

He planned to clear her entire plate so that when she got back, she wouldn’t have to lift a finger. He didn’t want her getting stressed.

He was buried in work when his phone started buzzing. He frowned when he saw it was Olivia.

She had called him a bunch of times already. When he was with Lane, he never picked up because he didn’t want her getting the wrong idea.

Like he’d said, the only reason he even talked to Olivia was because of Tyler. If it weren’t for the kid, he would’ve cut her off ages ago.

This time, he picked up. It was Tyler’s voice on the other end.

"Dad."

"Hey, Tyler. What’s up?"

"Why aren’t you answering me?" the boy asked.

"I’m sorry, Tyler. I’m just really busy at work."

"You probably don’t love me anymore. If you loved me, you’d pick up even if you were busy, Dad."

"That’s not true, Tyler. Of course I love you."

"No, you don’t," the boy repeated.

Ethan took a deep breath. "I love you, Tyler. Don’t ever forget that, okay?"

"Really, Dad?"

"Yes, really."

"Then when I call, you have to answer, okay?"

Ethan nodded, even though the kid couldn’t see him. "I hear you."

"Dad?"

"Yeah?"

"When are we gonna go out?"

"When I’m not so busy," Ethan replied.

"But when is that? On Sunday, you don’t have work."

"Okay, fine. Sunday. We’ll go out then," he promised.

"Score! Dad loves me!" Tyler cheered before hanging up.

Ethan went back to his computer, hoping Lane might still show up for a half-day.

He kept checking the door, praying she’d walk in, but the workday ended and she never appeared. His day felt totally incomplete.

Still, he wasn’t giving up. He decided to swing by her house to check on her. On the way, he had the driver stop at a fruit stand to grab something for the visit.

Across the street, he spotted a flower shop. Looking at a bouquet of red roses, he immediately thought of her.

To be honest, back when they were together, he never gave her flowers. He’d never managed to do the romantic stuff, and it was a huge regret. But he figured it wasn’t too late to start. He bought the roses, feeling a bit of hope.

When they got to the house, the maid let him in and showed him to the sofa while she went to get Aunt Eleanor. He wanted to ask for Lane, too, but the maid had already disappeared.

A moment later, he heard Aunt Eleanor’s voice. "Ethan."

He stood up out of respect and handed her the fruit basket.

"Thanks, Ethan," she said, handing the basket to the maid.

"How’s Uncle Richard doing?"

"He’s in his room resting," she replied. She glanced at the roses on the sofa.

"Those are for Lane," he said. "Is she around?"

"Lane’s not here, Ethan. She left."

Fear shot through him. He was terrified she’d vanished again. "Where did she go?"

"She went home to Ri—" She cut herself off quickly. "She just went home," she corrected, staying vague. "But she’ll be back."

Even though she didn’t say it, Ethan knew exactly where she was. She went to see their son.

The thought left him feeling empty. He wondered when he’d finally get to see his kid with Lane. For five long years, he’d been dying to hold his son... the boy they’d brought into the world together.

His prayers to be near Lane had been answered. Now, he was just waiting for his chance to be a father to their child. And when that moment finally came, he wasn’t going to let it go.

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