9--Never Giving Up
"Oh, God, what have I done?" Ethan says to himself out loud, realizing what's really in his heart."
"Ethan, I'll ask this again. Who do you want to be with, Theresa or Gwen?" Sam says, looking intently at his son.
"Dad, I.."
"No, no excuses. Say what's in your heart. Who do you want to be with, Ethan? Gwen, or Theresa?"
Closing his eyes, Ethan sighs and whispers. "Theresa. It's always been Theresa."
Putting a hand on his son's shoulder, Sam shakes Ethan slightly. "Sometimes, Ethan, you can't always do the honorable thing."
"But, dad, I wanted to follow your example…"
"No. My life is not one to be followed. I let lies and deceit ruin the first chance I had with your mother. While I don't regret my life with Grace because of our children, I am eternally grateful that God gave me a second chance with your mother."
"But..."
"No buts, Ethan. No one is perfect, son. We all make mistakes. Apparently, you and I are a lot alike in that we don't want to hurt the real women we love, but we end up doing just that."
"Dad, what should I do?"
"Follow your heart, Ethan. Be with the woman you want to spend the rest of your life with."
With that advice, Ethan gets up, hugs his father, and then walks out of the house.
"I can't live without you, Theresa, now I just need to figure out what to do next."
Later on in the day
After taking his stuff out of the mansion, Ethan drives in his car, reflecting on the confrontation with Gwen…
Flashback
Walking into the mansion, Ethan sighed as he heard the voices of his wife and mother-in-law in the living room…
'I'm telling you Gwen, your husband is with that little tart Tacosita!'
'Mother, just stop, alright? There's no way that Ethan was with Theresa.'
'Gwen, I'm telling you we have to keep making sure that Ethan stays far away from that tramp! She'll get her claws into him so fast.'
'Thank you, mother, I'm well aware of that. That's why we sent the tabloid out, so that Ethan wouldn't marry Theresa. That's why I've done EVERYTHING in my power to get Ethan to stay with me in the mansion. I love living the high life, just like you taught me.'
Having heard enough, Ethan storms into the living room, throwing his wedding band to the ground. "You are nothing but a lowlife scum and I'm sorry I EVER married you!"
"Ethan, what did you hear?"
"Enough to know that my marriage has been a lie from the start! How could you, Gwen? How could you let jealousy for Theresa empower your choices? How could you lead me on this way? Who the hell are you Gwen?'
'I'm the woman you married! I'm the woman you love! Why does it always have to be about Theresa with you!'
Having heard enough, Ethan yells back. "BECAUSE THERESA IS THE LOVE OF MY LIFE!"
End flashback
"I should have followed my heart all along. Theresa is the love of my life, and I need to be with her….only her…"
Staring at his now bare left ring finger, Ethan smiles slightly. "One day, my love, we will be husband and wife…the way we planned all along…"
Grabbing his cell phone, Ethan dials Theresa's number. "Theresa, don't say anything, just please meet me at the park." Not letting her answer, Ethan hangs up the phone and prays. Please, God, let this work…
Coming Up
Ethan and Theresa meet up!