Chapter 103: Chapter 103

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Lucas and I had settled our differences, however, I'd purposely kept the altercation with Rocket from him, because if he knew, he wouldn't let Rocket be. He would try to hurt or worse, harm Rocket for my sake.

"It's here." I say to the chauffeur.

"Are you sure this is a good idea, darling?" Aunt Ruth asks. I nod. "Luke invited us, aunt. I'm going. I don't care what Rose thinks."

We enter the compound, and we park. "Careful, love." I say to my son who gets down. It was time Louis became familiar with his father. He was growing up fast.

We find our way into the house, and I freeze, as I see Rocket seated there, on the dining.

"Natalie?" I hear my name. I look to the corner, and it's Alexander.

"This can't be real. Alex! Why did you invite her?" Rose asks.

"Um. . . I didn't." He responds.

"I did." Lucas says. Rose turns to look at him.

"You did?" She asks. She looks back at me. "Why would you do that? You know how she's lik—

"I invited the husband and the wife, Rose. They're here as a couple."

"Regardless! I don't want her in my home."

"This is embarrassing, Natalie. Let's go. Come on, son." Aunt Ruth says, grabbing Louis. I hold her hand. Lucas comes forward. He bends, and extends his hand to Louis.

"Hi there. I'm Richard. What's your name?"

"Hi. Louis."

"Nice to meet you, Louis." Luke says, and they shake hands. I hold myself from shining my teeth. I am beyond happy. Finally, both father and son have met. It's a dream come true for me.

"Da— Uncle Rocky!" Louis screams, rushing to Rocket.

"Louis!" I call.

"Please, come in." Lucas tells us. We go in. Rose is obviously annoyed by my presence.

"Thank you." I say, as Lucas takes the chair for me.

"So, why aren't you celebrating thanksgiving? I mean, you have your husband and your son. It's normal for families to celebrate thanksgiving together."

"Rose." Alex states. I can feel Rocket burning stares into my body. I avoid every form of eye contact with him.

"I don't have a husband. It's just me and my son, you see. L—Rocket and I, filed for divorce."

"A divorce that hasn't been finalized. I could change my mind if I wanted to."

"You did?" Alex asks.

"You did what?" Rose adds.

"Lord," Aunt Ruth whispers.

"Why are you getting a divorce?" Rose asks.

"Co ask." Rocket chimes in. I look away. Okay, now, I was beginning to feel uncomfortable. This was a toxic environment.

"I don't think I have to share my reasons with you, Rose. And Rocket, as for you. You know perfectly well why I requested for a divorce."

"Rose." Lucas tries to caution her. She pays him no attention.

She insists, "No. I wanna know. Why are you divorcing your husband? It's not even been up to six months. Perhaps, is it because of my husband?"

"No, Rose. It isn't because of Richard. I have no interest in your husband— Richard."

"Good." She retorts, and I scoff.

"But. . .what if I did?" I ask. I smile, as I look at her. She did not want a piece of me. I'd been having a hard time already, sharing Luke with her. I was tired of her attitude. She made my blood boil!

"What did you just say?" She asks. I ignore her, irked, as I reach for a glass of red wine.

"Mm. Cheap. Just as I expected." I say. She gets up, walks towards me and grabs the glass. She pours it all over me as I scoff. The men get up, except Rocket. It was almost as though he was enjoying it.

"Rosette!" Lucas yells.

"Rose! You're taking it too far!" Alex adds. They both come to me and help me up.

"Mommy. . ." I hear my son call as aunt Ruth hurriedly takes him to the car.

"How dare you?!" Lucas yells at her.

"Richard? How can you yell at me in front of her?! Why even are you yelling at me?!"

"You won't ever do that again. I'm warning you." Lucas says.

"Hey. Don't forget you're talking to my sister, Richard."

"Your sister is crazy! I have nothing to do with Natalie! Why won't she believe that?!"

"She won't believe that because you're telling lies." Rocket says. Finally, I look at him. Our eyes meet.

"This is crazy." Alex chimes in.

"What do you mean? What are you talking about?" Rose asks. Rocket gets up.

"They've been fooling you all this while, Rose. Same as me."

"What are you talking about? I invited you here so the two women can make peace, and you're trying to add fuel to the fire?"

"Shut up. Quit the act, Lucas. I mean, we both know what the truth is."

