ENDLESS NIGHTS
Chapter 16
Ethan
After I returned home, I went back to the window. While I was watching their mansion through the window, I saw Uber. I wondered who was getting picked up.
I was so surprised to see Alessia and her niece, Mandy. This meant that on the day my employee told me he saw David with a blonde-haired girl, Alessia and David started flirting together. I was heartbroken seeing her leave David's mansion. So, when I left, did she think of hurting me by going after my brother? Wow! I went straight to my car because I wanted to follow the Uber to see where they were being taken. Obviously, they were being taken home, but when I started following them, it seemed like they were going somewhere else. I followed them to the hospital and remained sitting in my car until we arrived. I was waiting for them to head inside the hospital first.
Eventually, they got out. I couldn't hear their conversation properly, but it seemed like Alessia and Mandy were fighting. Alessia started vomiting. I carefully adjusted my front mirror so I could see her clearly; she was touching her stomach while vomiting...
"Was she pregnant? Obviously, she is! I did cum inside her. And if she's really pregnant, then the baby is mine, and she'll be mine too." I got so excited that I got out of the car and ran to where she was kneeling.
**Alessia**
"Alessia," I heard a voice resonating through the air, each syllable sharp enough to cut through the fog of my chaotic thoughts. It was Ethan. A wave of disbelief washed over me as I processed the sound of his voice—how could he be here? What was he doing in this moment, in this place? I quickly scrambled to my feet, horrified to find myself almost losing control in front of him. My stomach churned with memories I wished to bury, particularly the haunting image of him standing beneath the sun-drenched altar, leaving me—dressed in white—abandoned and heartbroken.
A flash of anger ignited within me, and I demanded, "What are you doing here? Were you really following me? After what you put me through?" His eyes met mine briefly, and a flicker of something—was it guilt?—passed over his face. "Alessia, I need time to explain. But for now, just know that I love you," he uttered, a lie that echoed like a hollow promise in the air.
Just then, Mandy approached, her presence a comforting balm amidst the storm brewing between Ethan and me. She wrapped her arms around me and whispered urgently, "I'm heading inside the hospital. If you're done here, please come find me. Take care of yourself."
"Let's go together," I replied, seeking solace in her supportive presence. But before we could slip away, Ethan grabbed my hand, a desperate plea for connection. Mandy departed, leaving me standing there, bewildered. I turned to Ethan, my voice sharp with ire. "Let go of my hand, please."
"Okay, I'm sorry. But—are you pregnant?" The question hung in the air, shocking me into silence.
"Excuse me? Are you out of your mind?" I shot back, disbelief spiking through my veins. "Me? Pregnant? Absolutely not!"
"Just give me your hand," he insisted, a strange urgency in his tone. As he grasped my hand, his eyes bore into mine with an intensity I had never experienced before. It felt like he was searching for something deep within me, something that had long since faded from his gaze. I quickly averted my eyes, feeling a wave of discomfort wash over me as he shifted his focus to my ears.
I snatched my hand away and shouted, "Leave me alone, Ethan! This is over between us. You left me there on our wedding day, and then had the audacity to send me a message calling me your side chick—never wife material! So what is it you want from me? To use me once more? You're unbelievable! Just go to hell!"
"Alessia, I know I messed up, but I love you."
"Where is this so-called love? All I see is a man consumed by his own arrogance and selfishness. You think your wealth absolves you of your monstrosity? I want you, Ethan Maynard, to vanish from my life for good."
"If I disappear, what about my child? My blood?" His words hit hard, a twist of fate I hadn't anticipated.
"Where is your child?" I fired back, caught off guard.
"Alessia, you're carrying my child!"
"Are you seriously that dense? I'm not pregnant!"
"You are pregnant, I can see it in your eyes, in the way you carry yourself," he argued, his voice filled with an earnestness that felt utterly misplaced.
"Is someone supposed to believe you?" I snapped.
"Let me feel your stomach then," he demanded, his tone shifting toward something more invasive.
"Don't you dare touch me! I swear I'll slap you. I'm not pregnant; even if I were, it's none of your business. That child would belong to me alone!"
"I care because the sperm that created that child is mine," he retorted, his eyes fierce and determined.
"What if I told you that the last time we were together, I took pills?"
"You didn't, Alessia. You're pregnant, and you're coming with me now!"
"No! Get away from me! Security! Help!" My voice wavered, frustration bubbling to the surface.
"Remember, I'm wealthy, love. I can influence them too; they won't have any power over me," he whispered, leaning closer. In a fit of rage, I raised my hand and slapped him across the face.
"Wow, you slapped me?" He sounded surprised, a laugh escaping his lips, and I couldn't comprehend how he could find amusement in our disastrous reunion. But then, he provoked me further, and I swung my hand again, hitting him on the other cheek.
What was happening? My heart raced, anger and confusion twisted together. "My first time being hit by a woman. But I can't shout at you or retaliate because I still love you," he murmured. The audacity of his words broke through my frustration; I had half a mind to slap him again, but before I could act on the impulse, he captured my wrist in his hand.
"I'm the father of the child you're carrying," he insisted, his grip firm and unyielding. "You should stop hitting me, Alessia!"
