Mat’s playful demeanor faded as he leaned closer to Fiona, his eyes narrowing with the gravity of their situation. They sat side by side on the bed, the weight of their conversation pressing down on them. “We’re heroes fighting against Marlin,” Mat said, his voice steady but somber.
Fiona nodded, her hand resting protectively over her stomach. “Yes, and these twins growing inside me make me more determined than ever to stop him once and for all. But there’s something else that’s been bothering me, Mat. Something about Wallace.”
Mat’s frown deepened, sensing the unease in her voice. “What do you mean? Wallace has been with us through everything. Why don’t you trust him?”
Fiona sighed, her gaze hardening as she met Mat’s eyes. “It’s not just about trust. It’s about his actions. What he did to Kai… he justified it as if it were nothing. That’s not something we can just overlook.”
Mat’s expression grew stormy as he recalled the incident, but he couldn’t shake his loyalty to Wallace. “Wallace may have tried to justify what he did to Kai, but he’s been trying to change, Fiona. We can’t just throw him away because he made one mistake.”
“One mistake?” Fiona’s voice rose, incredulous. “Mat, that ‘mistake’ happened three days ago. It’s not some distant memory we can brush under the rug. It’s fresh, and it reveals something dark—something that could jeopardize all of us.”
Mat bristled at her words, feeling a knot of frustration tightening in his chest. “And you think I don’t know that? But Wallace isn’t some monster. He’s a product of his environment. He grew up in a world where predators like Kai would use prey like him as food and sex slaves. It’s shaped him in ways we can’t fully grasp.”
“Don’t you dare excuse what he did by blaming it on his past,” Fiona shot back, her eyes blazing. “We’ve all had our demons, Mat. We’ve all suffered in ways that could have broken us, but we didn’t turn around and hurt others because of it. What Wallace did was a choice, not some unavoidable consequence of his upbringing.”
Mat clenched his fists, struggling to keep his voice steady. “I’m not excusing it, Fiona. But we have to understand where he’s coming from if we’re ever going to help him change.”
“Help him change?” Fiona’s tone was sharp, almost cutting. “Is that what you think this is about? We’re not his therapists, Mat. We’re soldiers in a war. We don’t have the luxury of playing the long game with someone who might snap again at any moment.”
Mat’s jaw tightened, his patience wearing thin. “So what do you suggest? We just kick him out? Leave him to fend for himself, knowing he could die out there?”
“Maybe we should,” Fiona snapped, her voice rising with emotion. “Maybe that’s what it takes to protect the rest of us. Or are you willing to risk everything—these twins, our mission—on the hope that Wallace might eventually get his act together?”
The room fell into a tense silence, both of them breathing heavily as they stared each other down. Mat’s heart pounded in his chest, torn between his loyalty to Wallace and his fear for what might happen if Fiona was right.
“Fiona,” Mat finally said, his voice softer but no less intense, “I’m not saying we ignore what happened. But we also can’t just give up on him. He’s been with us through everything else. He’s fought beside us, risked his life for us. He’s trying to change, even if he’s stumbling along the way.”
Fiona’s gaze softened slightly, but her resolve remained. “I know he’s trying, Mat. But trying isn’t enough. What if that darkness is still there, just beneath the surface? What if it comes out again when we least expect it? We’re in the middle of a journey, and I can’t afford to take chances—not with these lives depending on us.” She glanced down at her stomach, her voice filled with both strength and vulnerability.
Mat reached out, gently placing his hand over hers. “We’ll keep an eye on him, Fiona. We won’t let anything slip through the cracks. But we also have to give him a chance—just like we’ve all had to rebuild ourselves from the pieces of our pasts.”
Fiona looked up at Mat, her expression conflicted but touched by his sincerity. “You’re right, Mat. We’ve all been through so much. But this—this is different. What Wallace did was recent, and it’s shaken our trust. I need to know that if it comes down to it, you’ll be ready to do what’s necessary. Even if it means making a hard choice.”
Mat met her gaze steadily, the weight of her words sinking in. “I promise, Fiona. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep us safe. But until then, let’s give Wallace the chance to prove he’s more than his past, even his very recent mistakes.”
Fiona nodded, a sense of calm washing over her as she squeezed Mat’s hand. “Alright. We’ll give him that chance. But we’ll stay vigilant.”
