Epilogue.

Elaine
“Hey, Cherry.”
Two words. Two fucking words whispered sexily in my ears and I was close to exploding. It felt as though my body was on automated response to anything that had to do with him. I sat still, rigid as he pecked my left cheek, before turning to scoot a chair back to sit, his knees touching mine, his eyes lingering. Samson hugged Jess and waved at Ryan, before sitting down as well.
What the hell was happening?
“Hi,” I blurted out, at last, swallowing hard. He clasped my hands in his, the heat from his hands calming my goosebumps while making my pulse race. He stared at me intently, a mischievous smirk on his lips. The last time he looked at me this way was that night, right before I told him all about Finn. My eyes darted to Jess who seemed equally confused. Samson sat, all laid back, with his usual cold, domineering aura.
Oh, fudge.
“Why are you boys back early?” Jess finally asked, her face scrunched up in confusion. “Has the party ended? Ryan?”
Ryan shrugged. “I don’t think so. The party ends at dawn. You two done shagging those hot chicks on the dance floor?”
Max guffawed – that sort of rich, satisfying laugh I didn’t realize I’d missed so much – squeezing my hands even harder. I felt my body gravitate towards him helplessly, the sour butterflies of earlier throwing a pity party in my stomach.
“In your dreams, Ryan. I’ve only got eyes on one woman,” he swiped his tongue out to wet his bottom lip, making my toes curl. I whipped my eyes away, flushing scarlet in embarrassment. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go. If he thought he could still walk in here and seduce me, I’d prove him wrong.
“And I would rather go through mud than stay longer at that place. So boring,” Samson whined as he picked up Jess’ glass and poured himself some wine. “Besides, no one would ever look as good as you, baby,” he murmured, leaning into peck Jess softly.
“You two are so sweet,” I said with a smile, wiping off imaginary tears.
“We’ll be even sweeter. Right, Cherry?” Max beamed, wiggling his brows.
I frowned. “We? Since when?”
“What do you mean, since when? Hello? We’ve got a child together. A hot, brilliant son who takes after me in every sphere of life,”
“Sounds quite dictatorial, considering the fact that he’s only just five years old and doesn’t know what he wants for himself.”
“What more could he possibly want than to be rich, handsome, and successful as I am?” Max stuttered, surprised.
“You’re so fucking full of yourself, you know that?” I scoffed, rolling my eyes. He shrugged.
“Comes with being a Sturm.”
“Cheers,” Samson laughed, and they clinked their glasses together, Max’s eyes lingering on mine a little too long. I never imagined we’d be so amicable with each other once again. It was a good feeling. I loved it.
As Ryan, Samson, and Jess began whispering amongst themselves, I felt betrayed – being left to converse with Max. He sipped his wine slowly, his gaze sweeping down my black dress, to the shiny silver stiletto heels I had on. I clutched my necklace, feeling so self-conscious. “You don’t like the dress?”
He lifted his eyes, back to my face. “I never said that.”
“Then why do you keep staring at me? It’s uncomfortable, by the way.”
He set his glass down in front of him. “I just love what I see. You look so out of this world. A beautiful, dark angel,” he reached over to tuck my white camisole top back into the dress. My cheeks heated up, our proximity was unsettling, yet glorious. “Where’s my son?”
“Upstairs with his cousins, tucked in,” I blushed. “I sang him a lullaby to help him sleep since he kept asking for you.”
“My sweet little boy. Leave it to me, I’ll make it up to him in the morning. Take him out shopping.
“Remember, no expensive shopping else he’ll get spoilt.”
“Where do you get your rules from?” he snorted. “They’re worse than outdated.”
I flickered my eyes over at Jess who stared at us now as Samson whispered something into her ear. The corners of her lips pulled up into a suspicious smile – one that caught me off guard. What the hell was Samson telling her?
“You know, Cherry, I’m feeling a little more generous tonight. Why don’t we head out for dinner, just the both of us?”
“No, thank you,” I said in a rush, not even thinking about it. There was no way in hell that he was taking me anywhere else but here.
“It’s just dinner, Elaine.”
“I know. I’m not interested. Shove that money of yours up your arse.”
He watched me silently for a few minutes, his face contorted into a frown. I tried to crane my head, to catch a word or more of what Samson was telling Jess, but I wasn’t lucky enough.
“Alright, young lady,” he scooted his chair forward to me. “It’s time you start talking.”
“Talking?”
“Yeah.”
“What’s there to talk about, Max?”
“There’s everything to talk about, Cherry,” he lashed out in a low tone, putting a solid hand between my thighs. “For this past week, you’ve been evading the problem between us. You’ve been evading my proposals, hurting me beyond words. I’m not having that anymore, you hear me?”
“Max,” I shut my eyes. “What’s wrong with leaving things just as they are? I don’t want to talk to you. I don’t want to go anywhere with you.”
“Elaine, love,” I glanced up to see Jess and Ryan rising from their seat, a twinkle in their eyes. “I’ve got to go to bed with Samson right now.”
“Oh,” I turned to Ryan. “Where are you headed to?”
“Jake is calling,” he sighed, the deal circles below his eyes making them appear sunken. “He apologized and wants us to go on a date to celebrate our anniversary, just the both of us.”
“Is that what you want?” I asked cautiously.
He shrugged. “Honestly, Elaine? I don’t mind at all. I’m just glad I get to spend time with him that’s all,” he leaned down to kiss my left cheek softly. “Catch you later, sugar.”
“Goodbye, love,” I waved.
“I want a second chance,” Max declared the minute they all disappeared into the elevator, trailing light circles around my inner thighs.
I glared daggers at him. Was he being serious right now?
