Reevaluating for True Love

Lindsay glanced at me, her face flashing with impatience.

Nick looked surprised, then put on a fake smile. "Santos? Are you here to pick up Lindsay?"

I looked down. "No."

I tried to leave, but Lindsay grabbed my hand and complained, "Why are you watching me like a hawk? I'm just helping a friend. Did you follow me here? Afraid I'm cheating?"

She thought I was there for her. I used to hate her meeting Nick and always tried to keep them apart.

I didn't care anymore. I brushed her hand off like a speck of dust. "Excuse me."

I wanted no more to do with them, but Nick wasn't done.

He stepped forward. "Santos, Kim cried for his mom all day yesterday. I had Lindsay check on him. He's got a fever, so we came to the hospital. Nothing is going on. Don't be mad."

Lindsay frowned. "Why tell him all that? It's none of his business where I go."

Strangely, I wasn't trying to butt in. I didn't get why they were making excuses. "Well, have a nice time. Can I go now?"

Nick jumped back in shock. Lindsay snapped, "Santos, where are your manners? Nick's just explaining. Why the attitude?"

What was wrong with my attitude?

I felt dead tired. I didn't want to argue or explain. With my mother's death notice in my hand, I just wanted to take her home.

I ignored Lindsay and walked past her. Her face finally changed. She tried to stop me. "Don't be angry, Santos. When Kim's better, I'll visit your mom with you. Didn't she say she missed me?"

So, Lindsay knew. She knew my mother missed her but ignored it, using it as a bargaining chip.

I looked at her coldly. "Aren't you the one making me angry?"

Lindsay seemed surprised by my tone. She licked her lips nervously. I couldn't be bothered to hear her excuses. I turned to leave, but then a sharp pain shot through me.

"Ah!" The child Lindsay was holding yanked my hair hard. I'd fainted in the snow yesterday and barely eaten. I was weak as a kitten. The pull made me stumble back into Lindsay.

The boy let out an ear-splitting wail.

"Daddy! It hurts! He hit me on purpose! My hand hurts!"

"Santos! Kim's just a child!" Lindsay backed away, shielding the boy.

Nick rushed over and shoved me hard. I fell on my butt, pain shooting through me. I looked up to see Lindsay comforting the child while Nick fretted over his hand. "Does it hurt, Kim? I'm so sorry, it's my fault. I didn't think he'd hurt a child."

Nick glared at me. "Santos, I know you don't like Lindsay and me together. But Kim's innocent. How could you do this to a four-year-old child?"

I stared at the boy in Lindsay's arms. He was draped over her, making faces at me. Did a four-year-old child really know nothing?

If so, how could he pinch his own hand purple and then blame me? How could he repeatedly bump Lindsay's belly when she was pregnant? If he hadn't scattered marbles in my house on purpose, how could my mother have slipped?

I couldn't help but laugh. Only Lindsay would see him as an innocent child.

I found it darkly funny. Because of them, I'd lost my mother forever.

I slowly pulled myself up. Lindsay's anger seemed to fade as she remembered something. Her tone softened, and she tried to help me up. "Are you okay? Does it hurt? Should we check you out?"

"No need. I'm leaving," I said coldly.

"Check your messages." I'd decided to divorce her and had a lawyer prepare the papers.

Lindsay relaxed when I mentioned the messages. She probably thought I was going to make some demand.

She patted the child. "Okay, I'll check out soon."

I glanced at her and then left without another word.

This time, Lindsay didn't try to stop me.

As I turned the corner, I heard Lindsay on the phone with her secretary. "Which gift did Santos pick out for his mother before? Yeah, wrap that up for me."