Chapter 94: Chapter 94

CHAPTER 9

We are in the hospital. I'm staring at Luke as he gets his blood drawn alongside Louis, a thousand thoughts going through my head.

"That's my big boy," I comment, holding my baby as the nurse takes out the needle.

"The results will be out in the next twenty four hours." The doctor says.

"Why? Can't we get it immediately?" I ask. I turn to Rose. "Don't you dare try to tamper with the results."

"Why would I do that? I'm confident enough. If my husband says he's not who you claim he is, then he's not."

I look at Luke, my anger rising. "The truth will be out soon." I state.

"Let's go, son." I hear Rocky say to Louis.

"Doesn't that hurt you?" I ask, hurt. No matter how much I tried, I just couldn't seem to wrap my head around it. Why would he lie? A tear drops from my eye. I hold his face as I look into his eyes. I could tell that it was those same blue eyes that looked into mine whenever we made love. I could tell that it was those same eyes that looked at me with love and hatred. It was evident that it was Lucas.

"You're hurting me badly, Luke." I whisper, tired. For the first time in years, I'd felt tired and burdened. It was as though I was beginning to feel all the emotions I'd suppressed the last few years. My heart was heavy.

He removes my hands and takes Rose's hand and they walk out on me. I clean my tear. Now, more than ever, I had to be strong. I had to be strong for myself.

******

I enter my room, tired and with a headache. I take off my dress and my underwear. I loosen my hair and head straight to the bathroom. I go straight to the shower and stand under it. My mind flashes back to the day's events, most especially, Lucas' words. I don't know who she is. My blood boils as I remember his words. I close my eyes, letting the water pour on my body, from my head to my toes.

I hear my room door fling open. I don't bother asking who it is, because I couldn't care less who it was. I turn off the water.

"What do you think you're doing, Natalie?" I turn around to leave the shower, not interested in answering questions from him.

"I'm talking to you, Natalie."

I walk past him and pick my towel from the rack beside him. I walk into my room as I wrap my body in the towel. I go straight to my bed and lie in it, covering myself with the thick duvet.

"So you're going to ignore me now? After the scene you caused out there? We just got married and you go around clinging to another man? Don't you respect yourself? You looked pathetic."

I close my eyes, trying my best to ignore his words. "Get out."

"Get a hold of yourself. I'll give you till noon, tomorrow. I expect you to move in to the house by then. If you do not, then I have no problem in moving here myself. Take the night off, rest properly, and think. You're not in your right senses."

"Did you know he was still alive?" I begin to cough. I try to control it, but I can't. In a few seconds, I can feel his hands behind my back, rubbing my back. He gets off the bed and rushes to my side. He hands me the glass of water, but I fling it away, refusing to drink.

"What's wrong with you?" He asks. I fling his hands off me, the cough reducing. I get up, having no clue as to where I'm even going to. I stumble, and Rocket catches me immediately. We have an eye lock, and I can't help but feel annoyed at his presence. I shove him off my body.

"Natalie, I beg you. Get a hold of yourself! Tomorrow, you'll get to know that that stranger isn't Lucas."

I slap him. "Why are you so confident? Why are you so sure that it isn't him? Who are you to decide that, huh?" I yell, pushing him.

"Because I know he's dead!"

"Did you kill him? Is that how you know?" I ask.

"I'm not a murderer. You saw the car burnt, yourself. I saw his body— he was with your ring. Your wedding ring. Believe it or not, Lucas died that day, Natalie."

"I won't ever forgive you for what you just said. You're purposefully saying that to keep me away from him," I walk to the door and open it. "Get out of my house. Now."

"We're a married coupl—

"By name alone." I correct him. "I will not under any circumstance, act like a wife towards you, and I do not need your name for Louis anymore. My lawyers will send you divorce papers by Monday. Do well to sign them on time."

He walks closer to me, hovering over me. I look away. "You're mistaken if you think I'll ever let you leave me."

******

Lydia's POV

"Ow," I wince in pain, as I enter the airport. I would be due for delivery in the next two months. I adjust my hoodie and my glasses to disguise myself properly. I couldn't risk anyone recognizing me and finding out that I was pregnant without being able to see Natalie first.

I'd broken down, unhappy that I couldn't save my friend from making such a huge mistake. I felt guilty for watching and letting it happen. I was guilty.

Legally, David and I were still married. I had no idea if he was still in prison or if he'd been released.

Returning to London was a hard choice, but it was one I had to make. I had to set things right, as a lot of things depended on me.

The truth behind what happened that day, four years ago, and the real reason I had to leave London. Only I, Luke and Rocket knew the truth behind what happened and it could either mend our relationships or break them. I could only pray and wish that when the truth was revealed, Natalie would be able to forgive us all.

"We're back home, son. It's time to meet your father."

I get up, my heartbeat increasing as soon as the doctor approaches us.

"Calm down, Natalie. You look really pale. The results aren't running away." Aunt Ruth compensated me. We hold hands.

"Are the results out, doctor?" Rose asks.

"Yes." He responds, looking at us individually.

"Doctor, you may." Lucas says, telling the doctor to make the announcement. He opens the letter.

"The results state that the boy and he, are in no way related. The probability of paternity is zero percent." He says, and it's like the world stops for a moment. I look at Lucas, feeling enraged.

"Are you satisfied?" Rose asks. She comes closer to me. She continues, "Look, I understand where you're coming from, and I admit that I might've overreacted before, but then it's because he's do—, She pauses. She exhales. "I hope things can go back to normal after this."

"Yes," I agree with her. "Things will definitely go back to normal after I take him away from you." Her reaction to my words was priceless. The paternity result coming out as negative not only confirmed that he was indeed, Luke, but I'd also realized that there was something holding him back.