"Lucas?" Rose and Alex say unison.

"How many times do I have to say that he's not Lucas but Richard?"

"You're gullible." Rocket responds. He sticks his hand into his pocket and brings out an envelope. He drops it on the table, and the content spill. Rose picks them up. Lucas and I exchange knowing looks. We'd been exposed.

"What. . .?" Rose asks, her voice breaking. "What are these?"

"Pictures of your cheating husband and my wife exiting and entering different hotels and motels. They've been cheating on us both. Deceiving us."

"I never deceived you!" I defend myself. "I'm not obliged to you, that's why I asked for a divorce. I don't love you, and I neve— I feel nauseous and I puke, and then, complete darkness swallows me.

******

I caress my head, as my eyes flutter open. I was weak, and hungry.

"Where am I?" I ask, as I spot Lucas, Alex and Rocket. I stretch my hands for Luke, and he takes it.

"Shhh, my love. Don't talk. The doctor says you're stressed. She ran some tests on you."

"Really? Help me sit up. How long have I been out?"

"Approximately one hour twenty minutes." Alex says.

"Thank you." I whisper to him. He nods. "Do you want something to eat or drink?"

"Food, please. I'm kind of craving avocados." He nods and leaves.

"Natalie, are you okay?" Rocket asks.

I look at him, disgusted. "Get out." I state.

"You heard her. Get out." Luke warns him. He leaves, just as the doctor enters.

"Hello, everyone. The results are out and I must congratulate you. Congratulations." She says.

I chuckle nervously, raising an eyebrow. "For?"

She laughs. "You're pregnant." She states, and my jaw drops. She continues, "You're about three months pregnant!" She says, and I cover my mouth. Lucas drops my hand. I look at him. His eyes are red and watery, just like before. I get up from the bed. Oh, no. It couldn't be. He nods at me, and I begin to tear up, confused and unsure of what to feel or say to him.

"No." He says, and I fold my palms together.

"Please. I'm sorry. . ." I say, as I watch him leave. "Luke!" I call out. Bloody hell. I was pregnant, and I was pregnant with Rocket's child.

"Luke!" I call out, running after him. "Lucas, please!" I yell. "Just wait, please!" He pauses. I move closer to him. Our eyes meet, and I can see the anger plastered on his face. I sigh.

"I'm pregnant, and it's not yours."

"Established, Natalie." He barks. I sigh.

"I have been with Rocket and Alex, Luke. However, I must ask that you see reason with me. I really did nothing wrong—

"You cheated and lied about it!"

"We were separated! Besides, I never lied to you about it. I just never told you."

"So you're justifying your actions? Your justifying this?!" He points at my stomach.

"Yes." I state, holding my stomach. What did this baby mean for us? Would it destroy our relationship? "I was with Alex after the divorce. You were with Laurel. I was with Rocket only for our son—

"But you ended up knocked up with his child."

"So what do you want from me? What should I do? I'm trying to apologize, even when I really did nothing wrong. Rocket was my husband."

"I can never stand the fact that you're carrying someone else's child, Natalie. It's driving me insane!"

"So? You would have me abort the baby? Is that what you want?" I ask him, and he looks at me shocked. "Is it?" I ask, almost sobbing. I begin to cry.

"No, no, no. My love. I would never," He reassures me, bringing me in for a hug. I hug him, holding onto his shirt as tightly as I can. He continues, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything I said. It's not your fault. None of it is. What is yours is mine, and what is mine is yours. This baby. . .is as much mine as it is yours." He states. I break the hug.

"Are you serious?" I ask, amid tears. He nods at me.

"I can't wait to have a mini Natalie running up around the house."

"When we finally move in together."

"And we will."

******

"Yes, aunt. You can come over to the hospital." I say to aunt Ruth. "Yes, aunt. Bye." I respond. We hadn't really seen eye to eye, literally, since our last verbal altercation even though we practically lived in the same house.

"How do you think she'd react?"

"React to what? She knows the truth already."

"Well, how does she feel about it?"

"Why do you want to know that and why do you seem so concerned about what she thinks?" I ask.

"Well, the last time I spoke to her. . ."

"You were throwing her out of your house. I know."

"I'll always feel remorse and be sorry about it, Natalie. I was horrible to you. I even— he gets up, clearly perplexed.

