A/N: New Chapter

"...sooner or later everyone sits down

to a banquet of consequences..."

Keira's POV

It feels like I just wanted ke up from a dream... the sweetest dream I'll ever dream. It feels like falling from the clouds and landing hard into harsh reality. It feels like a lot of things that are not the eight days I spent with Nickolas.

"Mrs Burke. Good afternoon-"

"Do you know how long I have been standing here?"

"I'm sorry. You're early."

"So? You're supposed to be home! Where have you been? For your sake you better not..." I zoned out when I watched Nick's SUV driving by. My heart is going with him. I'm sad. I felt a firm smack on my back. "Open the damn door already!"

I inserted the key, fumbling with it because body how nervous I am. I be t to pick them when they fell. I tried again but the key isn't working.

"What?" I wondered. I stepped back to look at the numbers on the red door. It is the right door. "My key doesn't work."

"What do you mean your key doesn't work?"

Maybe the lock is different or I have the wrong keys. I checked them just to be sure. I have the right set of keys! "I think Jason changed the lock."

She immediately dialled his number without wasting a second.

"Yeah... she's here... yeah... Did you change the lock?... Oh really! Aha... No shit!" She laughed harshly. "Okay. I love you. See you."

"Did he change the lock?"

"He did. He was worried you would bring a stranger to his house. Now what does he mean by that Keira?"

It has a lot to do with me ghosting his calls and being absent for eight days. It's not that I didn't know there will be consequences. My time with Nick is more important to me.

"Let's go to the back." I started walking.

"Are these bags going to carry themselves?"

I stared at the two suitcases. They are massive! Is she moving in? Knowing they won't move themselves, I pulled the handle to drag them. "Carry them. They are not to be dragged."

I want to tell her that her son smashed my hand. It hasn't recovered enough to carry her bags. But I'm good at thinking it and not saying it.

She went ahead of me. I tried to lift one of them but I couldn't. I tried the other and it is a little lighter but still equally heavy.

"Hey!"

I almost jumped at Lorraine's sudden appearance. "Don't do that! You almost took my heart!"

"Really? I was across the street. Didn't you see me?"

"No."

"What are you doing?"

"Jason's mom is here."

"It's witch from hell week?"

"Week? Try three! She's at the back. I need to carry these to the back."

"Why? Doesn't she have hands?" If Lorraine was in my shoes, she would make Jason's life a living hell.

"Disregard that. Just help me."

She glanced at her watch. "You won't be able to watch Terr, right?"

"It's Wednesday!" I sighed. "Okay bring him over."

"Cool! I'll help you with these. Stand pretty." She pulled the handle.

"Not allowed."

She shrugged and carried one bag. She just lifted it and carried it away. I stared on, a little in awe. She's strong. She came back for the next one and I accompanied her.

"You should start going to the gym honey. Strength training is good for you." Lorraine looks forward to Fridays because it's mixed martial arts day. She gets to punch things and probably hurt people. She tried to make me join so that I can beat Jason up but fighting is not my thing. "And learn self defense." She stopped before we made the turn leading us to Jason's mom. "How long will you be his punching bag? If you're not leaving him then learn how to beat the crap out of him. Dominate him to submission."

She went on and placed the bag next to the other one. Jason's mom is glaring at me. Whatever she's biting back she will say once we are alone. "Thanks a lot."

"I'll bring him by in a bit." She left us.

I pushed the kitchen window open. I brought a chair and climbed through. The house is dark and stuffy. There aste dirty dishes all over. The floor is sticky with something. All the cabinet doors are open. There's an endless trail of clothes leading nowhere in particular. He's such a pig! For the shirt time I have been around Nick, one thing is certain. He loves order. He picks up after himself. The difference is in upbringing. Marianna is a little messy but his father is just like Nick. Organized and clean. Jason's mom babies him and I'm about to hear a lot about how I'm failing to baby his son. I am not his mother!

I opened the back door for her. Bringing the suitcases in was a bit of a struggle but I dragged them on the floor, steadily to the guest room downstairs.

"This house is a pig sty!"

Thanks to Jason.

"I'll clean it up."

"I'm tired. I want to shower. Is the guest room clean and ready?"

"I'll check." This is the next three weeks of my life. "I sit?" She pushed me away from the entrance. She dragged her finger over the dresser. "It's dusty. Can't you keep a clean house? I don't want to sleep down here. Bring my bags. I'll sleep upstairs."

Is she serious?

