Two people were sitting across the table but neither of them agreed to start the conversation. He examined her who had her head down and was staring at the tablecloth’s design as if it was most interesting thing in the world.
There was an awkward silence and at last, getting tired of it, he broke the ice.
“I assume you called me here to discuss something.” He asked her nonchalantly. She lifted her head and glanced at his icy blue ponds that held her captive for so long, she quickly averted her eye afraid of getting lost in them.
“Get a grip Mandy, be strong.” She scolded herself inwardly for being weak against his gaze. Even after all those years and his betrayal, her heart was beating for him and she hated it. Clearing her throat, she spoke.
“Um…..Yes….actually, I…… wanted to talk about Gwen. I… want her to live with me.”
“What do you mean.”
“I want to apply for her full custody.” She managed to state without stammering this time. However, noticing his jaw clinched upon hearing, her heart sank.
“And what made you think I would agree to that?” He questioned with piercing glare.
“Alex, I am also her parent and that gives me an equal right, secondly, Gwen also wants to stay with me and she is coming to her age when she needs a woman whom she trusts and can freely talk about any of her problems and being her mother it’s also my responsibility to take care of her, Burying her anxiety, she stated as a matter of fact.
“I never knew you had such bad memory that you can’t even recall when you left her for a whole month, and she was just 4 years old kid and you say you are her parent? weren’t she your responsibility back then? Don’t you think she needed you more than now?”
She grimaced at his sarcastic tone but deep within her heart, anger start to well up, how dare he said it like it was all her fault.
“And I am surprised to know you don’t member what was the reason behind it.” she said sharply glaring at him.
“You didn’t give me a single chance to explain, you only believed what HE told you, in truth you never trusted me, instead you blindly followed him.” He was still blaming her as he was innocent, she snapped.
“Oh so I am the dishonest one here? You are still blaming me? even now you think you have room to talk about trust when you cheated on me.”
“I never cheated on you, I was drugged, and I tried to explain, Mandy you are the only
“Enough, I want don’t to hear it, she shouted trembling with anger. But when she noticed the people present in the cafe turning their head and their inquisitive glances, she frowned then inhaling deeply and swallowing her anger she continued.
“Alex, I am not saying what I did was right or acceptable in anyway nor I want to talk about our past, I just want to live with my daughter, I also don’t want fight for her custody in court, so can please try to understand it for Gwen’s sake.”
“Will you never listen to my explanation and hate me forever?” his voice was filled with grief. But she couldn’t say anything, she kept quiet, after a while he spoke again.
Hey! Mandy, did you really believe I could do that, I mean wasn’t there a single moment you thought I would never do that?” he asked her hoping she would say she doubted.
She could feel the moisture in his voice, he looked like a defeated solider whose life depended on few words that would come out of her mouth. She felt like losing the inner battle so she bit her lower lip fearing she might say what her heart wanted.
“As I said earlier, it’s not about us anymore, it’s about Gwen and her well-being.” She managed to utter a response but her own words pierced her heart like sharp blades.
“You left me and now you are taking her too? don’t you think it’s too cruel?
"........."
"But of course, it’s not about me, it was never about me to begin with right?" He said laughing dryly and got up. She couldn’t say anything.
“Alright Mrs. Eastwood, you won this time too.” Saying coldly, he turned and left.
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