"What is it?" I ask, a bit panicked.

"I took advantage of you! I raped you." He whisper yells. I get up from the hospital bed. "Come." I tell him. He looks at me, reluctant. I raise an eyebrow, and he comes. I snake my arms around his waist.

"Honestly, I hated you when you did that. I really despised you, but I'm comforted now, by the fact that you accepted that you made a huge mistake and that you're showing how sorry you are."

"That doesn't make it any better. I feel horrible."

"Why don't we forget about that, now? I've forgiven you already, my love. Now, turn around and pass me that bowl of yoghurt." I say. I chuckle, turning around to go to the bed.

"Once ag—

"I don't want to hear it, Lucas. Give me the yoghurt." I say. He sighs. He brings the yoghurt to me. I take it. I begin to take it.

"I'm confused."

"About?"

"How did you not know you were pregnant? I mean, aren't you supposed to gain weight, morning sickness?" He asks.

"Honestly, I don't know. Everything was normal except that I haven't gotten my period in a while. I never even realized it." I state, shocked at myself. I continue, "Although, now I understand why I started eating so much lately."

"My darling!" The door flings open.

"Aunt." I chuckle wryly.

"Mrs. Ruth." Luke says. He felt awkward, and so did aunt. She looks at me and then looks back at Luke.

"I hear you're Luke. Luke as in, Carrington." She states.

"Yes. I had to pretend that I—

"Well, at least, you won't be throwing us out of here." She says. I roll my eyes, dissatisfied with her words.

"Aunt." I state. She was beginning to get on my nerves.

"My sweet girl. I brought you some corn soup with calamari. It's still hot."

"I'll just give you guys a moment." Luke says. He leaves.

"What was that, aunt? Why did you have to say that to him?" I ask her.

"I only said the truth, Natalie. It's what he did."

"And he's apologized for it! He didn't know better, aunt. Now he does. Please, can you stop the judgement and the unnecessary commentary? Please."

"Alright. Alright. I've heard. Have your soup. You need to have some proper rest. You've been working non stop."

I chuckle. "I wouldn't really say that, aunt. I haven't been working non stop." I state. I continue, "I'm pregnant, aunt." I tell her. I watch as her eyes widen in shock.

"You're pregnant? Wow! My darling, I'm so happy for you! Congrats!" We share a hug. "I'm going to be a grandma again!" She states, and I can't help but wonder why she wasn't coming clean.

"I know you're pregnant too, aunt. Why are you hiding it from me?"

"What?" She responds. "Pregnant?" She asks, looking puzzled. I sit up, alert. From her reaction, it was obvious she wasn't, and I might have just hit a nerve.

"Why would you ask that?"

"It isn't you, is it?"

"I'm not pregnant, Natalie. You know I can't get pregnant, so why would you ask that?"

"Aunt Ruth, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean t—

"I understand, but why are you asking? What made you believe that I am?"

"A kit was delivered to the house. A pregnancy kit, and it was under my name. Rocket found out and started obsessing over me being pregnant with his child."

"Dear God, I haven't even asked. Are you? Who's is it?"

"That's quite offensive, aunt."

"I'm only asking because I know you're being intimate with the both of them." She states.

"Was, aunt." I respond, embarrassed. I fake a cough. "It's Rocket's." I tell her.

"What's Lucas saying? Would he accept it?"

"He has. He loves the baby just as much as I do."

"Well, I find that hard to believe, since he threw you out based on the fact that he believed you cheated and that the child you were carrying was Rocket's and not his."

"Things have changed. My husband and I share a mutual understanding. We trust each other."

"Husband?"

"What else can I possibly refer to him as?" She sighs.

"I will support whatever choices you make even though I might not agree with them. It's my duty."

"Thank you, aunt." I say, hugging her. "I just need Lydia around. I need her."

"Well, write to her. That's what she requested, isn't it?"

"Actually. . . I think I saw her a few days ago. I saw her at Fabio's department store."

"What? You saw her? Does that mean she's back in town?"

"I wouldn't know. I couldn't confirm if I really saw her or not, or maybe it was just my mind making that up because I miss her. I don't think I saw her. She would have come to see me, right?"

"Who would have come to see you?" Luke asks, as he enters the room.

"Lydia. I thought I saw her." I respond, and I notice him go pale.