Chapter 110: Chapter 110

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

13 months later. . .

Rose and I were divorced already, and the entire United Kingdom knew that I was indeed, Lucas. Caleb and I had seen severally, but none had made the attempt to speak to the other.

I'd been forced to send Louis to a secret location, alongside Ashley, and Mrs. Richardson, for his protection. Natalie had housed an enemy all along. Aunt Ruth was a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Flashback, 13 months ago

After receiving the news from the doctors, I'd gone to Natalie's house. Lydia had informed me that they'd all be leaving to Natalie's house after answering the questions from the police. I arrive and go in.

"Luke." Lydia sees me first.

"Where's my daughter?" Mrs. Richardson asks me, her mascara running down her face. I look at her, at a loss for words. How could I possibly break the news to her?

"Answer the question, damn it!" Aunt Ruth barks at me, as she approaches me.

"Where's Louis?" I ask, drained. I clean my eyes.

"Lucas. . . Please. How's my daughter?" Mrs. Richardson asks me with folded hands, and as I'm about to answer, aunt Ruth hits me across the cheek.

"She's dead, isn't she?" She asks. "You. You killed her! You did this!" She yells, dragging my collar. Yes. Maybe I truly am responsible. Maybe if I'd listened to Natalie and we'd all gone away, this wouldn't have happened. Mrs. Richardson faints.

"Aunt Ruth!" Lydia yells. "Aunt Judith," Lydia tries to wake her up. "Get some water!"

"How dare you? Huh? You killed her. You finally killed her, when it was supposed to be you!" She yells, getting hysterical. Her statement confuses me, but I do not ask. She continues, "It should've been you! All my dedication, my hard work. . ." She cries, sitting on the floor. Lydia and I look at each other, confused.

"What are you talking about, aunt?" Lydia asks.

"This was not the plan. I'd planned so well! From the beginning, it was always meant to be him! Natalie always got in the way. . .oh, my God. What have I done?!" I look at her, shocked beyond my imagination.

"What plan? What have you done, aunt Ruth?!" Lydia asks.

She nods, joining her palms together, "Please, believe me. I didn't mean to harm her, it's because of you!" She turns to me.

"Me? I never did anything to you."

"You never did, but your father did!" She exclaims, and I gasp, shocked. She continues, "He shouldn't have left me for your mother! He left me for her, knowing fully well how much I loved him. But your mother was smart! She got pregnant with you and stole him from me! He married her, and not long after, I found out I was pregnant." She laughs hysterically, holding her stomach. "I went to tell him, and I was sure he'd leave her for me, but he didn't. He didn't. He didn't. Instead, he argued and pushed me off the stairs! Ah!" She screams, crying, as I kneel, listening to her confession. She laughs again, "Who do you think sent you the transfer of ownership documents? I helped you get into the Richardson house! I helped you." She laughs, "You were so powerful and someone like me couldn't possibly do anything to you. Marrying Natalie was the only way, the only way I could get close enough to harm you!" Lydia gasps, getting up.

"What?!"

It was all beginning to make sense now. Everything was beginning to add up. At first, I'd lied to people that Judith had gambled with me and lost, in a bid to protect whoever it was helping me. I had no clue it was her.

"My first strike was bringing Rocket to your house. I wanted you to feel the same pain I felt when your father left me for your mother. But, my darling girl. . . She fell in love with you! I tried so many times to have your food poisoned but that Laurel always watched me like a hawk. Then, I realized, if anything happened to you, my sweet Natalie would probably take the blame. I couldn't let that happen! I kept failing in all my plans to sabotage you and ruin you! Until you threw Natalie out, and she began doing everything I wanted to do to you. I had to pretend like I wanted her to stop, because the more I acted that way, the more she was gingered to destroy you." She laughs. What the fuck?

"You were behind everything." Mrs. Richardson says.

"Did you. . ." I exhale, my blood boiling. "Did you kill my parents and my sister?" I ask.

