Chapter Three.

THE TRUTH?

Emma's POV.

"Nurse Olivia?" I gasped in disbelief and she laughed as she hugged me tightly.

"Haven't I told you to stop adding the title "nurse", just Olivia is fine. Besides I am mad at you. Didn't you promise to contact me after that night?" She asked and I sighed.

"Yes. I am so sorry. I lost your previous contact." I told her as we disengaged from the hug.

"Oh! But I gave your husband the new one to give you when we saw a few years back." Olivia told me and I froze.

"You saw Derek? How come?" I asked and she laughed again.

"Of course, didn't he tell you? I asked for your contact at first but he told me you had issues with your phone and have been too focused at work to get a new one." Olivia said and I rolled my eyes.

Seriously? Derek was lying now? Why did he just like to isolate me from people?

This was exactly what he told my childhood friend, who personally went to his neighbor to ask of me, after I had given birth.

If only I didn't run into her at the mall, with her barely recognizing me because I had developed some weight, I wouldn't have known that he lied.

I clenched my fists as I felt the urge to curse at him but nope. I wasn't going to allow him to frustrate me enough to do that.

"That aside, what are you doing here?" She questioned and I smiled.

"I think I should be asking you the same. Didn't you have to hurriedly travel overseas that night since you finally got the scholarship to the nursing school, you waited and prayed so much about?" I threw back the question at her and she giggled.

"Yes. I am done now actually." She told me and I hugged her again.

"That's good to hear."

"Yes and I will say this again. You and your baby girl, that night was my good luck charm. I waited ages for that scholarship and even thought I was going to be declined because they were closing up their portal soon. Too bad, what happened to that little cutie of yours." Olivia said and my heart stopped.

"Something happened to Gina?" I half-yelled and she flinched, the laugh disappearing from her eyes.

"I don't understand. Didn't you know? It's been years or are you trying to be funny? What is going on?" Olivia demanded to know while it felt like my world was spiraling.

"That night. After I delivered your baby and I got my mail. You collapsed due to exhaustion and losing too much blood. I panicked as the doctors were attending to you, when suddenly your baby stopped breathing and crying, due to birth asphyxia. A situation where she didn't get enough oxygen." Olivia explained and my legs wobbled as the air around suddenly turned suffocating.

I placed my hand on my chest as everywhere suddenly seemed blurry. I blinked repeatedly and before I knew it, collapsed to the floor with a loud thud.

No! This couldn't be happening. Was she trying to say that my baby died at birth?

"Oh my God! Emma, are you alright?" Olivia hurriedly dashed to help me up and led me to sit down on one of the benches around.

"Damn! You look so stressed, pale and heavy. Haven't you been taking care of yourself? I barely recognized you earlier, if not for your rare, white hair. Were you sick?" Olivia continued to ask questions and I wanted to speak but my voice disappeared.

My legs quivered as I continued to shiver on the seat in Emma's arms, while trying to hold back my tears.

My baby girl died of lack of oxygen at birth?

But how come I never knew?

Then who was that child that I raised for seven, good years?

Just then, Gina's earlier words resurfaced in my mind.

"I even showed them Aunt Vera's picture as my mum and they all said we look greatly alike."

"Noooooo." I immediately got up and screamed in the hospital hall, startling everyone who paused to widen their eyes at me.

Olivia's jaw dropped as she immediately got up to calm me down but I slapped her hand away and ran out of the hospital outside, heavy tears rolling down my cheeks.

My heart was hurting against my chest like hell as I realized that what I was fearing, might actually be the truth.

But would Derek betray me that way? After everything I had done for him?

Also, how was I made to believe all these years that Gina was my daughter, if she truly wasn't? I needed answers.

So I turned to look at Olivia, who was running towards me with worries in her eyes.

"What is it, Emma? Why scream that way and why are you crying? Did something terrible just happen?"

'Yes.' I wanted to scream again but her next words froze my actions.

"I thought you knew about this. Derek promised to tell you once you were out of danger then, since I hurriedly had to leave the country. Also, his friend that he brought into the clinic for an unexpected labor, did she deliver successfully?" Olivia questioned and my blood turned cold.

"What friend?"

Olivia looked confused as she continued to speak. "Her file said Vera Hawkins. She was pregnant too and went into labor, even though it wasn't her due date yet. Your husband stayed with her all through. I was even surprised to see him in the ward with her despite you being in labor yourself, but he told me that you insisted he stayed by her side, since she is family."

Words couldn't describe how shocked and in disbelief I stood there, looking at Olivia.

Vera was pregnant? How? When?

Just then, I remembered it was during the time I was pregnant that she returned to the country but Derek never allowed me to see her and when I insisted, then finally saw her, she had a stomach bulge but told me, it was eating too much and weight growing.

And I believed her, even though she showed symptoms of pregnancy.

How could I have been that native?

Just then, my phone rang and with shaky hands, I picked.

"Emma. My friend told me that she saw you looking so haggard. Just when are you going to leave that good-for-nothing boy, who doesn't deserve you and come home." My mum yelled into my ears, obviously pissed but I couldn't blame her, now, could I?

All of these were my fault, if only I wasn't too blinded by love and saw the signs.

The secret business trips he always went with Vera on, the ones his secretary couldn't have an explanation for or even an idea about.

The way Vera was always so protective of Gina and tried to teach me how to raise her, the trips Derek took Gina on and made sure I didn't attend, while Vera went in my place.

I allowed it all because I thought I had failed in my duties as a wife to him and wanted him to be free again with me, but all those were stupidity.

'How they all must have laughed behind my back.' rage burned in my veins at that thought as I finally came to a decision.

"I can't even believe you still want us to give him that project after all he has done to you. Just come home, baby. Mother misses you." My mom pleaded and I faked a smile.

"Alright mum, but I have to fix something first." I said and there was silence for awhile.