Chapter Thirty-five

Emma

We stay still for the next few seconds, somehow, I feel like this is the truth that I've been looking for. The way he clenches his jaw in defeat; it shows it all.

''I'm sorry. I think you've mistaken,'' He replies.

Just as he's about to walk away, I stop him by placing my hand on his chest—looking straight into his eyes. Due to our heights, it's quite easy for him to just look away without piercing into my eyes. He can hide the truth by just denying everything and walk away.

''Is it true? You and Hannah?'' I ask, slowly.

He clenches his jaw again before sighing deeply.

My heart hopes for it to be true; so that, I can return home and this will all be over. As long as Daniel admits the truth then this will all be fine.

If only, he could look into my eyes with the same amount of sympathy that Cole has been showing. That would really make a difference, somehow, probably.

''Is it true?'' I ask again, this time louder.

It doesn't take him long to run his fingers through his hair, almost pulling them out before sighing deeply and turning to look directly at me. He seems a little bit confused; something must've happened.

''We hooked up a few times after he left. We didn't expect him to come back and I didn't expect her to get pregnant—it's all just unexpected. She was somehow, heartbroken, and I was helping her soothe the pain. She likes him, Emma. When Emery came back, she took it as her chance to get him back,'' He says.

''But he's married,'' I mutter under my breath.

''It didn't stop her, did it?'' He responds back.

''So, you knew about this all along?'' I ask, wanting to know if he has been helping her with this. There's not really another reason for me to stay here any longer if I've found out the truth because I miss him. I want to see him and just tell that we're going to be okay.

''She left after she told me,'' He replies.

Without further ado, I head back towards the restaurant with the dizziness in my head. Daniel calling me from behind but I waste no time glancing or even turning back to look at him. My mind is just somehow filled with confusions and anxiousness.

I enter the restaurant, revealing a worried Evelyn.

''Emma, where did you go?'' She asks, showing the amount of concern all over her face before she begins to glance at someone behind me; Daniel. Both of my hands are shaking in disbelief but I stand strong.

''We need to get back home,'' I breathe as I smile.

Andrea and Evelyn are looking at me in confusion but she smiles back while he just nods his head. They seem to know that I've probably found out something and they'll just agree with me. I look down at Cole and see him looking at Daniel; yet, I pay no attention.

We booked the quickest flight home because we don't bother wasting another second here; my mind has been fully occupied of Emery—of how he might react when he sees me. He might be mad at first but he'll understand how this is all worth it.

I turn my phone on, seeing incoming texts:

Please come home. —????????

Why are you doing this to me? You won't reply my messages or even pick up my calls. Where are you, Emma? What were you thinking of leaving me here? —????????

Are you mad at me? I'm sorry. —????????

Baby, please just come home. —????????

Don't do this to me. I miss you. I miss our baby. Come back, I'm begging you. —????????

But I don't bother replying. Just a little bit longer and I'll be home in his arms; then, he'll understand. He has to wait a little bit longer—I'll be there.

After turning off my phone, the three of us head towards our assigned gate; and it takes me awhile to realise that Cole has been staring at us for the past few seconds but I just turn to look at him and smile in which he responds with a smile, too.

''You ready, Emma?'' Evelyn asks, from behind.

''Ready,'' I mutter under my breath before following them and leaving Cole staring at us. For some reason, this is the exact moment that I've been waiting for. To come home to Emery and tell him.

I stare at my wedding ring before closing my eyes.

Once we've landed in London, we waste no second to deal with our jet lags and just find a taxi. Evelyn has her hand on mine—making me smile at her. She smiles back before looking out at the window.

We're going to be okay, I keep on chanting.

Then, I gently caress onto my baby bump.

Without us realising, we've already reached home. Andrea pays the taxi driver as Evelyn and I step out of the car, heading straight inside after pulling off our wigs once the taxi driver has driven away.

The guards in charge are staring at us in disbelief.

