Tears were flowing down her cheeks, and she couldn't stop crying however much she felt the need to.
Ivan's heart went out to her, and in an apologetic voice, he said, "I must have been pretty drunk, Stephie…."
"Don't call me Stephie!" Steph shouted as she pointed her index finger at Ivan. The only time he had seen Steph that annoyed him was during her altercation with Chloe.
"Oh, okay," he said in an apologetic voice as he raised his hands in surrender. "I don't remember coming home with anyone. The last person I talked to at the party was Joel, and he…."
He stopped midsentence when the flashbacks started pushing their way past his subconscious in pieces.
He remembered how Joel had come out and how surprised and angry he had been, both at himself and at Joel.
How could he not have realized yet Joel always looked at him with a lot of longing?
He remembered how Joel had become so rowdy at his lack of empathy and started shouting, drawing attention to them.
He had tried stopping Joel from talking, but he was unstoppable, like a Porsche with no brakes.
A crowd had formed around them, and Rina rushed to help Joel, but he had embarrassed her instead by choosing to reveal his truth and thereafter made his way into the house, where he started throwing the alcohol bottles against the wall.
People started walking out of the party. Kevin's heart went out to Joel, and he offered to drive him home after talking with him for a while.
Ivan remained behind to drown his sorrows, and he vaguely remembered a lady walking up to him. The rest, as they say, is history.
"The worst part of it all is that you're not even sorry. You're not only bringing shame to yourself, but my reputation is also on the line, don't you see that? You duped me into this relationship, Ivan and I think we have both realized we can't pretend anymore. You will have to face your demons. Tell the world the truth," Steph said, as a matter of fact, bringing Ivan back to the present.
"What truth?" Ivan asked in confusion. "Do you honestly believe Vera? She threatened to destroy my family, and that's why she is doing this."
"That you fathered Vera's baby, then do the honorable thing and help her care for that baby. I want out!" Steph said as she pushed a shocked Ivan from the door.
"Steph, wait! You're losing it. Gosh! My dad will kill us both. We can't just turn on our words like that. You don't know how cruel and ruthless that man is,' Ivan pleaded as he rushed to hold Steph's hands.
"Cruel and ruthless! Mmh. Like father like son, right?" Steph asked sarcastically, and Ivan thumped the wall next to him. He was so angry that he looked more like a beast.
"Think about your family. Will they forgive you for what you're about to do?" Ivan guilt-tripped Steph.
How was he to explain that his acceptance of a relationship proposal with her wasn't just about Vera?
"I have honestly tried, but I can't do this anymore. Tell your father thank you for trying to find my brother. We'll do the rest as a family…." Steph said but was interrupted by the ringing of her phone.
"You're making a great mistake. It will cost you and your family, and me also. My father will cut me off," Ivan narrated painfully, and Steph ignored him to answer Victoria's call.
"Steph!" Victoria said as she panted. "Have you talked to your father?"
"No, why?" Steph asked in confusion.
"He hasn't been home for two days. I thought he was just cooling off and avoiding me, but I'm getting worried. I don't know… I can't get him on the phone, and none of his friends know where he went," Victoria said as she paced up and down her family house, which suddenly seemed so empty and haunted.
"What do you expect, mum? You don't even let him breathe. One of his friends is probably defending him," Steph answered dismissively, and her calm nature infuriated Victoria the more.
"Steph, I feel it in my bones. He is in danger. What if… if Travis' kidnappers are after our family? What if I have really put my family in danger?" Victoria asked in a whisper as her heart thumped a thousand times faster.
Steph's heart beat faster, and her palms became wet. Her eyes almost popped out of their sockets, her mouth flew open and became dry, her vision became blurry, and her head became so heavy it felt like a stone had been placed on it.
With the little energy left in her, she moved to lean on the wall, and with trembling and sweaty palms, she struggled to dial Max's number, which went straight to voicemail.