"What?" Rose asks. I ignore her, finding my way to Lucas.

"You know what I'm capable of, when offended. Really, it's all your fault. You set all this in motion the very day you walked into my house and blackmailed my mother into marrying me. You can say I've gone mad, because, Luke, I will never let you be." Rose comes and stands in between I and Luke, who's frowning at me.

"His name is Richard!"

"In ten days. In ten days, I'll prove to you that this man here, isn't who you think he is. Until then, make sure you spend lots of time with him, because, you won't be seeing him again." I state and take my leave.

*****

"Natalie!" Aunt Ruth yells. I pause. She holds my hand from behind.

"Just let it go. Even I am convinced, that he isn't Luke, I mean, Lucas wouldn't deny Louis again, would he?!"

"Aunt. I agree, Lucas and I were married for a year, but I know that man like the back of my palm. He's telling lies!"

"So how do you plan on exposing him in ten days, Natty? Ten days?" Aunt Ruth panics, massaging her temples. I turn around and begin to find my way to the car. I was enraged. I wanted to bitch slap Rose in the face and punch Luke as many times as I could. I wanted to scream and burn all his belongings. My happiness was with Luke. I could only be happy with him, and I deserved to be happy. For the past few years, I'd known nothing but sadness and I was done with it.

"Stop." I tell the Chauffeur. He stops the car. "I'll find my way home, aunt. Can you give me some money, please?" She nods and hands me some money.

I walk into the restaurant and find an empty table. I sit down and order for some food. I bring out my phone. I search for 'Mr & Mrs Carrington' . There are pictures of Luke and I. The waitress comes with the first plate of food. Spaghetti bolognese. I dig in, extremely hungry. I didn't care to eat neatly or getting my picture taken. I just wanted to fill the empty void I was feeling with food. The waiter comes again, bringing a plate of foie gras and mashed potatoes.

After finishing with my plate of spaghetti, I drink some water and begin with my foie gras. I still wasn't full. I pause, then I begin to sob. I drink some water, remembering all of Luke's words. The way Rose held his arm and touched him made my blood boil. I didn't even want to believe that he had gone as far as getting intimate with her. It would kill me.

The waitress comes again, another plate in her hand but I don't bother looking. I get up and drop a thousand on the table. It would be more than enough to cover the bill. I get up and head out, unsure of what exactly I was going to do and how I was going to do it.

*****

I take each step slowly, unsure why I came to the hospital or if I wanted to see him.

"Hello, miss?" A nurse seated at the front desk asks. I look at her, unsure of how to respond. Immediately, I turn to leave. I pause. Apart from David and Caleb, Alex was the only other person that Lucas had been around during the days before his disappearance. There was a possibility Alex knew something that I didn't. I had to see him. I turn around, rushing to the nurse.

"Sorry. I'd like to see Alex. Alexander Robinson?"

"Okay. Hold on, I'll just check the name," She continues, "What's your name, and how are you related to the patient?" She asks.

"Natalie Richardson. I'm his ex wife." I say. She looks at me. She hands me a register.

"If you could just sign here," She says. I take the book and sign. "Here," I state, giving her the book.

*****

After a few knocks and no replies, I decide on just entering the room. Alex is facing the television that's turned off. I enter the room and quietly shut the door behind me.

"Hello, Alex." I say, frozen at that particular spot. It takes a while, but he turns around. Our eyes meet. His eyes are dull, his face, a bit pale. He ignores me and looks ahead again. I scrunch my brows in confusion.

"Alex." I state, and this time, he turns around, alarmed. He gets up. He points at me. "Natalie? Are you really here?"

I look at him, confused. I smile, and nod at him, remembering his condition. "It's me, Alex. How are you?" I ask, and in the blink of an eye, Alex's hands are wrapped around my body as he hugs me tightly. I do not hesitate to hug back.

"Are you crying?" I ask, shocked. He doesn't respond. I break the hug. He really is crying. "Alex." I state.

"I thought I lost you. I thought you hated me, I-I thought you wanted to stay away from me."

"No, no. No, Alex. I-I never would do that to you. I was paralyzed for the last four years. I couldn't walk after I lo—," I pause, remembering to never mention that I was in fact carrying his child.

"You what? Natalie, I'm sorry— I didn't think it was that bad,"

"How bad did you think it was? You heard about the accident, didn't you?"

"I did, but—

"It doesn't matter, Alex. Enough of me, how are you? You look really horrible." I say, looking at his overgrown hair and messy eyebrows. He takes my hand and places it over his face.

"You smell just as you did that night," He says, caressing his face with my hand. He continues, "If is known it would be our last night together, I wouldn't have let you go."

"Alex. . ."

"Don't say anything, love. Let's just enjoy this moment, or at least, let me enjoy it."

"Alex, you know I married someone else." I state. He takes his hand off me.

"I hate my mother for deceiving me."

"Deceiving you? What do you mean, Alex?"

"She made me sign those papers. I would've never signed those papers had I known what they were for."

"Alex, you and I both know that you lost your mind thinking I'd died in that acciden—

"Yes! I thought you had died. I thought they were company papers. Until I saw the news on the television. Then I knew what my mother had done. She wouldn't even let me come out, Natalie." He says. He holds my shoulders, "Natalie, I'm perfectly okay."

"What? I don't understand what you're saying, Alex."

He leads me to the couch. He opens it up and brings out some tablets from the side. I look in shock.

"I'm perfectly fine, Natalie. I've always been."

"But your mother— how is it possible— "It's not her. It's someone else, I believe. Someone who has something to gain if I'm locked up in here."

I gasp. "Alex, you knew all of this, and you willingly stayed in here?"

"I was waiting for this day to come. I didn't know when, but I knew you'd find me here. You need to get me out of here, Natalie."