Forced To Marry My Cousin's Fiancé

Chapter 90: Chapter 90

Lane froze in her tracks when she saw Ethan waiting for them outside her condo. She definitely hadn’t expected to see him there right then.

She tightened her hold on her son as she carried him. He had fallen asleep in her arms during the long trek back home.

After the three of them left the office, it had been a rough hour before she finally called it quits, unable to focus on work given her son’s state.

She couldn’t shake the image of the heartbreak in Calvin’s eyes when Ethan had walked out with Olivia and Tyler.

Ethan hadn’t wanted to leave. He’d told Olivia to go home because he had things to do, but Tyler had a total meltdown.

The boy screamed and cried the second he realized his father wasn’t coming with them, and Ethan was left with no choice but to cave in. Before he left, though, he’d pulled her aside and promised they would talk.

He’d even said goodbye to Calvin, promising he’d be back because he had something important to tell him.

Lane looked away from Ethan. She adjusted her grip on the boy. He was getting heavy, but she pushed through the ache.

Seeing her struggle, Ethan stepped toward her. He reached out to take Calvin from her arms, but she reflexively pulled the child away.

She saw the flash of pain on his face when she dodged him, but she didn’t stop. She just kept walking.

"L-Lane..."

She bit her lip at the sound of her name.

"Let’s talk, Lane," Ethan said softly.

She took a deep breath before finally glancing at him. His expression hadn’t changed. The agony was still written all over his face.

"Let’s talk," he repeated. "Please?"

She didn’t say anything for a long moment, just stared at him.

"Wait for me here," she eventually told him. She didn’t wait for a reply before turning her back on him.

She managed to get the door open with one hand and walked straight to the bedroom. She laid Calvin down on the bed with the utmost care and kissed his forehead before heading back out to face Ethan.

He was right where she left him.

"What do we need to talk about?" she asked, even though she had a pretty good idea of where this was going.

"Why is Calvin’s last name Miller, Lane?" he asked point-blank.

"Why? Is there a problem with that?" she shot back.

His brows knit together. "But he’s my son, Lane. His name should be Blackwood," he insisted.

She couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh and raise an eyebrow.

"Since when did you start acting like a father?"

"Because you never gave me the chance to be one!" he snapped. "You left me."

"Because you never gave me a single reason to stay, Ethan," she countered.

"Remember? You didn’t choose me. You didn’t choose our child." Her voice started to tremble, and she fought with everything she had to hold back the tears. "Y-you never chose us."

The tears finally broke through, spilling over despite her best efforts. She saw his lips part in shock when he saw her crying, and she quickly tried to brush the dampness from her cheeks.

"You’re wrong, Lane," Ethan said.

"If you had just given me a chance to explain, my son would have known who I am by now."

She bit her lip hard, noticing how bloodshot his eyes were becoming as he looked at her.

"I just wanted a chance to be a father to him. It kills me, Lane. It kills me knowing he’s in this much pain."

Another tear escaped, then another. She stopped trying to wipe them away because it was a losing battle.

"A-and do you think he won’t be hurt when he finds out the father he’s been dreaming of has another kid with another woman, E-Ethan? How do you plan on explaining that to him? Are you going to tell him he’s second best? That he’s the backup choice?"

Ethan stayed silent, so she kept going.

"W-what if he ends up feeling exactly like I did? W-what if he finds out you’re his father and then you dump him just like you dumped me? What if you pull the same move and choose Olivia all over again? W-what if you choose Tyler over him? D-do you really think Calvin won’t be destroyed by that?"

Her heart felt like it was sinking into her stomach as the words poured out of her.

"B-because you have no idea how much it hurts to love someone who doesn’t choose you. To love someone who doesn’t love you back, Ethan..." she admitted, finally laying her cards on the table. But to her surprise, he didn’t even look shocked.

It was like he had known all along that she loved him.

It hurt even worse to realize he’d known how she felt and let her suffer anyway.

She covered her mouth as a sob finally ripped through her. The past was crashing down on her, and the tears wouldn’t stop. Ethan started to move toward her, but he stopped dead when a familiar voice called out from behind him.

"Lane."

She looked up and saw Noah standing there. The second he saw the state she was in, his face darkened. His eyebrows drew together into a hard line as he turned his gaze on Ethan.

Even through her blurred vision, she could see the absolute rage in Noah’s eyes.

Lane didn’t see it coming. Noah closed the distance in a single stride.

She screamed as Noah’s fist connected with Ethan’s face, a solid punch that sent him reeling.

Noah immediately stepped in front of her, shielding her like a bodyguard.

"Stay the hell away from her, you piece of trash!"

__________

"I’m sorry, Mommy."

Lane’s brow furrowed when she heard Calvin’s sudden apology.

"Why are you saying sorry, Calvin?" she asked.

"Because I was a bother at work yesterday, Mommy. Because I wouldn’t stop crying," he explained, his little voice filled with guilt.

She reached out and gently stroked his head. "You never have to apologize for that, Calvin," she replied. "If anything, I should be the one apologizing to you."

"Why are you sorry, Mommy?" he asked innocently.

Her hand moved from his hair to cup his small cheek.

"Because I didn’t realize how much you were hurting... how much you wanted your Daddy."

She watched him blink as he stared up at her.

