The Return Of His Ex Wife
Chapter 37: Let’s have a talk

Chapter 37: Let’s have a talk

Tara’s POV

For the whole time this painful scenario played itself before me, I felt numb. I couldn’t even respond to Richard asking me a simple question. At least though, I was able to capture the smile on his face. Ella quickly carried him and led him out. I stood there glaring at Arlo, unable to believe my eyes at how cruel he was being right now.

Then after a short while, he turned and stormed out leaving me all alone in my anxiety and depression. Somehow I made it to my room. Ella soon joined me.

"Hey I’m just checking up on ya, how’re you doing?" She asked.

"He isn’t like that." I found myself saying. "Even if I had hurt him, which I didn’t even think he’s still holding grudges for. Do you think he has a right to do this to me??"

She heaved in a deep sigh and sat beside me on the bed. "Maybe you don’t deserve this. I hate Arlo right now, it’s okay, let’s both hate him—"

"You don’t blame him too, do you?" Tears had gathered in my eyes and filled it.

Ella looked at me with pity. "Aww, honey. You know what, we don’t even have to really tell Richard, you know right? We can just come up with something else to distract him from this issue."

I shook my head at that thought. "Did you see his face? Richard was so happy! That’s why I have Arlo even more. I’m never speaking to him again." I said, wondering if I would be able to keep to that promise.

"You know what, this wasn’t supposed to happen at all! You know what was supposed to happen? Arlo and I would be in a fake relationship for a long time. Ella, I actually thought of sharing some moments with Arlo at some point of our fake relationship, to have fun with him!" I confessed, pouring out my shame. Did I really know what I wanted?

"He stopped treating me nicely, you know? He used to do what I said and he never got mad at me." I frowned, wondering what went wrong.

"Tara, you barely know each other. I mean, why are we even talking about this right now. There’s still time to fix this. Call him now and—"

Instantly, I knew I had to shut Ella up. "Never. Are you slow? If I call him right now, it will make me look cheap and desperate, like I really like him or something. Besides, why would I even call him when clearly, he’s the one who’s hurt me!"

I saw Ella blinked, looking in doubt. "Then don’t call him yet. I’m sure he’ll call first and apologize to you."

"I don’t care. It’s all good. Let him go to hell for all I care!"

"Tara, calm down. I’m sorry, you over reacted. Why did you have to keep mentioning that he would never be Richard’s dad? Despite all of his attempts. Don’t you realize how sad and painful that must have been to hear?"

I shrugged. "What? I only said the truth. He needed to learn about some boundaries!"

"What do you really want, Tara? Sooner or later, you’re going to have to be specific. For your sake and for Richard’s. Besides, if we really want Derek finding out about Richard now, you’ll need someone powerful like Arlo beside you. Seriously, call him and pour out your mind. You know Arlo isn’t that type of guy."

She got up before I could say anything else and hurried out. "I should go check up on Richard."

In that moment, I felt my phone buzzed and hurried to look at it. "You’re so lucky you’ve decided to call Arlo because—"

"—Arlo? No Tara Aniston, this is your step brother. Why would you speak to my wife in that manner when she was only trying to let the kids have fun together?? This is why I always tell them to stay far away from y—"

I hung up before he could go on. I wasn’t ready for Mike’s yelling right now. I didn’t have time for that at all! But then, I really had hoped that would have been Arlo. Why wasn’t he even calling yet to apologize??

***

It was Sunday morning and I had successfully managed to avoid all their social gathering. Luckily, Sofia or any of the others had not come to disturb me. I knew Richard was in good hands with Ella so I wasn’t too bothered.

Heaving in a deep sigh, I turned to the other side on my bed, muttering curses at myself for not being able to beg any sleep at all.

The sound of my phone made me grunt out in frustration again. Mike had been calling me all night, since the day before but I didn’t pick up. "Well, I’m even more depressed right now so I guess I can pick up." I reached for the phone on the table beside my bed to answer the call.

"Meet me at the dining hall, right now." His voice was a muttered whisper.

"But it’s just 5:49 in the morning—" before I could protest, he had already hung up. After a couple of minutes, I was finally able to get up and locate the dining hall. It wasn’t hard to find. "Shit, I’m still in my PJs..." I noted as I passed through a glass wall.

Inside the room stood Ali and Mike both whispering something very loudly, like an argument.

"Are you two love birds fighting again?" I teased, bringing their attention towards me.

Mike grunted and Ali flashed me a pitiful look.

"Finally, you’re here. Ali, please leave us. I have a lot to say to my kid sister."

"Step sister." I corrected.

"Why haven’t you been picking—you know what, I don’t even care. We demand an apology. You’re a liar and a cheater. Was Arlo even ever your boyfriend? Did you just pay him a lot of money and cry just for him to show up here with you?"

I ignored and turned to Ali, "hey, don’t you owe me an apology? Your son almost killed my son."

"Oh please Tara, don’t be dramatic. The universe doesn’t revolve around you so stop acting like you’re a goddess or something."

"A goddess?" This actually brought a laughter to my face. "You’re the one who’s always been so full of herself."

"So full of herself? Tara, our kids actually like each other," as she went on to proceed, Mike stopped her shushing her up, but that was even her eyes flustered red like fire had been ignited in them.