Chapter 84: Chapter 84

CHAPTER 41

Luke and I are seated opposite each other. I'd seen him talking to the guard and I guessed he'd gotten us more time to sit and talk.

"You came."

"I know you didn't do it." I respond, looking at his eyes.

"I didn't. I'm surprised you believe me."

"If only you believed me then too. Sucks, huh?"

He looks down, embarrassed. He can't look at me. "I'm sorry, Natalie. You can't imagine how remorseful I am."

I scoff. "You believe me now? When you're locked up in this rathole?"

He looks at me. "Rocket to—

"It took Rocky to convince you that your son is yours! You threw me out in the cold, under the rain. I had no money, nothing! You destroyed my life, Luke."

"I know you tried to convince me severally that. . ." He pauses. He doesn't even know our son's name.

I chuckle bitterly. "Louis. His name is Louis."

"It's a beautiful name. I need you to understand me. Yes, I was wrong for not giving a listening ear, and as my wife, I should have trusted you, but my jealousy got the best of me. I'm not trying to justify my actions, but you hid the fact that he was the one. You lived together with him and I, in the same house. Under the same roof. It was only natural I reacted that way."

"You brought him into our home! Marriage is a joint partnership, Luke. You and I were in one. You brought in a stranger to our home without asking me how I felt about it. How do you bring a man to stay home with your wife?"

"I'm sorry. I take most of the blame. I take it all. I'm begging for your forgiveness, Natalie. I'm already here. I don't feel at peace. I can't sleep, I can't eat. All I ask for is your forgiveness. I don't know if I'm getting out of here, but I just need you to forgive me. Please."

I get up, annoyed. Why I was annoyed, I couldn't really tell, but I had to leave. I didn't want to forgive. He made it sound so easy.

"I know it's not easy!" He yells. I stop, my hand on the door knob. He continues, "Think of our son, at the very least. I've accepted my son and I know, he's my heir. At least, let me meet him. Let him know he has a father who loves, acknowledges and accepts him. Do it for him, if not for me." He says. I can feel him move closer to him. My body is trembling. This time, I felt like I'd really betrayed Luke. I was pregnant and by Alex. Would he reject me if he found out? Would he hate me? How would he react? I try to stop myself from sobbing as I turn around. I can't control the tears as I look at him. Luke hugs me and I begin to cry even harder. I'm having a hard time deciding if I should hug back or not. I decide on the former. We hug. It had been so long since I felt his warmth on me. It's been ages since I felt his strong arms around me. He takes my head and we share a deep kiss.

"I never stopped loving you. I've always loved you and I always will. That won't stop until the day I die."

"I took Laurel." I blurt out.

He looks around the room. "I know. Don't talk about that here." He says, killing the topic off.

He caresses my face. "I have a lot of questions, but I just want to know how you are. Are you okay? You look sick."

I look away immediately. "I'm fine. I'm just stressed out. I'll bring Louis. It doesn't mean I've forgiven you or we're back together." I say.

He nods. "I understand. I've contacted a few lawyers. I might be released on bond before the day runs out."

"Good. I don't want to bring my son here. Come to the manor."

****

I'd just gotten home. It was about seven thirty in the evening. There was so much traffic coming back home. Louis might've been in bed already.

"Ashley! Where's Louis?" I ask. "He's with Delores. She went to change his diaper just a few minutes ago."

"Okay. I'll go meet them. Have you had dinner? Please get me some food. I'm starving."

*** 9PM

I'd changed into some pajamas, and my hair tied in a bun. Louis was surprisingly still awake. I drop him on the floor as I carry my empty plate out of the room. I was still dazed at the fact that I was pregnant. A whole lot of things had happened today, and I'd not gotten the chance to sit and think about them properly.

As I'm heading to the kitchen, the intercom rings. I pick it.

"Ma'am. Mr. Carrington is here. Should we grant access?" I hear, and immediately I respond. I drop the plate on the couch and rush outside. He's been released. He's in a Toyota Venza. The car drives straight to where I'm standing. He comes out. He runs up to me and we hug.

"You got out."

"I have to run! Will you come with me?"

"Huh? Run? Where?" I ask, panicked.

"I need to run until I gather enough evidence to clear my name! The senator and David have left. I don't know where to, but they might get caught I know I need to go to find enough evidence to clear my name. We can go to Belarus, Armenia or—

"Luke!" We both turn around as we hear his name being called. Luke turns around, covering me as we realize who it is and what she's holding. The security guards are right behind her.