"I’m s-sorry... I didn’t know you wanted to see him so badly." Her voice broke, and despite her best efforts to stay strong, tears began to stream down her face.

Calvin’s eyes went wide. He reached up, and she leaned down so he could touch her face. Her heart swelled when his tiny hands wiped the tears from her cheeks.

"Mommy, why are you crying?"

"B-because my baby is in pain," she whispered.

"I’m sorry, Mommy," he said, throwing his arms around her.

"I won’t look for Daddy anymore if it makes you sad."

"I’m so sorry, too, honey. I can’t introduce you to him just yet. But don’t ever think he doesn’t love you, okay? He loves you very much," she assured him, desperate to heal his hurting heart.

He nodded against her. "Yes, Mommy."

He let her go, and she forced a small smile.

"Are you ready? Should we head out?"

"Yes, Mommy!"

Lane grabbed her bag and slung it over her shoulder, holding out her hand for her son. He took it immediately. They had big plans for the day with Anna and Noah.

Thinking of Noah made her remember the chaotic scene from the day before.

When Noah had found her crying during her talk with Ethan, he’d assumed the worst and leveled Ethan with a punch.

Despite everything, Lane couldn’t stop worrying about the gash on Ethan’s lip.

Noah had been absolutely livid.

After threatening Ethan, he’d hauled her inside her condo and demanded to know what happened.

She’d told him the truth, which only seemed to make him angrier. He’d told her to call him the second Ethan bothered them again, and she’d spent the rest of the evening trying to convince him that Ethan wasn’t actually a threat.

Lane shook her head to clear the intrusive thoughts as they walked out of the building. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw who was waiting by the entrance.

It was Ethan.

He straightened up as soon as he saw them. "Lane. Calvin," he said, acknowledging them both.

Lane couldn’t help but stare at the cut on his lip. Did he even put anything on that? she wondered.

"Where are you guys headed?" he asked after a long silence.

"We’re going out, Uncle Ethan," Calvin answered before Lane could find her voice.

"W-where to?" he asked again, sounding hesitant.

Calvin was about to spill the details when a familiar voice interrupted.

"Lane."

All three of them turned at once. Noah was walking toward them, his face darkening the moment he spotted Ethan.

"Uncle Noah!" Calvin cheered. He let go of Lane’s hand and sprinted toward Noah.

Noah’s expression softened instantly as Calvin reached him. He scooped the boy up, and Lane watched as Calvin kissed Noah’s cheek, grinning ear to ear.

She stole a glance at Ethan and saw the raw envy and pain in his eyes. He looked like he’d give anything to be the one holding his son like that.

"Are you mad, Uncle Noah?" Calvin asked, touching Noah’s furrowed brow.

"Your eyebrows were all squished together. Are you angry?"

Instead of answering, Noah just ruffled the boy’s hair. He looked at Lane, completely ignoring Ethan’s existence.

"Ready to go?" he asked.

Lane gave a small nod. She started to walk toward them, but Ethan reached out and caught her hand to stop her.

Her breath hitched as she turned to him. She was about to tell him to let go, but Noah beat her to the punch.

"What do you think you’re doing, Ethan?"

Noah asked, his voice low and dangerous.

"Get your hands off her."

"Are you guys fighting?" Calvin asked, his eyes wide with worry.

"Fighting is bad. God doesn’t like it when people fight."

"T-they’re not fighting, Calvin," Lane promised. She pulled her hand out of Ethan’s grip and hurried over to Noah and her son.

"Lane..."

She squeezed her eyes shut at the sound of his voice. It was so full of pain and pleading, but she didn’t look back. She just kept walking.

"Let’s get moving," Noah urged.

"Bye-bye, Uncle Ethan!" Calvin called out.

As they walked away, Lane could feel Ethan’s eyes boring into the back of her head. She forced herself not to turn around.

They made it into the elevator, and just before the doors slid shut, she saw him still standing there, looking absolutely devastated.

She couldn’t explain the sharp twinge of pain in her own chest. She took a deep breath to steady herself.

A few minutes later, they were in Noah’s car. He was driving while she and Calvin sat in the back.

"Mommy?"

Lane looked over at Calvin. "Yes, honey?"

"I have a question," he said. "I was thinking about Uncle Ethan’s kid. My cousin who visited you at work."

Lane’s heart sank. Calvin thought Tyler was his cousin, but in reality, they were half-brothers. She saw Noah watching them in the rearview mirror.

"If Uncle Ethan has a kid, and Tyler’s mom is his wife, why is he courting you, Mommy?"

Noah slammed on the brakes so hard the car jerked to a halt. Lane instinctively threw an arm across Calvin to steady him. Noah let out a muffled curse before turning around to check on them.

"I’m so sorry, guys. Are you okay?"

Lane nodded, letting out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. Once Noah was sure they were fine, he turned his full attention to the boy.

"What was that, Calvin?" he asked, his voice tight. "Who’s courting who?"

"Uncle Ethan. He told Mommy he’s courting her. But he already has a kid and a wife. Is he trying to trick her?"

Noah’s face twisted into a scowl.

"Don’t let him anywhere near your mom, Calvin. He’s only going to end up hurting her," Noah said firmly.

Lane’s eyes went wide. "Noah! Stop it!"

But Noah wasn’t backing down. "Protect your mom from him, Calvin. He’s bad news."

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