HAPPY FOREVER AFTER

“A baby. Marvelous news,” Jared had declared when they arrived. “Don’t you think so, Alexa? You’ll be an aunt, of course. Really wonderful news.”

Emma had eyed Jared carefully, trying to see the cruelty behind this affable exterior. And there it was. The slight lift of his eyebrow changed his smile to a smirk. It gave him a slight air of superiority, as if he had guessed exactly how planned this pregnancy was. She could practically see the guessing games playing across his brain.

Emma had discussed it with Daniel. But he had urged her not to worry about it. Not that it was easy.

“I don’t want a scene” Daniel had said. “Especially with my mother here… It would really hurt her to see us fighting. He has always been that way. I know it’s hard but he is still my brother and that’s just his way of looking out for me… He is like that a lot.. But I’m sure he will come around eventually… There’s no need to engage him. Besides, they will be gone tomorrow. I will talk to him”.

The following day, Emma was taking a walk around the house. She got to the kitchen. It was quiet. She pushed the door open, and that was when she heard the low murmurs and hisses of men who didn’t want to be overheard. But not so quiet that she couldn’t hear what they were saying.

It was Daniel and Jared. Jared’s voice, low and vindictive: ‘She’s after your money. Can’t think why else she’d be interested. She was willing to go into a fake relationship with you, lie to your family and now she’s pregnant? Why the hell can’t you see that she’s a gold digger? You are about to make the same mistake all over again.”

“Don’t you dare speak about Emma that way.” Daniel’s voice was a hiss. “It’s my life, my decision, and my money”.

She could hear the venom packed into the tight syllables. She knew she shouldn’t be eavesdropping, but her legs seemed rooted to the spot.

“And maybe the little bastard isn’t even yours. She wouldn’t be entitled to a penny then. You’ll be getting a paternity test, I assume. I’d be stupid not to with a girl like that. I warned you about her, didn’t I?”

Emma saw Daniel’s hand tighten into a fist. She opened the door with a bang and strode into the room, marching towards them and turning to Jared with a scowl.

“Actually there was no need.” she said. “But obviously we’re grateful for your concern for your new niece or nephew.”

“Emma, stay out of this” Daniel hissed. “I’m handling it.” Turning to his brother, he spoke with low menace.

“Apologize. Now.” he growled.

But she didn’t need him to fight her battles for her. “I think it was Jared who involved me, Daniel.” she said. “Is there anything else you’d like to know about my personal life, Jared? Because you obviously think what I do or who I sleep with is your business. Perhaps you want to see my medical notes and employment history. Or are facts less fun than snide accusations?”

“Emma…” Jared said. After just one word his voice had slipped into the smooth honey of a serial liar, using practiced charm to cover his misdeeds. Good job she was much too smart, and too angry, to fall for it. “I don’t know what you think you heard-“.

“You know what you said, you bastard. Now apologize.” Daniel said.

“Bastard?” Jared raised a mocking eyebrow at Daniel. “I hardly think your little family is in a position to throw stones.”

“That’s enough!” Emma looked at Jared. “You won’t talk about my baby that way”

“And If I do?” Jared challenged.

“What’s going on here? Boys?” Emma turned on the spot, to find Lana and Alexa behind her.Material © of NôvelDrama.Org.

“It’s nothing, Mum,” Daniel said, painting a smile that would convince no one. “We were just talking”

“It didn’t sound like nothing; it sounded to us as if Jared said something to upset Emma” Alexa said. “Jared?”

Jared smiled, smirked, and raised his palms in innocence. “A complete misunderstanding,” he said. “Hormo-”

Emma saw anger flash again in Daniel’s eyes, and his fist reach back. She grabbed his hand and threw him a warning look. The last thing this situation needed was to escalate into violence.

“Finish that word and you’ll live to regret it.” Even as she said the words, she was aware of the damage that she was doing. She knew how badly Daniel didn’t want Lana to see this. She knew he didn’t want to upset his mother. But she couldn’t stand Jared. She wasn’t a scared child and she wouldn’t stand for it.

She locked eyes with Jared, refusing to be the first to look away. She didn’t want him thinking he could cow her, that she would back down from him.

Daniel’s voice broke the heavy silence. “Mum, I’m sorry but I think you all need to be going. Don’t worry. Everything’s fine.”

“But, Daniel,” Lana protested. “There’s something you’re all hiding and I don’t like it. We should talk about this.”

“It’s between me and Jared. It wasn’t fair of us to bring it up now. We’ll sort it out another time.” Daniel replied.

“Emma?” Lana said, looking at her.

Emma hesitated, wanting to help. This could drive a wedge into the heart of the family. But it wasn’t her story to tell-the most she could do was be there for Daniel when he decided it was the right time.

“I promise it’s not a big deal, Lana,” Emma said. “I will talk to you soon”.

Lana nodded. But the wary look she gave her sons told them all she wasn’t happy about them leaving before this was sorted.

“I can’t tell you how excited we are about the baby. And you being part of the family, of course.” Lana said.

Daniel hustled them out of the house so quickly Emma barely had a chance to say goodbye to Alexa and throw Jared a glare.

—————————–

After they left, Daniel got into his car and drove off. He didn’t return for hours and Emma was starting to get really worried when she saw him drive back in. She waited but he didn’t come up. So she went out to meet him.

She knew that Jared had issues with her and didn’t like her. She could live with that, but she wasn’t just going to sit there and let him insinuate that she was a gold digger who got pregnant for his brother on purpose. She regretted that some of it happened in front of Lana too. Daniel hadn’t wanted that.

She knocked on the window on the opposite side and then she opened the door and slid into the car. He didn’t say anything.

Emma wondered what Daniel was working up to. She could see from his white knuckles on the steering wheel and the solid tension from left fingertip to right, through the stiff lines of his arms and shoulders, that it was something big.

———————-

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