With the Lights Off...

(46): She Said (He Said)

*Okay, so I was mean for cliffhanging you guys. Plus, it was way twisted. I don't even know how it ended up like that. That chapter was way out of the blue. I just started typing and kept going. Now, I have another plot twist. But hey, that's the beauty of it, right? Anyway, I'm going to clear it all out here. I hope I don't get you too confused. So, I hope you guys still stick around. I know I said I'll be uploading 9 new chapters as soon as, but I was a little preoccupied. Anyway, since it's past my birthday, I want to give you guys at least another chapter to read. Lovelove xx *

Nina's POV

"Penny's my daughter."

Once Ian uttered those words, I immediately swallowed hard and scoffed. "What are you talking about?" I asked. "That's impossible. Ian, please don't tell me you believe her."

I heard him swallow hard. "Baby, I..."

"Ian. We both know she's Charlie's daughter. How in the world would she be YOUR daughter?" I asked. By now, Torrey, Kat, and Candice were looking at me worriedly. They were signalling me, asking me what the hell was going on. I shrugged and told them to wait again. I rushed outside and stood by the stairs leading to the backyard.

"She... she e-mailed me a copy of Penny's birth certificate," he said. "My name is listed under her father. Nina, I..."

"No, no, no," I snapped. "Ian. It's a photo attachment. She could've easily Photoshopped it to make it look like that. Ian, you are not her dad."

"Babe, but what if she is my daughter?"

"She's not," I snapped again. "Because if she is, you lied about not seeing Trish for at least four years. She's not your child, Ian. She's... she's just not."

"Nina, you say that like it would be a mistake for me to be her dad," he said.

I scoff again. "It is a mistake, Ian," I said. "She's manipulating you again. Why can't you see that?"

"And what if she's not?"

"Then, Charlie McCartney's visit here would've been for nothing."

"Wait," he said. "Charlie visited the house? When?"

I refused to let him change the subject, but it was impolite not to answer. "He just left a few minutes ago. Ian, she's using your name to get her away from Charlie. Please believe me."

"What did he say to you?"

"He told me that Trish got out of the clinic," I said. "And that she's using her Mom card to get Penny back from Charlie. No one wants to testify against her being an unfit mother, Ian. No one. She's getting Penny back even after all the horrible things she's done."

"But, why would Trish call me to say that I'm her legal father?" he asked. "It's messed-up, I know. But, Nina."

"But nothing, Ian," I said. "She's just doing this to mess us up again. I don't know what's in it for her, but Ian, Penny is not your daughter. She's Charlie's."

He stayed silent for a moment and said, "I'm going to go to Trish' apartment."

"What? Why?" I asked.

"I need to see that birth certificate, Nina," he said. "If it really is my name on there, we could get into some serious trouble."

"Ian, she's going to do everything she can to take you away from me," I said. "You know that."

"I do," he said. "Which is why I'm not gonna let her. Nina, I just have to see for myself. If she manipulated the photo, then we're clear. But if it's real and I am Penny's legal father, I can do something about this whole situation. I can help Charlie."