Falling For My Playboy Boss
Chapter 55

Cora's

POV

I had been invited to stay for dinner and I agreed as I was told that Collin was coming too. I heard the front door being opened and I headed that way with a big smile on my face, only to stop short. I saw Michael at the door with a beautiful blonde, and they each had hold of the hand of a little boy that looked just like Michael. I took a step back, and I realized quickly what the sudden problem was with Michael. I hear footsteps behind me and see Ava, Marlowe, and Alderidge all come into the entryway and hear a deep breath taken in by Marlowe. Michael nods at her and he comes forward with his little family. I wish I had been given a heads up, as this was a huge slap in the face. Why would he have dated me when he had a family? Michael didn't seem like that type of a man.

I stepped back so Ava, Marlowe, and Alderidge could come forward and meet the little guy. He was such a cutie and looked like a miniature version of his father. I smiled at his mom and then I decided that I was just going to go. This was more of a family event than I thought it would be and I suddenly felt really uncomfortable being there, like I did not belong, at least with this dinner. I felt extra guilty for having dated Michael for the short time that I did now. I quietly go get my purse and exit out the kitchen door and leave. I passed Collin on the main road coming in with Nicolas and Dalton behind him in Nicolas' Mercedes and knew that they had to know about Michael having a child from the night that Collin gave me the extra work to do to keep me and Michael from going out that night. For more free novels, visit FindNovel.net It occurs to me that Michael still never told me why and had allowed me to continue thinking that it was something that I had done, instead of just telling me what was going on. I am now glad that Collin stopped us from going out. I could have really made a huge mistake and torn that little family apart. I go get gas and then head home. I started hearing pings from text messages on my phone.

"Where are you? Ava said you were here, but you weren't here when we got here. Where did you go, baby?" Collin texts me.

"Cora, where did you go? We are all worried about you", Ava texted me.

Michael texted me, "I am so sorry, Cora, I did not realize until that night Collin made you stay late that I could be a father. Nicolas told me that my college girlfriend kept a secret from me, and we had to meet with her and get a cheek swab to test and make sure. I never knew that I was a father, and I wanted to tell you in person, but you left. I never meant to hurt you. I didn't know that she was even pregnant, and she left due to a misunderstanding we had. I never stopped loving her, but after 4 years I figured that she was gone completely. I have already told you I didn't date, and you were the first to mean enough for me to start back to dating. I am so sorry if I ever hurt you. We wanted to wait for the DNA test to come back with the results. They came in yesterday and we told Collin 2 hours ago. We all wanted to be there when mom and dad got to meet Reed. I am sorry you felt like you needed to leave. I am sorry if my actions hurt you. I just didn't want to tell you until we had the proof when the DNA test came back". I teared up and re-read the text. He didn't know, she left him, and I remember him saying at our first date that he never knew why, and how heartbroken he was over it. I am not mad at him. How could he have known, if he tried to and couldn't find her, but he needed to be with her and his son. I knew Michael was a good man, and that was why I agreed to date him. As long as they all still love each other, they need to be together, a sweet little family. They looked like the perfect family together already, that baby boy was so handsome, and then I thought of having a child, one that looked like Collin, and that made me smile and touch my stomach. Then I thought, s**t, we haven't used condoms and I need to make sure that from now on we do if we happen to dodge the bullet this time. I stopped by the local pharmacy shop and tried to figure out what size Collin would need. I take it seriously and read the information on the packages to try to get the best product for us to use. I like the natural feeling, as it has always felt so good when we were together. I smile and think, if we do get married, I won't have to make this purchase again. I grab the value box and head to the register. Great, there has to be a guy working here at the register. He picks it up and then looks at me and gives me a wink before scanning my purchase. I tried not to blush, but it was hard. I wasn't hungry and went straight home.

I texted Collin, "I didn't feel comfortable staying, I knew the girl was also uncomfortable there and that was hard enough on Michael introducing his family. They didn't need to have me there as well. It makes things less awkward for what had to be done. Your parents will be so happy, and you all need time together to bond. I will be there for the next one. I just didn't feel comfortable staying there this time. I am home now; do you still want me to spend the night with you?".

"Yes, yes, I do. I will text you before I leave so you can get ready for me to pick you up. I love you, baby, I just wanted to announce it to my family tonight" Collin texted me back. That makes me happy that he wanted his family and friends to know. "You still can, I don't have to be there for you to do that", I text him with a few cute emojis behind it.

"OK, I will let them know. See you later, baby", Collin texted me.

"Collin is going to make the announcement tonight, Ava, about us. I am just letting you know as I want you to remain calm". I texted Ava and went to take a nap as I thought that this would be a long night.

I wake up at midnight and I check my phone thinking that I slept through the phone call or text. I have no missed calls or texts from Collin, but I have like five of them from Ava.

I started to read them, getting more and more shocked.

"Hey, Collin, Michael, Nicolas, and Dalton all went out into the garden about a half-hour after you texted me and were out there for like 20 minutes. When they came back in, they all went into dad's office with him and were there for a while. No one is saying anything, but I think something bad has happened. But he didn't say that you were together yet. I am hoping that it is the big secret", Ava said.

Her second text was more upsetting than the first one was, "Hey, are you there? Dad and mom are talking, and it has gotten really stressful here. I don't know what is going on, but it is really not good.

Her third text, "Collin is really stressed out right now. He left, but he never said what the problem was, and I heard him on the phone with Maddie while he was in the kitchen. Why in the hell is he talking to that slut?"

Ava's fourth text. "Cora, this is bad, I overheard mom and dad talking. Mom is furious that he is taking Maddie back as his girlfriend"

Ava's fifth and final text, "Cora, I love you and I don't know what is going on right now, but I am always here for you, if you need me, call me and I have got your back, no matter what happens".

"Thank you, Ava, I appreciate you having my back. I don't know what is going on right now, but I will check in with Collin and see if he is OK. Thanks for letting me know that something was up". I text her back.

I texted Collin, "Hey are you OK, is everything alright, baby?" and waited. Three hours later, there was still no response and I had my answer. I dropped my phone onto the bed and started to cry. How could I have been so stupid? I gave him a second chance, to prove himself and I guess I deserve that. I should have known he probably just wanted me because I was there and available. He knew I found him attractive, and he played on that. I am such a fool. I gave him my heart and my trust. I even warned him to please not break my heart again, and he couldn't wait to do it. I will be damned if I let him take my dignity along with everything else.

I have made my plan and I will set it in motion on Monday. I will not let this define me in any way, shape, or form. Collin doesn't make me, I made myself, and even though I am about to be bent, very hard. I am NOT going to break. I don't know what is going on, but I will not allow Collin preying on my heart to change who I am as a person, he may have done something to hurt me, again. But hell, what is new about that? This is the same road I have been on the whole time. He got me again, but he won't keep me. He has hurt me before and I have risen back up. I am going to harden my heart and I am going to leave him this time. No more redo or second or third chances. I am done with feeling stupid and unworthy, by putting my trust in him. I feel like I have been stabbed in the back by a heavy knife and I don't feel like I will survive it. I stop myself and I raise my head up. No, I am not beaten, that is what Collin and Maddie will both want. I will NOT be giving it to them. No matter what happens. The new Cora will rise, and she will flourish. I am going to rise from these ashes, just like a phoenix, and I will soar above and away from them both.