Chapter 90
Mirabelle’s POV:
Not after everything I’d discovered. Twenty-four calls couldn’t erase the lies, the manipulation, or the damage he’d caused. Still, a strange unease settled over me as I put the phone down, shaking my head.
Ken’s name caught my eye again, and without thinking, I tapped his number. As the phone rang, I silently prayed he’d still be awake.
He picked up on the third ring. “Mirabelle?” His voice was groggy but alert.
“Hey.” I said, forcing a calm tone.
“Everything okay?” He asked quickly.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I just… I saw I missed your calls and thought I’d check in.”
Ken let out a soft sigh. “I wasn’t sure if you’d call back. I didn’t want to bother you, but I couldn’t sleep without apologizing.”
“Apologizing?” I frowned. “For what?”
“For earlier.” He said, his voice filled with regret. “I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable when you came over. That wasn’t my intention at all.”
“Ken…”
“Let me finish.” He interrupted gently. “The reason I brought you over wasn’t to take advantage of how vulnerable you were. I wanted to help, Mirabelle. I care about you. I always have. But…” He hesitated, the words caught in his throat. “I let my emotions get the better of me. And for that, I’m sorry.”
I was silent for a moment, letting his words sink in.
“Ken, I’m not upset.” I said finally. “I was just… surprised. I didn’t know how to handle everything. It wasn’t your fault.”
There was a pause on the line, and then he said softly. “You’ve been through so much, Belle. I hate seeing you like this. You deserve better.”
Something in his tone made my chest ache, but I pushed the feeling aside. “Ken, I… I don’t know what to do anymore.” I admitted. My voice was small, the vulnerability cracking through despite my best efforts.
“Start by letting go.” He said gently. “You’ve spent so much time trying to hold onto what you’ve lost-your company, your reputation. It’s time to focus on what you can rebuild. You’re stronger than this, Mirabelle. I know you are.”
His words stirred something inside me, a faint spark of hope. “You make it sound so easy.” I muttered.
“It’s not easy.” He said firmly. “But you’re not alone in this. You’ve got people who care about you-me included.”
I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. “Ken…”
“Yeah?”
I hesitated, the question hovering on the tip of my tongue. I didn’t know why I was asking it-maybe I needed to hear it, or maybe I just needed clarity.
“Do you still love me?”
The line went silent for a moment, and I held my breath.
“Yes.” He said finally, his voice steady. “I never stopped.”
His confession hit me like a wave, and for a moment, I didn’t know how to respond.
“Ken…” I started, but he cut me off.
“I’m not saying that to pressure you.” He said quickly. “I just wanted you to know. You deserve to know.”
The weight of his words settled over me, and for the first time in a long time, I felt something close to comfort. “Thank you.” I whispered.
We talked for a while longer, the conversation lighter now. He told me about his day, his plans for the future, and how he thought I could grow my company back to something even greater than before. His optimism was contagious, and for the first time that day, I felt a sliver of hope.
By the time we ended the call, I was exhausted but lighter. Just as I set my phone and laptop aside, ready to finally try for sleep, a soft knock echoed at my door. I frowned, glancing at the clock-it was well past midnight. The knock came again, timid yet persistent.
Pushing myself up from the bed, I crossed the room and opened the door.
“Mika?” I whispered, surprised to her standing there, her tiny frame trembling, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Mommy.” she whimpered, her voice shaky as she clutched her stuffed bunny to her chest.
“Sweetheart, what’s wrong?” I crouched down to her level, brushing a strand of her hair out of her tear-streaked face.
“I had a bad dream.” She sniffled. “A really, really bad one.”
My heart clenched as I gathered her in my arms, feeling her little body shake. “Oh, baby, it’s okay. Mommy’s here. Do you want to tell me about it?”
She nodded against my shoulder, her voice muffled as she began to speak. “You… you took me and Tyler and Skyler far away, and we couldn’t see Daddy anymore. He was crying and calling for us, but you didn’t stop.”
I froze for a moment, her words cutting deeper than they should have.
“Mika…” I whispered, my voice breaking slightly. I held her tighter, closing my eyes against the sting of tears. “Mommy would never want to make you sad like that, my love.”
“Why did you take us away in the dream, Mommy?” She asked, her wide, innocent eyes looking up at me, searching for answers.
I forced a smile. “It was just a dream, baby. Dreams aren’t real. You know that, right?”
“But it felt real.” She insisted, her lip pouting.
I kissed the top of her head and stood, carrying her to my bed. “Let’s get you back to bed, okay? I’ll stay with you until you fall asleep.”
We reached the bed, and I gently tucked her in, smoothing the blankets over her. She still looked at me with those big, questioning eyes, and I knew I had to ease her mind.
“How about a story?” I asked softly, sitting beside her.
She nodded, her tears slowing. “Okay… but a happy one, please.”
“Of course.” I smiled, stroking her hair. “Once upon a time, there was a little bunny named Lily. Lily was very brave, but sometimes, she felt scared, just like you did tonight. One day, Lily got lost in the big forest, but she wasn’t alone. She had her family-her brothers, her mommy, and even her daddy-who loved her so much that they searched high and low to find her. They never stopped looking because family always sticks together.”
Mika’s eyes began to droop as I continued the story, her breathing slowing into a steady rhythm. By the time Lily the bunny was safe and sound back home, Mika was fast asleep, her hand clutching her stuffed bunny.
I kissed her forehead gently and whispered. “Sweet dreams, my love.”
As I sat there for a moment, watching her peaceful face, her words from earlier echoed in my mind: You took us away from Daddy.
The timing was almost cruel, as if her innocent dream was some twisted manifestation of what I’d uncovered about Noah. My chest tightened, and I had to take a deep breath to keep the rising emotions at bay.
Quietly, I stood and made my way back to my side of the bed. As I settled into my bed, the weight of everything pressed down on me again. I quickly turned off the bedside lamp and stared up at the ceiling in the dark.
A question formed in my mind. “Will this marriage ever be the same?” I whispered to myself, as I drifted off to sleep.