Chapter 185 Nothing Could Stay Hidden Forever

"What? Tell her the truth?" He countered.

Three months ago....

It was the day before Mona died. Ian woke up to the sound of someone banging on his door. His head was pounding from the terrible hangover. He groaned in annoyance thinking it was Mona. He wanted to ignore but the knock persisted. If it was Mona, she would simply walk in so he got out of bed and forced himself to the door.

Soon as he opened the door, a hard slap landed on his left cheek. He liked up to find a pissed off Nora only for her to slap his other cheek.

"Aunt Nora", he said with a groan in pain. That was the last thing he needed.

She walked in and faced to look at him when he closed the door. "You little shit!" she growled.

"Aunt Nora-"

"Shut up and listen to me! Just because you're hurting doesn't mean you can talk to her like that! She's not just your grandma but also my mother and I will not tolerate anyone disrespecting her. Were you the only one who liked and cared about Emily? Everyone in our family did! Especially Mom! If she went as far as wanting to add her to the family you think she didn't care about her? You think she doesn't regret how the situation turned out? And you went on to rub salt on her wound! How could you be so selfish hurting the people who care about you and not mending your ways? Do you have no conscience? Are your feelings that special? Are you that special? This self pity show ends right now! You will clean up and go apologize to my mother and you will mean it! If not, those two slaps will be nothing compared to what I'll do and you know I mean that!"

With that said, she left his apartment. He stood there in a daze as her words replayed in his mind. He had really become selfish. Look at the way he treated his Grandma. She did not deserve that. He didn't waste a second and started cleaning his apartment that was littered with empty beer bottles and snack wrappers. He made his bed, took a shower, shaved his stubble and changed into new clothes.

He was ready to go to apologise to his grandma. He would do it a million times if need be until she forgives him. He opened the door to get out when he came face to face with Mona who had her hand raised ready to knock.

"Mona...."

"Were you going somewhere?" She asked.

He took in her disheveled appearance especially her eyes that were puffy and nose red. Guilt gnawed at him as Nora's words echoed in his mind. Here was another person he was hurting because of his selfishness.

"Come in. I was going to see you afterwards anyway", he moved aside to let her in.

"You were?" She turned to him with hopeful eyes and went on to hug him. "I knew it was just a phase. You'll be okay, Ian. We'll be okay. For as long as it takes, I'll wait for you."

"Mona", he broke the embrace and took her hands. His guilt grew when he saw the panic in her eyes. "Let's sit down."

He guided them to a sofa. Her heart could not stop thumping hard in anxiousness. She had a feeling she would not like whatever he was going to say.

"Mona", he gently caressed her cheek. "I've been so unfair to you. All those words I said to you last time, I didn't mean to hurt you. I was just in a bad place."

"I know", she sniffled.

"And I've been selfish. My selfishness has caused me to hurt you and you don't deserve that. I'm sorry it took me a while to realize how much I've really hurt you."

"It's okay-"

"No, it's not. And I should stop doing that. I'll stop doing that from now on. Mona, you deserve so much better than this."

"Ian-" she broke out into a sob as she shook her head knowing where he was going with his speech. To her surprise, tears fell down his cheeks.

"I don't deserve you. You're smart, beautiful, and such a sweet person. I know this about you but what we have has messed you up. I've messed you up. I can't keep doing that to you. Maybe not now, but you'll find someone who will cherish you for who you are. Someone who is a million times more of a man than I ever was to you. I'm really sorry that I hurt you Mona. This time, we really should go our separate way-"

"I love you", she blurted out catching him off guard. She cupped his cheeks with tears falling from her eyes. "I love you Ian, and this is just a phase. You'll get through this, I know. Just give it time."

"I can't. I can't do this to you Mona. I don't want to be that selfish again."

She broke down further and cried. Her hands slowly fell from his face as she cried. The sight broke Ian's heart. To a certain degree, he liked her but not as much as she liked him. He cupped her face and pressed his lips to her forehead.

"I'm sorry", he whispered. "I'll see you around."

He got up and left for his grandma's. He hoped Mona would be okay. But little did he know, that was the last time he would see her, leaving her in his apartment to cry.

Back to the present.....

She was gone. The baby was gone too. He shouldn't have pursued something that was destroying them both. And he especially regretted that day, when he called her over and had unprotected sex when he was left hot and bothered by Amy. He shouldn't have used her like that.... everything he did only hurt her ... And she was no longer there for him to apologize and make things right.....

"You shouldn't have done that", Demi repeated. "You don't know how much it hurt her."

"At least I told her the truth, but you..... You know she left me a letter and she had a lot to say about what you did."

Demi's hands clenched and shook from anger. She wanted someone to lash out on, to shift the blame but who knew, her best friend had loved this boy so much she had spilled the beans before she died.... Guilt kept eating at her... Nothing could stay hidden forever....