''Tell the prince!'' One of them say as they let us pass through, making me fasten my steps. Evelyn and Andrea gestures for me to immediately head inside so that I can tell the happy news so I did.

I walk up the stairs before going straight to our side of the palace; and with every step I take, my heart keeps on beating fast—his face appearing repeatedly.

''Your Highness!'' One of the workers greet me in surprise but I just smile before pushing the door to his office but I'm left disappointed at the figure I see.

Hannah is standing near the mahogany table before turning to look at me—her lips curving up into a smile as I close the door behind me. The way she's looking at me shows that somehow she has found out the truth too about me knowing. It's confusing.

''You're back, your highness.'' She keeps on smiling.

''Where's Emery?'' I ask, looking around.

''Oh, he's not in here. It's just me,'' She replies. ''But I'm sure he'll be happy to see you,'' She adds, slowly. ''I'd like to talk about a few things that concerns me and I hope that's okay with you? Since you've just got back and all from Australia,'' Then, she looks up at me before slightly closing the distance between us.

''Australia?'' I pretend to frown as I ask.

''You see, Emma. I was okay with you stealing him away from me because at the end of the day, I'll be there to get what's mine. What bothers me is that, you went to Melbourne just to seek the truth about this little baby that I'm carrying,'' She continues to talk, ''You're just jealous that the baby is his,''

''The fact that the baby isn't his; cheers me.'' I say.

Hannah tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, showing how she's unsatisfied about this. If she's trying to provoke me then she's highly mistaken.

Deep down, I only want to see Emery but she has to know her boundaries; she can't just expect me to let her get away with it and besides, I'm not scared.

''Whatever fling you had with Emery when you were both in college, it's over. He doesn't like you and I'm pretty sure he told you that but you're too scared of admitting the truth. How long do you think you can get away with this? Clearly not for long,'' I add.

Without me realising, she has already grabbed onto my wrist before staring directly into my eyes. The way she looks at me in anger, despair and dissatisfaction shows how she's capable of doing anything.

''I will get what I want and you're not going to stand in the way because trust me, Emma, I'll put an end to your happiness. You'll be gasping for help once you've realised that you've been messing with the wrong person and I would be glad to see you hurt,'' She says with a large amount of hatred; meaning her every word but I try my best to stay calm.

''You wouldn't dare of hurting me,'' I mutter.

''Watch me,'' She smiles before pushing me against the door which causes the door to open roughly then, without me realising, she has already pushed me too far enough; causing me to trip down the stairs.

My mind goes blank as I keep on staring at her.

I try to grab onto something so that I wouldn't fall down the stairs but it was a little too late. Pain has already overwhelming my senses and making me flinch at all of the sudden contact especially on my lower abdomen yet I can't even let out a scream.

The pain seems like it wouldn't even end.

All I can think of is my baby's safety.

Unfortunately, it's a bit too late. Once I've reached the last flight of stairs, I am left staring at the ceiling while feeling pain in between my legs.

I couldn't move or even breathe properly as my mind keeps on replaying images of Hannah and the way she smiled as she pushed me without a single regret.

''Emma! Emma! Oh my god,'' Blurry images of Evelyn as she tries to check on my condition but once she realises how I'm barely conscious, she starts to panic even more. ''Andrea, come in here!'' She calls.

Andrea appears with wide eyes before crouching and turning to look at Evelyn in shock. Within seconds, he has already made his way towards the back; probably going to find help but the pain is too much. I couldn't even stay awake any longer as I blink slowly.

''Emma, stay with me,'' Evelyn whispers.

''Call the ambulance, now!'' Someone shouts as I feel myself closing my eyes; letting me hear voices and shouts while I lay motionless.

''She's losing a lot of blood,'' I hear them say.

''The baby,'' Evelyn says, seconds before I've completely drifted away.

I couldn't hear my surroundings anymore and I couldn't even feel the amount of pain that I felt minutes ago. For once, I barely even care about myself as long as my baby; our baby will be safe.