Three months later,
Xanthis steadied Dre as he helped him to the car. Dre stared blankly at the space in front of him when he settled down beside the driver seat. Xanthis sighed and got into the driver seat, jamming the door shut.
"You doing okay?" He asked, although he knew his brother wasn't okay. Dre remained silent, his glassy eyes staring in front of him.
"I need to find Ellise" he finally said with a hoarse voice. Xanthis cringed, feeling sympathy for him. He couldn't believe had Ellise actually left when her husband needed her the most. It was a miracle that he'd survived his near death experience. Xanthis was worried about his brother's wellbeing. He just had an appointment with the doctor because he wasn't feeling well. The doctor had given Dre new medications because his heart condition was worsening. Valentino had been discharged from the hospital a month ago and he was upset when he heard about everything that was happening. He was hell bent on finding Nadine who had suddenly vanished after nearly killing Dre.
Xanthis heaved a sigh and turned on the ignition. He stole a glance at Dre through the mirror. He looked so pale, dark circles under his eyes. His stubble was turning into a beard, the lights in his eyes were gone and his hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail. The last time he looked this bad was after he thought he'd lost Olivia.
Dre was already miserably depressed. He needed a therapist; but knowing his brother, Xanthis knew he wouldn't agree to it.
They got to Dre's home and Xanthis parked the car. They both stepped out of the car and stared at the entrance of the house. "Everything's going to be okay" Xanthis said, placing a hand on Dre's shoulder. He bit his lip, his gaze rooted to the floor. Then, he let out a sigh and walked into the house. Xanthis' phone rang.
It was Valentino calling.
He picked the call, bringing the phone to his ear.
"Is Dre home?" Val asked.
"Yeah, he just got home" Xanthis replied.
"Guess who I found today" Val said and he frowned.
"Nadine?" Xanthis asked.
He scoffed.
"That bitch is so sneaky. I found Ellise actually. She's in Sydney. I tried to talk some sense into her but she told me that Dre filed for a divorce a month ago. She said she doesn't want to sign it"
"What? You and I both know that Dre can't do that. Didn't you tell her what happened to him?" Xanthis asked.
"I didn't get the chance to. I'm sure it wasn't Dre. It must've been that bitch. Xan, she's pregnant" he said and Xanthis' jaw dropped.
"Dre obviously doesn't know. What do we do?" He asked.
Xanthis temper was rising.
How could Nadine do this?
"Convince Ellise to call Dre. He has been trying to call her but she hasn't been picking his calls" Xanthis said.
"Okay, I'll call you later" Val replied.
...
"Ellise, you know he didn't hurt you on purpose. He needs you" Valentino said to Ellise. They were both standing on the front porch of her aunt's home. Ellise squeezed her eyes shut, her heart aching. She couldn't bear to look at him. She could see so much of Dre in him.
"He doesn't need me, don't you see? He wants a divorce" Ellise replied, tears filling her eyes.
"Aren't you just going to call him for the sake of your unborn child?" He asked.
She closed her eyes, instinctively wrapping her arms around her protruding stomach.
"Please, just call him" he said and walked away, leaving Ellise to wallow in her misery.
She went into the house and sat down on the couch. She started to recall how she'd met him, how he'd changed for her, their happy memories, the tears and the pain. She sobbed, placing a hand on her stomach. What suddenly changed? What happened to her Dre?
She sobbed harder.
"Oh dear. Do you miss him?" Her aunt who'd just walked in asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"I do. I really miss him so much. I'm hurting so bad" she sniffed.
"Then, go back to him. Talk things out with him. If you're meant to be, you'll always be together" she said.
That night, Ellise sat on the bed contemplating whether to call him or not. Her thumb lingered above the call button. She wanted to hear his voice, to know that he was okay. She tapped the call button and closed her eyes as she waited for him to pick up. He didn't pick up the call at first ring but at second ring, he picked the call.
"Ellie?"
His voice was shaky and weak, her heart shattered into pieces. Panicking, she switched off her phone.
'Oh God, what am I missing here? Did something happen to him? He isn't okay' she thought. She stood up, pacing back and forth. She took a deep breath, switched on her phone and called him again.
"Dre" she breathed.
"Ellise? Is that you?" He croaked.
"Yes, it's me" she said, fighting the urge to whimper.
"I miss you, El. Please, my love. Come back home" he sniffed and her heart got smashed into pieces. He was crying. Her husband was crying because of her.
"But the divorce papers-" she rasped.
