“Boss has been on edge lately. He said you’re not picking up his calls or returning his messages. Where are you, Morty?” Rhea asked over the phone.
“Home,” Morticia replied, munching on her popcorn as her eyes stayed glued to the movie playing on her screen.
“Home? I’m standing at your doorstep, Morty. Since when did you start lying to me?” Rhea asked, her tone sharp.
“I am home-Washington, with my family,” Morticia replied, her voice calm.
Rhea fell silent for a moment. “Really? Y-you finally went home?”
“Yeah. I missed them, so I decided to visit. I’ll be back in a few days.”
Another pause followed. If anyone could see through Morticia’s icy facade, it was Rhea.
“What’s wrong? What aren’t you telling me?” Rhea asked, her voice softening.
“Nothing, Rhea. Can’t I visit my family without being interrogated?”
“You worked so hard to make the team that Scarlett Holdings chose, and the moment you finally get in, you decide to leave? What happened, Morticia?” Rhea pressed.
“Nothing,” Morticia replied tersely.
“Fine. I’m coming over,” Rhea declared before abruptly hanging up.
“Gosh, she’s relentless,” Morticia muttered, tossing her phone aside. Turning her attention back to the screen, she sighed. “I need a beer,” she mumbled to herself and got up.
Her mother was at the store, and Vincent wasn’t back from work.
Morticia decided to drive to the nearest bar, but her stomach growled as she stepped outside.
“Food first,” she said, heading to a nearby restaurant instead.
After placing her order, she scanned the room for an empty seat but froze when her eyes landed on a familiar figure.
“Nica?” she whispered, stepping closer.
Hearing her name, Nica looked up, a baby cradled in her arms.
“Morticia,” Nica greeted warmly, her serene aura making her look even more radiant.
“How have you been?” Morticia asked, her gaze flitting between Nica and the child.
“I’m good. You?”
Morticia nodded. “Fine. Is that your baby?”
Nica chuckled softly. “Yes, he’s my son.”
Morticia laughed lightly. “Weird to say, but he looks so much like my brother.”
Nica’s smile faltered briefly but returned just as quickly. “Yes, he does,” she said, looking down at the boy. “He’s three now, and every day he looks more and more like Vincent.”
Morticia’s expression paled as Nica’s words sank in. “Is he…”
Nica nodded. “Is your brother home? I’ve decided to tell him.”
“Oh my God,” Morticia whispered, feeling the weight of the revelation.
_
Vincent got home late, his face stressed. The company he worked for had just secured a new contract, pushing every worker to their limits.
“Morty, you home?” Vincent called, knocking softly on Morticia’s door. He knocked again, but there was no reply. Finally, he opened the door to find the room empty.
He sighed. “Please don’t tell me she left without a word.” Glancing at his watch, he muttered, “Is Mom planning to sleep at the store again?”
He headed downstairs and stopped abruptly, spotting Morticia stepping inside.
“I thought you left…” His voice trailed off as he noticed the person entering behind her-Nica, and not just her, but with a baby in her arms.
Vincent froze, his eyes locking onto the child who bore an uncanny resemblance to him. His gaze shifted to Nica, who let out a small sigh.
“I need to talk to you,” she said softly.
After a while of listening to Nica explain everything, guilt began to rise in Vincent with every word she spoke. Especially when she revealed that she had tried to tell him about the baby the night he had hurled insults at her.
When Nica finished, she looked relieved, as though a heavy burden had been lifted. Meeting Vincent the other day, she’d seen the change in him and decided it was finally time to tell him about his son.
“What’s his name?” Vincent asked, his voice heavy with emotion.
“Evan, I named him after the man who stood by my side when the world was again me. He’s three years old, your son,” Nica replied calmly.
Vincent’s eyes filled with tears. “Can I hold him?”
Nica nodded, gently setting the boy on his feet.
“Go meet your Dada, Evan,” she said softly. The boy looked at Vincent curiously for a moment before toddling over.
The instant Vincent’s hands touched his son, tears rolled down his cheeks as he lifted him onto his lap.
“Hey,” he whispered, staring at the boy, who regarded him with wide eyes.
Evan turned to his mother. “Dada is crying.”
Nica’s eyes glistened with tears, but she held them back.
Evan looked back at Vincent and asked in a tiny voice, “Do you want a hug?”
Vincent nodded, and as the boy stretched out his arms, Vincent embraced him tightly.
“Dada,” Evan cooed, playing with Vincent’s hair.
Morticia stood quietly in the corner, watching the tender scene. Who would have thought her brother had been a father all this time?
Just then, Ava walked in, freezing at the sight before her.
–
Later, Morticia stepped outside for some fresh air, a contented smile on her face as she replayed the events in her mind.
Nica had left with Evan, promising to return the next day despite Ava and Vincent’s pleas for her to stay. Both had a lot of catching up to do, but Ava’s excitement about being a grandmother was priceless. She’d practically jumped for joy, a rare sight after so long.
Morticia’s phone rang, a strange number flashing on the screen. She hesitated before answering.
“Who is this?” she asked bluntly.
“Hi… uh, Miss Morty. It’s me, Nolan.”
A pang of disappointment hit her at the introduction.
“Hey, Nolan. Why did you call?” Her voice was flat.
“I was worried about you, Miss. You haven’t been at work, and everyone’s concerned. I’m sorry for calling like this…”
“How did you get my number?”
“Our group chat. Sorry, I was just worried about how you left that day,” Nolan admitted. He was part of the team that had accompanied her to the Scarlet Company.
“No, it’s fine. Thank you, Nolan,” Morticia replied, her tone softening.
“Right. Uhm…” Nolan hesitated. “I hope you’ll come back soon, Miss. I’d like to treat you to a meal to celebrate your success.”
“Hm… why does that sound like a date?”
“Uh… it sure does. Would you be okay with that?” Nolan said, surprising her with his boldness.
“Yeah, I’m fine with a date, Nolan.”
The call ended, and Morticia sighed.
“A date?”
She whipped her head around to see Klaus standing a short distance away.
Without a word, she turned and began walking back inside.
“Bunnie,” he called, running after her. “Bunnie, wait!” He reached out, but she yanked her arm free.
“Don’t call me that, and get the fuck out of here!” she snapped.
“I need to talk to you-”
“I don’t want to hear a word, Klaus. Leave now, or I’ll call the cops,” she warned.
“Bunnie-”
“Morticia,” she corrected sharply.
“Morticia, I’m sorry,” he said, his voice heavy with regret.
She scoffed, shaking her head in disbelief. “You did it on purpose, didn’t you? You knew I was the leader of that team, and you chose us just so you could deceive me again.”
“I never deceived you-”
“Then why did you leave?!” she shouted, her voice cracking.
“I wanted to protect you-”
“Protect me? Do you have any fucking idea what I’ve been through all these years? You did this to me, Klaus. You ruined me, beyond repair. Every day I craved for the pain to stop, cursing my heart for ever beating for a bastard like you. I felt stupid, pathetic, and broken. It’s over, Klaus. Just leave. Seeing you right now makes me sick.”
“Morticia…” He took a step toward her, but she immediately stepped back.
“Go away!” she yelled. “I’m not your refuge anymore.”
“I never meant those words. I left because-”
“I don’t care why. I don’t want you here. Leave, Klaus,” she croaked, tears streaming down her face.
She didn’t understand why he was here or why he seemed so desperate to talk. But she couldn’t let herself fall into that trap again.
As Klaus opened his mouth to speak, the door behind her swung open, and Vincent stepped out.
His eyes locked on Klaus, and his face darkened.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”