CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE

Chapter 3: Paternity Test Results

" Go back into your room, Lily."

"I'm not going anywhere, I'm part of this family, and this argument concerns me."

" We're getting a divorce," Mason repeated, gaze fixed on Susan.

" So what now? You've not done enough, you want to ruin our family too?" The disheveled teenager referred to me.

I didn't know what to say, I had got to my breaking point, the migraine is back and I didn't have the strength to argue anymore. I didn't want to pass out there.

"I'm going to call my lawyers to get the papers started" He said, and walked down the hall to the guest room.

He didn't want to be around me, I didn't even want to be around him at this point. Heck! I hated my life.

Lily entered her room and shut the door. The bang was so hard my body jolted.

>>>

The family lawyer had given me the divorce papers to go over, and I couldn't bring myself to open it. I received it in the mail 2 days ago and since then it has lain on my dresser untouched. Lily has not said a word to me since and all attempts to talk simply irritated her.

Mason barely sleeps at home. I was shopping for a dress for Lily. Hoping the gift would soften her and make her talk to me.

I was strolling down the aisle when I heard three women whispering.

"She doesn't deserve all this luxury, sluts belong in the streets not in a mansion" the woman said in her Southern accent.

The other redhead giggled,

"I wonder what Mason saw in her. I heard Lily is not even his"

I froze and my whole body went still. Who was spreading these rumors? Everybody was talking about the divorce, I've managed to dodge paparazzi on my way here. I couldn't believe my ears. If I confronted them I'll only be feeding the social media with more things to talk about. They are just out to provoke me.

I grabbed a dress and headed to the counter to pay. I wasn't spending one more second in this place.

Immediately I stepped out, camera lights flashed in front of me, microphones and recorders attacked me from everywhere.

There's no escaping this one. Maybe I should start moving with bodyguards.

Reporter 1: "What's going on in your marriage, Mrs Pearson?"

Reporter 2: "Is Mason in love with Cassandra Williams, the movie star?"

Reporter 3:" Did you cheat on your husband? Is that why he's divorcing you?"

Reporter 2: "Can you confirm that you're the woman whose naked pictures are all over the internet?"

Reporter 1: " Is it true Mason is not Lily's biological father?"

I quickly walked back to the mall without uttering a word.

There was no way I'll leave this place by myself. I have to call Audrey.

"Hi, can you come get me?"

"What's going on you sound tensed"

" Media ambush" I simply said and I heard keys jingle from her end.

"I'll be right there. Are you alright though?" She asked concerned

"Yeah yeah just get here quick"

"I'll be there in fifteen"

"You didn't ask where I was"

" You told me you were shopping today, remember?"

" Oh Right, you'd find me in the Ladies, third stall"

" Alright" she hung up.

16 minutes later the door of the stall swung open and I saw her.

" It's a huge crowd out there but I have people currently dispersing them" She assured, still standing in front of me and holding the door.

" It's Cassandra Williams"

"What?" She raised her left brow in confusion,

" He's sleeping with Cassandra," I repeated lazily.

"That b***h!" She hissed and I chuckled

" Always knew she was a snake, lurking around him anytime she visited"

" Let me deal with her. She messes with you she messes with me"

Cassandra used to be one of us. Three. We were best friends and had met at the bar where we waited tables. While Audrey and Cassandra got scouted by big time movie stars that frequently visited the place, I was dating Mason at the time and we were already taking huge steps so I couldn't indulge in anything serious.

Cassandra was always cunning, snitching on everyone else. One time she had slept with Audrey's crush, Roland. Audrey had given her the beating of a lifetime that had her lying in a hospital bed for days while my bestfriend got charged for assault. Lily was barely 2 years old then and I had just put her to sleep when I got a call to come bail Audrey from the station.

Ever since, Audrey and Cassandra kept their distance. The truth was that Audrey’s success intimidated Cassandra.

Audrey was naturally endowed with a good body, sexy you may call her with long legs and slender arms the perfect body for a model. That's why she's made it so far in the movie industry and Cass was just her wannabe.

" Don't end up in prison, I'm not bailing you again" I said in between laughter

" Oh honey, she's not landing on a hospital bed this time. She's going 6 feet underground or better still I'll beat her to death and dump her body in the middle of the ocean" we laughed and I felt calm for the first time in days. We were still in the stall waiting for a signal from Audrey's men to come out.

"I'm sure she's the so-called anonymous feeding the public with all this information” Audrey said.

Now come to think of it, Susan said, only Cassandra and you knew things from my past, it certainly wasn't the gossipy woman in front of me, it has to be someone that knew me well and only two people fall into that category you and Cass and if it's not you then it has to be Cass.

" She better just get ready for another facial surgery because by the time I am done with her she will need it urgently, I doubt if that sorry excuse of a man that left you would still find her attractive”. She threatened and I smiled at her.

" The divorce papers came in two days ago, I haven't looked at it, I'm scared"

" Why? What are you scared of? The asshole doesn't deserve you, the only mistake you made was letting him propose the divorce, you should have left that coward a long time ago"

Gosh! I loved Audrey. She always manages to make me feel good even in the worst situations.

"Come back home with me let's open it together"

"Of course honey, I'll be there, we'd pop a bottle and celebrate your freedom"

Her phone dinged and she reached for it. That's our cue to leave.

We got into her car and she zoomed off.

The sun was setting and the sky looked beautiful. It was summer. I couldn't help but remember summer five years ago. Mason and I took a trip to Mexico. Spent most of our time on his beach island. Soaking in the sun and letting the island breeze sooth our skin. Those were good memories.

The car rolled into the parking lot and we both got out.

"Has Lily spoken to you since?" She asked as we both walked to the door.

"No, I don't see her at all"

"No matter what, she's still a child that needs an adult to guide her. Don't stop trying"

" I'll never stop, you know that" I turned my head to look at her as we stepped into the living room.

"I do, Susan" she gave a soft reassuring smile.

She walked to the kitchen to grab glasses and a bottle of wine from the fridge.

"I'll go get it" I said and went for the stairs.

I noticed the white envelope was unsealed and now laid on my bed, not the dresser where it had been. I panicked and picked it up to look at it. Then instinct had me the minute I saw those words "paternity test"

Audrey walked in

"You've been gone for…" her voice trailed off immediately she saw me standing there shaking in horror.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Her voice was gentle as she examined the paper in my hand.

"Lily is not his child and I didn't even know. She probably opened it and saw it before I did. I lost my child. She'd never forgive me now."