Chapter 6: The Truth

“CAN YOU DRIVE?” he asked, looking into my eyes. “Or do you want me to take you home?” His gaze was deep—too deep. I felt like if I stared too long he’d read right through me.

“N-No need.” I stammered. “Thank you, Mr. Velasquez.”

I quickly opened my car door and got in.

I glanced at him. He was on his phone now, his expression serious again. Then he walked toward my window. I lowered it.

“Take care.” he said simply.

I nodded, unable to speak.

Sh*t…Sh*t…this is so wrong.

I can’t feel this way towards him anymore.

He’s already moved on, Yvonne!

This is all an act. Don't believe him!

I HAVE no idea how I got home safe after everything that happened.

I still can’t believe how Desmond treated me—like he was the man I used to know.

No.

Yvonne this is wrong.

You moved on… right?

As I opened the door to our house, the soft click of the lock echoed. I thought Nick left but he was at the bar counter, his back slightly hunched, a glass of beer in his hand.

“He’s asleep. Ally’s with him.” he said without looking up.

I nodded, too tired to speak. My legs carried me to the stool beside him , and I sank into it, resting my head on my folded arms on the table.

The day had drained every ounce of strength from me. I felt hollow—exhausted.

I closed my eyes, trying to make sense of it all.

I still can’t believe that after five long years I saw him again—our path crossed again.

After all that I’ve been through, why do I still feel this way—just because of his presence, his touch?

I can’t feel this way anymore…

I lifted my head, poured beer into the glass in front of me, and drank it all in one go.

The bitterness burned my throat. Making me suddenly remember that not only did Desmond act so strange tonight.

Desmond’s mother and Samantha…they seemed suspicious.

They react differently every time Desmond and I talk, like they were afraid of something—like they knew something I didn’t.

But what I can’t believe is that the people I trusted—Nick and Ally acted the same.

Like they were hiding something from me.

I sat up slowly and reached for the beer. I poured on my glass again. Nick’s eyes were on me—observing my every move. I could feel the weight of everything he wanted to say, hovering in the space between us.

I knew that he wouldn't forget what we talked about earlier.

The way I caught him opened his mouth, then closed it again—he’s hesitant to speak to me.

“Explain everything, Nick. Please don’t hide anything from me this time.” I said softly—almost pleading. I don't need lies and secrets anymore. I want to know the truth.

“I’m sorry.” he said sincerely while looking at me in my eyes. “I need to do that to protect you.” he added but I didn’t react, but those two words—they cut deeper in my chest than I expected. My chest tightened.

Before Nick continued, Ally appeared. She sat beside me and leaned in to press a gentle kiss to my cheek.

“Your son is asleep.” she said softly.

“Thank you.” I tried to smile, but it faltered. The emotions I had been holding—confusion, fear, and disappointment—they were all in my eyes… I knew she could see through me.

“You knew about this too, right?” I asked her. She simply nodded, making me feel—betrayed and lost.

“Tell me.” I said with my voice that started trembling. “What happened after I left? Why do you act this way? Why do I feel like there is something that I should know but you didn’t tell me?”

Nick looked hesitant as he looked at Ally and me. Ally sighed. “After you left…he remembered.”

I felt like everything stopped. I froze.

My heart skipped a beat.

I turned to him, tears already gathering in my eyes.

He remembered—Desmond remembered.

THE WEIGHT of those two words crashed into me. My throat felt dry, and I couldn’t speak. Tears slipped down my cheeks silently. I didn’t want to cry—I didn’t want to wake Yandrich—but I felt like every emotion that I buried a long time ago was flooding back.

How I almost begged Desmond before to remember me again—remember us.

Ally wrapped her arms around me without saying a word. I leaned into her, letting myself pour every emotion that flooded back.

“I’m sorry, Yvonne.” she whispered.

I pulled away and stood up, facing them.

I looked from her to Nick. My voice rose. “You knew how much I wanted him to remember—how much I prayed for it! So, why? Why did you keep this from me?” Anger and betrayal spilling out of me. My finger trembled as I pointed at them.

I know I shouldn't have reacted this way but my mind is blank and I can't think straight. I need to let these emotions go or else I’ll burst.

“Because after he remembered…he forgot the recent memories he had.” Nick said.

“W-What? I-I can’t understand? H-How?” My voice cracked.

“He couldn’t remember the time he spent with you—after you got married. He doesn’t know that you were once married. He forgot.” Ally added quietly.

I was stunned.

I sat down slowly, my legs could no longer carry the weight of what I just heard.

Nick took a deep breath. “When he remembered you…he tried to find you.” I broke down, crying so hard. I felt like my heart was shattering into pieces.

“He searched everywhere. But then—he got into an accident. He was in a coma for three months.” Nick continued.

I couldn’t understand any of the words he’s saying clearly—but my heart did, making my tears fall nonstop.

“We’re so sorry, Yvonne.” Ally added “We weren't able to tell him where you are…the accident was kept private by his family. We only found out a month before you gave birth to Yandrich.”

I couldn’t find the right words to say.

I just sat there, blank.

The truth echoed in my head. I didn't even notice that Nick and Ally were sitting beside me.

“Your pregnancy was delicate.” Nick said softly, holding my hands and caressing it gently.

"We didn’t know what the news would do to you and Yandrich so we didn’t tell you anything. After all you’d been through…we just didn’t want to put you through more.”

Nick’s voice cracked slightly.

“And by the time we felt ready to tell you, we found out he and Samantha is already married—that she was already pregnant. We didn’t want to drag you back into the pain.”

“You’d already suffered enough, Yvonne.” Ally whispered while still hugging me. “We just wanted to protect you.”

I sat there in silence.

My body was still, but my mind kept on trying to absurd everything.

He remembered me.

That’s why he looked at me that way earlier.

But…

Why?

Why did he still choose her?

Why didn’t he wait for me—for us?