XXII



"Mommy I'm hungry!" Belle complained. "Aren't we going to eat? You didn't make any lunch."

"Mommy has a headache." Angela said rubbing her temples.

Anger and frustration flashed in Belle's eyes. She crossed her arms and pouted. "I'm hungry!" She insisted.

"Belle," Angela said warningly.

"I'm hungry!" Belle shrieked.

Angela winced. Her headache worsened as Belle continued to shriek. "Belle!" She said in a loud tone. "Stop!"

"I hate you!" Belle screamed. "You don't take care of me! I hate you! I hate you ! I hate you!"

Angela closed her eyes and held her hands against her ears. She couldn't take Belle's cries of hatred. "Enough!" She screamed with such force that Belle's mouth opened in shock. "Go to your room." Angela said menacingly.

Belle continued to stare at her mother. "Now." Angela said. "Or else." She threatened.

Frightened, Belle ran to her room and slammed the door. Angela sank to the floor and leaned her head against the wall.

"It's a girl," The nurse said as she handed Angela the sleeping baby girl.

"She's beautiful," Angela said in awe as she stared at the little bundle in her arms.

"Yes she is," The nurse smiled. "What are you going to name her?"

"Belle." Angela said. "Belle for beautiful." She said as she stared at her daughter.


The doubt that Angela felt about taking care of the baby dissipated as she bonded with her daughter. Angela decided that she would keep Belle the moment she held her. However, throughout the course of the weeks following Belle's birth, there were times when Angela felt like abandoning parenthood. Angela began sinking into such a depression that she turned to temporary relief through drugs. It had started after Belle had just turned two years old. One night, Belle wouldn't stop fussing. Nothing Angela did would soothe her daughter. Angela became so frustrated that she ran out of her apartment and into the streets. Tears streamed down as her face as she ran. She ended up running into dealers on the street who promised to soothe her pain. They gave her drugs that promised temporary relief. She used them often, and soon her addiction became stronger. She spent most of her money buying her quick fixes.

Angela's meager salary could not support her, Belle, or her drug addiction, but Angela tried. It wasn't until Julian Crane ran into her that Angela saw an opportunity to get more money. Angela had heard of Fox's engagement to a woman named Theresa. She frowned when she saw the tabloid displaying their pictures. As she read the article about her former fling, Angela looked up to see Julian Crane. Surprised, she went up to him and talked. Once Julian found out that Angela had once been involved with his son, he began making plans. Julian was thrilled to find out that Angela had a child. He asked her to pretend that the child was Fox's. Julian promised an insane amount of money, and Angela jumped at the chance.

Angela had never told Belle who her real father was. Now, Angela had something to tell her daughter. She showed Belle the picture of Fox in the paper. She told him how rich Fox was and how he could buy her anything her heart desired. Belle was intrigued with Fox, and Angela did not feel the least bit guilty about feeding her daughter lies.

Angela interrupted Fox's wedding reception. She was resolved to getting Fox to pay child support even though Belle really wasn't his child. No one knew the real truth but Angela and Julian. They would never tell.

This was an opportunity to take advantage of Fox's wealth, and Angela wasn't about to let it go to waste.

~*~



"Thanks for letting me stay here," Ethan said to Sam as he entered the Bennett's home.

"No problem," Sam said. "Grace and I are more than happy to let you stay here."

Sam left to grab an extra blanket for Ethan. Ethan sat on the couch and rubbed his eyes. Everything in his life wasn't going right. His wife was divorcing him and taking their daughter away. His own mother hated him. And Theresa~ Ethan bent his head. It was already too late. Theresa was already married- to Fox. Ethan tensed. He still whole-heartedly believed that Fox didn't deserve his former fiancé. It wasn't fair. Theresa didn't have her whole memory back. "If only she remembered the love we shared," Ethan thought. "She wouldn't be with Fox."

~*~



"Did I do the right thing?" Gwen asked her mother frowning.

"Oh Gwennie," Rebecca said as she stroked her daughter's blond hair. "Of course you did. There's no hope that Ethan will ever get over that Tacosita."

"Sarah isn't going to have a father," Gwen said frowning.

"Gwennie, if Ethan is such a horrible husband do you honestly believe he's going to be a good father? I don't think so! Theresa's on his mind twenty-four seven and there's nothing you can do about it. It's not fair to you or the baby. He doesn't have the ability to stop lusting after that little home wrecker."

Gwen sighed. "I loved him mother. I gave him my heart and soul and he just tossed it all away. He married me because I was pregnant."

"Ethan's a fool." Rebecca said. "He deserves to be alone."

~*~



After dropping Justin off at his home, Theresa drove to her own house. She thought about how she would tell Fox that she would be leaving for Chicago in the morning. Theresa hoped that Fox would understand that Justin needed a friend. She hoped that Fox would understand that Theresa was the only person Justin felt comfortable revealing his innermost feelings.

After arriving in the driveway, Theresa shut off the car and walked slowly to the house. She opened the front door slowly and heard a soft creak as the door swung open. Fox was sitting on the couch flipping aimlessly through various shows.

"Honey, I'm home." Theresa called softly.

"How'd it go?" Fox said not taking his eyes off of the television screen.

Theresa placed her purse on the table and snuggled beside her husband. "Justin's wife may be alive."

"What exactly is his whole story?" Fox asked.

"Justin's wife Lindsay disappeared about eight months ago." Theresa clarified. "He got a call from the investigator that there was a woman in Chicago who fit Lindsay's description."

"Wow." Fox replied.

"There's more." Theresa said. "Apparently that woman happens to be eight months pregnant."

"I had no idea." Fox said placing his arm around Theresa.

"Yeah," Theresa said. "Justin's leaving for Chicago first thing in the morning."

"Is he going alone?" Fox asked as he shut off the television.

Theresa frowned. She thought it would be best to go ahead and tell Fox. "No, I'm going with him."

"What?" Fox said in surprise. "What do you mean you're going with him?"

"Fox, Justin needs me. I'm the only person he's been able to open up to. This whole thing with his wife is eating at him. He needs all the support he can get, and I just happen to be the source of support he needs."

Fox stared at his wife in disbelief. "Theresa," He said.

"Fox," Theresa said. "Please," She pleaded. "Don't overreact about this. Justin is just a friend."

"Before you hated this guys guts!" Fox replied.

"That was before I knew about his wife. That was before Justin opened up to me."

"So you're going on a first-name basis now are you?" Fox said sarcastically.

"Fox, please don't be so difficult about this!" Theresa entreated.

"I'm sorry, but I can't help it Theresa." Fox said getting up. "Look, if you want to go to Chicago with Justin, go." Fox walked upstairs.

"Fox!" Theresa called. "Please stay and talk to me."

"There's nothing to talk about." Fox said halfway up the stairs. "If you want to go, then go. That's all there is to it."

"No it's not." Theresa mumbled. Theresa knew that there was more to it than Fox would admit. She just hoped that it would all clear up soon because it was already putting a strain on their marriage. "This marriage thing is tough." Theresa pouted.

~*~