Chapter 3

***Emma's POV***

Did I hear that right?

"Who's getting a divorce?" I asked, unable to make sense of anything. 

Daniel's face quickly contoured in displeasure. "Don't act dumb, Emma. I know you understand what I mean." 

"But I really don't understand." I insisted.

We stood there looking at each other for about 30 seconds before Daniel finally moved and gently placed Rachael on one of the waiting chairs. He then turned and faced me, looking all serious.

"Look, Emma, I know this is coming all of a sudden, and I'm sorry for telling you like this." he  moved closer and placed his hand on my shoulder as if he was consoling me.

I looked at his hand on my shoulder. This was the first time in forever since he had initiated a physical touch between us. Ironically, it was when he was asking me for a divorce.

"Why? Why are you doing this?" I asked, my throat tightened painfully. I thought about the child in my belly. I thought this would be a new beginning for us.

"Emma don't blame Daniel. I was the one who went to him," Rachael said, trying to stand up. Daniel quickly rushed to her side and gently pushed her back to the chair. 

"Stay put, I've got this. You don't have to explain anything."

I stood there looking at them as if I was the outsider and they were the couple. What shocked me more was the way Daniel was tending to her. It was still difficult for me to comprehend.

"Mrs. Brooks, here you are," Mrs. Wilson's voice sounded behind me. I turned to see her rushing up to me. 

"I have been waiting for you at the hospital's entrance. What are you still doing here?" She asked.

I opened my mouth and closed it again, not knowing what to say. She finally noticed Daniel's presence,

"Oh, Mr Brookes, are you here to pick up madam?" 

"No," Daniel replied without missing a beat. "You can take her home. I have things to attend to." 

Mrs. Wilson, still unaware of  the situation, continued, "but the young madame is..." I stopped her before she could finish.

"Let's just go. Daniel is busy at the moment." Taking her hand, I dragged her out of the hospital.

"Ma'am, what's going on?" She queried the moment we stepped outside the hospital.

I sighed, looking at the pregnancy report again. Many plans were already forming in my mind. "Have you gotten the medicine?"  I asked instead.

"Yes, here it is" she answered, raising the medicine for me to see. I took the medicines and stuffed them into my bag. I turned to her and mustered all the seriousness that I could.

 "Mrs. Wilson, can I ask you for a huge favour?" I held her hand 

"Yes, you can ask me anything, ma'am. As long as it's within my capabilities I'll definitely do it." Her reply was satisfying enough. 

"Then can you promise to keep this pregnancy news between us?" Her face looked like I had asked her to keep a forbidden secret.

"But ma'am, how can I? Why don't you just tell the young master?" She asked, her voice sounding confused and at the same time scared.

Holding her hand tighter, I replied, "Because he wants to divorce me."  My heart skipped a beat upon saying that. Looks like I hadn't even come to terms with it yet.

"What? How can you say that? I haven't seen you and young master quarrel before. What could possibly make him want to divorce you? Or else..." She trailed off. It looks like she finally remembered that Daniel was holding a woman back inside the hospital.

"Promise me okay? Please?" I begged

"Alright. But what if the baby could actually change the young master's heart?" I knew she was trying to convince me. I was still confused about where to stand but, one thing was certain: I can't hold on to this marriage any longer. I deserved so much more.

"I sincerely don't know what I'm going to do but let things just progress first," I replied.  The overwhelming tiredness returned again.

As if sensing my exhaustion, Mrs. Wilson slowly guided me to the car after promising not to say a word to anybody. 

Once we  got back, I quickly went up to my room and dozed off. When I woke up, it was already dark. I reached for the bedside lamp and turned it on. Glancing at the clock, panic immediately set in. It's 8:32 PM. How did I sleep for that long? The thought of Daniel coming home at any time from now immediately got me to my feet.

I rushed downstairs to the kitchen, only to see Mrs. Wilson cooking. That surprised me since she only cooked when I asked her to  or  when I'm sick. Neither of those happened so why was she preparing the meals?

Sensing my presence, she turned around, her face brightening up immediately. Now that's definitely unusual.

"Ma'am, you shouldn't be here. Go and wait at the dining table. I'm almost done here." 

 Before I could ask what she meant by why I shouldn't be in the kitchen, she ushered me out of the kitchen. I went and sat quietly in the dining room.

Not long after, she came out and started bringing plates of food to the table. She then handed me a small bowl of soup. 

"Here, drink this. It's chicken soup, and it's good for pregnant women, especially during this early stage." She said, looking around as if to make sure no one was listening. "I'll go and call Madame Susan to come down for dinner now" she added quickly and left. 

I stared blankly. pregnant?  How could I forget? The tears returned to my eyes again. It felt as if I wasn't alone anymore. I took the bowl of soup and started sipping it slowly. The warmth of the soup spread throughout my body as I drank it.

"Why are you smiling at yourself? Have you suddenly gone mad?"

 I looked up to see Susan majestically walking down the stairs. What was she even still doing here? Wasn't she supposed to go back to Brooke's main residence?

"How can you start eating when your husband isn't at the table yet?" She asked giving me that unimpressed look again.

"Daniel's not home yet" I answered and continued drinking the chicken soup. How could I tell her that Daniel rarely came home, and when he did, it was later in the night? I had waited for him constantly every night after we got married, but I eventually gave up.

"Then wait for him to come home. Why do I always have to remind you of your duties as a wife?" she yelled, her tone filled with disappointment.

Irritation spiked in me. I thought I was already used to her constant nagging, but it looked like I was wrong. The noise of a car pulling into the compound stopped me. I gently placed the bowl down and looked towards the door. I didn't know why my heart was beating restlessly, as if something huge was about to happen.

The door swung open, and Daniel walked in.

He wasn't alone though. Rachel Adams was in his arms with his coat draped around her.