The air in the room was thick with tension, and Rachel's heart pounded in her chest. Arnold's words rang through her mind like an unrelenting drumbeat, each one louder and more demanding than the last. Ethan deserves to know the truth. I won't let this go. Arnold's determination was evident in his eyes, his posture unwavering as he stood just a few feet away, as if his mere presence in the room was a challenge Rachel couldn't ignore.
But what did he want from her? Rachel had spent so many years trying to build a life that made sense, a life where Ethan could grow up safe and secure, with everything he needed. She had put her past with Arnold behind her, had buried the memories of their time together, of the love they had shared, because it was easier than confronting the complexities of their history. But now, Arnold was here, forcing her to face everything she had tried to escape.
"Please, Arnold…" Rachel whispered, her voice trembling. She tried to steady herself, to keep her composure, but it was impossible. The emotions were too raw, too powerful, and she was no longer sure where the truth ended and the lies began.
"Rachel, I'm not here to make things more complicated," Arnold said, his voice softening. He took a step toward her, his presence overwhelming in its intensity. "I'm here to fix things. For Ethan. For you. For us. I won't leave until we figure this out."
Rachel shook her head, stepping back slightly, as if putting space between them would somehow make the situation easier to navigate. "We can't just fix this, Arnold. It's not that simple."
He frowned, frustration creeping into his tone. "Why is it never simple with us? Why is it always so damn complicated?" He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You and I, Rachel, we've always been complicated, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. We can't keep pretending that nothing ever happened, that everything is fine when it's not."
Rachel closed her eyes for a moment, her mind reeling. Her heart ached for the man standing in front of her, the man she had once loved so deeply, the man who still made her feel something she didn't want to acknowledge. But she had to think about Ethan. She had to think about the life they had now, and the life Arnold wanted to bring into question.
The soft sound of footsteps behind her made her turn around, and she saw Ethan standing in the doorway, watching them both with a curious expression. He hadn't gone to bed after all.
"Mama, what's going on?" Ethan's voice was hesitant, his small hands gripping the doorframe for support. "Why is Arnold here?"
Rachel's heart stopped. She hadn't meant for him to hear any of this. She hadn't meant for Ethan to be dragged into this mess, but now there was no turning back.
She swallowed hard, trying to find the right words. "Ethan, honey, we're just—"
But Arnold stepped forward, his expression softening as he looked at the boy who had been kept in the dark for far too long. "Ethan," Arnold said gently, his voice full of warmth. "I'm your biological father."
The words hit Rachel like a physical blow. She froze, her eyes wide with shock. Arnold had never said those words aloud—not like this, not so directly, not so boldly. She had always assumed they would find a way to protect Ethan from the truth, to keep him safe from the complexities of their past, but now… now Arnold had taken that decision out of her hands.
Ethan stared at Arnold, his small face creased in confusion. "What… what do you mean? You're my real dad?"
Rachel opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Arnold, sensing her hesitation, crouched down to Ethan's level, his tone kind but firm. "Yes, Ethan. I'm your father. I know this might be a lot to take in, but it's the truth. I've always been your father, even though you didn't know it."
Ethan looked from Arnold to Rachel, his eyes searching for answers. "But why didn't you ever tell me?" he asked, his voice small but filled with hurt. "Why didn't you ever tell me I had a dad? Why was I the only kid without one?"
Rachel's heart shattered as she watched the confusion and pain on her son's face. She had kept this from him, kept him in the dark, and now he was paying the price for her choices.
"I'm sorry, Ethan," Rachel whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I should've told you sooner. I didn't want to hurt you. I didn't want to mess things up."
Ethan's eyes welled up with tears as he looked at Arnold. "But I don't understand. Why was I with Andrew then? Why didn't he tell me the truth? Why did he tell me that I wasn't yours?" His voice wavered, and Rachel's heart broke all over again. She had never realized how much Ethan had been struggling with the lies, with the confusion.
Arnold took a deep breath and stood up, his expression serious. "Andrew has his reasons for what he's done, Ethan. But I want you to know that I'm here now. And I'm not going anywhere. We can't change the past, but we can make the future better."
Ethan wiped his eyes, a mixture of confusion and relief crossing his face. "So, what happens now?"
Rachel glanced at Arnold, her mind spinning. This wasn't how she had imagined this moment. She had always hoped that things would stay simple, that she could keep Ethan's world stable, even if it meant keeping him away from the truth. But now, with Arnold standing here, Ethan finally seeing him for the father he was, Rachel knew that things would never be the same again.
"I don't know," Rachel whispered, her voice filled with uncertainty. "I don't know what happens now."
---
Cliffhanger: Just as Rachel was about to speak again, the sound of a car screeching to a halt outside the house made both her and Arnold freeze. The unmistakable sound of a car door slamming shut followed, and the faint sound of voices arguing filled the air. Rachel's heart skipped a beat. Was it Andrew?
The door swung open, and a familiar figure stormed into the room—Andrew, his face twisted with anger.
"I need to talk to you," Andrew spat, his eyes flicking between Rachel and Arnold. "Now."