THIRTY-SIX

It felt good at the moment, like winning an argument but then you realize that you said somethings that you don't mean. By the time she took the video down, the internet was already on fire. The news gained more buzz than the time news got out that Liza and Xander broke up.

Almost a dozen calls from Xavier and Xander, Cara even got some from Andre.  All calls were ignored, and she turned off her phone. She cannot be stressed, the minute she got home, she ate and had a nap.

As for Xander, when he saw the video, he could care less about the damage it could do to their already existing narrative, all he cares about is what set her off for her to make such a video.

"We had a narrative!" Andre is currently pacing around Xander's office. "Why she do that? Did she tell you about this beforehand?"

"Does it look like she told me?" Xander snaps. "We had a fight..."

"Maybe you guys will give me a heads up anytime you guys have a fight since secrets start spilling then."

Xander drops his phone on his desk in frustration, accepting the fact that she's ignoring it.

"Well, this is not bad press for anyways." Andre stops pacing and stands in a position facing Xander.

"It's not about the press situation, it's about the fact that I know that Liza will pull a stunt, and she won't let this slide."

"What angle do you think she will come at?"

"Probably the lack of authenticity of Cara and I's relationship at the beginning, our lies on how we met, the irregularities with the timing of the pregnancy, my payment to Cara's ex-boss for a night with her. She could come at any angle and we need to be ready."

"That shouldn't be a problem, everything in the past is sealed. No one can get hold of the initial contract, you had me pay Cara's ex-boss a reasonable sum to shut him up and Gwen has been paid too"

"Well, ensure he really shuts up," Xander instructs.

Andre walks out of Xander's office after he nods.

Once the door closes, Xander's phone starts to ring. He shifts on his chair to pick up the phone he had thrown on his desk earlier.

After looking at the caller ID, he swipes to pick it up.

"Jonathan?"

"Sir, Cara has left the house."

Xander stands up immediately, "What do you mean she left the house?" He yells into his phone.

"She packed a little bag and..."

Xander hangs up before Jonathan can complete his sentence, he picks up his jacket from the chair and rushes out.

~~~~

Cara walks into an averaged sized sitting room, it's nothing like Xander's place but it's way better than where they used to live before. There's enough space so everything doesn't look choked up, it's a four-bedroom duplex and until today, Cara is still impressed at the interior decor which is all Cassie.

Cassie kicks Sam who is about to say something as Cara walks in. Cara smiles as she takes her seat slowly.

"Looks like you slept well," Cassie mutters.

Cara nods, rubbing her hoodie covered stomach. "Sam, what's Cass preventing you from saying?"

Cassie had cautioned Sam to hide her excitement about Cara's return home and also about asking questions as to why she is here.

Sam smiles in victory. "Now that you have broken up with Uncle Alexan...."

Cassie interrupts, "They are not broken up."

Sam ignores her sister as she continues, "We can all finally live together like before. I can see you all the time, we can use the empty room as a nursery for the twins and..." Sam goes on and on in excitement.

Cara just nods in response with a smile on her face. She has been in her head for hours, thinking about everything, how she misses her mum and wish she is here.

"We should probably get started on the details of that nursery then."

"Right after your schoolwork," Cassie interjects. "Get up," She taps Sam's back.

Sam groans as she stands up from the couch and leaves the sitting room.

Cara, who has been feeling Cassie's eyes on her since Sam left speaks, "What?"

"Stop enabling her. You are not staying here that long, it's only temporary."

"Why, you don't want me around?"

"Of course, I do more than anyone. But you are not seriously ending things with him because of her, I know you."

Cara throws her hands in the air, "I don't really know me anymore."

"You are a fighter Cara, you fought for people who aren't worth it. Your relationship with Xander is worth it, you guys have something special."

Cara shakes her head, "I don't feel like fighting. If I am going to fight it's going to be for my kids. He should do the fighting for once."

The room falls silent for a while before Cara continues, "I can't be worrying about what schemes Liza has up her sleeves or how many he will fall for . If she wants him, she can have him."

"You don't mean that."

Cara is about to say something when they hear the doorbell.  Cara's heart leaps already knowing who it is.

Cassie looks at Cara, reading her expression, "I will get him to leave."

Cara nods as Cassie stands up and walks out of the sitting room to get the door. She walks up to the door and unlocks it while twisting the knob to open it.

"Is she here?" Xander asks the second Cassie to open the door. He looks worried and stressed, bags under his eyes, it makes Cassie pity him a little.

"She is sleeping." Cassie lies.

"I will wait," Xander says knowing she is lying.

"She doesn't want to see you." Cassie finally says.

"If you will just let me talk to her, I bet..."

Cassie interrupts, "Talking to her will stress her out, and you know she shouldn't be in a stressful situation. She needs space."

"What happened? What prompted the video?"

"Why don't you ask your ex?"

Xander looks at Cassie in frustration for a while before he begins to shout, "Cara! I know you can hear me. I love you, baby, please just come back home, let's talk. Whatever it is she said, it's not true." He pauses for a while, "Just let me see you, please."

Cara tries to block out his voice with her hands on her ears, but she can hear him clearly. She hates herself for the urge she has to see him after everything.

After a minute of silence from both parties, Cassie finally speaks. "You should go."

Xander nods in defeat, "Tell her I am going to be waiting for her in the car."

Cassie nods sadly before shutting the door.

~~~~

"I can't believe she did this," Dianne mutters. When she saw the video, she came to check up on Liza.

"I told you she is a bitch." Liza bits down on her pink nails as she tries calling Mark for the hundredth time.

"Why bring something that's already in the past up?" Dianne shakes her head, before looking at her friend suspiciously, "Are you sure you didn't do anything to provoke her? "

Liza looks up from her phone, "Of course not, she's having problems with Xander and she is taking it out on me."

Liza groans in annoyance as her call go to voice mail.

"What are you doing?" Dianne sits up straight to look into Liza's phone. "Why are you calling him?"

"Because we are in this shit together and I need him to help clear my name."

"But you did cheat, there's nothing that needs clearing up." Dianne spits.

"I played the part of the one being cheated on when this Cara chick popped up from nowhere. Now, I look like the hypocrite."

"But you are one though."

Liza glares at her friend, "If you are here to annoy me, leave."

Dianne raises her hands up in surrender. "Sorry,"

Liza rolls her eyes as she resumes calling.

"So what are you going to do?"

"I don't know yet, but I am definitely going to do something."

"I don't think you should. I feel like if you really love Xander as you claim you do, why stress him this much?"

"I am not coming for him, just his low life of a girlfriend."

"If you attack her, I believe you attack him too. She's heavily pregnant, Liz, just drop it and focus on damage control."

"My damage control is hitting them where it hurts. She is not the only one that can bring shit from the past. I initially ignored the irregularities in how they met and the timing of their relationship, because I had my own fault which is cheating. I didn't even give out the information when Mark informed me that apparently, Xander paid to have a night with Cara."

"Are you for real? She's a hooker?" Dianne says in shock.

"I bet and I am going to fucking expose them," Liza says vindictively.

Dianne shakes her head, "You are not going to get Xander like this."

"I know, but if I am going to be miserable, we are all going to be miserable."