"You had only a simple task..."
There she is, a very pregnant Amanda. She's still not too big but showing.
"Why you got back, Amanda?"
I knew this day would come soon or late, but I know Amanda very well. She's not back without a reason.
"What do you mean? This is my home."
"Don't play dumb, we both know you don't care at all about the home or anything besides yourself. Why now?"
"Are you not tired of this roleplay? Maybe my little two-good-shoe sister enjoyed too much living like the rich."
I had enough of Amanda's mind games, I want answers.
"Drop it, Amanda. What do you want? I know you're not back for the love of your family."
"I saw your pictures at the fundraising, it was even more shocking when I saw Pierre in the pictures with you. I had to know what's going on, and I was right. You did a huge mess here, Candice."
"By "Pierre" you mean, your lover?"
"Who are you to lecture me? You think I didn't see your pictures with Jackson too?"
Amanda laughs and shakes her head as a pity sign.
"What did you think, he would fall in love with you just because you look like me and you'd live happily after?
You'll never be me and Jackson will always be mine."
I can't believe how pretentious Amanda can be, after all the things she did Amanda still believes Jackson would accept her back.
"I bet he wouldn't if he knew all the things you did."
"Oh! And who gonna tell him? You? I'd love to see you explain to him why you were living in his house pretending to be someone else."
(Unfortunately, she is right, I can't tell him about Amanda without explaining everything about me too.)
"I know you'll never tell him, you know why? Because you're in love with my husband, you don't want to hurt him. You're so pathetic."
"You want my life, my husband, my family. You want to be me but you'll never be."
"This is my main plan. Never be like you."
We both went silent, I know we're not going anywhere here. She's right about one thing, I don't want to hurt Jackson. I'd do anything to protect him.
"You can keep living your dream life with my husband..."
Amanda smile but it doesn't touch her eyes.
"Since you don't tell him anything about where I have been and I keep having my money, I don't fückin care you keeping playing dollhouse with him."
"How can you be so..."
I can't find the word to express how outraged I am about Amanda's proposal.
"You're sick."
"You prefer the other option?"
I can't let her tell everything to him this way. If he must know the truth I'm the one telling him in the right moment, not now when Lucas is so close to finding proof of who is stealing from Jackson's company.
"Ok, but this will not last forever."
"I decide that, not you."
Amanda confidently walks away holding the door open to me, she always had everything she wanted. Amanda doesn't know how it is to lose.
When I walk away from the building the first thing I do is call Lucas, I have to tell him the things I found out.
He's not picking up, I decide to send him a message.
A few minutes later he finally return my call.
*Are you crazy?*
*Hello to you too.*
*Don't play with me, Candice. Why did you meet with that man without telling me anything?*
*I tried, but you were ignoring me.*
*Then you shouldn't have met him, what if he was violent?*
*He was not, I'm ok. Do you want to know or not?*
*Fine, meet me in one hour.*
One hour later I meet him to talk about the new information I have.
"Hey."
"Hey..."
Lucas seems distant, but I don't have time to discuss his behavior now.
"I saw Amanda."
"What? They were together?"
"No, I don't think he knew she was here. He was surprised to see me."
"What did you talk about?"
"Pierre sounded annoyed to see me here, he knows about the pregnancy. He said Amanda should go back and wait for him to finish something. But I couldn't find where she was and what he was finishing here."
"It must be him, I just need to find what's Amanda role in this."
"I think she was planning to run away with him. But I still can't tell if she's helping him."
"We're close to finding everything now. Soon you'll be free to live your own life."
Lucas doesn't say it clearly but I think I know what he means.
"I'm ready to be done with all this mess."
He grabbed my hand and squeeze it.
"You'll need to be more careful now, I don't want you to get hurt. Please don't do anything like this again, promise you'll call me if anything happens."
He holds my face with his intense gaze.
"I will don't worry."
Lucas runs a hand through my hair, then on my face.
"I care about you, Candice."
"I know."
He leans closer to me slowly, I'm not sure what to do.
"Lucas?..."
"Yes..."
His lips brush mine, I can feel his warmth. When I don't say anything he kisses me sweetly.
When we go apart he gives me an easy smile.
When I get back home Jackson is still out, I take Jax to his bedroom and put him to sleep. The dinner is getting ready, I'm just waiting for Jackson to get back.
I hear the front door swing open, I walk to the living room thinking it's Jackson. But to my shock it's Amanda.
My first reaction is to grab my phone and type a quick message to Lucas.
"What are you doing here? You just threatened me earlier today to not tell anything about you coming back."
"I don't need to explain myself to you."
"The hell you don't! I'm covering your ass here for months, you better start to talk."
Amanda scoffs, she smiles but her eyes look dead.
"It doesn't matter, I'm back to my home now. You can leave."
"Amanda, Jackson will be here anytime."
"You better leave then."
"What happened? Your lover dumped you?"
For the way she looks away avoiding my face I know, that's exactly what happened.
"I knew it... then you just come back as nothing happened? What about Jackson?"
"This is not your business anymore, you better leave now."
Then I hear the door again, I feel a shiver taking my body.
"What the f..."
Jackson looks from me to Amanda in shock. His eyes travel to her baby bump than to my face again.
"What's going on here? Please someone explain fast."
He's looking at me, I think he still can't tell who is Amanda.
"Jackson... I'm not..."
I can't finish, I'm trying to explain to him but I'm unable to speak.
"Jackson baby... Let me explain."
When Amanda starts to talk Jackson looks at me, then at her. He knows now, I can see the rage growing inside his eyes.
"Who are you?"
He's looking at me with angry eyes, his voice is struggling to come out. He's physically holding himself from blow out.
"I'm Candice Austen, her sister."
I can't speak, I can barely breathe. Jackson looks outraged and hurt, Amanda, is crying begging him for forgiveness. He's looking at me but I can't face him now.
"Amanda I don't want to hear anything you have to say, I'm only not throwing you out of my house because I still have some decency in me. I could never hurt a pregnant woman, but you shouldn't push your luck."
"But Jackson, baby. You need to listen to me."
"I said not now Amanda! Please just go to your bedroom!"
Amanda glance at me before she leaves the room, she's angry her show didn't work. Now it's only me and Jackson.