17



Ethan appeared dumbfounded as Theresa and Fox sent him looks of disgust and annoyance. "Theresa asked you a question," Fox said icily. He stepped protectively behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. "What's he got up his sleeve now?" Fox wondered.

"I wanted to see you, Theresa." Ethan said in a slow exaggerated tone. "I was worried about you." Ethan's nerves were on the fritz as he looked into Theresa's eyes. Never had he ever seen so much hatred. Never had he ever seen so much pain. Fear seized Ethan as he stood shakily before Theresa's penetrating gaze.

Theresa rolled her eyes. "You worried about me?" Theresa laughed bitterly as she crossed her arms. "He has some nerve," Theresa thought to herself in disbelief.

"Theresa, please don't be like this." Ethan pleaded as he reached out to her.

Theresa pushed his arm away. "Ethan you abandoned me when I needed you the most. How can you expect me to act as if nothing happened?"

"I didn't abandon you." Ethan said quietly.

"Then what would you call it?" Theresa snapped. Theresa felt Fox give her a slight yet encouraging squeeze.

Ethan swallowed and nervously fiddled with his hands. "I-I think it's time I told you the truth~" Ethan's voice trailed off as he resorted to staring at the floor.

"The truth about what?" Theresa asked warily. Theresa could distinguish something odd in Ethan's tone. She didn't like the sound of it at all. Fox sensed her uneasiness and instinctively placed and arm around her waist. Ethan noticed and sent a hard stare in Fox's direction.

"Could you excuse us Fox?" Ethan asked abruptly.

Fox glared at Ethan. He already sensed that Ethan was going to try to elicit sympathy and remorse from Theresa in order to dissolve her feelings of hatred.

"There he goes again," Fox thought angrily to himself. "He's going to try to reel her in. Then he'll end up hurting her again."

"Fox?" Ethan said annoyed. "Would you leave please?" Fox tensed. Theresa eyed him intently and reached for his hand. Fox immediately relaxed. "It's okay." Theresa said softly so that only Fox could hear. "I'll be fine."

"Are you sure?" Fox asked. Ethan jealousy watched from a distance. He clenched his jaw and crossed his arms as he watched Fox and Theresa with a disapproving gaze.

Theresa nodded. "Just give me a few minutes."

Fox reluctantly left the room. When Theresa turned back to Ethan her demeanor had changed back to the icy and indifferent woman she had become whenever Ethan was in her presence. "You have something to tell me." She stated rather than asked.

Ethan took a deep breath. "You think I've abandoned you~" He began shakily.

"No, Ethan. I don't think you abandoned me. I know you did." Theresa interrupted.

"You don't know the whole story." Ethan stated.

"What's there to know? Little Ethan and I needed you, but what happened? You turned your back on us. I never thought you would stoop as low as Rebecca and Julian by siding with them throughout the whole custody case."

"I didn't side with them!" Ethan argued. "Like I said, Theresa, you don't know the whole story."

"Fine. Enlighten me." Theresa replied.

Ethan cleared his throat. Theresa tapped her fingers impatiently against her arm. "Well?" She asked. "On with it. I don't have all day."

"I don't know exactly how to put this~" Ethan said as he put his hands in his pockets.

Theresa rolled her eyes again. "My God, Ethan!" She said exasperated. "Will you just say it?"

"I secretly paid for your legal expenses." Ethan blurted out.

"You what?" Theresa asked baffled. She sat on the couch and watched Ethan with dubious eyes.

"Woody wasn't giving his services for free. I paid for them. He just pretended that they were free so you wouldn't know that I was behind it." Ethan would not look away. Theresa shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. As his words sunk in, more doubt clouded her mind. "You're lying." She said in a low menacing tone. "You're making it up."

It was Ethan's turn to become baffled. He stepped back with his eyes and jaw wide open in shock. "Theresa, why would I lie about something like that?"

Theresa averted her gaze and frowned. She refused to answer him. "Theresa, I swear that I am not lying to you." Ethan sat beside her on the couch. "I swear on my daughter's grave that I am not lying to you."

The mention of Ethan's dead baby daughter hit Theresa with a rush of painful memories. Fresh in her mind, Theresa felt every pang of sadness and felt as though her soul was being invaded with darkness that clouded her vision with pessimism. "Why did you have to say that?" Theresa asked hoarsely as her eyes watered. "Why did you have to say that?" She repeated again. Theresa bent her head to hide the tears that were threatening to fall. Ethan placed his hand on her back and made Theresa wince from his touch. "Don't." Theresa said.

Ethan sat back and watched Theresa. "There's more Theresa," He said quietly.

"Oh God," Theresa thought with dread. She already sensed that he was going to voice something that she did not wish to hear.

"I- I still love~"

"Stop right there." Theresa interrupted shaking her head. "Don't you dare tell me that you're still in love with me."

"But~" Ethan protested.

"No, buts Ethan. You made your choice. You chose Gwen." Theresa said firmly. "I'm sick of it, Ethan. I'm sick of being reeled in only to be hurt again."

"I can't help how I feel," Ethan protested.

"You're despicable. Where do you get your nerve? You're a married man Ethan, yet you have the gall to tell another woman that you love her."

"I know you still love me." Ethan said quietly.

"I'm getting over it." Theresa snapped. "I've found someone else to love."

"Who, Fox?" Ethan asked disgusted.

Theresa glared at Ethan. "There is nothing wrong with him." She said unfalteringly.

"He hurt you too." Ethan said frowning. When Theresa did not respond Ethan decided to give Theresa a reminder. "How about I refresh your memory? He's Whitney's boyfriend."

"You damn bastard." Theresa hissed.

"It's the truth," Ethan said. "You can't deny it."

"I hate you Ethan," Theresa said in a menacing tone. "I hate you!" She yelled as she hit him hard across the cheek. The hard smack of Theresa's hand against Ethan's cheek seemed to echo throughout the house. Fox came running into the room. "What's going on?" He asked.

Ethan held his own hand against his cheek. He looked at Theresa with disbelieving eyes.

"What happened?" Fox repeated.

Theresa crossed her arms and looked directly at her ex-fiancé. "Ethan was just leaving."

~*~