I dragged both bags up the stairs in a dangerous battle with gravity. If I lose, I'll fall. I made it up and she has two rooms to choose from. She picked the one next to my room. "Is that one okay?"

"I hate west facing windows. I want to rise with the sun. Let's go back downstairs. Bring my bags!" She snapped her fingers at me. I waited for her to clear the stairway before I pushed both suitcases down. She stared at me wide eyed.

"I am not your servant!" I stomped my foot firmly on the floor. I went to my room and shut the door. I rested against it for a moment. I should have stayed in Florence. Marianna has a sharp tongue but she's not mean. Is it just now, after experiencing Nick, that I'm realizing I have been living a shitty life? I deserve better than this!

I dreaded the sound of knocking on the door. I opened it ready for a tongue lashing when I saw Lorraine holding Terrence. "There you go." I took the little boy. "I'll be back at 5pm."

"Hello my little prince!" I kissed his forehead. He has hazel eyes. His father must have hazel eyes. "We will be fine. Say bye to mommy!"

He leaned against me.

"By the way, your mother in law is cleaning your house."

That is not okay. She is stirring the pot. She wants Jason to find her cleaning the house so that she can point fingers at me.

"It's going to be okay. We will be okay."

Lorraine frowned at me. "I'll be back at 5pm. I promise."

When she left I kissed Terry's forehead. "You will be okay. I won't be so lucky. Can you stay here?" I sat him on the floor and gave him a stuffed toy from the baby bag. He likes the little giraffe.

"Mrs Burke," I approached her in the kitchen. "I'll clean up. Have a seat."

"You are irresponsible and rude! Is this how my son lives? In s pug sty with you being absent? He says you've been gone for almost two weeks!"

"It was only eight days."

"And where were you?" When I didn't respond she smacked me with a kitchen towel.

"I needed personal time!"

"Are you shouting at me?" She swatted me again.

"I'm not shouting. You are!" I screamed at her. I think I have reached boiling point. I think I'm done with this marriage. I went back upstairs and took Terrence. I took the baby bag and went back downstairs.

"Where are you going?"

"Out." She hurried to the door and blocked it. "Mrs Burke, what are you doing?"

She smiled wickedly. She's looking past me. No.

"She's making sure you don't leave." I turned slowly to look at my husband. "Why is my mother cleaning?"

"Because she wouldn't! She has been rude ever since she got here! Not to mention I was standing at the door for hours! She threw my bags at me and almost killed me with them! Now she wants to run away and play mommy to a baby she didn't even give birth to because her womb is empty and hollow!"

"Jason-'"

"Where have you been? Who were you with?"

"Jason, I want a divorce."

Mrs Burke gasped. "You owe us money!" She screamed at me. 28 million!"

"Which my father paid back. Jason received a check." I leveled my gaze with him. "Didn't you Jason?"

"You're lying!" Mrs Burke took her place n XT to her son.

"Why would I lie about that?"

"What did you say?" Jason asked me.

"Why would I lie-"

"The other thing. You said you want a divorce."

"Yes I do. I want a divorce."

"Ma, take the kid."

I held onto Terrence tightly. "No." I refused to let go but Mrs Burke is grabbing and pulling. "Stop you'll break his arm!"

"Then let go!" She screamed at me. Terrence is already crying at the top of his voice. I have to let go or he will get hurt. She rocked him and moved away from us.

"Jason, we are not happy. A divorce is the reasonable way to go."

"Who were you with you slithering whore?'

"Jason-'"

"The stench of betrayal is stuck to you Keira!" Mrs Burke shouted from the living room.

"I needed sometime alone. I swear, that's all."

"You are lying. You were with someone." He's closing in on me. He stopped a few inches shy. "Who were you with?"

I can say Nick. He can take care of himself should Jason attack him. But if I say it, I will die today. I'm not ready to die. I'm not.

"I was by myself."

He delivered a punch to my face. I fell back helplessly. He has never punched me. Slapping yes. Punching no. It got dark for a second with loud ringing in my ear. Before I got up, he got on top of me and I watched his fist descending down on my face one after another until I couldn't move.

I can hear Mrs Burke screaming. Terrence is crying. I can't feel anything anymore. I saw her leaning over me. "Keira! Keira!" She is trying to shake me but I can't see anymore. My eyes are open to mete slits. "Are you stupid? You could have kicked her! Jason! Jason!"

The sound of the door slamming shut was th life and of the screaming.

"Help me." I whispered.