Mason stood by the nursery window, hands shoved deep in to the pockets of his jeans, his forehead pressed against the cold glass. On the other side, Neave lay sleeping in her bassinet, wrapped in a soft white blanket. Tiny. Fragile. Her chest moving in a relaxed pace with each little breath she took. It was the most surreal thing, how a single moment could make him feel so full of love. It should've been a moment of pure joy, but all he could feel was a knot of guilt in his stomach.
He had everything he'd ever wanted: the woman he loved, a daughter of his own. And yet, there was the secret. The one he hadn't shared with Alex. The secret that gnawed at him, dark and relentless.
The other child. The one he'd never told anyone about.
"How long did you think you could keep it a secret?"
Mason didn't have to turn around to know who it was. Harper's voice was sharp and laced with accusation. She stood a few feet behind him, arms crossed tightly, eyes burning into him.
"Keep what a secret?" Mason muttered, his voice low.
"That Juliet was the mother of your baby?" Harper's voice dropped, but it was no less intense. She took a step closer, narrowing her eyes. "I'm right, aren't I?"
Mason's stomach plummeted, his jaw clenched, but he couldn't bring himself to look at her. Not when it felt like everything was about to shatter.
"I don't know what you're talking about," he said, his voice unsteady despite his efforts to remain calm.
"Bullshit." Harper's voice was harsh, cutting through the air. "You think I wouldn't figure it out? The day you slip up and mention you have a secret kid, Alex finds out Juliet, your ex-girlfriend, gave a baby up for adoption?"
Mason's heart hammered in his chest, but still, he didn't face her. He couldn't. "I didn't think Juliet would ever say anything..."
Harper's eyes softened, but the frustration still lingered, evident in the tightness of her expression. "And you don't think Justin will find out? It's only a matter of time. Alex is already planning to tell her mom!"
Mason swallowed hard, the lump in his throat growing with each word. "Don't you think I know that?" He looked over at her, biting his lip, his voice barely a whisper. "I don't know how to tell her, Harper. I never planned on telling anyone. I don't want to lose what I have with Alex. I don't want to hurt her."
Harper stepped closer, her eyes searching his face, softening with a mix of sympathy and worry. "Mason, you and Juliet are in way too deep. Keeping this from Alex and Justin is going to hurt them even more than anything. The longer you wait, the worse it will be. They both deserve the truth."
"I know," Mason murmured, his heart heavy. He felt like he was suffocating. "I just… I don't know how to make her understand. How do you tell someone you love that you've been hiding that you have another child, who's not a part of your life?"
Harper's expression shifted, her anger replaced by a quiet understanding. She placed a hand on his arm, "You just tell her, Mason. Because if you don't, the longer you wait, the harder it's going to be."
Mason closed his eyes, her words pressing down on him like a weight. "I'll tell her," he whispered. "I will. But not yet. Not now. Please… just give me some time. Let me talk to Juliet first."
Harper's gaze lingered on him for a long moment, unreadable. Then, with a sigh, she nodded. "Okay. But don't wait too long."
Mason's eyes drifted back to the little girl in the bassinet. He knew Harper was right. He couldn't keep living with this secret. Sooner or later, Alex would have to know.
Then came the sound of footsteps—sharp, quick, and uneven.
"Mason. Harper…"
Startled, Mason turned only to see Justin stood a few paces away, his face tight and his eyes red. There was something off about him, his hands were buried deep in his pockets, his shoulders hunched over. "How's she doing? Alex resting?"
Mason forced a smile. "Yeah, she's catching some sleep while she can…"
Harper, standing further back, crossed her arms, studying Justin carefully. "What's wrong Justin?" She asked, trying to hide the tension creeping up her spine. "Where's Juliet?" The air between the three of them felt thick with unspoken tension.
Justin didn't respond immediately. His eyes snapped to her, looking momentarily taken off guard. Then his face tightened, "She… we broke up," he muttered, his voice quiet. "Juliet and I. We're not together anymore."
The air grew colder, heavier. Mason's stomach twisted. He glanced at Harper, who's face had whitened. Her eyes darted between Mason and Justin, but neither of them spoke. The silence stretched,
"You okay?" Harper asked, her voice strained as she interrupted the quiet.
"Better than I thought," he shrugged, "I thought she was the one… but I guess… I don't know what happened. She's just gone."
Harper moved towards him, her eyes briefly flicking to Mason. He was still, lost in his thoughts. "She didn't say why?" She pressed.
Justin's gaze drifted to the baby in the bassinet, "Yeah," he muttered. "She said everything that happened today made her realize we could never have this, that we could never grow old together. And she wants me to have a family. She's right, I guess. I should've seen it coming."
Mason's mind spun, but he forced himself to focus. This wasn't about him. But then Justin's gaze flicked to Mason. "You good, Mason?" He asked, his tone sharper now, as though sensing the shift in the air.
Mason's heart skipped. "Yeah, I'm fine," he said quickly, forcing a smile. "I'm sorry about you and Juliet…"
Justin raised an eyebrow but didn't push. "Yeah, it's just one of those things." He sighed, a little quieter now. "Guess it wasn't meant to be. But at least now I can be around more.
Mason nodded, guilt crashing over him again. Harper shot him a look—a silent warning, but she didn't speak. For now, Mason could only nod, trying to push the panic down. He forced himself to look at the baby again. But the truth gnawed at him. He tried to refocus on what mattered right now, his daughter. But the truth was, the harder he tried to stay grounded in this moment, the harder it became to ignore the danger of what was still hidden
And sooner or later, it would all come to light.
Oh dear... What will they do now?...
Sorry for the short chapter, but hopefully the next one will make up for it! And what did you all think of the finale on Friday?!