She chuckles. "Who else could have done it? It's what they deserved. Good riddance to bad rubbish." She says, and I sprint to her and choke her. "You monster. How dare you?!" I yell, strangling her.

"Luke! Lucas!" Both women yell. I can feel them dragging me off her, but all I'm interested in is squeezing the life out of her. They drag me off her, and she crawls away, still laughing. Her laughter was driving me insane. My mind flashes back to the night of the incident. It was her all along.

"Francis was a good man. He married me off to Mark and they both covered up my crime. You were a fool to think Francis and Judith caused your misfortune. It was me all along, but you were blinded by your desperation for revenge." She says, and Judith walks up to her. She slaps her.

"You made me marry off my daughter against her will!"

"No, Judith. Your greed made you do it. Mark was ready to pay the bills, you were just to proud to accept our help."

"What? You demented psychopath!" She slaps her again. "You've been playing with my daughters life and she trusted and loved you, even more than me!"

"I never meant to hurt Natalie. That's why I wanted her to be with Rocket—

"Did you plan the bombing with Caleb?" I ask her.

"He was supposed to plant them in your car. It was supposed to be you and Laurel! He betrayed me and planted them at the manor. My poor baby. . . She lost her baby because of me, and now she's lost her life too. . ." She continues crying. I run my hand through my head, frustrated and lost.

"Um. . .I think my water just broke." Lydia says, as she goes into labor.

*******

Current day, 13 months later

My phone rings. I take the call. "Hello?" I answer, and the next words I hear, give me all the strength and hope I'd ever needed. I speed off.

Rushing into the hospital, I look for Doctor Kohl. I can't see him around. I go to the counter, "Where's the doctor? Doctor Kohl?" I ask the nurses.

"Congrats, sir. He's in the room." She says, and I laugh. "It's true?" I ask her. She nods at me, and I a tear drops down my eye as I run to the room.

On getting there, I stand out, nervous. I open the door and enter. The room is empty. I rush back out, and I begin to walk down the hall when I pause. I look by my left. It's the four man unit for women who'd just given birth.

There she was, standing, her back to me. I could tell, I could swear—it was her, my wife. I take out my phone and call Lydia. "Get a lawyer to come to the hospital as fast as possible and help me pick up some rings on your way here. She's awake."

I go into the room. She turns to face me, a baby in her arm and a smile on her face. She looked like an angel. My heart melts, as I feel butterflies in my belly.

"My love." I say. She returns the baby to its mother, and I rush to her and hug her. I cry. She hugs me back. I begin to sob like a little child.

"When did you wake up? I'm so glad you're fine. You're okay. You finally came back." She caresses my hair. I break the hug and hold her hand. I take her to her room and shut the door. She goes to window and stands there, looking outside.

"She died, didn't she?"

"Yes. You lost the baby."

"The doctor said I slipped into a coma right after the surgery."

"You were in a coma for 13 months. It was a nightmare for us all." I say. I go to her and hug her from behind.

"I missed you. I missed you so much. Our baby misses you as well. He asks about you non-stop. At a point, he thought you had died. I had hope you'd wake up one day, and you did."

"Louis." She states, and turns around. "Where is he? He must be so big now. He must've missed me. He must've cried a lot." She says, tears in the corners of her eyes.

I nod. "Yes. He did. He is. He's not in the country though."

"What? Where is he?" She asks, about to panic.

"Calm down. He's in America. With Ashley and your mother."

"Why? Why are they there? Bring them home at once."

"No. We can't. I can't do that, Natalie. Not when they'd be in danger."

"Danger from who? Laurel? I thought she'd have been caught by now. That bitch ruined my life, and you've done nothing to catch her?!"

"Laurel's dead." I tell her. She doesn't react shocked. She just looks calmer.

"Good. So why can't they?"

"Because, Caleb is still walking, and right now, he's become the Chairman of the company, in transition to becoming the CEO."

"You should've stopped it. Let's go." She says, walking past me when she falters. I hold her.

"Listen." I tell her.

