Tangled Hearts

Chapter 15: Unsettled Affairs

Cathy Chan tightened her grip on the steering wheel, her mind still reeling from the email she had received earlier. The bank's notification about her missed mortgage payment had sent a shockwave through her already fragile sense of stability. She couldn’t believe she had let this happen. How had things gotten so out of hand? Cathy mentally calculated the expenses she would need to cut back on, but no matter how she sliced it, the numbers weren’t adding up.

As she turned into the driveway of Rey’s house, Cathy took a deep breath, willing herself to stay focused. Elijah was waiting for her, and she needed to keep it together for his sake. She couldn’t let him see the turmoil she was going through—not when his world was already complicated enough.

She parked the car and made her way up the steps, forcing a calm expression onto her face. Just as she reached the door and knocked, it swung open to reveal Eloise, standing side by side with Rey.

“Cathy,” Eloise greeted her, her voice dripping with faux sweetness. “How’s my dear stepsister doing these days?”

Cathy forced herself to stay composed, meeting Eloise’s gaze without flinching. “I’m fine, Eloise. I’m here to pick up Elijah.”

Eloise’s smile widened, a hint of malice gleaming in her eyes. “Of course you are. But first, I should let you know—Rey and I are back together. Isn’t that wonderful?”

Cathy felt a pang in her chest at Eloise’s words, but she masked her reaction, refusing to let them see how much it hurt. She had suspected as much after seeing them together at the cemetery, but hearing it confirmed was like salt in an open wound.

“Good for you,” Cathy replied evenly, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to get Elijah.”

Rey stepped forward, his expression neutral but with a hint of impatience. “He’s in the pool, and he’s having a good time. Can’t you let him enjoy himself for a little longer?”

Cathy turned to Rey, her eyes narrowing slightly. “He has homework to finish, Rey. You know how important it is to keep him on track.”

Eloise tilted her head, her tone turning mockingly sympathetic. “Oh, Cathy, always so serious. You should learn to relax a little. Let the boy have some fun. Isn’t that what matters most?”

Cathy clenched her fists at her sides, but she kept her voice calm. “Elijah’s education matters too. I’m not saying he can’t have fun, but there has to be a balance.”

Eloise’s smile faltered, the mask of politeness slipping as she realized Cathy wasn’t rising to the bait. “You always did think you knew best, didn’t you? But look where that got you—alone, while Rey and I are finally where we belong.”

The words stung, but Cathy had expected this. She could feel Eloise’s frustration growing as Cathy refused to engage in a shouting match. She knew Eloise wanted to see her break down, to see her defeated, but Cathy wasn’t going to give her that satisfaction.

“Congratulations,” Cathy said, her voice even. “But this isn’t about us. It’s about Elijah.”

Eloise’s eyes flashed with anger, but before she could respond, Cathy turned to Rey. “I’ll talk to him, Rey. I’m not here to ruin his fun. I just want to make sure he gets everything done.”

Rey hesitated, glancing at Eloise, who gave him a look of annoyance before stepping aside. He sighed, clearly annoyed by the situation. “Fine, go ahead. But don’t upset him.”

Cathy nodded, swallowing back the lump in her throat as she walked past them and out to the backyard. The sight of Elijah, splashing happily in the pool, brought a bittersweet smile to her face. His joy was infectious, and for a moment, it almost made her forget the pain of the confrontation inside.

“Mama!” Elijah called out excitedly when he saw her. “Look! I can swim all the way to the other side!”

“That’s wonderful, sweetheart,” Cathy said, her heart clenching at how easily her son’s happiness could soothe her pain. But she knew she couldn’t delay what she needed to say. “It’s almost time to go home, Elijah. You’ve had a long day, and we still have some things to do.”

Elijah’s face fell, his lower lip trembling. “But I don’t want to go yet! Can’t I swim for just a little longer? Please, Mama?”

Cathy’s resolve nearly crumbled at his pleading eyes, but she knew she had to stand firm. “You know we have a routine, Elijah. But I’ll tell you what—we’ll set a timer. Fifteen more minutes, and then we’ll head home. Okay?”

Elijah sniffled but nodded, accepting the compromise. “Okay… fifteen minutes.”

Cathy set the timer on her phone, then knelt by the edge of the pool, watching as Elijah swam back and forth, the water shimmering under the fading sunlight. Those fifteen minutes felt like the longest of her life. She could feel the weight of Rey and Eloise’s presence behind her, and could almost hear their silent judgment.

Every stroke Elijah took, every splash he made, was like a countdown in Cathy’s mind. She couldn’t stop thinking about the email from the bank, the sting of Eloise’s words, and the crushing realization that Rey had truly moved on. The life she had fought so hard to build was unraveling before her eyes, and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

When the timer finally went off, Cathy felt a strange mixture of relief and dread. She called to Elijah, who reluctantly climbed out of the pool, shivering as she wrapped him in a towel.

“Come on, love,” Cathy said gently, brushing a strand of wet hair off his forehead. “Let’s get you dried off and dressed.”

Elijah nodded, too tired to argue anymore. As Cathy led him back inside, she caught a glimpse of Eloise’s smirk, but she didn’t let it rattle her. She had endured worse than this, and she would continue to endure whatever came next.

“Goodbye, Elijah,” Eloise said sweetly, bending down to kiss his cheek. “We’ll see you soon, okay?”

Elijah nodded, giving her a small smile before turning back to Cathy. She could feel Rey’s eyes on her as she helped Elijah into his clothes, but she refused to look at him. The sting of betrayal was still too fresh, and she knew that if she looked at him, all the emotions she had been holding back would come rushing to the surface.

“Thank you,” Cathy said simply as she took Elijah’s hand and led him toward the door. She didn’t wait for a response, didn’t give them a chance to say anything more. She needed to get out of there, to put some distance between herself and the painful memories that this house now held.

As she buckled Elijah into the car and started the engine, Cathy allowed herself a moment to breathe. The past few hours had been a whirlwind of emotions, and she felt like she was teetering on the edge of a breakdown. But she couldn’t afford to fall apart—not now, not with Elijah depending on her.

As they drove away, Elijah talked happily about his day, oblivious to the tension that had filled the air. Cathy listened with half an ear, nodding and smiling at the appropriate moments, but her mind was elsewhere. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she was losing control, that everything she had worked so hard for was slipping through her fingers.

But as she glanced in the rearview mirror and saw Elijah’s bright, innocent smile, Cathy reminded herself of what truly mattered. She would find a way to make things right—she had to. For Elijah, and for herself.