Free

Emily

We are still stunned when Erick received a message from his grandfather. He pulls me to the bathroom, away from the maid.

“We have to do it.”

“We had a deal,” I remind him.

“Well, that has changed. Grandfather will kill Rose if I disobey him.”

I let out a sigh, my heart bleeding at the pawns we have become. I now know all about his sweetheart Rose. They would be married and happy by now had Las Vegas not happened.

“Let’s just do it and get pregnant. It is the only way to get him off our backs.”

I nod. I can’t stay like a prisoner like this.

Unlike the first time I don’t remember, this one is all real and awkward.

“I know that you hate me, but try to move. Don’t be like a brick,” the bastard smirks, raising my anger.

“I don’t love you. Maybe you should try being less of an asshole and…”

My words are swallowed by his kiss.

He lets out a sigh when the maid leaves, content that we are trying to produce the heir.

“I know that this is difficult for you too. You have a great body and I am a catch. Let us just enjoy this. I will be nice from now on.”

I raise my eyebrows. I don’t see him being nice. Maybe he can be for his sweetheart’s sake.

“Come on, please,” he pleads before turning over and pinning my body under his. He is right about one thing. He does have a great body.

A few minutes later, we are tangled up in bed and moaning. He laughs when I reach my peak and increase his pace until he is undone.

Three weeks later we give the old man the news he has been waiting for. I am shocked when he gives me shares to the Spencer company.

Two days later we move to Erick’s mansion. I am devastated when I start bleeding. I thought I did not care, but this was my child. The old man is the first to arrive at the hospital. He is just as devastated.

“I know that you think I am a monster for forcing you to stay with Erick,” he says and holds my hand.

“That Rose is not good for Erick. The Millers are snakes. You are perfect for him.”

My stupid tears start rolling down.

“Erick loves Rose, grandfather. You can’t force love.”

“You got pregnant. Erick is warming up to you.”

I shake my head. “We only got pregnant because you wanted us to. There is no love between us.”

Erick is hardly home, but I can’t tell the old man this without getting him into trouble.

“There will be. You are fated,” he says in a matter of fact tone and I don’t bother responding.

Erick walks in an hour later with his parents behind him.

“Is this how long it takes you to come and see your wife?” the old man roars before holding his chest and falling. He is immediately rushed out of my ward.

“The doctor said he had a massive stroke. He was too upset about the baby,” Erick tells me when he returns.

“Will he be okay?”

“What? Have you grown fond of him?” he smirks and it hits me that I had grown fond of him. The hour alone with him showed me a glimpse of a different person.

“He is alive but will need full time care.”

“I will care for him,” I say and he looks suspiciously at me.

“You are hardly home. It will take my mind off things,” I say and he shrugs.

A week later, I am caring for the old man when Mrs Spencer comes to visit.

“The Las Vegas bride being useful,” she sneers. I thought she was nice when the old man was still himself, but she is horrible.

“Pretend all you want, Dear. Erick will always love Rose. You will be out in the streets as soon as the old man kicks the bucket.”

“I am not pretending. Erick can be with Rose. I will gladly sign divorce papers.”

She rolls her eyes, clearly not believing me. I am a gold-digger in her eyes.

“Mother?” Erick questions. I did not see him come in and his mother looks shocked for some reason.

He lets out a sigh and turns to me. “How is he?”

“The same. He has been asking for you.”

He heads to the old man’s room without saying another word.

He walks out an hour later, teary. “He is gone.”

A dull pain rests on my chest before tears roll down my cheeks. He was really kind in his last days.

A month later, I am wondering why Erick is hesitant to sign the papers until I eavesdrop on his conversation with his parents.

“Stay out of it. I am not divorcing her!”

“Why not? The old man is gone. You can be with Rose,” his mother asks. I have been curious about this too. He literally spends all his time with Rose. Their lovey-dovey photos are all over social media, yet he won’t sign the papers.

“Because I am a Spencer!” Erick yells. “I don’t divorce and I promised grandfather.”

“That was an old redundant Spencer rule. An alliance with the Millers will benefit all of us. Emily has no status and she is willing to walk away with nothing,” his father says.

“She has forty percent of the Spencer shares,” Erick reminds them.

“She does not even know what that is. Get her to sign them over or get rid of her.”

Erick’s parents really hate me. They make me feel it at their balls they often host. I am always the laughing stock there while they parade Rose for everyone to see.

“I will not dishonour grandfather and I will not be a murderer.”

I guess Erick is not as bad as his parents.

I swallow my words a month later when he shoves a tablet to abort our second pregnancy.

“Erick, please. Let me keep the baby. I will never worry you. I will sign the divorce papers and the shares. I will raise him or her myself,” I plead to no avail.

“No. Rose tried to kill herself when she found out about this. I can never have a baby with you.”

An hour later I am bleeding profusely and require blood transfusions. Erick does not even come to see me in hospital.

I return to find him on the couch with his sweetheart.

“Oh, you are back,” he says uninterested. “Rose will be staying here from now on.”

I exhale before giving him the papers. “Sign them or I will press charges for attempted murder and for killing my baby.”

He sits up and chuckles.

“You would no dare.”

“Try me. I almost bled out. It is all recorded in hospital records. I have sent all the information to a journalist. If anything happens to me, it will be breaking news. If anything happens to my foster family and friends, the same will happen.”

“You can’t divorce me and walk away with Spencer shares. My parents will not have it.”

I take out another document from my bag and hand it to him.

“I know. I had a lawyer transfer all of them back to you.”

He studies me and signs the papers. I am finally free.

They are still on the couch when I return with my suitcase.

“I truly never meant to get between the two of you. I wish you all the best.”

As much as he had hurt me, I know why he hated me. Both our lives were messed with when we were drugged. He still believes that I was part of it.

“Stop acting all righteous, Whore. We all know how you tricked Erick. You say you don’t want anything, yet that suitcase is full,” Rose shouts behind me.

I let go of the suitcase and walk away without another word.