Chapter 109: Chapter 109

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

"Why are we here mommy? Are you going to a party?" My little monkey asks me, as we stroll into the hotel. It was a fine Saturday. Lucas and I had decided to have a little family bonding time. It was time for Louis to meet his father. We had to speak to Louis to not tell anyone about him, since Luke's one month wasn't up yet.

"No, my love. We're going to see someone really special. Aren't you excited?" I say, as I lead him into the elevator.

"But who? Santa?" He asks, and I can't help but laugh.

"No, son. Christmas is in two months. It's too early to meet Santa."

"Then who, mommy?" He asks.

"Your father." I say, as the elevator opens. He gasps. "My father's here?"

"Welcome to the penthouse, ma'am. We're glad to have you. May I?" He asks, stretching his hands for my luggage.

"Thank you, and yes, please. That'd be lovely." I respond. Louis and I walk to our suite, and we open the door. I smile, as I see the flower arrangements, candles and balloons.

"Woah!" My son shouts, as he sees some Spider-Man and Batman action figures lined up. I giggle. Oh, Luke.

"He's happy." I whisper to myself.

"Are you?" I hear him ask. I turn around. "Hey," I reach out for his hand. We hug, and he kisses my forehead.

"Louis." Lucas says as we break the hug.

"Hi." Our son responds.

"I spoke to you on the phone a few weeks ago. I don't know if you remember me."

"Mum, is this my daddy?" He asks. I nod. "Yes, my love. He's your father. Your real one." I tell him, walking close to him.

"I missed you!" Louis exclaims, hugging Lucas, and my heart just melts. I can feel butterflies in my stomach. I smile as I watch them both. It was a lovely thing to witness.

"I missed you too, son. I missed you. Everyday, every minute, every second. I love you so, so much."

"I love you too." Louis responds. I join in on the hug, and we have a family hug. Was it really real? After so long, my family was united again. We had all gone through our own fair share of pain, but it seemed like we had now finally arrived at the light at the end of the tunnel.

***

"Why did you go away then? Mum was really sick and she was always sad." Louis asks as we gather round the dining.

"He's talking about the paralysis. I'm fine now though, my love."

"I had to go away for some important job, champ. I had to go and work for a lot of money so I could get you these toys." Luke tells him.

"But mum's rich. Why do you need money?"

Luke looks at me, and I arch a brow. He responds, "I know mum's rich. Your dad's rich too, didn't you know?"

I roll my eyes at Luke's statement as I pick the bowl of salad.

"Then why did go to work?" Louis inquires.

"Hey, enough with the questions, monkey. Here, have this." I say, giving him a plate of salad. He nods at me, giving me a stink face. I chuckle. "No? But greens are health for you, my love. Come on."

"You know what, my love? Why don't Louis and I go downstairs and have a swim. How about that, eh?" Lucas asks Louis.

"Yes!" Louis shouts, and before I can say a word, they both get up and rush out.

"Get me a mocktail, please!" I yell, hoping they hear. I focus on my salad as I smile internally. I am happy and beyond content. I had my family back. I caress my belly, "You're all that's left to complete us. I can't wait for you to get here." A name comes to me as I caress my belly. "If it's a girl, Emily. If you're a boy, Liam. That's going to be your name. Emily Louisa Carrington. Liam Carrington. Sounds nice, doesn't it?" I ask my baby. I giggle as I remember Luke's name, "or Emily Louisa Hugh-Gray, and Liam Hugh-Gray." It was perfect.

***********

"Really? But I already know there's a party, why do you have to blindfold me?" I ask my husband, as he takes me to the gender reveal.

"Welcome, Natalie." I hear Lydia say. She takes my hand. "Hi." I respond, excited. I almost couldn't wait to know what I was having.

"You're here." Luke says. "Are you ready?" He asks. I nod, as I hear multiple voices.

"How many people are here?" I ask.

"Just a very few. There's your family, my family and a special guest who should arrive any moment from now."

"Really? Who?" I ask.

"Forget about that. Lydia, give it to her." Luke says, and Lydia passes the letter to me. He begins to take off my blindfold, and my heartbeat increases.

