Chapter 5

"Where is Elaine, Cannon?" Mary thought of asking him first. Bella had told her already that Elaine had left with her bags packed but she still thought Cannon might have known she had gone where to.

Even if Cannon didn't go, she would go to her to ask forgiveness. Not just because of her guilt towards her but on behalf of Cannon also. She didn't know Aiden was plotting all this and Cannon was using her.

"Why are you asking me!" Cannon scoffed. His patience was getting thin already. "You must have known where she is. After all, she is a part of you all."

Mary closed her eyes trying to get control over her restlessness, "Cannon, I am asking you where Elaine is?"

Cannon stood there staring at her. Getting no response from him, Mary opened her eyes, "You didn't do anything to her, right?"

Cannon knitted his brows in confusion hearing Mary but didn't utter anything as he thought in mind what that was supposed to mean.

"Elaine didn't do anything deliberately, Cannon. She never wanted to marry you. When Evana disappeared if anyone was truly concerned for you, that was Elaine. She tried her utmost, even begged us to talk to you without doing all this. We forced her to get married to you. Her family and we forced her until she couldn't refuse anymore."

Cannon stood there dumbfounded. Wrinkles formed on his forehead as he frowned at her in utter disbelief. He took a step to Mary as he read her face closely.

"Are you in your right mind? What are you talking about? You're giving me chills here." Cannon scowled, wanting her to say that she was just joking or tried to read something on her face that would confirm his thought.

But nothing, as he expected, seemed to be coming to his way. There was seriousness and guilt to be flashing on Mary's face. Cannon didn't know why he was believing her words already when he knew he shouldn't. His mother had always lied to him. Her every promise to him was nothing but a lie. This should be one also like always.

Mary continued stupefying Cannon. "It's the truth, Cannon. Elaine is innocent in this whole situation. She signed the legal papers and stood as a replacement for Evana under our pressure. She didn't do anything willingly. We used her for our own selfish reasons."

When Cannon got, it was nothing but the bitter truth, he was enraged. "To get Aiden, your son has the leading position of the Elite Panel!"

His heart squeezed in his chest at her words. Blood drained from his face as he yelled at her, "I just can't believe this. You two considered Aiden as your only child and made me live like an orphan. Still, I never complained. When you two came for me for the first time after ages, I forgot everything you two did to me. But, I didn't know you would be that cruel!"

Mary didn't have any idea about Aiden's planning all this for the Elite Panel. All she tried was to get someone by Cannon's side. When she saw Elaine concerned about Cannon, she immediately decided that someone could be Elaine.

She knew Cannon wasn't going to believe her but still she said, "I didn't know about Elite Panel. I knew you would be shattered after getting betrayed like this. So I just thought of making a person stay by your side. Elaine endured the punishment silently when she also suffered like you. We were the ones who dragged her into this mishap." Mary admitted guiltily getting Cannon out of his thought.

"You know why we made Elaine marry you forcefully in the first place? Because we were angry with Evana for leaving you hurt and with her family to let it happen. If you would have gotten to know it, then you would have been shattered and hurt yourself. We got Elaine to get you to divert your mind and hang on there even if takes Elaine to get hurt. She tried her best to stop us, to make us talk to you but we cared the least. But when Elaine really stood with you for every drama you created, her sincerity was there in her eyes. She never said she loves you, Cannon but she proved her love for you."

Cannon voiced out in disbelief, "Just ridiculous! You didn't even think twice before using an innocent person. You made me a sinner too with yourself."

"I know we did wrong. I know I am just a failure as a mother. But you? I thought you will get to know by yourself who was being sincere with you. How many times did I try to talk to you, Cannon? But you never let me."

"So, you are saying I am the only one to be blamed in all this. Yeah, that's right. Do you know what's my biggest sin? To be even born."

"Cannon, liste.." Mary tried to say something more but he interrupted, "Enough. I can't listen to you anymore. Just leave me alone."

The reality was hurting him. He was enraged and remorseful at the same time. He remembered how they planted the seed of doubt in his head about Elaine and his mind automatically pictured her that way.

His father's word got ringing in his mind.

She said she loves you and she will handle it.

He saw her handshaking with Aiden smilingly at their wedding reception party that was too away from everyone. Aiden would do anything good or even wish something good for him was out of the question and that thing turned into his doubts into beliefs though he didn't find anything against her checking on her background.

Cannon could feel, Mary still didn't leave rather saying something to him. But nothing was going through him. He was drowning in his own dismay and regrets that he couldn't continue to argue with her anymore. Besides, it was useless, the irreparable damage was already done now.

Elaine did everything to prove her sincerity and innocence but he was blinded by his anger. He always felt infuriated about the whole marriage situation because it was unwanted. He had never done anything to get trapped into this muddle.

He didn't get himself to think about what is right, what is wrong. All he went on doing was what his angry and infuriated self suggested to him. His hostile behavior, forceful decisions, and false accusations towards Elaine got crossing his mind.

Her despaired eyes every time she tried to make him believe in her flashed in front of him.

I didn't do anything intentionally, Cannon. I was forced. Elaine's voice echoed in his mind.

He sat on the edge of his bed and grabbed his temples as old, bitter memories gave him a throbbing headache dropping the legal documents on the floor.

The title written on the document caught Mary's attention. She picked up the document and turned to him, "Cannon?"

Cannon was in no mood to listen to her anymore. He got up immediately and left from there. Getting out of his apartment, he walked to his car. Getting in, he revved the car into life and drove away. He couldn't believe he also turned out to be a person showing unnecessary power or control, dominance, arrogance that even on a female when all his life he followed all the principles that defined a gentleman.

He was so remorseful that he literally wanted to go on his knees and seek her forgiveness. But then a mere apology wasn't going to undo the things worse he didn't even can change anything. This thought made his grip on the wheel tightening as he pressed on the accelerator.

He wasn't ready to face her now let alone ask forgiveness. He didn't know how long or how far he drove until another thought crossed his mind only to get him stopped the car with a jerk.

Memories from last night played in his mind and Elaine's voice echoed. "I am pregnant." "You are the father."

He remembered the way Elaine look at him when said all those words refusing to believe her. Even if he was feeling guilty realizing his ill-treatment towards her but still he couldn't believe her on this matter. This just wasn't possible. He thought to himself.

He again tried to remember the questionable night but the result was the same. After particular things, it was all blank, and Elaine's words from the very next day that she slept early that night and didn't even know when he got back home. Then?

Whatever it was, he needed to talk to her. With this thought, he drove his way back to his apartment. But what he didn't know was Elaine was already out of his reach.......