Chapter Thirty-one

Emery

''I'm going to Australia,'' Evelyn pushes the door open; instantly catching my attention before looking up at her—leaning back on my seat.

''Why would you go to Australia?'' I ask.

''Investigate your group of friends,'' She replies.

''I thought we're over this. Besides, no one has been bothering me for almost two months now. Emma and the baby are healthy—everything is perfectly fine,'' I shrug; not wanting to ruin my life. Evelyn may have thought about this for the past weeks but I think that she should just let it go. Everything is fine.

''I have a bad feeling about this, Emery. They've been too quiet and I know that you worry about Emma and the baby—that's why I want to help.'' She continues to speak; stubbornly.

Evelyn doesn't know about Hannah's pregnancy; then again, no one knows about it except me. The last time my mind has thought of her was when Cole called to tell me about her pregnancy and that was it. Even if she's truly pregnant, the baby is not mine.

Yet, I'm not too sure.

Great, now I'm worrying about this over again.

''There's nothing to help,'' I mutter, slowly as I put back my earphones in—not bothered to hear her speak because I know she won't stop talking about this; she wants to find out the truth.

All of a sudden, she starts to pull them roughly which causes me to look up into her eyes due to me sitting in my seat and her standing in front of me with the table separating us—her eyes show nothing but anger.

''You, listen to me. You're my baby brother and I'm your big sister; I know what's best for you. Mother has been busy dealing with the new system ever since father passed away and I think that this is the right time for me to slip away. She won't notice,'' She says before adding, ''I'll make it quick,''

''Evelyn, cut it off, okay? Why are we still talking about this? I don't want anything to do with Hannah and I think that this is just a sick joke,'' I reply, slightly raising my voice; unable to control my temper. I've been dealing with pressure recently.

''Oh, stop being irresponsible.'' She looks straight into my eyes, ''You're hiding something from me,''

''What would that be?'' I lean forward, challenging.

To our surprise, someone knocks onto the door which catches our attention; before entering and bowing, ''Forgive me for interrupting, Your Highnesses but there's someone here to see you—she has been calling out for you, threatening the guards. She claims to have something that belongs to you,'' He says.

''How could you let her in? Who is she?'' I ask.

Then, I stand up, heading towards the door.

He avoids making any eye contact so I head down the hall before walking down the stairs with Evelyn trailing behind me—crossing her arms as soon as we reach downstairs. All of a sudden, I find myself staring at a familiar blonde hair; Hannah.

As soon as she turns around, I am left speechless.

Evelyn, on the other hand, stands beside me as she eyes the woman in front of us. Both of her eyes are eyeing at her before turning to look at me; waiting for me to speak up yet nothing comes out my mouth.

''Excuse us. Please,'' Evelyn says and the guards leave the room—the three of us occupying in here.

It's not her that bothers me but her stomach. They are showing; leaving me thinking. My mind goes blank at the sight of her and the sight of her stomach, what if the baby belongs to me? Now that she's here, it's proof that she's indeed pregnant.

''Emery,'' Hannah speaks, ''Remember me?''

My sister continues to look at me with her arms crossed; she is just as confused as me but she manages to hide it very well. She keeps on paying attention to Hannah, trying to find out who she is.

''What are you doing here, Hannah?'' I ask.

Just like that, Evelyn frowns at me before her eyes widening in disbelief—her face changes immediately as she sees the growing stomach of Hannah. Yet, I stay still at my spot only looking at Hannah without glancing at my sister, knowing she will ask.

''Can we talk, alone?'' She hesitates, slightly.

''No. Whatever it is that you have to say, my sister is allowed to be in here too.'' I reply.

Hannah glances up at Evelyn who is currently sighing deeply beside me, knowing that this is not going on well. She knows better than me and she knows when things are wrong—especially now.

''Alright. I came all the way to Australia to meet you because I don't want my child to grow up fatherless. Knowing you, you're a good guy, Emery. This is your child that I'm bearing,'' She continues to speak.

''I refuse to believe that,'' I mutter.

''Why? Because your wife is pregnant, too?'' She asks which is clearly the truth. It's true—that child may or may not be mine but if it's mine, I have to take full responsibilities which would ruin my own marriage and my own future with Emma.

Not just that, people would assume otherwise.

