Read Online Forever and Always by E. L. Todd - Free Book Online

me. I love you, Sean, and I’m so sorry
about what I did to you. Please take me back.”
    “ I can’t,” I said. “I have
Scarlet.”
    Penelope sighed. “I know and I feel
terrible about that,” she said. “But you and I are going to have a
baby, Sean. Shouldn’t we try to be a family?”
    I stared at her for a moment while
thoughts flashed across my mind. Marrying Penelope was exactly what
I wanted; having her carry my child was even better. This wasn’t
the way I wanted it to play out, but perhaps that’s where I was
meant to be. Maybe it was a sign. Penelope was carrying my child
and wanted to work on our relationship. She said she was sorry for
everything. But then I thought of Scarlet and everything I had with
her. She was everything to me. I couldn’t live without her. I still
loved Penelope, but I loved Scarlet more. I never wanted to be the
dad that was separated from the mother, but I couldn’t do that to
Scarlet. I couldn’t leave her.
    “ I can’t trust you,
Penelope.”
    She grabbed my hand. “I know,” she
said. “But I’ll spend my life making it up to you.” Her eyes
started to saturate with tears and drip down her face. “I wish I
could take it back, but I can’t, Sean, and I’m sorry. I regret
everything. Please give me another chance. I promise you won’t
regret it.” The tears streamed down her face and I watched them
fall. Even after everything that she did to me, I still hated
seeing her in pain. “I love you, Sean. I’ve always loved
you.”
    As I listened to her words, I imagined
the life I always wanted. It wasn’t perfect and the way we came to
this situation was painful, but we were still there. I still cared
for Penelope, but I wanted Scarlet. But then my future son or
daughter was in my life. Could I really do that to them? Be married
to another woman and have other kids? I would never want my child
to experience that. It would make me a horrible person. Shouldn’t I
try to make this work for my kid? I hated everything about the
situation. I wanted to die because of what I was about to do to
Scarlet. I wanted to fucking die. I met her gaze and watched her
for a moment. “I love you too,” I whispered.
    She kissed my hand and held it in her
own. “Thank you,” she said. Penelope wrapped her arms around me and
I held her. My heart ached for the woman that I loved. Seeing her
shed those tears for me was a declaration of her love and remorse.
If Penelope wasn’t carrying my child, I would have turned her away,
but since she was, I wanted to give the relationship another
chance. Of course I wanted to be in the child’s life—that was
obvious, but I would rather do that as Penelope’s husband than her
boyfriend. It isn’t exactly what I wanted, but I was stuck. I was
going to be a dad.
    My thoughts of Scarlet pained me. I
knew how much this would hurt her, but a part of me knew she would
understand, knowing that the pregnancy changed everything. I loved
Scarlet, I really did, and I felt my heart ache because I wouldn’t
be spending my life with her. She was everything to me, and now I
would lose her forever. She wouldn’t want to be friends with
me—maybe never speak to me again—but she would
understand.
    Penelope pulled away and spotted the
engagement box sitting on the kitchen table. She was still for a
moment then she grabbed it. Her eyes lit up when she saw the ring
inside. She must have spotted the engraving because she knew it was
hers. “It’s beautiful, Sean.” Tears sprung from her eyes. She put
the ring on her finger. I didn’t even ask her. But the sight made
me happy. She was serious about raising this kid with me—as a
family. I wanted the best for my child—nothing less. He would have
family vacations, ball games in the park, and a father to look up
to, someone who sacrificed the love of his life just to be perfect
for him.
    Penelope reached up to kiss me, but I
pulled away. “I’m still with Scarlet,” I said. “I’m committing to
you