Chapter 60: Chapter 60

CHAPTER 17

Lydia's with Louis in the living room. I drop my bag on the floor and hurry over to them.

"Hi baby!" I say, as I play with his tiny hands. "You're going to be one in 5 days! Who's a big boy?"

"May 5th?" Lydia asks.

I nod. "Yes, May 5th.”

Lydia smiles. She holds my hand. "You shouldn't have done that. You went too far. It's obvious you love your son, but what if you died?"

"Luke threatened me, and, the accident I had which caused my early delivery was because of Luke. He tried to murder me. Twice." I say. I can see the shock on her face. "Do you understand why I am so enraged?"

She gasps. "Are you certain? This is a very very strong accusation. This is murder."

"I remember the bus that hit me. I'd been seeing the bus outside the house for days and even outside the office, but I didn't think much about it. Until, Luke threatened me yesterday and I had to look for a way to regain the upper hand. I rushed out because I knew someone would see me and help if I was unable to drive myself to the hospital. I was getting to my car when the bus came out of nowhere and almost hit me. It stopped when it got directly in front of me, I have no clue why. That's when I fainted, because I remembered the first accident plus the poison in my system.”

"I can't believe it. He really tried to kill you?"

"You heard it right, Lydia. The father of my son tried to kill me, alongside the child in me— his child."

"Why would he? I still don't believe it. I don't believe all of this. I've seen the way that man looks at you, it can't be. Natalie, take a second look into this matter! At times, there's more to what meets the eye. There could be more to this, Natalie."

"Lydia, I'm telling you. Lucas is capable of anything. He believed that I had an affair with Rocky while we were married. That's why he rejected Louis. He thinks Louis belongs to Rocky. Look at the boy! That's Luke's face. His hair, everything. Louis has my eyes, but everything else is Luke's!"

"We just need Luke to see Louis, and probably, things could get better."

"Better? Lydia, I can't believe you're saying this."

"I'm saying this for Louis’ sake. Louis is the most important person in all of this. Trust me, I'm all in for revenge, but how would you feel when your son grows up and begins to hate you when he finds out you ruined his fathers life?"

"My son will never hate me."

"You know what, let's forget all of this. Louis’ birthday is in 5 days. We need to start planning." She says. My anger melts away instantly as I begin to think of my son.

"I want an animal themed party. Maybe underwater and jungle themed!" I say, as I wipe the tiny tears coming out of my eyes.

Lydia nods, "I have some contacts. I'll call them up. Are you inviting anyone?"

"No one, really. My neighbor has a toddler. The house beneath ours has twins. I could invite them."

"We could invite José too, when last did you see him?"

My eyes light up, remembering José. He was a dear friend. "It's been a long while."

"Agreed. Tracy, Annie and Veronica. I have their contacts!"

I gasp. I'd really been a horrible friend, although, it hadn't been intentional. I'd  gotten married to Luke a few weeks to my graduation and after which, Luke had prevented me from having a phone. There was no way I could've kept in contact with my friends. "Absolutely. I'd be glad if they honored my invitation. Do you think they'll come though?" I ask Lydia.

"They'll be here. I assure you." She responds, as she holds my hand, her bracelets dangling.

"They're lovely. Did you just get them?"

"No, I had them in my bag, I just decided to try them on today. They're lovely, right? My husband was decent enough to get me a pair." She says, laughing mockingly.

"Honestly, they are. The quality's amazing. I'd like to have one."

"Oh, okay. I think they're from Petra Robinson, if I remember correctly. Let me check the internet, hold on." She says, going through her phone. I freeze. "Petra Robinson Jewelers? PRJ?" I ask. It was the same company CI was merging with. Lydia continues, "Yes, it's them." She responds, and then I remember it. Alex was truly the heir of the conglomerate.

"Please, hand me your phone." I had read about the heir of PRJ taking over the company, so if Alex was intact the heir of Petra Robinson, it meant he would probably be the one finalizing the merger from his end. I search up Alex Robinson, and results come up. Alexander Robinson, 32, heir to the Petra Robinson conglomerate. It was in fact him. Alex, the man I'd shared a kiss with, and hopefully, nothing else a few days ago. I couldn't believe it.

"What's wrong?" Lydia asks.

"I'll explain later." I say, as I get up to grab my purse. I take out my phone. I call Jennifer. She picks.

"Yes, good morning. I need you to come over to my house. I want you to do something." I say to her. "I want you to leak something to the press. I want it on the news, on the radio and on the internet. Get here as soon as you can. I'll text you my address." I say as I hang up.

LAUREL's POV

"You didn't succeed?!" I ask. His reply annoys me. I smash my phone on the floor. I scream. "Why?! Every single time, she always finds a way to escape!" I am beyond annoyed. I wanted to grab her by the neck and suffocate her. This was my fourth attempt in trying to get rid of her. First, I got her kidnapped. The kidnapping was my best plan and I'd have gotten rid of her if only Luke didn't find out.

Flashback...

I was leaving Barry's room, where we'd hidden Natalie when I bump into Luke. I try to play it cool, but he knows. He pushes me and begins to squeeze my neck.

"How dare you, Laurel? Do you know what you've done?!"

"I should've turned off the cameras. She's stealing you away from me, Luke! You promised never to leave me, don't you remember?" I say, caressing his face. He flings my hands off.

"I'll forget this. I'll pretend it never happened. If Natalie finds out about this, not even I, will be able to save you."

***

Luke knew, but ensured he never spoke about it again, just to save me. That gesture alone, made my love grow more intensely. It was glaring that he was in love with me but he couldn't be with me because of Natalie. That day, I decided to make it a mission to get rid of Natalie. The second time, I tried to poison her food, but Rocky ended up taking it. I was enraged! That forced me into keeping my eyes on him. Then, I found out about Natalie and him. I was ecstatic.

****

My third attempt was unsuccessful. I tried to get her killed, stage it as a hit and run case. My tracks would be covered perfectly. I felt betrayed finding out she was pregnant with Luke's child.

"That child belonged to me!" I yell as I begin to smash and throw things round the room. "Natalie! I hate you! Die, bitch, die! Luke is mine!"

I had just now been informed that unfortunately, my fourth attempt to kill her had failed. Apparently, there was a police car just around the corner so my hit man had to abort last minute.

"I'll get you, Natalie, I must! Even when Luke has me in his arms, when he makes love to me, he still calls your name!" I begin to sob. I needed Luke's love to survive. "You have to die for me to have Luke completely, Natalie. I will kill you!" I yell as I begin to laugh. I hadn't lost all hope yet. I would still get more chances to kill that bitch.