Just then, there was a knock on the door. Edwin, Fiona’s father, stepped into the room, his eyes scanning the tension in the air. “Is everything alright? I heard voices.”
Mat hesitated, then took a deep breath. “Edwin, there’s something you need to know. It’s about Wallace.”
Edwin’s expression grew serious as he approached them. “What is it?”
Mat spoke with a steady voice, though his heart was heavy with the weight of the truth. “Three days ago, Wallace violated Kai’s consent. He tried to justify it afterward, but it’s shaken our trust in him.”
Edwin’s face darkened as he processed the information. “He violated Kai’s consent? How?”
Fiona stepped in, her voice calm but firm. “Wallace continued after Kai told him to stop. It wasn’t repeated, but it was serious, and it’s left us questioning whether we can trust him moving forward.”
Edwin’s expression grew stern as he looked at them. “This is serious. Trust is everything, especially in a fight like this. If Wallace has compromised that, we need to address it directly.”
Mat nodded, relieved that Edwin was taking this seriously. But before he could speak, he felt the need to clarify something deeper. “Edwin, there’s more to it. The way we’re seeing Wallace’s actions—it’s not just about what he did. It’s about where we come from, our worlds. Fiona grew up in this mansion, with everything she needed. I, on the other hand, was bullied to the point where I killed myself. Our perspectives are shaped by our experiences, and that’s why this is so complicated.”
Edwin’s expression softened, understanding the deeper context. “I see what you’re saying, Mat. The differences in our backgrounds, our worlds, they influence how we see everything, including this situation with Wallace. It’s not easy to bridge that gap.”
Fiona nodded, her voice more reflective now. “Mat, I didn’t realize how much those differences were affecting how we saw this. I’m cautious because I’ve never had to struggle the way you have. But I’m beginning to see why you’re so willing to give Wallace a chance. It doesn’t excuse what he did, but it helps me understand where you’re coming from.”
Edwin looked between them, a sense of resolution in his eyes. “We can’t ignore these differences, but we also can’t let them divide us. We need to address Wallace’s actions with the full understanding of where each of us is coming from. That way, we can make the best decision for everyone.”
Mat felt a mix of relief and determination. “You’re right, Edwin. We’ll confront Wallace together, and we’ll do it with a clear understanding of what’s at stake. But we’ll also keep in mind that our perspectives are shaped by our pasts.”
Edwin gave them both a firm nod. “We’ll get through this, but our priority is keeping each other safe. We won’t let anything compromise that.”
With a shared understanding, the three of them prepared to confront Wallace, knowing that the outcome could shape the future of their team and their fight against Marlin.
Mat looked at both Edwin and Fiona, his eyes reflecting a mix of vulnerability and newfound confidence. “You know,” he began, his voice softer now, “I’m starting to feel like I belong here. Not just as part of the team, but… like as the father to the twins.”
Fiona’s eyes widened slightly in surprise, but then her expression softened into something warmer, more understanding. “Mat…” she whispered, her hand instinctively moving to her stomach. The significance of his words wasn’t lost on her, and she felt a swell of emotion she hadn’t fully acknowledged before.
Edwin looked at Mat with a mixture of pride and understanding. “Mat,” he said, his voice steady and filled with approval, “belonging isn’t about where you come from or what you’ve been through. It’s about who you choose to be and the connections you make. You’ve fought alongside us, and you’ve shown more than enough to prove that you belong here—in every way.”
Mat felt a lump forming in his throat, the weight of their acceptance washing over him like a tide. “I’ve always felt like I was on the outside, looking in. But now, with everything we’ve been through, and with these twins on the way… I want to be here. I want to be part of this family.”
Fiona smiled, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “You already are, Mat. You’ve been here, in my heart, long before you even realized it.”
Mat reached out and took Fiona’s hand, squeezing it gently. “I promise I’ll do everything I can to protect you and the twins. I want to be there for you, for them, and for whatever future we’re building together.”
Edwin nodded, his expression serious yet filled with a deep sense of approval. “You’ve got a good heart, Mat. And I’m glad to see you stepping into this role. The twins will be lucky to have you as their father.”
Mat smiled, feeling a sense of peace and purpose settle over him. “Thank you, Edwin. That means more to me than you know.”
The room seemed to warm with the shared emotions, the bond between the three of them strengthening as they prepared to face whatever challenges lay ahead—together, as a family.
