Back at Stratton's
Emily felt a wave of dizziness as she stepped out of the car, nearly tripping before Alex caught her in his arms. "You're sick but still don't want to take the pills," he complained, his tone tinged with frustration as Olivia joined them, and they made their way into the house together.
Inside, the housekeeper, Margaret, greeted them at the door, her surprise at seeing Olivia quickly masked with a polite smile as she directed Emily upstairs to rest. As Margaret descended the stairs, she overheard the maids gossiping in the kitchen about Olivia's unexpected return and her relationship with Mr. Stratton.
"Who's Olivia?" one of the maids whispered.
"She's Mr. Stratton's old flame," another replied.
"But isn't Mr. Stratton already married?"
"It's all business, dear. Just like their marriage to Miss Johnson."
Margaret listened intently as the maids continued, discussing the arranged marriage between Emily and Alex, orchestrated to save the Johnson family from financial ruin.
With a flick of her eyebrow, the older maid cautioned the new recruit to keep their conversation confidential. "Keep it to yourself, don't tell anyone," she advised.
"Of course," the younger maid replied, her eyes wide with curiosity.
As Margaret intervened with a forceful reprimand, silencing the gossiping maids, she couldn't help but ponder the implications of their conversation. The revelation shed new light on Emily's strained demeanour and the tension that had permeated the household since Olivia's return.
Lying in bed, Emily stared at the ceiling, her mind consumed by thoughts of the baby growing inside her. How could she possibly hide the pregnancy from everyone? The frustration intensified her headache, and she closed her eyes, seeking refuge in sleep.
In her dream, she felt her blouse being unbuttoned, a cold, smooth sensation pressing against her feverish skin. Panic surged through her as she realized she was pinned down, unable to move. A deep breath brushed against her ear, followed by the warmth of someone's breath against her face.
Her lips parted involuntarily as something cold and soft pressed against them. Desperate to wake herself from this feverish dream, Emily bit down, tasting blood in her mouth. "You bit me! Spoiled little brat," a voice hissed in her ear before she turned away and slipped back into a deep sleep.
As Emily opened her eyes, she found herself bathed in the warm hues of the sunset filtering through her bedroom window. Margaret and a maid stood by her bedside, their faces illuminated by the soft evening light.
"Thank God your fever is gone," Margaret exclaimed, her relief evident as she took Emily's temperature.
"You've been here all this time to take care of me?" Emily asked, touched by their dedication. Margaret nodded, her expression a mix of concern and compassion.
As fragments of her unsettling dream lingered in her mind, Emily's heart sank. She had mistaken the fading sunlight for the dawn, imagining Alex by her side, only to realize it was just a figment of her imagination.
The maid handed Emily her prescribed medication, but she hesitated, knowing she couldn't take it because of her pregnancy. "I'm hungry. Can you make me something to eat?" she requested instead.
"Of course, Ma'am," the maid replied before leaving the room with Margaret.
Alone in the bathroom, Emily disposed of the pills, a sense of relief washing over her. But her moment of peace was short-lived when she turned to find Alex standing in the doorway, his gaze piercing.
"What did you do?" he demanded, his voice sharp with concern.
Emily's heart raced, panic flickering across her face before she composed herself. "You already saw it," she replied cryptically, avoiding his probing gaze as she returned to bed.
"So you got sick on purpose?" Alex pressed, incredulous.
Emily shook her head, denying the accusation. "I just didn't feel like seeing the doctor or taking any meds," she stated calmly, though her words held a hint of defiance.
Their tense exchange was interrupted by the arrival of the maid with food, breaking the palpable tension in the room. Emily took a few bites, leaving most of the food untouched, while Alex observed her with growing concern.
Unable to decipher what was truly off about Emily, Alex felt a surge of frustration and anger. He excused himself to the balcony, needing a moment to clear his head and make sense of the turbulent emotions swirling within him.
As Emily woke again, the darkness of the night enveloped the room, and a heavy silence hung in the air. Alex hadn't come home, and Emily knew exactly where he was. The realization stung, and she turned away, closing her eyes once more.
If only she had been the one to jump into the lake and save him. Perhaps then, they wouldn't be facing the prospect of divorce now. But there were no 'ifs' in life. Emily let a tear escape from the corner of her eye, tracing a path down her cheek as she succumbed to sleep once more.
In her dreams, she felt the familiar weight of the other half of the bed sinking. But the moment passed, and she drifted back into unconsciousness.
Morning arrived with its muted light filtering through the curtains, and Emily reached out to touch the cold sheets on the other side of the bed. Disappointment washed over her, and she bit down on her lip, suppressing the wave of emotions threatening to overwhelm her.
Emily sat up in bed, her gaze drifting to the endless stream of notifications on her phone. With a sigh, she reached for her laptop, intending to bury herself in work. As she logged into her mailbox, the sound of approaching footsteps interrupted her concentration. Assuming it was the maid delivering breakfast, she continued with her tasks until the footsteps stopped abruptly beside her bed, sending a chill down her spine.
Looking up, Emily was startled to find Alex standing there, his gaze icy and unwavering. "What are you doing here?" she asked, taken aback by his sudden presence.
"It's my bedroom," Alex replied tersely, his tone laced with coldness. Emily felt a pang of unease at the sharpness in his voice. "Is something wrong? Didn't have a great night last night?" she inquired, hoping to break the tension that hung in the air like a heavy fog.
Alex paused, confusion flickering across his features before he responded, "Eh? I was home last night." Emily's surprise was palpable, confirming Alex's suspicion. "Surprised? You didn't even notice when I was next to you in bed?" he remarked, his words tinged with bitterness.
Emily remained silent, her mind racing as she processed the revelation. The sensation of the bed sinking beneath her had not been a dream after all. "I didn't think you would come home," she finally admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
The room fell into an uneasy silence, the weight of their unspoken words hanging heavily between them. It had only been two days since Olivia Winters' return, and yet Emily couldn't shake the feeling of growing distance between herself and her so-called husband.
"So, you went to Harbourview Med before you got sick," Alex questioned, his tone cold and unwavering. Emily's heart skipped a beat at his words, a wave of fear washing over her at the thought of Alex discovering her pregnancy.
"I heard the maid saw a shredded medical report in the trashcan yesterday," he continued, his gaze piercing. Emily felt a surge of panic rising within her, but she quickly regained her composure. The ink was washed away, and the report shredded to pieces; it was impossible for anyone to recognize its contents.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Emily replied calmly, meeting Alex's gaze head-on. Alex sat down on the bed, his eyes narrowing as he levelled his gaze at hers.
"Don't know anything about it? You thought I didn't really know you?" His words cut through the air like a knife, and Emily felt a pang of guilt wash over her. But she refused to back down, staring back at him with unwavering resolve.
"Do you?" she challenged him, her voice steady despite the turmoil raging within her. In the next moment, Alex reached out and pulled her close, his breath hot against her skin.
"I've known you for twenty years, been married to you for two. If I don't know you, who does?" he murmured, his words hanging in the air between them. Emily's heart ached at the realization of how long they had known each other, yet how little he truly understood her. They fell into a heavy silence, the weight of their unspoken words suffocating in the surrounding air.
Emily let out a soft sigh. "Whoever but you," she murmured softly, her words heavy with emotion. Alex's question came out like a sharp accusation. "What do you mean, not me? Who else could it be?" he demanded, his voice laced with anger and frustration.
But Emily remained steadfast in her denial. "It was not mine. I knew nothing about it," she insisted firmly. With a frustrated sigh, Alex stormed out of the room, leaving Emily alone with her thoughts.
She shut down her laptop and reached for her phone, calling her best friend.