A Vow Unfulfilled

The situation was at a standstill when my phone rang. The number was unfamiliar. But when I answered, Lionel's anxious voice came from the other end.

"Clyde, is Riri with you? I can't reach her, and the baby won't stop crying. He must be missing his mom," Lionel said.

"Why the hell are you calling me to look for Rhiannon?" I shouted before hanging up and blocking the number.

Rhiannon became furious when she saw this. She glared at me and reproached me for being petty. Then, she immediately called Lionel back.

"I'll be right over," Rhiannon said urgently. I could hear the baby crying on the other end of the call.

My mom stepped in to stop her from leaving, saying that we needed to settle things here first.

Rhiannon shook off my mom's hand and stated righteously, "The baby can't be without his mom."

My mom stood where she was and stared at Rhiannon's retreating back helplessly. She said with resignation, "There's nothing left to discuss. Just return the money. We'll just take it that Clyde was unlucky in love. We won't spread this matter around to save Riri's reputation."

"Return the money? What a joke!" Irene shot up from her seat, pointing her finger at my mom. "They've been dating for years, and they've even slept together. What's this? Do you think Clyde can just walk away after getting to enjoy everything for free?"

"Excuse me?" I blurted.

I was stunned by their shamelessness. Not only did they refuse to return the monetary gift or the house and car, but they even demanded additional compensation for emotional distress.

"Riri gave her best years to your son. Asking for compensation is perfectly reasonable, isn't it?" Irene said with a sneer.

"You… You people…" My mom was so furious that she was at a loss for words.

I decided there was no point in further discussion. It was time to call the police to evict the unwanted people from my house.

There was nothing left to discuss with Rhiannon, so I no longer bothered to be nice to her parents.

Irene continued shouting insults, her words getting nastier by the minute. "Your son is just jealous. You're such a petty man! Let's see who will marry him if he breaks things off with Riri. Don't come crying when he ends up alone and miserable!

"We're not returning the money. Over our dead bodies!"

"You… You…" My mom gasped for breath, her face turning pale before she collapsed to the floor. My dad panicked when that happened.

I immediately called for an ambulance, urging my mom not to stress herself out as her consciousness drifted in and out.

There was no point in trying to resolve this matter amicably anymore. I swore not to let Rhiannon off the hook.

As my mom was taken into emergency care, my dad and I spent a restless night waiting outside. By chance, I scrolled through Lionel's social media and saw a photo he had posted in the middle of the night. It was of Rhiannon nursing the baby, with her face blurred out.

The caption read, "I am the happiest man in the world."

Rhiannon had replied with a blushing emoji, making it clear she didn't mind the implication of their relationship. I silently blocked all of Lionel's social media accounts—out of sight, out of mind.

Thankfully, my mom was fine. I let out a sigh of relief, but the doctor warned us she couldn't handle any more stress.

"I feel so useless," my mom said weakly. "I was so angry and wanted to speak up for you, but my body couldn't take it."

I reassured her firmly, "You and Dad just focus on taking care of yourselves. I'll get the money back, and I'll make sure Rhiannon apologizes to both of you."

My mom sighed and lamented, "How did such a happy occasion turn into this mess?"

The Tates were shameless, but that didn't mean we should stoop to their level. We didn't bother dragging things out with them. I contacted a lawyer and filed a police report.

The next day, Rhiannon showed up with some fruit and gifts, saying she wanted to visit my mom. She claimed she hadn't realized how serious things had become.

"I'm sorry, Clyde. I apologize for everything, but we've been together for so many years. Do we really need to end things so bitterly?" Rhiannon said in a small voice that held a hint of a sob.

With pleading eyes, she asked, "Can we not break up? I saw the wedding decorations you prepared and the custom wedding dress you ordered for me. I want to go try it on. Won't you come with me, please?"

I had imagined countless times what it would look like when Rhiannon walked down the aisle toward me in her wedding dress. I had envisioned her as the most beautiful bride in the world.

But all those dreams shattered the moment she got pregnant with Lionel's child—or rather, the moment she couldn't untangle herself from Lionel. She had crossed the line time and time again, and I was exhausted.

Soon, Lionel arrived as well. He handed me an envelope and said, "Listen to me, Clyde. Riri is like a sister to me, and there's nothing more to it."

He explained that they had grown up together, and if there had ever been anything between them, they would have gotten married long ago.

"Don't take advantage of Riri's love for you and her tolerance to do whatever you want," Lionel said protectively, standing by Rhiannon. "I'm practically her family now."

"Hah! How ridiculous," I spat coldly. "You came right on time. You can take over the banquet and the wedding dress. I think you two should get married instead."