Vanessa's POV
RECAP
“Where's Richard?” I asked
“He came back to town five days back and hadn't moved an inch from his house, he's not picking our phone calls and the worst part is our fear, we don't know if he's dead or alive because he can't get to forgive himself for everything that happened” My heart crushed at his last words.
PRESENT
“That's really scary, what do you think we should do about this? I mean we can't just keep watching him this way, he might harm himself or something”
“Exactly and that's where you come in. The Queen asked me to bring you to Richard and if you refuse, I should kidnap you” He explained
“Okay! Whichever one suits you. Where is he? How can I get to meet him?” I asked nervously.
“Calm down ma'am, you'll get to see him. I see you're really worried about Richard, maybe you're still in love with him”
“You crazy or something, how can you say something like that? Just stop with the joke and just take me to his place, I'm just being human here. I don't have any feelings for him, not before and definitely not now” I explained
“You want me to believe that, Vanessa D'cruz. That's not possible. The same Vanessa who wouldn't let me drop her off at her apartment because of her man”
“You should understand Richard's anger more than anybody. I was scared about what his reaction would be, that's why I never allowed you to drop me off at my apartment. You can't even understand If I try to explain to you” If only he knew the truth about me and Richard.
Yes! I wouldn’t deny the fact that a part of my soul yearns for his.
“Try me, maybe I'll get to understand you”
“Let me burst your bubble, me and Richard were never an item. It was just business between the two of us”
“I don't understand”
“I mean, me and Richard signed a contract for me to have a baby for him. Surrogacy but a little bit different, different in a way that I had to go with his lies about me being his fiancé to his family. He forced me into agreeing to be his date for a night”
“The same night where he announced that you were carrying his child?” He asked.
“Yes” I confirmed
“Okay, let my tiny brain process that for sometimes” He was silent for a while before he faced me “I can't judge you because everyone in one way or the other is not all that innocent. Let's forget the past and face the present. Let's go to Richard's apartment” he said
“Okay, let's go”
Thirty minutes later, we got to Richard's apartment and after pressing the bell and knocking for what seems like century, still, he didn't open the door.
“Richard, it's Michael. You need to open this door” No response
“We all are worried about you” No response
“Your mom is worried about you” No response
“You need to stop being a child and open this door. Even Vanessa is worried about you” At the mention of my name, we heard his footsteps coming towards his door and I decided to take it up from Michael.
“Richard, I'm here. Your Vanessa is here, not Scarlett.”
“You need to leave now Scarlet, I've done enough damages to you. I'm too toxic for you” my heart broke at the fact that he called me Scarlett and not Vanessa.
“I'm not going anywhere until you open this door and I'm serious about that Richard” I screamed
“Please go away from me.” His voice was shaking, an evidence of the fact that he was very weak.
“I said I'm not going anywhere; don't you get it? You need to open this door. Open this door first before I decide to leave or not” I said
“Don't you get what I'm trying to tell you. The more you're with you, the more dangerous it is for you and the child. You should know that far better than anybody” he explained.
“I didn't go through hell for things to turn out like this, you need to be strong for your child. She needs you and you can't keep hiding in your hole till forever. You need to come out, face your fears and move on with your life”
“I've trashed out my fears Vanessa, the remaining fear I have is you. Can I trash you along with my fears too? Do I even have the right to move on after everything that my family did to you?”
“It's not your fault Richard, it was never your fault”
“I started it all, this beat we all are dancing too, I started playing it first. Can you forgive me? Will you ever have the strength to forgive me?” He asked
Through tears, I summoned up the courage to reply. “Yes, Richard. I'll forgive you. No! I've forgiven you for everything”
“You're lying Vanessa, show me an evidence that you've forgiven me”
“Is that what you want? An evidence, right? I'll be back with one. Trust me on that”
With that, I walked out of his apartment with only one aim in mind and it was when Michael dragged me back to his car as I was walking away to the bus station that I remembered that Michael was there too. I totally forgot about him.
“Where are we heading to?” He asked breaking the silence.
“Somewhere” I replied after inputting the address into the GPS.
Twenty minutes after going and coming back, we finally reached Richard's apartment for the second time that day.
“Richard, you need to open the door or else I'll break it down” I threatened.
“You need to stop now Vanessa, it's all over. Move on with your life”
“Maybe I can, but can she move on with her life too, can your daughter move on?” There was silence as he had no answer to my question.
“Say hi to daddy, princess” I told the little bundle of joy behind me.
“Hi Daddy, can you pwease open the door for mommy?” That did the magic. Richard opened the door with haste and almost immediately the door opened, he hugged his daughter.
“I’m sorry Baby, I missed you so much all my life. I'm so sorry baby, I'm sorry” My heart froze at the moment.