Chapter 71
She opened her eyes as she gasped back to life. She got into a sitting position, breathing heavily. Her dress was soaked with sweat.
“How are you feeling?” She turned to the direction of the voice and met Jared’s worried eyes.
“I’m good now”
“I don’t think so” her heart was still beating fast from fright. That fear of falling from a high place was no joke.
“It was just a nightmare” she nodded, as if assuring herself.
“No. You need help” he looked around for his phone.
Valerie tried to stop him. “No, it’s okay” He didn’t listen.
“I SAID I AM FINE!”
She screamed all of a sudden. They were both surprised at her outburst, then she burst into tears.
Jared didn’t get mad, instead he drew her close. He didn’t know the kind of nightmare she had, but he knew one thing. She was shaken.
She didn’t sleep until a few hours later.
She opened her eyes and realized everywhere was bright. The first thing that came to her mind was work. She was so late. She looked around. Jared was not on the bed. The other side was cold, like he got up a long time ago. Did he leave for work without her? She saw a note on the beside table.
‘Breakfast is downstairs. Eat and take a rest. Don’t come to work’.
She shook her head and went into the bathroom.
Just as he had said, her breakfast was on the table. She ate a few and left.
“What are you doing here?”
She was about to settle down when he came out of his office and saw her. He didn’t want to draw attention, so he called her into his office.
“I told you to stay home and rest”
“I’m telling you that I am fine. I won’t stay at the house because of a nightmare”
“Are you sure you are fine?”
She nodded and began to walk away. She stopped at the door and turned to him, remembering the voice that called her ‘kitten’.
“Boss, there is something I need your help with”
“What is it?”
“Can… can you please not call me kitten ever again?”
He had noticed it was kind of a trigger for her, so he nodded. She mouthed a thank you and left.
****************
Sandy sat with a huge bag of popcorn. She didn’t know why, but she craved it recently. As usual, she was alone. Her mother had gone to the house to put some things in place and will not return until tomorrow. Dylan had gone to work. The only difference was that he came earlier than before everyday now that her due date was near. At the thought of the due date, her heart thumped in her chest in fear. She had watched several videos about childbirth, and the sound of women screaming scared her. She even thought of having the baby through surgery but then again, she preferred the normal delivery. She would rather not have a scar on her body.
She felt pain cut through her stomach. “Ouch!” It went as soon as it came, so she continued what she was doing, not until the pain became intense. She suddenly came to a realization.
Was she in labour? But it wasn’t time yet. She quickly picked up her phone to call Valerie. She knew she was supposed to call Dylan first, but she wanted Valerie to be here with her when she delivered.
“Hey, how are you doing?” Valerie asked cheerfully.
“Look, I need you to come here right now. I….”
“Sandy, are you okay?”This text is © NôvelDrama/.Org.
“No. I think…. I think the baby…… is coming”
“What! I’ll come over right now”
She wanted to call Dylan, but that unbearable pain shot through her again. She screamed and doubled over, clutching her belly.
The servants heard the scream and ran upstairs. They screamed when she saw their madam.
“Call… my husband” she managed to say.
The servants quickly did. “Sir, madam is in labour”
Before she could even finish talking, he shot up from his chair and dashed out.
“Put the phone to her ear”
“Yes sir”
“Sandy, can you hear me?”
“Yes, I can”
“Now, I want you to calm down. Don’t panic. I’ll be there in three minutes, trust me, okay?”
That three minutes sounded like three hours to her. “Okay”
He stayed with her on the phone till he arrived. Her moaning and whimpering was like an arrow hitting his chest. He felt guilty he was making her go through this pain.
Valerie burst into Jared’s office, where he was talking to Will. “Boss, we need to leave”
He could see anxiety on her face.
“To where”
“To your brother’s house. Sandy is in labour!”
“What! Does Dylan know?”
“I don’t know. We need to leave quickly”
He gave Will some instructions before following her out.
My the time they got there, the whole family had already assembled. Sandy were not in sight, but Dylan was standing in front of the door. Jane was furious to see the both of them come in together.
As for Amelia, she was surprised. Why was Valerie here? She was sure the family didn’t know both of them were having an affair.
She could tell the look on Valerie’s face was that of worry.
“Is she okay in there? Should you not go in and give her some support?” Mrs Smith nagged Dylan.
“The doctors told me to stay outside”
“What is going on?” They all turned to see Sandy’s mother. Dylan had called her immediately he got home.
“Auntie” Valerie quickly went to hug her. “Sandy will be fine”
Amelia raised a brow. Auntie?
“But, it is not time yet, is it?”
“Yeah. She went into labour two weeks to the due date”
Sandy’s mother sighed in despair. Why wasn’t she there when her daughter needed her the most?
Old Smith sat alone, silent with his frosty demeanor, his eyes on the door of the delivery room.
The delivery room door opened a little and a nurse’s head popped out.
“Mr Smith, please come in. Who is Valerie?”
Valerie raided her hand. “I’m here”
“Please come in”
Her heart was broken when she saw the state her friend was in.
The door opened again. A pale Sandy in a customized hospital gown was being held on both sides but Dylan’s Valerie. A nurse was beside them. Her forehead was sweaty, and she looked extremely worn out.
Mrs Smith eyes watered, but she refused to cry.
“How are you feeling?” Sandy’s mother asked.
She smiled a little. “Mum, you are here”
“Yes. I’m here, honey. I’m here”
“The doctor suggested she took a walk” The nurse announced.
Amelia tapped Jane, much to her annoyance, but this was a public place, she could not show it.
“What is the relationship between those two?”
“Which two?” She asked, a little irritated.
“Sandy and that lady beside her”
“They are friends. Best friends”
She laid emphasis on ‘best’.
Amelia was spooked. The lady Jared’s was cheating with was the president’s wife, best friend?
“Shit! This is so fucked up”