Chapter 4

Freya's P.o.v

"I think he's leaving now, Freya," Juliana raced into the quarters where I'm at, excitement evident on her face.

"Really?"

I left all that I was doing and scurried behind Juliana outside to a distance a bit farther from the mansion's door entrance where no one could see us.

There, at the door entrance, I saw Mrs. Martha, Mr. Edmond, Ethan and his brother. Ethan will be leaving today and all of Slade's immediate family were present.

But there was one more person.

She was standing beside Ethan and holding hands with him. I felt a punch hit my heart. Who is she?

She is so beautiful, anyone could tell from afar— straight hair, blond, red lips, great height and a great sense of style. She is definitely a perfect definition of money and beauty.

Ethan seem glad locking hands with her and I felt my teeth grit. My heart shattered as she kissed Ethan and he reciprocated. I gasped.

The smile on Ethan's face vanished as our eyes met and I could see him withdraw quickly from locking hands with her. He looked away.

What the hell, Ethan?

Mr.Edmond hugged Ethan and the girl and Mrs. Martha followed suit.

Some luggages which I believe belong to Ethan were stowed into the car boot packed in front of entrance and together with the girl, Ethan left— not even with a final good bye or a wave at least or his eyes flickering at me.

My world came crashing down as I watch the car move from the gate to disappearing into thin air.

My back hit the wall as I reeled in shock. I felt blindsided.

"Juliana," I murmured. "What the hell just happened?That was Ethan?"

Being my confidant, I have never hidden anything about me and Ethan away from Juliana. Betrayal hit me like a ton of bricks as I close my eyes and the event of Ethan kissing the girl replayed in my head. I opened my eyes.

"There's no way that's my Ethan, Juliana."

Juliana held my hands, trying to calm me to keep it down.

But it was of no use.

Tears came pouring like torrents from my eyes as Juliana manage to walk me back into the quarters.

"Pull yourself together, Freya," she said, her cupping my face and her fingers wiping my tears. "It's still early and your cry might raise alarm. You don't want Camilla and her cohorts coming in and asking questions."

"He just kissed another girl, Juliana," I broke down harder. "He looked at me like I never existed— like I was trash—like what we had was nothing."

"I had warned you, Freya. People like him are hard to read—their next move-or who they truly are. And I'm afraid you won't get to know until you actually find out yourself. I know this because have been there long enough to know."

My sob got heavier.

"Now, I need you to let it go. Pull yourself together and act like this never happened."

I pulled myself together after many talks from Juliana and went about my duty. But it was without being myself. I felt relunctant to hold the broom or mop the floor or so anything at all in the mansion.

Nothing just seem to make sense to me anymore.

*******************

Minutes turn into hours and hours into days and weeks since Ethan left. The memories of the moments we shared re-played in my head each time I pass by Ethan's room— now locked. Even though I wanted and wished the memories could live on, the glance at the door only proved me wrong, whispering the truth that he was really gone.

"Did you get any message from him yet?" Juliana asked as we left the mansion and on our way home together.

"No, Juliana."

Juliana noticed the melancholy in my voice.

"I'm so sorry, Freya. I'm so sorry you had to go through all of that."

I made a nodding motion. "It's fine, Juliana. And thank you. Thank you for everything."

Juliana and I parted ways and I felt my tummy hurt a little. It felt like I was going to throw up as I began to make dinner at home. I eventually throw up and I fell to the ground with a loud thud— unconscious.

~~

I woke up to find my grandma and two other women I believe to be nurses beside me. I feel my body too weak to move on the bed. The nurses were smiling.

But my grandma wasn't.

A nurse gaze met mine and she smiled widely.

"She's awake."

Everyone's attention was focused on me and my grandma only stared on the sofa in my room she's seated on. I know that stare when I see one.

"Are you alright?" one of the nurses came to greet me on the bed. Her smile was contagious.

"Yes," I held my head. "What...What happened?"

"You fell," she replied. "How are you feeling now?"

"Better."

She checked my temperature with the back of her hand on my neck and then my forehead. She then told me go open my mouth, inserting a thermometer.

"36.4," she read out loud.

"She's stabilized now, obviously," the other nurse said. She pointed at the drugs on the nightstand. "The prescriptions are written at the back, only to be used if your fever persists."

The nurses left and the only time I saw my grandma smile was when they were about to—muttering a thank you.

She saw them off and came back to meet me in my room. She settled on the Sofa, her face devoid of a smile.

"Freya," she called. "How are you feeling now?I mean really feeling."

I swallowed.

"Better," my eyes wandered, avoiding my grandma's gaze.

My grandma rose from her seat to join me on the bed. Her hand pressed my lower abdomen and I flinched a little.

"Ouch! That hurts, Grandma."

"When last did you have your period, Freya?"

Her question cut me off guard and it only made me realize how late I am with my period.

"A month and two weeks ago."

My grandma sighed. "Did you get involved with him?"

"What?"

"Answer my question Freya. Did you have sex with him or not?"

I cower as my grandma yelled. "I... I don't understand grandma."

"What, Freya? What is it you don't understand? I asked you a question. Did you spread your legs for that boy to enter you?"

I felt tears brim, threatening to spill. I pull the duvet over me, still not saying any word to my grandma.

"The nurses believe you might be pregnant and I believe now isn't the time for tears, Freya. So, answer me. Did you?"

I acknowledged my grandma's question with a nod.

My grandma held her head high before proceeding, though her eyes betrayed her anger.

"What is this, Freya? What have you done?"

I swallowed every lump that resulted from my suppressed sobs. I couldn't find the will to answer her. I know I have hurt her enough with what I had done.

"I'm so sorry, grandma. I loved him so much, I didn't realize I could be making a grave mistake," I finally managed to speak.

"I warned you, Freya. I warned you several times to desist from having anything that has to do with him, talk less being intimate. And what happened to condoms, by the way?"

"I loved him, grandma."

"I'd have to take you to the hospital to be sure about your status. And let's just hope you aren't truly pregnant."

My grandma got to her feet. And the question blurted out of my mouth.

"What if I am, grandma?"

"Well, I'm afraid we'll have to inform his family then. Since he has decided to cut all contact with you ever since he left."