by S. G. Sonysa
I couldn’t believe that Emily would go so far in hating me and told lies about me.
“Is it true Hailey?” my mother-in-law asked.
“No, it’s not true.” I looked down at the floor.
“She is a liar, Mom. She is not even Aunt Melanie’s real daughter. Her mother trapped Emily’s dad knowing he is married and got pregnant with her to gain money from him. Now she is doing the same thing her mom did. She has become pregnant so her stay in here will be permanent. She just wants to enjoy a lavish life, which only Chase can give her. I doubt the child she is carrying is even Chase’s child because he never liked her,” Kate said.
My hands turned cold after hearing her. The look on my mother-in-law’s face was giving me goosebumps.
“Is it true, Hailey? Are you a product of your dad’s infidelity?” she asked me.
I didn’t know how to answer her without breaking down in front of her.
“Tell me, girl!” she yelled, and my body started to tremble again.
“Yes.”
“It was a mistake that I did not believe you, Kate,” she said glaring at me. “Now tell me, who is the father of this child you are carrying?” she asked me.
My mind was jumbled up with questions. What did she mean by, “who is the father of the child I am carrying?”
Before I could comprehend what was happening, I felt a very hard slap on my right cheek. The force of the slap made me stumble back, and I fell down on my bottom on the floor.
The tears pooled in my eyes and the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth.
At that moment, the main door opened and Chase and his dad entered the house. The tears furiously rolled down from my eyes and my right cheek felt numb and swollen because of the slap.
Chase’s eyes landed on me, and he came running towards me then kneeled down. He assessed my face and wiped my tears.
“What happened?” he asked me.
I looked at him and blinked my eyes to get rid of the blurriness.
“Eva, what’s going on here?” my father-in-law asked.
“Look at this William, and you’ll know what’s going on here.” My mother-in-law slapped some papers on my father-in-law’s hand.
He read them silently and looked at us in shock. Then my mother-in-law suddenly pulled me up from the floor roughly.
“I’m asking you one last time girl. Tell me who the father of this baby is before I completely lose my mind.” She threatened me.
I didn’t know anything myself.
What was I supposed to tell her? What should I tell her?
My legs started to tremble from the effort of standing. I felt a hand on my back and looked to my left to see Chase standing beside me with his jaw clenched.
Tears were now blurring my damn vision. The pounding in my head that subsided earlier came crashing back making me want to puke all over the place. But I refrained myself from doing anything that would make my mother-in-law angrier at me.
Kate suddenly said, “Mom, I think this slut will not open her mouth easily. You should beat her with the whip granddad used on the ranch to tame the wild horses. I’m sure she will tell you willingly who the father of this bastard child is.”
At her words, my face went pale, and my whole body started to shake in fear of getting beaten by a whip.
I looked down at my feet to hide the tears, which were now flowing freely from my eyes.
My mother-in-law was about to slap me again when Chase caught her hand and pushed me behind his tall figure. I sneaked a quick look from behind to see him and his mom standing frozen and staring at each other.
“Why are you stopping me? She is carrying another man’s baby,” she said, and my eyes widened.
Why would she say something like that?
My father-in-law finally came out from his shock and dragged her away from Chase and me.
“Eva, control your temper. We need to handle this situation with a cool mind and through communicating, not with hands or whips,” he said.
Chase slipped his hand into my trembling hand and gripped it.
“Kate, never use those words in my presence again, or you’ll be responsible for my actions. Now go to your room,” my father-in-law said with a glare.
Kate took a glance at his father, and quickly said, “Sorry Dad.”
Then she left the living room and went to her room.
“Dear, please go to your room and take some rest,” my father-in-law said to me.
I turned to leave, and Chase turned like he wanted to come with me.
“Son, come with me to my study,” Chase’s dad said.
Chase glanced at our intertwined hands and then relaxed his grip, removing his hand. Without looking at him, I ran upstairs to my room and locked the door so no one would ever come inside and hurt me again.
I slid down on the floor with my back pressed on the door and started thinking about Melanie. I always thought she was my real mother, but she turned out to be my stepmother. The good thing was that she never abused me physically at least. She would make fun of my fashion sense, hurt my feelings, and made me feel insecure about myself, but she never inflicted physical pain. In that house, Emily was the only one who inflicted physical and emotional pain.
When I started to live here, I thought Eva was sweet as she was treating me like a daughter for the past three months. I never thought she would hate me so much once she found out that I was an illegitimate child. I never thought she would hit me so hard and broke my soul again making me recall all the memories of abuse I endured during my childhood.
I touched my swollen cheek and flinched when it stung. I licked my chapped lips and tasted the metallic taste of blood.
The tears started spilling from my eyes. At that moment, I felt so alone in this world, utterly and completely alone.
Chapter Eighteen
Claiming What’s Mine
Chase
When we reached the house, we got out. Instead of going inside with them, I told Mom I needed some time alone and got back in the car then drove away.