"Mummy!" I feel Louis tug at my dress as the blindfold comes off. I exhale, and close my eyes. I open the letter. Immediately, tears form in the corners of my eyes.

"What is it?" Lucas and Lydia chorus. I look up to see the crowd. I smile at aunt Ruth who's standing with Delores, Ashley and my mother.

"It's a girl!" I announce, feeling overjoyed. Lucas holds me and hugs me, and the crowd cheers. I smile as I take note of the flowers being thrown into the air. Luke and I hug. Lydia hugs me from behind.

"I'm having a sister!" I hear Louis rejoice.

"I'm so happy, my love. I'm so happy. I'm finally happy. This is all I've ever wanted." I state, cleaning my tears. Luke breaks the hug.

"Shh. Don't cry. Today isn't for tears. Leave that for when you're delivering her."  I laugh, as I playfully hit his shoulder.

My family come to me. "Congrats, my darling." My mother says.

"Grandma!" Louis says, and hugs her. "Oh, my boy."

"Thanks, mum. I didn't know you'd be here." I say.

"Well, I wouldn't if Lydia didn't call me. I mean, I had found out on the internet that you were expecting so I didn't really expect to be here."

"Mm." I respond. It was awkward.

"Mother. Why don't we move to the corner and catch up?" Luke says to her, and they both leave.

"Congrats, Natalie. I'm so happy for you. This is all you've ever wanted, isn't it? You have the man you love, and two beautiful children." Aunt Ruth says.

"Of course, aunt. I am happy." I say, hugging her. "I love you so much. Thank you for always being there. Thank you."

*******

My feet are a bit swollen as I'd spent all day chitchatting with the guests, playing with Louis, eating, and dozing off.

Lydia comes to meet me as I sit on an empty table.

"I thought we were expecting a guest."

"We were! Ugh. José promised to be here. He texted and said he'd be here by 6, but it's almost seven."

"Well, why don't you try calling him again?"

"Calling who?" Lucas asks, as he joins us.

"Seems like there's no need for that. Look who's arrived."

"Girls!" He yells, and I turn around to look, not in the least bit surprised. José was a loud one. He and Lydia hug and exchange pleasantries. They walk down to us.

"You remember him? He was at our party at mum's soiree." I remind Lucas.

"Yeah, I think I do."

"Natty! Oh, my goodness. Don't tell me you've never had work done. How can you look this gorgeous even when pregnant? Look at you too, Lyds!"

"Hi, José." I say, getting up to hug him. "It's been years. I've really missed you."

"Well, you're a business woman and a celebrity, so how would you have tine for little ol' me?" We laugh.

"This is my husband. Lu—

"Jack Hugh-Gray." Lucas corrects. I nod my head. "My bad." I respond.

"Well, well? Let's get this party started! Where's the music? The champagne? Oh, that's true, you both can't drink." He says. "That reminds me, I got you a cake! It's in my car. Let me go get it."

***

"It's crazy that after over seven years, José's still the same. He hasn't changed a bit." Lydia comments.

"You were all in the same school?"

"Yeah." I respond. I continue, "But different majors. Lydia I studied accounting, and shockingly, José studied law. Isn't it shocking?" I ask. Lydia chuckles.

"I'm back! Ta-Da!" José exclaims.

"That is so beautiful." I respond, as he drops the cake on the table. "It's a chocolate one, I'm already salivating." I say. I continue, "Thank you, José."

"Lydia, here's your gift." José says, handing her a huge box of chocolates.

"Thank you, José! I don't like cake, so thank you for being thoughtful." Lydia says.

"Thank you, José." Luke says. I open up the cake, and just I'm about to take a chocolate off it, Lucas beats me to it.

"Hey! It's my gift. Why would you do that?" I ask, as he eats the whole thing. I sigh. I use my index finger and pack the chocolate ganache frosting. I lick it. It had an odd taste.

"Sorr— "Luke? Natalie?" I freeze, as I hear an oddly familiar voice. I close my eyes. I was probably imagining things. I see Lucas get up, and then I realize that I wasn't imagining anything. Whatever I heard was real.

