Chapter 81
Irene’s POV:
Damien sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Irene, you know I love and trust you. But this isn’t you. I don’t know what’s going on with you, but this isn’t right. Eva shouldn’t be discarded like that. Where would she go? Which other family can she run to? Let’s not half–ass this favor we are doing. And if there’s really something, just tell me. You know I am always on your side.” He said and I melted, but still filled with frustration
Damien wasn’t on my side. He was on Eva’s side.
My heart sank, and I looked away, feeling defeated. There was no convincing him, not without the truth. But for now, that truth was too dangerous to reveal.
“Excuse me. I have to go check on my son,” I said and excused myself, leaving Damien alone in the kitchen. I would have tried to talk to him about it again, but I know this is a decision and I can’t risk anything.
–
So I just had to do what a mother should do protect my son
I left the kitchen with a heart heavy filled with frustration and a sinking feeling of betrayal. Damien didn’t get it. He couldn’t get it, not with the limited information I’d given him, but I couldn’t tell him the whole truth. Not yet. Not until I was sure I could protect myself and more importantly, my son–from Eva’s manipulation. Her lies had poisoned this house, tainted the walls, and turned it into a place where I no longer felt safe.
And if Damien refused to see that, then I had no choice but to protect our son alone even though he doesn’t know that Charlie is truly his son.
I headed upstairs, my mind racing. I found my son, Charlie, sleeping quietly in his room, his toys spread out across the floor. The sight of him, so innocent and unaware of the storm brewing around him, made my chest tighten. I knelt beside his bed, smoothing a hand over his soft curls.
I shot Delores a quick text, briefly explaining things to her. And telling her my plan. She responded immediately that she
was in on it
He woke up and looked at me, his cute eyes bright and trusting, and my heart ached.
“Mommy, are you okay?” he asked, his voice full of concern. Even as a little boy, he could tell that I was troubled.
I forced a smile, trying to keep the tears at bay. “I’m fine, sweetie. We’re going to go on a little trip, okay? Just you, me, and Aunt Delores.”
Charlie’s face lit up. “A trip? Where are we going?”
“Someplace safe,” I said softly, pulling him into a hug. “Someplace where we can have fun and relax.”
I wasn’t sure where we were going yet, but I knew we had to leave. Eva’s hold on this house was too strong, and I couldn’t let her tactics get to my son. That was such a huge luxury I couldn’t afford.
After some hours, I pulled out my phone and texted Delores, “It’s time. Have they all slept?”
She responded almost immediately. “Yes. The car is ready”
I sighed in relief. Delores had always been my rock, the one person who never doubted me, who saw things for what they were. She had her own reservations about Eva from the start, and though she hadn’t said much, I could see it in her eyes. She knew something was wrong, even if she couldn’t put her finger on it.
Fifteen minutes later, I met Delores at the door, ushering her in quietly so Damien wouldn’t hear. She gave me a knowing look, and without a word, we started gathering Charlie’s things. Clothes, toys, essentials. I packed quickly, trying to stay calm.
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Chapter 81
but
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hands trembled as Ishoved items into the suitcase,
This felt wrong–leaving without telling Damien, sneaking away in the night like fugitives, But it was the only way I could protect Charlie.
“You’re doing the right thing, Irene. You can’t stay here anymore, not with her in the house.” Delores placed a hand on my arm, her voice soft but firm
I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. I just wish Damien could see it.”
“He will, eventually,” Delores said. “But right now, you need to focus on Charlie. You’re his mother. You’re doing what’s best for him. The situation has gotten dangerous, Charlie can’t be here when there’s a gun and a deranged woman.” She said in a hushed tone.
I nodded again, blinking back tears. I wanted to believe her, but it felt like I was abandoning Damien, leaving him behind in the clutches of Eva’s lies. He had once been suspicious of her, but somehow, she had wormed her way into his trust. Now, he saw her as a victim, someone to be protected. He didn’t see the monster lurking beneath the facade she was putting on.
Once everything was packed. I took a deep breath and walked to where Charlie was sitting on the floor clutching his favorite stuffed animal–a lion with a missing eye.
“Ready to go, buddy!” I asked, trying to keep my voice light
He nodded, jumping up and grabbing my hand. “Is my Superhero coming!
My heart squeezed at his innocent question. “Not right now, sweetie, It’s just going to be us and Aunt Delores for a while. But we’ll see Damien soon, okay?” I forced a smile.
little
Charlie nodded, though I could see the confusion in his eyes. I kissed his forehead and we sneakily walked out of the house.
with Delores.
We slipped out quietly, careful not to make any noise. I didn’t want Damien to know. If he found out we were leaving, he’d try to stop us, try to convince me to stay, and I wasn’t strong enough to fight him on this. Not with everything else weighing me down
Delores had my car parked out front, and we loaded our things into the trunk. I buckled Charlie into his car seat, his sleepy eyes already starting to drop. He was tired, oblivious to the tension swirling around us.
1 glanced back at the house one last time, my stomach twisting with guilt. I didn’t want to leave Damien behind. I love him. but I couldn’t stay. Not with Eva still there.
Delores climbed into the driver’s seat, and I slid into the passenger side. The car hummed to life, and we pulled away from the house. As we drove, the weight of the decision I had made pressed down on me, heavy and suffocating.
I stared out the window, watching the familiar streets blur past. I had no idea where we were going, but Delores had already mentioned a cabin her family friend in the city–owned out by the lake in the outskirts of the city. It was remote, isolated- far away from Eva and all her lies.
“Irene,” Delores said quietly, her voice cutting through the silence. “You did what you had to do. Don’t feel guilty.”
I nodded, though I wasn’t sure I believed her, “I just… I wish I could have made Damien see.”
“He’ll figure it out,” Delores said, her tone reassuring. “He’s smart. He’ll start to see the cracks, just like you did. But right now, he’s too close. Sometimes, people have to learn the hard way. And I believe Eva will mess up. Everyone will get to see
her true colors soon!
I swallowed hard, my hands trembling in my lap. I wasn’t sure if Damien would ever see it. Eva had gotten to him, twisted things in a way that made him believe she was the victim, that she was the one in need of protection. And until he saw the truth, I couldn’t be there, I couldn’t risk it.
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For now. Thad to disappear. To protect Charlie I had to get as farnway from Eva’s influence as
As we drove deeper into the night, I felt a strange sense of both relief and fear. Relief because I was finally taking action, doing what needed to be done to keep my son safe, and fear because I was leaving behind everything I knew–my home, my husband, the life we were just building together brick by brick.
Eva really had to come to break a happy home, once again.
Hours passed, and eventually, we arrived at the cabin. It was small, secluded, nestled in the woods by the lake. The
moonlight reflected off the water, casting a silvery glow over the trees. It was peaceful, and quiet–the kind of place where I could finally breathe.
Delores helped me get Charlie settled inside. He was already fast asleep, oblivious to the chaos swirling around him. Once he was tucked in. I collapsed onto the couch, the weight of the day crashing down on me,
“Irene. Delores said softly, sitting down beside me. “You’re safe bere. You and Charlie. You don’t have to worry for now.”
I nodded, though the worry was still gnawing at me. I had left Damien behind, and I had no idea what Eva would do next. But for now, at least, we were safe.
“I just hope Damien will be okay,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.
“He’ll be fine.” Delores said, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “He’s stronger than you think. Lenora too will be
I leaned back, closing my eyes, trying to push the worry from my mind. For now, I had to focus on Charlie. On keeping him safe. That was all that mattered.
And as I sat there in the quiet of the cabin, I made a silent vow: I would never let Eva hurt my son. No matter