"It's okay. I'm fine. What is it?" She asks. I hesitate, not sure if she'd be able to take what it was I was about to tell her. "Luke? Tell me."

"I found the person working with Caleb." I state.

"Who is it? Still Rocket?" She asks.

"No, Natalie. It's your aunt. Aunt Ruth."

It was numb. I could only describe it as a long, endless walk down a bottomless path. A dark, cold and lonely path I couldn't even see.

My hand trembles as I try to hold the pen to sign the documents. Luke supports me by holding my hand. I look up at him, and he looks at me, his eyes filled with worry. I successfully sign the papers. The door bursts open. I turn to see who it is. I smile, wanting to get up as soon as my eyes fall on her. Lydia. She gets to me before I can get up and we share a long and warm hug.

"Don't cry. I'm okay." I tell her, as I look at her. She continues to sob, holding my shoulders. I smile, and I look down at her belly. It is now flat. She had obviously delivered. Her baby would be a year old. I caress her belly.

"His name's Chris. Christoph. You're his godmother, and I know, he'll be happy to see you."

"He would have been friends with Emily. She should've been here. She deserved to be here."

"Don't get worked up, Natalie, please. Calm down."

"No, Lucas. She's right. That crazy woman ruined my friend's life! The doctors should've saved her. She shouldn't have died so easily."

"What even happened that night? I still don't know anything." I ask, confused. I couldn't remember everything. It was all blurry.

"She knew where the party was. She saw José come in, and asked him if he was here for the party. I believe she was going to stab you with a needle because one was found on her. I don't know how, but she got into Jose's car and poisoned the cake. I believe she watched each and every one of us, but what I don't understand is how she knew about the cake."

"She was a calculative one. She must've plotted this out extremely well." Lydia says.

"My work here is done, I believe. You are now married under the law, and just for formality sake— I pronounce you both, husband and wife."

****

As Lucas and I head home, all I can think about is my dead child. As though he can feel and  hear my thoughts, he holds my hand, reassuring me.

The hatred that coursed through my veins for those that had made me suffer ran deeper than the very blood that made me live. I wanted to cry. I want to mourn my child, my daughter, Emily, but I wouldn't. No, I definitely couldn't, not until I punished who I could. Laurel was dead, and it pained me deeply. I wished she had stayed alive. Rocket, Caleb and most definitely, Ruth. They would suffer for Laurel's crimes. They would get the punishment Laurel deserved, equally and soon.

Flashback, The Hospital

"It's your aunt, Natalie. Aunt Ruth."

My jaw drops as I look at him, stunned. It couldn't be. I probably misheard him.

"Aunt Ruth, Natalie! Your aunt. The one you love! The one whom you grew up with. Aunt Ruth is a horrible person, a murderer!" He takes out his phone and plays a recorded voice note. I lose my balance as I gasp. He holds me.

He continues, "She killed my mother, father, sister— she tried to kill me too. She conspired with Rocket to separate us. She ruined our marriage, Natalie. I accept that I played a part, but she takes the trophy. If I'm correct, she must've tried to turn you against me severally."

"Luke. . .The phone call." I state, putting the puzzle together.

"What call?"

"In the back of my mind, I'd always wondered how Laurel got my house number and why she'd go as far as calling them. I'm not sure she even knew my father was sick."

"Are you? Oh. . ." Luke realizes my point.

"Aunt made that call, or she had Laurel do it."

"Hoping your parents would convince you to come home and break off the deal." He completes it, and I scoff, beyond amazed. A tear falls down my eyes. I clean it immediately, as I force myself to not cry.

*******

We arrive at the manor. Luke rushes to my side and helps me get down. We walk towards the entrance, where I stop. He had the manor repainted and redecorated. It looked completely different. I look ahead, and a line of workers are waiting. A woman comes forward, and I smile as I recognize who it is. I stretch out my hand to her, and she takes it.

"Emmanuele." I say.

"Madam." She responds. We hug.