"Natalie, get away from him! Move!" She screams. I cover my mouth in shock as I sight her gun.

"She's armed." I whisper to Luke.

"Laurel? Have you gone mad?" He asks her. He begins to walk towards her. "Give me the gun. Do you know what you're holding?"

"No! That bitch killed our baby Luke! I must kill her. She'll separate us. Why are you here?" She asks, crying. This girl had really lost it. She was mad. "You should've been, should've been looking for me. Instead, you come here to this whore?"

"Laurel! Give it to me!" Luke yells, trying to grab the gun from her when it goes off. There's silence everywhere. I stagger, unable to talk. I feel a piercing pain in my stomach. I look down. My pajama is soaked in blood.

"Natalie!" I hear Luke say, as I fall to the ground. He rushes back to me, and he holds me, giving me support. The guards hold Laurel.

"Natalie. . . Oh, my God, please." Luke says, crying. "You'll be fine. You'll be fine, don't close your eyes, okay? Call the ambulance now!" He yells.

I caress his face, smiling at him. "Don't trust Caleb. He killed Jennifer. There's a flash drive. It could help you.” I struggle to say. "I- I forgive you."

48 hours later. . .

My eyes flutter open. I'm alert. There's an oxygen mask on my face. I look around the room.

"She's awake." I hear a voice say. It's my mother.

"Natalie." I hear Lydia say. I take off the oxygen mask.

"Relax, Natalie. Oh, I'm so glad you're alive and awake." Lydia says.

"Where's Louis?" I ask, trying to sit up. I can't.

"He's home with Delores and Ashley. At your mother's."

"That's right. I'm glad nothing happened to you, my love. You were asleep for two days." Judith says.

"Two days?" I ask, suddenly recalling the events of that evening. My heartbeat increases. "Where's Luke? How is my baby?"

Lydia looks away. Judith looks at her. "Well, my love. You lost the baby and well, as for Lucas. . . I think it's best you check this." She says, handing me the newspaper. I begin to cry. "No!" I yell, hitting the bed. "No, no! God, my baby. . .”I sob, pained and hurt. I didn't even have time to come to terms with being pregnant and my child was snatched away from me already. I felt like crap, and I wanted to scream at Laurel. She caused this.

*** About three hours later

I was calm now. Lydia hands me the newspaper, and I look at her, scared. I take the paper and look at it. As soon as I read it, I throw it on the floor.

"That's a lie." I say, trying to get up.

"A body was found, Natalie. He's dead." Lydia says, and I yell at her. "Don't! Shut up! Luke's not dead! I was shot. Not him! He's not dead!" I say, still trying to get up. Lydia assists me up. I pause.

"What?"

I look at her, extremely frightened. "I can't feel my legs. I can't feel my legs, Lydia."

Lydia gasps. "Jesus. I'll get the doctor."

The doctor arrives. "The test results just came out, alongside your x-ray. I'm sorry to break it to you, but the gunshot pierced your spinal cord. You're paralyzed, Ms. Richardson." I fall into darkness.

*

"Natalie?" Lydia calls as I open my eyes.

"Did Luke come?" I ask. Before Lydia can answer, there's a knock on the door. She opens.

"Yes?" She asks.

"I'm Detective Lozada from Hackney police. I have a few questions for Mrs. Robinson. May I come in?" Lydia looks at me.

*

"So Laurel shot at you? Did you perhaps see Nr. Carrington leave with her, before you lost consciousness?"

"I didn't okay? Just please, where is Luke? Where is he?" I ask, desperate to hear that he'd been locked up again.

"Oh, I'm sorry ma'am."

"Sorry for?"

"I'm sorry for your loss. Mr. Carrington's body was found. It was burnt beyond recognition but the dental results show that he's the one. My condolences." She responds, and I scream.

"Ah! No, please." I sob, "It can't be him, please check again. Lydia, please! Luke isn't dead!" I sob, unable to bear the confirmation. Tragedy had struck. I had lost so many things in the past few hours. I remember the warning I'd received from the red haired woman. I had lost my child, my legs, and now, my soulmate. I couldn't bear the pain. My revenge had ruined my life, and I was paying dearly for all my choices. Hopefully, there would be redemption for my soul, and a chance to right all my wrongs.