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19 Secrets Revealed
19 Secrets Revealed (Winona)
After a silent taxi ride to her tiny apartment, I get us both a glass of water before asking her about the sudden outburst. Maybe she's just covering for me. I wasn't about to hash it all out in the taxi.
"Lisa, you are kidding, right? You really don't have to cover for me. I don't care about Jayden anymore." Not exactly true, but I want it to be.
"No!" She shakes her head, and the tears start again. "I've made such a mess of this. I can't lie to you anymore! It was me." "Why would you do something like that?"
"I wanted Lance to love me, like Jayden loved you, so desperately. But Jayden picked up the wrong drink and drank it straight down."
"Oh Lisa. That isn't the way to handle things."
"I know but Lance just friend-zoned me years ago and we were so damn good together. But the way we'd argued that night, before I spiked the drink, I just felt hopeless." Lisa drops her head down. I rub her arm and she continues.
"I wanted to prove to him how good we could be, just to relax him enough to realize he loved me and finally tell me that. I can't love anyone else like I love Lance."
I think about Phillip and me. What we might have been without my hang ups about Jayden. Lisa deserves more than a life pining after someone who may never be ready to give love.
"You know Lance has a unique set of reasons he may never settle with anyone, and I don't want you settling for second best. Believe me, there are men still out there who can love you fully for everything you are."
Lisa just shakes her head. "It doesn't matter now. I was the reason Jayden never fell back in love with you then. I ruined everything and because I couldn't fess up, his mother convinced him it was you." "Honestly, Lisa. Even if you had said something at the time, Jayden wasn't ready to consider what he and I used to be. I know that now, I was wanting things to be like they were, but things can never be that way again." She takes a ragged breath. "Then you left because of that, and I lost you, I didn't deserve you."
"I didn't actually leave because of that reason, Lisa. I told you I have a secret to tell you. But you can't utter a word of it to anyone. The real reason I left and stayed away this long..."
Lisa is looking at me with wide, red eyes from crying.
"I had a baby girl."
"Holy shit! You did what now?!"
I give a small smile. I can't help it when talking about my daughter. "Abby. She's about to turn three."
I see Lisa's mind whirring with the numbers. "Oh. My. God. Jayden's the father, isn't he? The night with
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19 Secrets Revealed
the drugs...
I nod and take her hand. "But he doesn't know. No one here knows Abby is Jayden's. Only Phillip and Anne, and now you. But Ashlyn knows I have a child. So it's just a matter of time. Phillip and I have just filed adoption papers so he is the legal father of Abby. "Wait, you mean you and Phillip aren't really together?
I shake my head. "I'm a fool because that man is everything any woman could want."
"He loves you. I can see that."
"I've made it clear that there will never be anything between him and I like that. I'm still too hurt over the past to give love like that again.'
"Wow, I mean. This is huge. Why haven't you told Jayden?"
"More to the point, why hasn't Ashlyn told Jayden or Judy that I have a child?"
"True."
"Judy and Ashlyn both suspected my pregnancy before I left. Judy threatened to take any child of Jayden's off me. Back then I believe she would have done it too. Jayden was not in the mental space to go against her." "Did you come back now to tell him?"
"No. I'd never planned to. My life was going nicely until the day Jayden walked into my office and offered us a huge contract."
"Jayden found you? He must still love you somewhere inside, why would he otherwise?"
"I'm not looking to rekindle things with Jayden but I do think he has a right to know about his daughter when the time is right. For now, I'm keeping quiet until the adoption is through and legally, she is mine and Phillip's." "So Judy can't pull any tricks. You've been protecting your baby all this time."
"Exactly."
"What do you think Judy would do?"
"She has enough money and power to make my life and Abby's very difficult. I need to know that Jayden is open to hearing the truth and not just blindly believing what his mother tells him."
My phone buzzes and I check it. It's Phillip.
u ok?
with Lisa. I'll taxi home soon
pin address when ready I'll pick u up
u don't have to
1 will
Ok thanks
19 Secrets Revealed
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"Phillip is coming to get me."
"He really is a gem."
"I don't know what I'd have done without him these past three years professionally and personally. I just wish I could give him more."
"Maybe in time, you can."
"Maybe. But he shouldn't have to wait around forever for something that may never happen."
"I think I've definitely lost Lance once he knows fully what I tried to do to him."
"He's very forgiving though. He understands stupidity better than most. He'll come around."
"As a friend."
"Yeah, but friendship is the most important thing in the world." I give her a hug. "It's the strongest love." "You're right. That's what you and Jayden always had. You were best friends first and always. But when he forgot that things were never the same huh?"
1. od. Lisa has hit the nail on the head. Jayden and I can never be anything again if we can't rebuild the friendship and trust we once had. I think we may be too far gone for that to ever happen and it never will if Judy has her way.
I crack the lounge curtains slightly to peer outside and give Phillip a guide when I pin the address. I'm not sure what this neighborhood is like at night. Hopefully safe.
There's a car down there. Jayden's car. Or one just the same as his. What are the chances?
Is he here because of Lisa, or following me?
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