Chapter 5: The Other Part
The call ended.
Nobody breathed.
Malik stared at Tiana.
“What child?””
Tiana covered her mouth.
“No.””
His voice was barely audible.
“What child?””
She shook her head.
“Malik, please.””
He took one step backward.
“You're pregnant?””
“No.””
Jordan looked at her.
“Yes.””
Tiana closed her eyes.
Jordan's voice was flat.
“She is.””
Malik looked at him.
“How far?””
Tiana whispered, “Six months.””
The words landed harder than a slap.
Malik stared at her stomach.
Her wedding gown was fitted through the waist, but the beaded fabric concealed the slight curve beneath it.
Six months.
He looked at the calendar displayed beside the altar.
Then at Tiana.
Six months.
His face drained.
“We met eight months ago.””
“I know.””
“We got engaged four months ago.””
“I know.””
“You told me you were sick.””
“I was.””
“You told me you were stressed.””
“I was.””
“You told me the doctor said everything was fine.””
Tiana began sobbing.
“It was complicated.””
Malik laughed once.
There was no humor in it.
“Complicated?””
Evelyn reached for his shoulder.
He pulled away.
“Mom.””
“I’m sorry.””
“You knew?””
Evelyn's eyes filled with tears.
“I suspected.””
“You suspected she was pregnant?””
“I found medical paperwork in her car.””
Tiana turned toward Evelyn.
“You promised!””
“I promised not to humiliate you.””
“You just did.””
“No,” Evelyn said.
“You did that when you lied to my son.””
Malik closed his eyes.
His breathing became slow and deliberate.
Then he opened them.
“Who is the father?””
Tiana said nothing.
Jordan looked at the floor.
Malik noticed.
“Jordan.””
Jordan looked up.
“Don't ask me.””
“Why?””
“Because that's her truth to tell.””
Malik turned toward Tiana.
“Is it Jordan?””
Tiana's lips trembled.
“No.””
The guests erupted into whispers.
Malik's jaw tightened.
“Then who?””
“I don't know.””
He stared at her.
“You don't know who the father of your child is?””
“I know.””
“Then say it.””
“I can't.””
“Why?””
“Because you'll never forgive me.””
Malik's eyes hardened.
“You should have thought about that before today.””
Tiana wiped her cheeks.
“I loved you.””
“You keep saying that like it excuses anything.””
“I was terrified.””
“Of what?””
She looked toward Jordan.
“Of him.””
Jordan's face changed.
Malik immediately stepped forward.
“Did he threaten you?””
Jordan shook his head.
“No.””
Tiana whispered, “Not directly.””
Malik looked at Jordan.
“What did you do to her?””
“Nothing.””
“You married her.””
“She asked me to.””
“Why?””
Jordan glanced at Evelyn.
Then back at Malik.
“Because your mother already knew.””
Malik's head turned.
“Mom?””
Evelyn looked devastated.
“Not everything.””
“What did you know?””
“I knew Tiana had been hiding something.””
“That's not an answer.””
“I knew she was married.””
“You knew?””
“I found the certificate two weeks ago.””
Malik stared at her.
“And you said nothing?””
“I wanted to protect you.””
“You let me walk into this wedding.””
“I tried to stop it.””
“How?””
Evelyn looked at Tiana.
“I asked her to tell you.””
Tiana whispered, “She threatened to expose me.””
Evelyn's eyes narrowed.
“I told you I would tell Malik if you continued lying.””
“You said you'd destroy my life.””
“I said the truth would destroy the life you built on lies.””
Jordan stepped forward.
“That's not why she married me.””
Malik looked at him.
“Then why?””
Jordan's expression became serious.
“Because she needed someone to sign something.””
“What?””
Jordan reached into his jacket again.
Tiana immediately moved toward him.
“Don't.””
He pulled out a small envelope.
Malik took it.
Inside was a photograph.
He looked down.
It showed Tiana standing outside a hospital.
Beside her was Jordan.
And between them was a third person.
A man whose face had been partially cut off by the edge of the photograph.
Malik turned it over.
Written on the back were three words:
*HE KNOWS EVERYTHING.*
Malik looked at Tiana.
“Who is he?””
She shook her head.
“I can't.””
“You will.””
“I can't.””
“You've lied to me about your marriage.””
She cried harder.
“You've lied about your pregnancy.””
“I know.””
“You've lied about the father.””
“I know.””
“And now you're telling me there's another man who knows everything?””
Tiana looked at the photograph.
Then whispered,
“He was supposed to be dead.””
Jordan's face went rigid.
Evelyn dropped into a nearby chair.
Malik stared at them.
“What?””
Tiana suddenly looked toward the entrance.
The doors were still closed.
But beneath them, a shadow appeared.
Someone was standing outside.
Tiana backed away.
“No…”
Malik turned.
The shadow moved.
A hand appeared on the door handle.
Tiana whispered,
May you like
“He found me.””
The doors began to open.
