Chapter 138 What If

JOHN’s jaw drops while listening to Lucian's story. He was so stunned that he couldn't even drink the beer he was holding. He could see his friend was deeply hurt by the turn of events. “Who would have thought this is how their story ends?” John said to himself. “You should be happy for her. She’s married and was about to have a child.” He commented in a low voice. “You don’t understand, John. That should be me. If I found where she was institutionalized. If I stayed in the hospital when he got shot. If I have explained myself to her or if I answered her calls when she woke up. It could have been us.” “Well, it's not and that’s how cruel reality is. You have your chance many times and waste it. Now she has moved on. Based on how you said it, she’s happy and you should too. It’s time for you to let go, Lucian,” John explained. Lucian frowned, “I can’t,” he said to himself. - Meanwhile, at York’s Villa. "The Ripley manor is my home. We should stay there. It’s way bigger than this villa. No offense," Latton explains. "None, taken," Victor replied. "I feel at home, and much more comfortable there," she explained as she sat on the couch in the living room. "No, I can’t stay there. Your family has too much drama, and it's safer for you to stay here. Your mood has never been this intact since you left them. If you want our plans to go smoothly, we need to stay here," he remarked as he leaned comfortably on the opposite couch. She frowns then sighs, “You are right, but I will still go there to visit the place.” She replied while both of her hands rested on her stomach. “Okay. Okay, but make sure to bring that Russian fella with you. What’s his name again?” He asked curiously. “His name is Igor. His boss lent him to me for a few months for protection against the unknown person who may or may not attack me. I can’t bring him along anymore. He was summoned back to Russia to do ‘something’.” “I almost forgot about that. How’s the police investigation going?” He asks. “I have no idea. That’s why I want to stay in the manor. I feel safer there.” She explains. “Are you that scared that even inside our home you can’t stop holding your belly?” He pointed out. She nods. “I don’t feel safe in Los Angeles, but I need to be here. I can't let them win, Victor.” She declared. “Weirdly enough, I felt safe inside that tiny dressing room with Lucian. Life is so ironic. He hurt me numerous times, but I still feel secure when I’m with him. What if he chose me and stayed with me? Things wouldn’t go this way." She thought to herself. He sighs, “I understand. You can do whatever you want. We can visit, but I won’t stay there.” He declared while crossing his arms. She smiled faintly, “Thank you, dear.” She replied, then stood up and walked away. She soon stopped mid-way when she heard him laughing. “Why are you laughing?” She asks with an annoyed tone. “You’re waddling when you walk.” He says mockingly. She gave him a death glare. He giggles, “...but seriously you waddle too much.” She walks again, "How about now?" She asks. "Much better," he mumbles. The next day. Victor drove Latton to the Ripley manor. "Are you sure you want to stay here while I'm at work?" Victor asked while parking the car. She nods, "Yes, I'm just going to get a few things then probably yell at my brother if he is there. I won't be alone, I have this with me." She says while caressing her belly. "Call me if you need anything." He says as he watches her leave his car. "Okay, don't be too possessive." She mutters jokingly. He smiled as he sped away from the manor. She entered the manor and hastily went to her room, where she opened her drawer to get her things. She opened her jewelry box and saw the bracelet Lucian gave her. She frowned instantly as memories from yesterday entered her thoughts. She shook her head as she tried to forget the devastated look in his eyes. "He looks so pitiful and hurt." She thought to herself as she felt guilty. "He deserves it," one of the voices in her head said. "He did, all of them do," another voice says. She sighs deeply. Her brows furrowed when she remembered that the chain was broken. "Maybe it's time to throw this away," she mumbled to herself. She stood up and opened the balcony, contemplating throwing away the bracelet, but before she could decide, someone had entered her room. When she turned around she saw Thalia and Albert. She smiled faintly, "Good morning. Dad, who loves me so much. Who will be more than happy to see me fail just to get a hold of me, and of course, my mother, who never loved me enough to hold me close. To whom do I own the pleasure of seeing you both in front of me? At the same time, breathing the same air that I breathe?" She remarked sarcastically. "Latton, this has to stop! Whatever it is Victor had against you.." Before Albert could finish his sentence, she intervened. "My husband doesn't have anything against me or anyone. He loves me and I trust him," She says with certainty in her voice. "Something that both of you never had." She says as she points at her parents. Albert nudges Thalia to say something, "Don't give us this reason. We know how petty you are. You're doing this to retaliate because I left you and your father messed you up," Thalia commented. "Correction! Both of you messed me up and none of this is bullshit. We do love each other, and as my parents, you should be happy." She yells. “Especially now that you are going to be grandparents.” She added while holding her belly, showing them her small baby bump. Thalia gasped and her gaze softened. Albert scoffed, "You got yourself pregnant with his child? What were you thinking?" He screamed in disappointment. "I am thinking of myself for once. Thinking of making myself happy. I'm done pleasing you. This time I'll do everything that pleases me," she replied with tears in her eyes. "If you have problems with that, go fuck yourself." She added. "I... I don't have problems with that." Thalia says stutteringly with teary eyes. "Look at you. Having a child of your own. I might not be a good mother, but I know you will be." She added as she gently hugged her daughter. Albert sneered at the sight before him. "I brought you here to help me talk sense out of her not join her with this idiotic decision of hers." He yelled at Thalia. Thalia gasped, then covered Latton's ears, "How could you say that? Victor might not be the best guy there is, but your decisions are not the best either, and why do you even hate him that much?" Albert smirked at them and hurriedly walked out of the room, "If I can't talk her out of it, I'll find someone who can." He said to himself. - Concurrently, Officer H. Gilberts had just spoken to his informant, "The heiress is back," he mumbles to Officer J. Peralta. "Do you think she will talk to us again? All of her family members lawyered up before we could even invite them." Officer J. Peralta mumbles in exhaustion. "She will because she wants to know who is behind it," Officer H. Gilberts remarked.