I heard Cora's voice rise from the other room and felt my heart ached. When she came back, she stood with full strength. "He's on his way."
"I'll get going. You two should talk alone."
I hugged Marie before she left the house and I went to the kitchen. I pulled out the envelope hidden in a drawer and brought it to the living room. Cora watched me quietly as I sat down on the single person chair.
"Once he's here, I'll go upstairs and take care of Addie. I can also get the twins if it takes long."
I nodded but did not look up to her. I placed the ring on the table along with the envelope and took a few deep breaths.
I was startled when the front door was suddenly opened and quick footsteps came our way. Jayden bent over as he tried to catch his breath while looking toward me. He looked up to Cora, "thanks for the call." Jayden came over and sat on the couch, at the end near the chair I was in. He tried to take my hand in his, but I put it in my lap. His eyes glanced to the table and locked on the ring, "did it fall off?"
I shook my head and looked away.
"You took it off?" I nodded and he sighed, "to piss me off?"
I didn't look up, even though he growled his last remark. "I don't think it's right for me to have it right now."
"And you were planning to bolt?"
"No, I planned to take the kids to a nearby hotel until we figure things out. I don't want them to see us fighting or avoiding each other."
"Then let's stop fighting."
I whipped my head up to meet his gaze with anger. "Its not that easy, Jay! I'm seriously wondering if we should be engaged! Or even together!"
"We just got engaged and just had a vacation together! What have I done that's so bad?! I'm sorry I didn't call! I said that already!"
My body began shaking and I looked to my lap again. "A lot happened while you were gone and I needed you, more than just for that call."
"Like what?"
I sighed deeply, "I recieved this envelope right after we came back from our trip. Right before you left for your trip, so we didn't get a chance to talk about it. I was hesitant to open it, but became curious."
"Why would you be hesitant?"
"It was from Asher."
He shot to his feet and my body rattled. "You're in contact with him?! Are you cheating on me?!"
I shook my head agressively, "I have not had contact with him since Hunter's surgery." I squeezed my hands together, "I thought it might be some of my stuff he hadn't given back yet or a letter saying he had moved on." I looked up to Jayden's twisted face, "I hoped whatever was in it would finally cut ties with all of them. Or at least something to help me get over my guilt for hurting him."
Jayden grabbed the folder and pulled it open. He dumped the contents onto the table and stared at them with shock.
"I found out later that Elijah had Asher send this. Elijah knew I wouldn't open anything from him, so he went through Asher."
I looked to Jayden and saw his face still showed shock and he was turning pale. I stood up and kneeled by the table. I put the pictures in order of their dates before looking to him again.
"What are these Jay?" I asked in a whisper, "he wants me to think you're cheating, but don't think you would do that." He sat in silence and just stared at them. I picked up the photo of the woman Alpha with the ring on. "He said that you are engaged with this female Alpha. That you are cheating on me, just as your father did to Elijah's mom. He thinks that I will be cast aside since I might be bad for your image." Jayden looked to the photo I held like it was a nightmare. "It must be a misunderstanding and I told him you would never do that to me, to us."
Jayden gulped before sighing and rubbing the back of his neck, "it's hard to explain."
"Why?"
He looked to me with sorrow, "my parents chose her to be my mate." I felt my heart stop. "Jenny is a family friend and knows our situation. She is acting as my fiance for events that my parents go to."
My body loosened, "I wish you had told me this before I had to find out from someone else." He looked to his lap, "but your family knows I'm you're destined partner. They said they did when I went to that party with Elijah. So they're okay with me, even though I'm a male Omega, right?"
Jayden gave me a sad smile, "I was afraid you wouldn't believe me. I was afraid to say it because I didn't want to worry you."
"Does your family know about our engagement?"
He looked away and shook his head, "they do not want to recognize you as someone I will marry. When I pressed them about it, they said I could support you and the kids financially but I must marry Jenny."
"So they want you to marry her and not me?" He nodded, "have you told them that you want to marry me and let us be a family?"
"They wouldn't understand, Will."
"So...you plan to marry her?"
He sighed deeply, "I don't know."
I choked up and began to shake. "So you've been playing me this whole time?! Why?! I was fine with us being co-parents, but you wanted us to be a couple!"
"Its not that easy, Will!" Jayden insisted. "I want to be with you and the kids, but I have an image I have to keep! My dad wants me to take over the company by the end of the year. That's why he has me going on so many trips, so I can be prepared."
I chuckled as I began to cry, "an image. An image...that is what is important." I looked to his upset gaze, "so this is just a game to you? Getting my hopes up and then telling me I'm not the one you're going to be with?"
Jayden shook his head as he took my hand, "I want to be with you and the kids! More than anything, I want you! I love you!"
"Jayden....tell me the truth. Do you love her too?"