Chapter Two

The whole house became so silent that Nicole was sure she would be able to hear a pin drop if she listened hard enough. Now that it was out and the whole house was staring at her like she was some kind of alien entity, Nicole didn't know how to feel. She glanced at Alex, willing him with her eyes to say something, to say she was right, to save her from looking like a fool. Instead, he only stared forward at the plate in front of him, his jaw clenched in what seemed like anger.

"Is that true, Alex?". His father asked.

He was quiet for a few seconds before finally letting out a small sigh. "Yes, Dad. Nicole is my fiancee". 

"What?". Mrs. Van Lewis whispered. She turned to Nicole and eyed her in open disgust before turning back to her son. "Her?". Her meaning was so clear that Nicole felt a wave of inferiority wash over her at the woman's condescending tone. And yet...Alex said nothing. 

"I must say……your taste is rather poor, Alexander". It came from the blonde woman beside her. Even her voice was a sexy Southern drawl, the voice of someone who treaded the world with much confidence in herself and her presence. Nicole felt herself diminish and even though she tried her best to will them back, tears sprung into her eyes. She wished for only one thing at the moment. For Alex to stand up for her. The hurtful words would have nothing on her only if the man she loved could stand up and fight for her….tell his family that he loved her regardless. Instead, to her horror, he said nothing.

The blond woman pushed back from her seat and stood up, smoothening the creases on her short black skirt. "I will not sit here and be insulted like this". And with that, she stormed out of the room, her blonde hair falling down her back in beautiful cascades.

"Anita……". Alex's sister stood up from her seat and followed the woman out. 

"Aren't you going to say anything?". Mr. Van Lewis says to Alex.. "You are not going to say anything?". His voice rose higher.

"I'm sorry, Dad".

"You are sorry? That's all you are going to say…..you are sorry?". He banged a hand on the table and Nicole jumped in her seat. "You have been an embarrassment to this family for as long as I can remember. And then I give you this chance, this one chance to prove yourself to me, Alexander. Marry Anita, I said. Marry her and enable easy merging of the companies. And guess what? You flop that one too". Nicole felt Mr. Van Lweis's angry gaze turn to her. "You found yourself another one. And this time, she's even lower than I expected. You've filled the poor girl's head with lies, haven't you? Fiancee?". He laughed bitterly and scoffed. "Of all the lies you've told, that has to be the funniest yet".

"Dad……". 

"Do not….. speak when I'm speaking". He whispered menacingly.

The whole house went silent again.

"Young lady". Mr. Van Lewis turned to her. Nicole blinked back tears furiously and rose her head to look at him, barely resisting the urge to squirm under his cold gaze. "Whatever went on between you and Alex was a flimsy excuse of infatuation. You will not marry my son. As you might have deduced, he already has a fiancee. And one that suits him very well too. Now…..if you'll excuse us…..we were having a family dinner".

Nicole felt like she might be sick. Furiously trying to blink the tears away, she stood up and hugged her bag to her chest. Pausing one last moment, she looked at Alex through the blur of her vision and made out his figure. He wasn't looking at her. He was still staring down at the plate in front of him….and he wasn't looking at her or saying anything. She had wanted to look at him one more time for confirmation. Was his father right? Had he really lied to her? She needed him to look at her and tell her with his eyes that he'd talk to her later. That he'd explain everything later. But the father of her child wasn't even looking at her. 

That alone hit her more than any hurtful word the family might have thrown at her. Barely feeling her legs, she made her way out of the dining room. She was so cold. The rain from earlier and the reality of what had just happened combined to chill her bones to the marrow. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't control the shivering. It still poured outside but she took no notice of that as she made her way out. The first slap of the rain against her skin jarred her, and her teeth chattered. She was so pathetic. The tears poured down her cheeks as she walked down the driveway faster, and faster, and faster till she was running. She couldn't see two steps in front of her but she didn't care. There was no point to this. 

A sudden wave of nausea hit her as she stepped outside the gate and right there, she doubled over and poured her guts out. She hadn't even eaten much since morning, but she heaved and heaved till she could taste bile in her throat. Crying, she cleaned her mouth and ran down the dark street. She couldn't get in touch with reality. Her legs felt like lead, her head swarm, her vision blurred. All she could feel and hear were the steady pounding of her heart and the blood that roared in her ears. She didn't even hear the car honk. But the next thing she knew, she was weightless, flying through the air, her wet hair all over her face. She thought she was imagining it till she heard the loud thud on the floor and felt the first real jab of pain. It was her. She had been hit by a car and came flying through the air, landing onto this cold, hard asphalt. She heard the screech of tires, a loud honk, a voice and then….the gradual envelope of the black oblivion. With the last of her energy, she clutched her stomach tightly and whispered.

"My baby…….".