I glanced at the furious expression on Mom’s face, which cleared one thing in my mind, that she didn’t like the news of Hailey’s pregnancy.
I was only a few blocks away from the house when my cell phone rang.
“Hello, Dad.” I picked up my dad’s call.
“Hello, son. Your sister called. There is an emergency, and your mom wants me to come home,” Dad said, and my heart fell.
“Dad, I am not at home but I’m going back there, and I think you should come home too. I need to talk to you about something.”
“Okay, son. I’m coming,” Dad said, understanding that if I was asking him to come, it meant I really needed him.
We both arrived at the house at the same time.
“What did you want to talk to me about?” he asked me.
“First, let’s go inside, Dad.”
I unlocked the door, and we entered the house. My eyes landed on Hailey sitting on the floor. Without thinking much, I ran towards her and kneeled down.
“What happened?” I asked her, looking at the bruise on her cheek and blood oozing out from her lower lip.
She glanced at me and blinked, trying to get rid of the tears.
“Eva, what’s going on here?” my dad asked my mom.
“Look at this William, and you’ll know what’s going on here.” Mom slapped some papers on my dad’s hand.
I knew they were Hailey’s report. Dad read them silently then looked at us in shock.
Then my mom suddenly pulled Hailey up from the floor roughly, and I got up too.
“I’m asking you one last time girl. Tell me who the father of this baby is before I completely lose my mind.” She threatened her.
I was confused by her question.
What did she mean by who the father of her baby was?
It was obviously me. Did she think Hailey cheated on me?
I looked at Hailey’s trembling form and placed a hand on her back
to provide her support. I couldn’t understand why my mom would accuse this innocent girl of cheating. She had done nothing wrong. It was only my fault that got us in this situation. I clenched my jaw thinking about Quinton who put drugs in the food and drinks, which led us here.
Kate’s voice brought me back to the situation at hand.
“Mom, I think this slut will not open her mouth easily. You should beat her with the whip granddad used on the ranch to tame the wild horses. I’m sure she will tell you willingly who the father of this bastard child is,” Kate said.
At her words, Hailey’s face went pale, and her whole body started to shake in fear. She looked down at her feet to hide the tears, which were now flowing freely from her eyes.
I wanted to yell at my sister for sprouting rubbish, but I stopped when I saw my mom was about to slap Hailey again. I caught her hand and pushed Hailey behind me to hide her from my mom’s view. She was frozen, and so was I. We were staring at each other’s eyes.
“Why are you stopping me? She is carrying another man’s baby,” she said.
I didn’t know who put the lie in her head that this child was not mine.
My dad came out from the shocked state and dragged mom away from Hailey and me.
“Eva, control your temper. We need to handle this situation with a cool mind and through communicating, not with hands or whips,” he said.
I slipped my hand into her trembling one and gripped it.
“Kate, never use those words again in my presence, or you’ll be responsible for my actions. Now go to your room,” he said with a glare.
Kate took a glance at him, and quickly said, “Sorry Dad.”
Then she left the lounge and went to her room.
“Dear, please go to your room and take some rest,” Dad said, looking at Hailey.
I turned to leave with Hailey because I wanted to talk to her and apologize to her for my mom’s actions, but dad stopped me.
“Son, come with me to my study.”
I glanced at our intertwined hands, and then I let go of her hand. Without looking at me, Hailey ran upstairs to her room, and I turned to my father.
***
When we were inside his study, Dad locked the door and took a seat on the couch and patted the side telling me to sit beside him. I did.
“Chase, do you want to tell me something?”
I wanted to tell him, but my mouth suddenly felt dry.
“Do you know who the father is? Because son, I’m lost here,” my dad said, sighing.
I opened my mouth to say something then closed it.
“In three months, I have never seen her talk to anyone other than family. She has no friends here, and I don’t think she has ever gone anywhere alone,” my dad said, rubbing his forehead.
He looked tense, and the worry was clear on his face.
“If you think I don’t notice then let me tell you something. I have noticed how that girl always looks at you with love in her eyes. How she waits for you to come home and glances at you secretly. Kate, your mom, and I know she loves you. You have tried your best to push her away, son, and you crossed every line last night by insulting her in front of her family. I know you didn’t want this marriage, but that girl doesn’t deserve your hate and your mother’s slap. She doesn’t deserve being called names and especially not in front of you. You need to take control of your life son. Hailey is your responsibility,” Dad said, placing a hand on my shoulder.
After hearing him, my throat felt clogged with emotions. I knew he was right about everything.
I didn’t know if I would ever be able to reciprocate her feelings with the same ferocity. But I was sure about one thing that I cared for her and our unborn child. And I would do anything to protect them both. They were both the most innocent creature I have met in this world and didn’t deserve to be hurt.
I had to stop thinking like a stupid, careless boy. I had to take responsibility for my actions.
“Dad, it’s me… I’m the father of the baby,” I said.
He didn’t ask me for explanation or pressured me for details. I was grateful for that. I knew my dad. He could read me like an open book and understood me better than anyone.