"What are you doing here?" Lucas asks, and I turn around to look. It's Laurel. I gasp, fear, anger and astonishment overwhelming me. Lydia holds my hand.

"Laurel, stop coming closer. Move back, and put your hands where I can see them."

"Everyone, go in!" Lucas warns. "Lydia, take Natalie in and go call the cops."

"No, no, no. I'm not here to harm anyone! I'm just here to beg for forgiveness, please! Forgive me, Natalie, don't go!" Laurel states as Lydia drags me in.

"Laurel! Stay there!" Lucas yells, and I watch him drag her away.

"Natalie, please! Forgive me! It's not too late! Let's settle our differences now! Please!" She yells, and I feel a piercing pain in my stomach.

"Natalie, are you okay?" José asks. "Who the hell is she?"

"José, watch her please. I'll go call the police."

"I'm fine, José, please, go to my son. Stay with him." I tell him.

"And leave you here? That bitch is crazy!"

"Luke's with her, so it's fine." I assure him, the pain in my belly increasing. "Tell aunt Ruth to come here first."

"Okay." He says, and goes in. In about two minutes, he returns.

"They said she's gone. She's not in." He tells me. Home? Gone to where? God, I hope Laurel didn't harm aunt. "Okay, go back in. Thank you." I respond, and he goes in. "Ow! Ah?" I wince in pain, as the pain intensifies. I begin to find my way to Luke, or at least, aunt Ruth. I hoped she was okay.

"Laurel! Laurel!" I hear Luke scream. I pause to catch my breath, as I begin to cry. The pain was unbearable. I feel myself wet my skirt. I look down, trying to see, when I pause. There was blood, a whole  lot of it. I was bleeding profusely. I begin to weep, as I realize what's about to happen.

"Not again, please." I weep, clutching my belly.

"Laurel!" I hear Luke scream again, and I follow the sound of his voice. I find him, and he's kneeling on the floor, hovering over Laurel. She was lying on the floor, almost lifeless. I continue weeping, but Luke doesn't notice me.

"Luke," I whisper, and he looks up at me. I can see his face change as he notices the condition I'm in.

"Natalie!" He yells, and runs over to me. He begins to cry.

"What is this? Blood? What's happening? What did I do?"

I nod, "She's dying, Luke." I respond, crying. "Help me, please! Save her!" He carries me immediately, and we rush to his car. He puts me in, and goes to the drivers seat. We drive off. I touch my legs, trying to clean up the blood. "Please, I'm begging you, God. Don't take my baby away. Please. Oh, my God. Oh, my Go-od, please, Emily, please, don't go. Please, please!"

Luke's POV

On getting to the hospital, Natalie is carried in a stretcher.

"Please, save my wife and my baby, please! I'll do anything, please." I beg the doctor and nurses.

"We'll do our best, sir. Are you hurt as well, or is that her blood?" One of the nurses ask me. I pause, confused. She points at my mouth. I touch my mouth, and I see blood.

"I never put my head close. . .it's mine." I respond.

"It seems like you've been poisoned. Go to the ER unit, they'll attend to you immediately. Your case doesn't seem as bad as hers, but run there now!"

"And leave her? No, no, I can't— "You're playing with your life. Go there, and get treated, sir. Your wife is in good hands."

I cry, covering my face with my palms. "Poison?" I ask myself. Where did we? Then it hits me. Laurel. I gasp, running my hand through my hair. It was her! Laurel. It had to be. But how did she? The cake. The cake. It had to be the cake! I take out my phone and call Lydia as I rush to the ER.

"Lydia, do not let anyone touch that cake! The one José brought in. Natalie's in danger, the baby. . ." I cry, dropping the phone.

"Excuse me sir, you're bleeding! Come with me!"

*******

After getting treated, given an antidote and about 8 hours later, the doctor finally comes out of the operating room. I get up, with the needle in my hand.

"Doctor! How's my wife? How's our baby? Please tell me she's fine?!" I ask, scared. The doctor doesn't respond.

"I'm asking a question!" I yell, but my questions are answered as the monitor goes flat.

"I'm sorry, but we couldn't save her."