“I want you to forgive me for everything and give me another chance,” he leaned down, kissing my lips softly. “These weeks, being away from you… it kills me, Cherry. I want you so bad,”
I pull back in an instant. “Have you lost your mind? What do you even think you’re doing?”
“Kissing you, of course,” his eyes searched mine.
I shook my head, trying to wiggle out of his grasp. “Please stop.”
His face fell, and he let me go. “Why?”
“I don’t trust you. You’ve hurt me a lot, Max. This ain’t going to solve anything.”
“Please don’t do this to me,” he whispered, bringing the back of my palm up to his lips. I watched him kiss softly, rolling my eyes.
“Things don’t work this way. I’m not a puppet, who just switches on her feelings whenever she feels like it. Not after what you did. This shouldn’t even be a conversation.”
His eyes held mine as he struggled to process what I meant.
“There’s no room for forgiveness. The damage has already been done, and it’s not one that can be fixed. There’s no hope for us getting back together anymore. I tried to warn you back then but you didn’t listen. You let your rage blind you. Now, I’m sorry to say that I don’t have the same feelings as I used to before. I mean it,”
He lowered his eyes, close to crying. Feeling guilty, I squeezed his fingers.
“I’m so sorry, Elaine. I honestly thought I was doing the right thing. I thought I knew better,”
“It’s fine. I understand. But I just can’t be in a relationship with someone who doesn’t trust me as much as I trust them. After all, we’ve been through together, how could you believe I would be stupid enough to do drugs or sleep with another man? That hurt me the most because you were the last person I expected to believe that shit.”
“Elaine, I wasn’t thinking straight back then.”
“You also tried to take my son away from me, not minding the fact that he’d be traumatized by it. How long has he known you? One month, and me? His entire life. You were selfish with your actions. Outright selfish, and I’ve had it with you.”
He dropped his head in shame. “I’m sorry. Believe me, I am. If I could go back in time and right my wrongs, I would.”
“Well, you can’t. It’s too late for tears.” I said flatly.
He bit his lip, sighing. “Don’t do this to me.”
“It’s your boldness for me,” I chuckled bitterly. “Showing up out of the blue and demanding a second chance, and expecting me to cave like a fool. You don’t even know how absurd your request sounds. I’m sorry, Max, but you’ve got to understand how these things work out. You’re not a child anymore.”
He leaned back on his seat, his eyes furious. He wanted to fight back, I knew. But he was out of points. He was outright wrong. Or so I thought.
“You’re not a precious saint in this either, Elaine. You lied to me. You didn’t tell me about Finn.”
“Because I thought you wouldn’t believe me. And how right was I?! You conducted a paternity test the minute I told you about him.”
“It still does not change the fact that you lied to me first. You were trying to build our relationship based on deceit. And you refused to stop working, even after I paid your rent and offered to place you on an allowance. I almost got into jail. Because of you.”
I stayed silent, observing him.
He threw his hands up in the air. “What was I supposed to do? What was I supposed to think? All I did was protect Finn, and nothing else. Have you honestly taken out time to think that if he grew up and discovers that his mother was drugged once all because she refused to stay home and look after him? How would he feel?”
I frowned. I hadn’t realized this.
“Think about it, sweetheart. I did everything to protect our son’s future and you know it. I’m sorry I hurt you. I’m sorry I threw away our beautiful relationship, but now I want you back. I need you in my life, Elaine. Please. I can’t live without you. All this time apart, I’ve been completely miserable.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat, tears spilling onto my cheeks. He grabbed my hands.
“You’re the only woman I’ve been with for so long. I can’t stand the thought of you ending up with another man. It’ll kill me.”
My eyes searched his. I wanted to believe him. So bad. So much. I wanted to give him another trial.
“You had my heart first that night, Elaine. You’ve always had it. Always,”
I shut my eyes as my defenses crumbled. “Max,” I whispered, my lips wobbling, and my throat cracked. He pulled me forward, into his arms.
“I want a chance to make things right. I fucked up by not being there for you and Finn when you needed me the most. Especially when Finn was a baby. I know you’ve had it rough with the disappointment from your family and friends. You gave up your dreams to take care of my son. To give him a better life, and I appreciate you deeply for all you’ve done. He turned out well, better than ever, and I’m glad. No one could ever boast of a better mother. I’m proud.”
I couldn’t see him clearly enough, thanks to the tears blurring my vision. Oh God, what a speech. Life was so unfair.
“There’s no day that passes by that I don’t hate myself for not looking for you harder enough. I resent myself for letting you parent Finn all alone. For missing out on his childhood. I can’t get that time back no matter what, but now I’ve got the both of you here with me, I want to make it up to both of you. I mean it.”
“Max,” I breathed, flattening my palms on his chest. “With all that you’ve said, my word still stands. I can’t just jump back into a relationship with you. This ain’t no fairytale.”
“Then don’t. I don’t want you to.”
“Then what, Max? What do you want from me?”
“Your forgiveness. I want to be able to look into your eyes and not feel guilty. I need us to start again. Afresh.”
I considered his proposal for a few minutes. He leaned in slowly and kissed my cheek, lifting my chin up with a finger so our eyes could meet.
“It’ll be so unfair if I promise you anything right now. But I promise to try.”
“Your forgiveness is enough for me right now, Cherry. If we have nothing but friendship, then that’s fine. But I can’t stand you hating me. I just can’t.”
He squeezed my hands softly, his blue eyes crinkling with a sadness that matched the one in my heart. I managed a smile, resting my head on his chest. Everything was finally at a head at last. I didn’t know if I could ever forgive him fully for everything, but I was determined to try. Someday. The good part I was holding onto was the fact that at last we were both united like we were supposed to be. Like we were meant to be.
United for our son. United for our future, which burned brighter in the distance.
United at last.