Always Been You

~Dante’s POV~

I couldn’t think clearly. I stood there watching Dr. Blackwood’s car drive away until it was out of sight. That much I know now that I’ve checked the business card in my grasp. I close my eyes because I don’t want to do anything reckless. I climbed into my car and began driving without knowing where I was heading. I have been a father without my knowledge. Lev was right; someone was indeed pregnant for me. I swear to God, Lola, I’m going to hurt her in the worst way possible. When she became pregnant, we were friends, husband, and wife. But she never fought for us. She served me with divorce papers and took my children away from me. Even though I was a jerk, I deserved to know. This explains her mood swings and reluctance to eat. How come I didn’t notice? Why did she sleep with me before fleeing if I was nothing to her? Did she think I wanted a life with Candice? Yes, I know I told her we shouldn’t have done it at first, but when she came to my room that night, I felt compelled to pursue a relationship with her; I wanted us to remain husband and wife. She never gave me the opportunity to tell her that I didn’t want a divorce, that I wanted her and us together. But right now, I am going to serve her with those divorce papers and take my kids away from her. She does not deserve my sense of empathy. I will hurt her in the same way that her acts have hurt me. A car honking behind me interrupted my train of thought. When I looked up, the traffic lights were all green. I don’t even know where I am. I looked around, unsure which direction to proceed. I took out my phone, wanting to use maps to go back to the hotel, but my phone was off. “Fuck!” I cursed. I took a right turn and kept driving. I then noticed a floral shop. I pulled over near the flower shop, wanting to ask for directions back to the hotel because my phone had died.

Lolita’s Boutique

I grinned because the boutique shared the same name as my hotel. That reminds me, I named that hotel after her. I need to change it. I will never forgive her treachery. Never! I walked into the flower shop and was greeted by a middle-aged man. That man’s eyes widened when he spotted me.

“You have to be Mr. Monroe.” I looked at the man, puzzled as to how he knew who I was. “Oh, it’s only that your triplets resemble you so much. I thought Mia looked like Mrs. Monroe, but looking at you, I know better. The girl looks like you. Just like the boy.” Great Lola, just great! Now, what do I say to this old man now? I’m at a loss for words with him, and he appears delighted to have met me. So I just nodded and smiled. To what, I don’t fucking know. I took my time looking at her shop, which was serene and welcoming, just like she was, my Bunny. But why did she then open a floral shop? I chuckle at how well-planned everything is. She didn’t want to meet me, so she went to a flower shop. She couldn’t have hidden for all these years by herself; someone was helping her. But who? “Um, Sir, I’m Matthew. I am the manager of the shop.” He remarked this as he extended his hand for a handshake.

“You can call me Dante,” I said to him as I smiled.

“Oh my God, you grin like your kids.” I’m glad you finally came, sir. You see, your children went through a lot. They were bullied because people thought that Lola wasn’t married. They were all convinced she was pregnant out of wedlock. In this town, when someone gets pregnant out of wedlock, they are too judgmental. Mrs. Monroe has been through a lot with the kids. I remember her taking them to school for two years. They were bullied, and the teacher didn’t do anything about it. They were dubbed bastards and other derogatory names. Mrs. Monroe sought a live-in tutor as a result, and the children have been homeschooled ever since. It was not long before she found a suitable school for them close to the hotel. What was that name again? Yea, Lolita. The teachers there are professionals, unlike the first school.” I took a peek at the man. He appeared to be ecstatic. I wanted to silence him, but I also wanted to learn more about my children. So I let him speak. “It’s rather amusing that the names of this boutique and the hotel are the same.” He stated.

“Because it belongs to me. It was named after my wife.”

“That’s strange. Mrs. Monroe never mentioned the hotel belonged to her husband.” A lady commented as she entered the shop through what seemed to be the back door.

“It’s no surprise. Mrs. Monroe took people’s criticisms about her children personally, and she hated bragging. She owns the most luxurious house and car, yet she does not behave like some of the others here.” said the man.

“You’re right, she’s quite down to earth.”

“Um, I am actually on my way back to the hotel, but my phone is dead. I am still not familiar with this place.”

“Oh, don’t worry, Mr. Monroe, I’ll point you on the right route.” The man said as we went outside and he started to direct me. I bid my farewell as I got back into my car, and I could see the lady gasping as she saw my car. Oh, how I hate being the center of attention. I drove back to the hotel, following Matthew’s directions. The man was amazing. I went into the underground parking exclusively for me and changed my car. The school, I need to pay the school a visit. That school and the hotel now belong to me. When Mr. Clark sold the hotel. He included the school in the deal. Time to show my face to those teachers. I got in my car and drove to school. I entered the principal’s office, introduced myself, and he showed me around the school. I noticed some children were busy planting trees. As we were about to leave, I heard someone yelling behind me.

“Daddy!” I turned to find my boy, except I didn’t know which one he was, Kai or Tyler. I closed my eyes and opened my hands for a big bear embrace. But then, I started to hear giggles. I opened my eyes to see my little girl in my hands and her brothers were just standing there, staring at us.

“Mia! “Didn’t I see him first?”

“Oh shut up, Tyler. You can still join us.”

“Come on, boys, don’t just stand there. Come give Daddy a hug.” They all came in, and we were in a group hug. This felt like heaven. Thank you, Lola, for keeping them. One thing she has done right, but still, I won’t forgive her for taking them away from me. After a moment, I pulled away from the embrace and glanced at them. I can’t believe how much they resemble me. There were no words to describe the happiness that I am experiencing at this very moment. Our brief reunion was cut short when the principal asked a question.

“I had no idea your children were enrolled at our school, Mr. Monroe.” I didn’t want to raise suspicions. Not wanting to know what was happening between me and my wife, I smiled and looked at the principal.

“Oh, absolutely. They started today.”

******

“Hey, why did you lie to me?”

“What do you mean?”

“About those triplets. You said they were bastards.”

“Oh, those were taken out of our school by their mother because she lied about being married. She keeps calling herself Mrs. Monroe, but no one knows her husband.”

“She didn’t tell the truth. Her husband is Mr. Monroe. The big shot! The guy who bought the school and the hotel is her husband, and he is her with her kids. They called him Daddy, and they looked just like him. Next time, check your facts. I’m glad I didn’t follow your order because I could have lost my job today. After all, those kids are my boss’s kids.” The teacher said and hung up.

Will Dante forgive Lola for her betrayal? Don’t you think they both talk of betrayal too much forgetting that they are both wrong?

Who do you think is wrong here? Lola or Dante?