"Ethan, I'm not carrying your baby! I've had enough of rich men and your twisted games. Leave me alone!"
"I'm starting to think David lied to you about his financial status. If you're done with the rich, then why are you with him?"
"Wait, are you following me everywhere?" I demanded, indignation boiling within me.
"I should be following my dreams, and right now, that dream is you," he replied, a hint of defiance in his voice.
I couldn't take it anymore. I stormed into the hospital, leaving him behind, but like a shadow, he trailed closely, unwavering as though he were my own personal bodyguard.
"Don't follow me! You're not my bodyguard!" I snapped, frustration spilling over.
"But you need protection; that's why I'm here," he insisted softly, and I couldn't help but let out a sardonic laugh.
"If you truly wanted to protect me, you would have done so long ago. You're nothing but an arrogant jerk," I spat, my heart racing with every word.
"Just give me a chance to right my wrongs. Let me help heal your broken heart, Alessia," he pleaded, his gaze earnest, as if reflecting the remnants of the man I once thought I knew.
Was there still love buried beneath the ashes of betrayal, or was it simply another trick of the heart? The question loomed heavy as I stepped further into the hospital, the weight of my choices pressing down on me like an anchor.
"A shattered glass is an irreparable thing," I uttered, my voice tinged with the bitterness of truth. At that moment, I couldn't shake the sensation that my pregnancy was a rude interruption of my life, a twist I hadn't anticipated. The nausea that had gripped me returned with a vengeance, an unwelcome visitor that demanded my attention. Finding a secluded spot behind the hospital, I hurriedly retched, the world around me fading as I succumbed to the waves of discomfort.
Ethan, my persistent companion, quickly knelt beside me, his expression a mixture of concern and determination. "I get it, this is your first time carrying a child," he said softly, trying to dismiss the awkwardness of the moment. "It's no surprise the little one is making you feel unwell all the time." I swallowed my retort, feeling the frustration bubbling within me. Arguing with him felt pointless; he was, after all, an idiot in my eyes.
He helped me back onto my feet, though I was already weary from the physical upheaval and emotional turmoil.
"Listen," he began, his tone shifting to a serious note, "I need to give you my card. You should order some food. I'll even call a couple of my maids to look after you—I'll cover their costs. You need assistance, but I can't be around for long. I have to attend to my work matters. But please, don't mistake my absence for a lack of care. I genuinely care for you. I love you."
My heart tightened at his words, twisting with a mix of anger and incredulity.
"Love?" I scoffed, my voice sharp. "You say you love me, yet you're married? You expect me to believe that, even after seeing your wife, Princess Sienna, plastered all over the magazines?"
"Alessia," he pleaded, his voice earnest but laced with desperation. "You are the woman of my dreams, the one who holds my heart. Sienna? She's merely a business partner."
I could hardly contain my incredulity. "And business partners share beds, kiss, and cuddle, do they? In what world?"
"Alessia, please," he urged, frustration flickering in his eyes. "Just know that I love you. If I can't have you, then no one will. I swear I'll eliminate any man who stands in my way." His possessiveness was chilling, and I felt a shiver run down my spine.
"Just take my card and order something to eat. But before anything else, we must see a doctor. I can't just leave you like this."
The indignation rose within me like a tidal wave.
"First, I don't need your card. Second, I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself; I don't need your helpers. Third, seeing a doctor is not on my agenda. And finally, you—your pathetic face—I never want to see you again."
"I understand your feelings, but I simply can't agree to that last part," he countered, his grip on my arm tightening. "As long as you're carrying my child, only death can separate our paths."
**David Maynard**
"Good morning David,
"Good morning, Dav.. Can you hear me?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, Dad. I'm feeling overwhelmed and need to get to the hospital right now."
"Pinky: Hospital?
Mrs. Katie: Hospital???
Ariel: Yes, Alessia's aunt is in the hospital. Dad, can I come along with you?"
"Absolutely not, princess. I'll be back soon," I replied briskly.
"But Dad...," Ariel's voice was a soft plea, tinged with disappointment.
"Please, sweetie," I insisted, my tone firm.
Mrs. Katie interjected, her voice rising in exasperation. "David! Why are you being so rude to your own daughter? Are the people in the hospital more important than your own flesh and blood?"
I had no time to respond to my mother's outburst. With a flurry of determination, I grabbed my phone and wallet and made a beeline for the garage, where I hoped one of my cars was ready for an urgent departure.
Bruno was waiting there, his expression taut with something I couldn't place.
"Did you find the place?" I asked, a sense of urgency driving my words.
"Yes, sir, well…" he hesitated.
"We can discuss this later; I'm in a hurry," I cut him off, slipping into the driver's seat.
As I fumbled with my belongings, Bruno's voice broke through the chaotic thoughts swirling in my mind.
"Sir, you dropped something. Oh, it's a pregnancy test? Damn, she's having a child? I knew it; I knew you and Alessia were…"
"Just give me the test and be quiet!" I snapped, my heart pounding as I felt the weight of my situation bear down on me. The implications were immense, and my conscience battled with confusion and concern. The mess that lay ahead was utterly undeniable, and for the moment, the urgency of the day hung thick in the air.
To be continued…