''You framed me, Hannah. Whatever you gave me that night, I know it was one of your games so how am I supposed to believe the baby you're carrying is mine? I don't even know if we had sex that night,'' I say the truth, wanting her to know that I don't believe.

''So, this is the Hannah. How dare you walk inside our home and expect us to believe your lie?'' My sister, begins to speak once the surroundings is left quiet—true, she lied so why should we believe?

''I'm sorry for what I did that night. I did not expect to be pregnant from what happened—believe me, I would not lie to you. I haven't been with any other guys ever since you left, Emery.'' She takes a few steps closer towards Evelyn and I, tears are appearing in her eyes; leaving me with hesitation.

What if the baby is mine? What if it's not mine?

''I can't seem to believe you,'' I look into her eyes; trying to seek the truth but I see nothing. Maybe because we barely know each other anymore. I know the old Hannah—she was different and better.

''How could you? This is your baby,'' She breathes.

''Cut the drama, sister.'' Evelyn cuts her off.

All of a sudden, the three of us turn to look at Emma and my mother entering the hall as their laughter fill the quiet space. She looks up at me immediately, her laughter stops as soon as she sees Hannah. Then, she looks back up at me—stopping her steps.

Evelyn sighs before turning back to Hannah.

''Emery, who's this?'' My mother, asks. Her lips curve up into a smile—like any other queens, she treats other people with care even if sometimes, her smile is not as genuine. She thinks that Hannah may be one of my old friends; that's why. Well, she used to be.

''Nobody. She's leaving,'' Evelyn replies.

I'm glad she did because I am still looking at Emma as she keeps on looking at me—deep down, I know she thinks of something because anyone would think of it like that; especially right now.

''No! Emery, you have to be responsible,'' She says.

''Of what? I'm not following,'' My mother takes a few steps towards us—leaving Emma standing on her own while I look down at the ground; knowing that I must have lost her trust now. She must hate me.

Yes, I did tell her about what happened with Hannah before I left Australia but if she believes the baby belongs to me—she will be devastated. Our lives will be ruined; our lives with our own child.

''The baby,'' Hannah replies as she glances at her.

''Excuse me? What?'' My mother asks, disbelief.

Just like that, Emma immediately walks into the hall before walking up the stairs—leaving me to catch up onto her, leaving Evelyn, my mother and Hannah to talk about it; my wife is much more important.

I can't lose her to an uncertain truth.

''Emma, please stop. You have to listen to me,'' I say as she keeps on walking before reaching our room. She turns to look at me as she places her hand on her stomach—her used to be flat stomach is now a little bit bigger, showing the baby bump.

''Listen to you?! What was that, Emery?'' She asks.

''So, that's the pathetic woman! The woman that you thought you didn't sleep with but she ends up having your child? How could you lied? How could you even do this to me? I'm your wife,'' She starts to cry out an endless amount of tears; breaking me.

''I didn't lie to you. I love you,'' I walk towards her.

''No, stop. Don't come near me,'' She breathes.

We both stay quiet for the next few seconds as she keeps on rubbing onto her stomach; leaving me with the urge to kiss the pain away and kiss her baby bump but I'm left standing here—blaming myself.

''You don't believe me?'' I ask, slowly.

''No. Not after what I saw and heard! You're a father to two kids and the second one was from an affair,'' She sighs, deeply as she wipes away her fallen tears. Yes, she has the right to be mad at me because what if that is truly my child? Everything will be ruined.

''Affair? No. We didn't have anything!'' I deny.

''Then, what about the baby? What about the baby?! Who's baby is that? The baby won't just appear out of nowhere, Emery. You said so yourself that you might have slept with her so what if that's true?'' She starts to question me with all these questions that I don't have any answers to. God, help me.

''I don't know. Please don't do this to me,'' I beg.

Without me realising, I am already crying out the tears that I've been holding back; which is already too late to hold back. Emma tries to stop the tears that has fallen down her cheeks but she fails.

''I don't know what or who to believe,'' She breathes out before saying, ''I'm sorry but leave me alone. I don't want you in here with me,'' She looks away.

As I try to reach out for her by the waist, she begins to pull away—not letting me come any closer. It's a pain for me to see us like this; we're going through something that may permanently be too painful.

''Emma,'' I call out her name.

''Leave!'' She pushes my hand before entering the walk-in closet, leaving me standing here all by myself and recalling back my own mistake.