Second Chance

A friend said

"Room 25"

"I found someone who can help us score a cheap place to live, far away from Marcus," I told Angelina. She nodded as she turned the key, swinging the door open.

I clutched my luggage tightly and approached the entrance, only to have Angelina block my path. "You know, you still have the option to go," she said. "If you care about Marcus and want to be with him, don’t let everything that's happened change how you feel."

I stared at her, blinking a few times to gather my thoughts, then leaned against the wall, trying to catch my breath from laughing. Angelina stepped into the room, pulling her suitcase behind her.

"If you join me here right now, you might end up dealing with my silliness for the long run. Hope you're prepared for that," she said, a hint of pride in her voice.

"It's really not a tough choice," I responded. "Honestly, I’m not into your 'honey boo' Marcus anyway.” She laughed at that, her dimples lighting up her face. "Sure", she interjected rolling her suitcase as she walked towards the bed.

1 hour later, Caris Hotel.

*Sniffle*

"I patted her head softly, trying to offer any comfort I could. I could tell she was about to crumble into tears. Back at Marcus's, she had put on this convincing front, acting like everything was fine. But now, it all came pouring out.

Honestly, part of me was relieved to see her cry; I knew Angelina had been pretending to be okay to save face, but a little fear crept in. What if she was starting to become like me? Bottling everything up inside, keeping the world from seeing what really went on in my head—it's a lonely place to be. I never want anyone else to experience that.

"What's next?" Angelina asked, lifting her head from my lap. I tapped my finger on the table, pondering what wisdom I could share. The main issue wasn’t just that Marcus had dumped her; it was the weight of the secret she was carrying—she was going to be a mom."

“When did you find out?” I asked, realizing I still didn’t have the full story. She let out a sigh and looked down at her legs, rubbing them gently. “It was the day after you came. I went to the doctor because I was feeling a bit off. That’s when I found out.”

“Why didn’t you tell him? Were you hoping to surprise him?” I asked, wondering if I was coming on too strong. “I was scared he might want me to terminate the pregnancy. I had no idea how he would react,” she replied, now nervously scratching at her legs.

She leaned back, feet on the bed, propping them up until her chin rested on her knees. “I-I don’t know what to do, Kourtney. I can’t give up on this baby. I just can’t. So please, tell me, WHAT DO I DO?!!” she shouted, her voice cracking as she buried her face into the pillow.

I softly placed my hand on her head, running my fingers through her hair. “The only thing you can do is live,” I said gently.

She lifted her head from the drenched pillow and glanced at me. "Live?" she inquired. I gave a nod and replied, "You need to live for yourself and this baby. When you embrace life, you find your strength—that's the only way forward." I continued to gently stroke her short brunette hair.

Angelina chuckled softly, “I wasn't planning to kick the bucket, you know! I just worry there might not be a path ahead for me.”

“Not living doesn’t mean you’re dead,” I told her, reaching out my hand. “Come on, let’s step outside for some fresh air.” She took my hand and got off the bed, saying, “You’re right.”

As we walked out of the room, she wrapped an arm around my neck and leaned her head on my shoulder.

Louis dialed the number he finally remembered—the one Oscar had given him when he needed to track down his wife, Kourtney Millers. A deep voice answered, “Hello, who is this?” Louis brushed his bangs out of his face and replied, “Is this Mr. Derson, Mr. Miller’s lawyer?”

“I’ll ask again: who are you?”

Louis sighed, running his fingers through his hair. “It’s Louis Lidgleton. I trust your client has told you plenty about me.” Mr. Derson nearly dropped his teacup but quickly regained his composure with a cough.

“I apologize for my earlier tone. What can I do for you?” he asked, hoping for some understanding of his abruptness.

A sly smile crept onto Louis's face—he relished the trace of fear behind the apology. “I need to know where Kourtney Millers is,” he stated plainly. Mr. Derson set his teacup down carefully on the saucer, exhaling a heavy sigh.

"I had a chat with Mrs. Millers, and according to her, she's not interested," Mr. Derson added. Louis raised an eyebrow at this revelation. "Not interested in what, marrying me?" he asked, curiosity piqued.

Mr. Derson nodded, though Louis couldn't see him. "That's right," he confirmed. Louis fell silent for a moment as he processed this surprising news, then burst into laughter. "When did this suddenly become a topic of interest?" he chuckled, leaning closer to the steering wheel. "I don't know what Oscar whispered in your ear, but trust me, he owes me, and Kourtney is the price."

Mr. Derson took a brief pause, sipping his tea as he absorbed the situation. He wasn't exactly shocked; he'd seen Oscar pull off much wilder schemes. "I don’t know where she is," he said into the phone. "But I'll let you know if I find out."

As Louis ended the call, he turned to Zena, who was munching on chips in the passenger seat. He gave her a signal, and she nodded while putting on her reading glasses.

Mr. Derson sat there, watching the tea cool down with each passing second. He couldn’t help but think about how Oscar’s shadow seemed to loom over everyone, especially Kourtney.

He felt guilty for what he was about to admit, but when Oscar passed away, a strange relief washed over him. The thought of Kourtney finally being free from his grasp filled him with a happiness that he didn't expect. But things weren’t as simple as that—Oscar still had a hold on her life, even from beyond the grave.

"I can’t let this continue," he thought, taking another sip of his tea. Leaning back in his chair, he began to contemplate his next move.

"In the worst-case scenario, I might have to Kill Louis Lidgleton"."