"Where have you been? I- I haven't seen you in years. You left after, you know, I took the house."

"I went back to my niece in Ireland. She got married and had a child, so it was all I needed, really." She says, and my face drops. I smile back at her.

"Okay, now. Let's go in. Tell them they can say hello to the lady once she's in higher spirits."

As I go in to the house, I'm hit with painful and happy memories. Memories I'd spent in the house with Luke, and memories I'd spent after kicking him out.

"Let's move into your room." I tell him, as we head towards the stairs. I scan the new dining area. It looked extremely modern, but it had a touch of ancientness. "I want that apple." I tell him, pointing to the basket of fruits on the table.

"I'll get it." He says, going to get it. He hands it over to me. It's a huge red apple. I eat it, enjoying the taste of the fruit as it's juices spread on my tongue.

"You must be hungry." Luke says. I nod. He continues, "I'll take you upstairs and prepare you something nice."

"No." I hold his arm, "Emmanuele must've done that already. I need you. Help me cut my hair." I tell him.

*****

I take off the hospital clothes as I enter the bathroom. I walk to the mirror and look at myself in the mirror. I touch my face. Luke comes, and he stands beside me. I turn, scanning my belly. It wasn't as flat as it used to be. It made me upset that the reason I'd gained extra weight was snatched away from me even before I could hold her in my arms.

"Did you see her? Emily?"

"Yes. I had her cremated. Her ashes are kept safely, just beside your father."

"I should visit her soon." I respond, going to sit on the vanity chair.

I watch my husband, as he brushes my hair slowly. He goes to the counter and takes a comb. He comes back to me, and as though he knew just exactly what I wanted, he cuts my hair into a long middle part.

"Cut it here." I tell him, showing him the length I wanted him to cut it at. He uses his clipper, and in a few moments, my hair is shorter than usual. It's just a few inches below my shoulder. He takes the brush, and he brushes my hair again.

"Did I do well?" He asks, as we both look at the mirror. He rests his face on my shoulder.

"Mm. You did." I respond, as I caress his face. He takes my hand, and we go into the shower. He takes off his boxers. We have a moment, staring at one another. He hugs me. I return the gesture.

"You scare me, Natalie. You've been awfully quiet. It's like you're a different person after waking from the coma. I know you've been through a lot these past few years, but don't let our enemies win. Being like this only means they succeeded in breaking you."

"I'm not quiet because I feel sad or anything. I'm quiet because I'm thinking of a thousand ways to harm them. I'm quiet because I'm thinking, "How can I make them pay? Make them suffer?" I've never felt the urge to harm anyone, more than I do right now. My blood boils thinking that because of these people, I've become the very thing I hated. I'm more or less my mother— sending my child away from myself at such a young age. I swore to myself that I would never do that, but look at me. Where is my only surviving child? I've lost two children— Lucas, they died in me! How can I carry a life in me, and have it murdered in me twice and be sane? I'm mad with rage. With anger."

"I share your sentiments, but Laurel did those things, and she's dead. You have to move on, my love. You can always get pregnant aga—

"I will never get pregnant until Caleb, Rocket and Aunt Ruth leave this world. That is the only time I'll have peace of mind." I tell him, moving to turn on the water. He holds my arm.

"Are you saying we have them murdered?"

"Don't you want it too? They killed your family. They killed my children. My father. Jennifer. How many will die before we finally put an end to their games? Is it until it's Louis? Me? You? It's only a miracle, I survived. We don't have to have blood on our hands, Luke."

"You can't be involved in any of this. I'll have it sorted out on my own, so if anything goes wrong, I'll be the one to take the fall."

"Oh, no. We're in this together. We will make them pay, one by one. I will not pity anyone, because when they were plotting against us, they didn't. I will mourn my daughter, only after I make them pay." I tell him. He nods, and we begin to kiss, progressing into making love, as the water pours on us.

"Don't worry, Emily, mommy's going to avenge you. I won't let them get away with taking you from me. I promise."