My dad patted my back, and said, “Son, congratulations. I know you will become a great dad but remember to take care of the mother of your child as well. Do whatever you think is best for your child and your wife. You have my full support.”
I hugged him tightly like I used to do when I was a kid.
“Dad, thank you,” I said to him.
He ruffled my hair and smiled at me.
“Let’s go. We need to tell your mother before her mind forms more stories,” he said.
I nodded my head and followed him to the lounge where my mom was sitting on the couch, and Cameron was standing in front of her.
“Mom, what happened? Why do you look so stressed?” Cameron asked.
Before she could say anything, her eyes landed on us. She raised her eyebrows in my direction.
I knew my words would break her dreams. I had ruined all the plans for my future, and my mother would be most affected with this.
I took a deep breath, and said, “Mom. I’m the father of the baby Hailey is carrying.”
She stood up and looked at me.
“Son, can you repeat what you just said?” Mom asked.
“Mom, the baby is mine. I know it’s difficult to accept everything, but you’ve to accept it. And don’t even try to touch Hailey again.”
She looked at me in anger then left the room. My dad followed her to their room.
Cameron stepped in front me, and asked, “Did Mom really hit Hailey?”
I nodded my head.
Cameron looked panic and worried at my answer.
“Where is Hailey?” he asked me.
“She is in her room.”
He ran upstairs towards her room, and I followed him. When we reached outside her room, Cameron knocked at the door, but she didn’t answer. Then he tried to unlock the door, but it didn’t budge.
“Go, Chase. Fetch the spare keys right now,” Cameron told me.
I ran back downstairs and brought the spare keys then gave them to him.
When we pushed the door open, my breath was knocked out of my lungs.
Chapter Nineteen
Cameron and Allison
Cameron
When Chase came with the spare keys, I took them, and said, “I think you should give her some space. I’ll go first.”
He nodded and stayed behind. I pushed the door open and went into the room. Hailey was sitting on the floor. Her head was resting on the foot of the bed. I kneeled down to wake her up but stopped when my eyes landed on her face. Her cute chubby cheeks had a handprint on them and looked swollen. Her lower lip was split open, and a small amount of blood was still oozing out. I felt sudden anger at my mother for hitting Hailey like this.
I shook her shoulder lightly to wake her up. Suddenly she opened her eyes and looked around, scared then her eyes landed on me.
Tears filled her eyes, and she flung her arms around my neck and hugged me tightly. “Cam, I don’t know anything? Why… me?”
I rubbed her back to provide her some comfort, and replied, “Hailey, I’m here. I promise you no one is going to hurt you again. Now, calm down.”
After a few minutes or sobbing and mumbling incoherent things, she finally untangled herself from me.
I got up from the floor and turned back to realize that Chase had left already. I helped Hailey got up from the floor, and said, “You need to wash your face.”
She nodded and went inside the washroom.
I decided to go to the kitchen to bring some ice to her swollen cheek. When I came out from Hailey’s room, I found him leaning on the wall.
I asked him, “What are you doing here?”
“I just want to know how she is. She hasn’t eaten anything this morning,” Chase said in worry.
The concern he was showing angered me.
“Oh, so now you’re worried. Where were you when mom slapped her? She has a swollen cheek and split lips because you’re a loser who cannot stand up against his mother for his wife. Stop being her puppet,” I said.
At my statement, guilt and sadness appeared on his face, and instead of saying anything he left.
I went to the kitchen. I took a bowl and filled it with Hailey’s favorite charm cereal and milk. Then I made a cup of hot chocolate for her. Lastly, I took out some frozen peas from the fridge and arranged all the things on the tray and went back to her room.
When I entered the room, I found her curled up on the bed.
In a low voice, I said, “Hailey, sit up. You need to eat. I have your favorite charms and hot chocolate here.”
She sat up, leaning her head on the headboard. But she looked so broken, and I wanted to beat my brother to the pulp for making her so sad.
I put the pack of frozen peas on her cheek, and she hissed at the coldness of the ice. I laughed at her cute face, and she gave me a murderous glare.
I just made an innocent face, and her lips twitched upward in a small smile. When the swelling on her cheek has reduced, I pulled off the bag of frozen peas.
She took the bowl from my hand and started eating. But her face stayed emotionless. I was upset at the sight of her so just to lighten up her mood, I started making jokes, and she actually laughed at a few of my stupid, senseless jokes.
When she was done eating, I gave her the hot chocolate. She drank half the cup then handed it back to me. I applied some ointment on her split lips and told her to sleep.
Like a little kid, she curled up on the bed again and hid her face in the blanket.
I wanted to help her. I wanted to see the smile on her face again, which reminded me of Mia. Mia was my best friend who I lost three years ago. I shouldn’t think about her right now.
I closed the door of her bedroom and went to my room. I was thinking about what to do to bring back the smile on her face? Then suddenly, a light bulb went off in my head and the best idea to cheer her up came to my mind.
