<b>Chapter </b><b>80 </b>


    Mason


    “Mason, what did you do to Julia?” Mom asked immediately as she stepped into the room.


    Mom walked into the room with a serious expression stered on her face. She stepped in front of me and crossed her hands under her chest. I was seated on the bed.


    “Mason, I asked you a question. What did you do to Julia?”


    I passed my hand over my hair, frustrated. Releasing a sigh, I <b>said</b>, “Mom, why do you think I did something to her?” Why didn’t you think she did something to me? She was always on Julia’s side.


    “It’s clear you’re the only one who has such effects on Julia,” Mom said, her voice calmer this time.


    “She just left with her eyes stained with tears. She was crying. She walked closer to me and sat on the side of the bed, plopping down a bit.


    “Mason, I know this was a surprise, but you have to calm down. Listen to <b>her</b><b>, </b>she’s carrying your baby.”


    I shook my head. “No,” Mom doesn’t understand. “She did not tell me she was pregnant.” Then I looked at my mom while drawing my brows together. “You knew about it? You did not tell me either?” I sounded disappointed. I could not hide it. Why did they keep it from me?


    “If she had told me, things would have been different with Mr. Everett.”


    “I didn’t tell you because it was not in my ce to say anything. It was Julia’s ce.” She exhaled slowly, then asked, “You met with


    Mr. Everett?”


    I nodded. Mam wrapped her hand around mine.


    “Mason, I know this may <b>have </be as a surprise, but you need to do the right thing. You need to do what needs to be done.” I was tempted to ask what needs to be done.


    “I met with Mr. Everett today. Did you know what he said? He wants me to get married to Julia. He wants me to take responsibility by marrying her.”


    Mom’s lips are set in a thin <b>line </b><b>as </b>she squeezes my hands. She brushed the hair on my face toward the back. Whenever she does this, I know she is about to say something I may not be in support of. I braced myself for her next words.


    “Mason, I think Mr. Everett is right.”


    I knew it. She would support him like she was always about to support Julia. It was no news that she loved Julia, and she had <b>always </b>wished that I would get married to her. But I never thought she would get her wish, at least not this way:


    “Mom-“I began, but she cut me off.


    “Mason, think of the bigger picture. She’s carrying your child, and aside from that, she is responsible and is from a reputable family. She deserves to be by your side


    She paused and continued.


    “We are also steps from being inws with Mr. Everett, and I am sure we’ll benefit a lot from this.”


    I removed my hand from her. She wasn’t understanding it. She didn’t want to understand me.


    “Plus, Julia loves you. I think this will work.”


    I stood, realizing that all she cared about was Julia, nothing more; she cared about what she wanted. She doesn’t bother me.


    Julia loves me? What about me? Did she stop and think for a <b>second </b>if this is what I want? I don’t love Julia, and I don’t want this marriage.


    I couldn’t stay here any longer. I can’t stay here for another minute. I need to leave. I need to think about this. I walked out of the room, mming the door behind me. Soon, my mom’s footsteps were heard behind me.


    “Mason, think about it. Think about the bigger picture and all the sacrifices you have made to get to this point. You won’t just stand still and watch it go to waste, will you?”


    “I need some time to think,” I said in reply. “Alone<b>,</b>” I added.


    She stopped at the door and watched me walk out.


    I walked as fast as my legs could carry me. Getting to the car park, I entered my car and ignited the engine.


    I dove onto the highway, mming hard on the elerator, pushing the car as fast as it could go.


    I bit the inside of my mouth and tightened my grip around the steering wheel, my chest tightening. There was no two–way around this. My mind reminisced about the words of Mr. Everett.


    “Do I really want to make an enemy out of him?” The answer was simple. “No.”


    As much as I’d like to deny it, I needed his help. I needed his assistance.


    The cloud was clearer, the rain had stopped. By this time, I had left thepany by 12:00 noon. It was past 5:00 p.m. right now.


    I drove back to thepany, hoping to get some work dohe–at least to take my mind away from my present worries.


    But when I got to the entrance, I couldn’t help but turn the car around. “No, I didn’t want to be here.”


    I drove around the city for a while before putting a call across to Luke, hoping he would apany me to a bar.


    Fortunately, David had just returned from Canada, so we decided to hit the bar together.


    But this turned out to be a bad idea, as all through the time <b>we </b>spent together in the bar, I couldn’t take my mind off the issue at


    hand.


    “Julia was pregnant, and I have to get married to her.” my head kept reminding me.


    I downed the fifth ss of vodka, it burned down my throat.


    Luke and David sensed my worry and tried to get it out of me, but it was of no use, “I’m fine. I have some issues. We’ll talk about it some other time.”


    “Why did you invite us here?” Luke questioned. I had no answer for that. “Man, you’ll have to make up for this when the timees. You’re killing the mood.” David added.


    “I’ll make it up to you. For now, drink and do what you want, the bill is on me” They did just that.


    I got to my penthouse by 11:00 pm. When I got there, I walked to my study. My mind was filled with various thoughts. I decided to weigh the pros and cons of marrying Julia.


    Marrying Julia came with various benefits.


    I


    I get to be the son inw of Mr. Everett. Thates with a lot of peck It mean.reholders, stock increase, and even Mr.


    Redmond may be a client of mine.


    Aside from that, I get to be part of the baby’s live, <b>I </b>doubt Mr. Everett will let me into his life if I were to refuse his request to marry Julia, his daughter.


    I knew what it was like to be raised by a single parent, and I don’t think I want my child to experience that.


    After weighing the pros, I did not see any need <b>to </b>weigh the cons. It was decided–I will get married to Julia.


    I can sustain my family andpany.


    But even after this decision, I was a little difort in the back of my chest. I knew what it was. I knew it was the reason why this was making me more frustrated. But all through the day I <b>have </b>been pushing it away.


    “Lydia


    She was the only one stopping me from going on with this wedding. Maybe a part of me believed that I might be able to get her back. But the greater part of me knew that was a lie.


    Lydia has proven time and time again that she doesn’t want me. There <b>was </b>no need to force things between us.


    I grabbed my phone and stepped out of the study. My stomach grumbled, but I ignored it and walked to my room. Opening the door, I stepped into my room.


    The day Lydia slept here, after eating nuts she was allergic to, I have been sleeping in this room.


    Before that day, this room was locked. This room has been locked for 5 years.


    I stared at the photo of Lydia and me on the side of the wall, a small smile falling to my lips. The old good times. I wonder if I would be able to rece the picture of me and Lydia when I got married to Julia.


    Thinking about Lydia in this room made me think about other things that happened that night with her in this room.


    My body felt warm as I thought about how Lydia’s wrapped her mouth around my cock.


    I needed a cold shower.


    Before I stepped into the bathroom, I grabbed my phone and typed a message to my mom:


    “Fine. I’ll marry Julia.”


    I stood under the shower for some time/allowing the <b>water </b>to soothe my worries and calm my mind.


    I stepped out of the bathroom with a towel tied around my waist. I first walked to my phone, wondering if my mom had sent a reply to me. She must be ted to know that I had agreed.


    But there was nothing.


    I was about to climb into bed when my phone dinged. I picked it up, eager to see her reply.


    But it wasn’t a message from my mom. Nothing prepared me for a message from Lydia.


    She has finally unblocked me. A smile crept onto my lips, warmth spread over my chest, and all my worries were finally ced


    behind me.


    I sat on the bed before tapping on the message, opening the content:


    Lydia- “Hey, Mason, congrattions on being a dad. I heard the news


    (?)