"What divorce papers?" He said, confusion evident in his voice.
"I received divorce papers, it had your signature. I'm your wife. I know what your signature looks like" she said, frowning.
"No. No. No. Ellise, I swear I didn't- I didn't send any divorce papers. I have been in the hospital for two months. You left without saying goodbye" he rasped, hurt resounding in his voice.
"You believed Nadine. You trusted her" Ellise sobbed.
"No, it was part of her sick plan. I promise I'll tell you everything when you come home. We can figure it out together. Please, come home" he pleaded as she sobbed quietly. She wiped her eyes, taking a deep breath.
"I'll come home" she whispered.
"I'll come home tomorrow" she told him.
"I love you" he said.
"I-love you too" she sobbed with relief. He didn't hate her and that made her feel a hundred times better.
....
When Ellise arrived home the next day, CeCe opened the door. She was wearing a tired smile and Ellise was surprised to see her there. She'd travelled to Ireland few months ago.
"You're pregnant" she whispered. Ellise nodded as she took her bag. "How far along are you?" She asked.
"Five months"
"Dre is really ill, be careful with him. He hasn't been himself for a while now" she said, squeezing her hands gently.
"Thank you for being here for him even when I wasn't" Ellise choked out, guilt making her heart hurt.
"He's like a son to me. I'll always be there whenever he needs me"
Ellise smiled and went upstairs to find her husband. He was lying on the bed, covered with a blanket. But, he was shivering slightly, his longer hair sprawled across the pillow. Her heart broke again as she saw how weak and sick he looked.
"I broke him. I... I did this to him" she thought, tears filling her eyes. The guilt was stifling, she almost couldn't bear looking at Dre's vulnerable form. She moved towards the door when the tears stared to fall.
But, just before she could leave, Cecilia walked in.
"Don't leave him like this, Ellise. I know who that man who is lying on the bed used to be. He used to be ruthless and unforgiving. Emotionless and cold. But, he let you in. He wanted to keep you in his life and you walked out of his life when he needed you the most. You're his woman. Do you hear me? His woman. You are supposed to be his strength. How can you leave him like this because you feel guilty? That's not an excuse, Ellise. If you decide to walk out this door, you're a coward. So make a choice. Are you going to walk out this door and destroy your husband? Or are you going to make it up to him by supporting him and staying by his side?" She said and Ellise swallowed hard.
She wouldn't be able to live with herself if she abandoned him. Taking a deep breath, she moved towards Dre's bedside and sat down on the bed. She placed his head on her laps and a began to stroke his hair.
Cecilia smiled to herself, knowing that Ellise had chosen to stay.
Dre stirred, opening his eyes. Her heart fluttered when his green eyed gaze met hers. He reached up a shaky hand to brush her hair away from her face."Ellise. You're here" he breathed, his eyes turning glossy. She rubbed his shoulder, comforting him.
"Yes, I'm here" she replied.
"You came back" he said, dazed.
"For us" she replied.
He closed his eyes and opened them again, his gaze resting on her protruding stomach. His eyes widened, his mouth agape.
"You're pregnant"
"Yes"
"How long?" He asked.
"Five months" she replied.
He inhaled sharply, tears filling his eyes. "Why didn't you tell me? Do you hate me that much?" He asked weakly and this worsened the ache in Ellise's heart.
"I don't hate you. I can't hate you. I wanted to tell you, but I was blinded by rage" Ellise admitted.
He sighed, kissing her stomach.
"I just- feel bad, you know" he mumbled.
"Why?"
"I wasn't there for you when you first found out about the pregnancy..... I didn't go shopping with you and.....the cravings....how do you cope with it? I didn't attend the prenatal....."
Ellise's heart grew warm. Her husband was so sweet.
"Dre, it's okay. There's still four months left, you're here. We're not going anywhere. Don't feel bad" she said, stroking his hair.
He smiled, kissing the inside of her palm.
"I'm sure you want to know what actually happened" he said, closing his eyes.
"Yeah" she replied.
He told her everything, starting from how Nadine poisoned him up to that moment. She felt horrible.
She was crying by the time he finished.
"It's okay, don't cry" he said, wiping away her tears with his thumbs. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for doubting you" she cried.
"We'll find a way to bring Nadine down just like the others" he said, stroking her hair as he held sat up and held her close to himself.
"I want you to know that I trust you, I believe in you and I'll always love you, never doubt me again" he said and she nodded. "Never" she breathed.
Their promise was sealed with a kiss. Everything just felt a thousand times better.