Chapter 2

/Emily/

My hands are trembling. As well as in my heart. I love him. However, he believes that I would deceive him in some way. The anger tries to make its way back into me once more, but I force it down until it produces a sort of void inside of me instead. My ears are filling with blood, which makes it impossible for me to concentrate on anything else.

"I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, Emily, but if you hadn't been intimate with anyone else than me, you wouldn't be pregnant right now. ”

I feel a shiver run through my body. The central air conditioning unit? Whatever it is, it looks like it has the potential to knock me off my feet. Instead, you should shred me to bits and scatter them all over the house. I am attempting to make sense of what he is saying, and I find myself shaking my head. Trying to fight off the need to throw up by distracting myself. "How could you say such a thing? You are aware that I adore you. I'd never. I love you, Noel. ”

He has a chuckle. I used to adore the sound, but now it drives me crazy because it is so dissimilar to any of his other chuckles in the past. "Didn't you tell me that your little lover ended his relationship with you the day before we started dating? I have no doubt that you had feelings for him. Grow up. I cannot believe how naive you are. ”

I don't know how many times I've explained to him that I never loved Darren. The one and only previous time I felt I was in love was when I was a naive youngster... Kid... Kid... Kid...

This can't possibly be taking place. It's not possible that Noel would treat me in such a manner. Not when I'm about to give birth to our child. A baby. I have a tight grip on my stomach. The word starts to play over and over in my head all of a sudden, and it begins to blur and blend with Noel's angry accusations until it becomes the only thing that I can hear or feel.

"Jesus Christ, what kind of a fucking idiot am I?

" He tames his hair by running a hand through it.

When did you first become aware of this? Who made the statement? You didn't really think you could fool me, did you? I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, but it won't be happening. ”

“What?

" I am unable to stop the word from coming out of my mouth.

My eyes flit across the room, following him as he walks in place. Currently, he is pacing. When I can't stop hearing his voice in my thoughts or when the nausea in my stomach won't go away, it's a challenge.

I'm sorry to be the one to break it to you, Emily, but if you hadn't been intimate with anyone else than me, you wouldn't be pregnant at this point in time.

"Emily, this is not a game at all. This is how I spend my days. Because of this sh*t, I could end up in fucking jail. It is imperative that you get rid of it. Whatever it is, whether it be money or something else, you have to get rid of it. ”

My head is spinning, and the dizziness is sucking me in and encircling me from all sides. Put an end to the prison system...

Oh, God. I'm pregnant. I'm only sixteen, yet I'm already pregnant. He demands that I give up custody of our child. My father has decided that he will never speak to me again.

Having Noel by my side gave me the impression that everything will turn out well. We had hope that we could make it happen. I'd have someone else to love.

My pupils dilate and I feel a weakening in my legs. I collapse on the ground, unable to think of anything else to do. "Shit," Noel yells down at me from his perch above me. After what seems like an age, he eventually gets down on the floor with me. Emily, please be quiet. I am truly sorry. It's not what you think... You just gave me the creeps. I... crap, sweetie, you can't tell anyone else about this. I hate having to tell you this because I care so deeply about you, but you must keep this a secret from everyone. You are responsible for getting rid of the baby, and no one may suspect that it is mine. ”

He encircles me with his arms and then pulls me down onto his lap. I pray to God that he would make me feel as secure here as he has in the past. This is the Noel that I am familiar with. the one who is tranquil, kind, and loving, not this one who alternates between rage and tenderness as I watch him right now.

"Shhh...don't weep. I am truly sorry. I love you. I'm sorry, but the truth is that I couldn't help but deceive you because I wanted you so desperately. Just one look at you was enough to make me give up. When I learned how old you are, I decided to do it for the both of us. ”

You can't tell anyone…

"I couldn't lose you, but don't you see? This is some serious horse manure. Do you really want me to face criminal charges simply because I love you? " I can't make out what he's saying; it's like a muddled echo in my thoughts.

You are responsible for getting rid of the baby, and no one may suspect that it is mine.

After the passing of my mother, he is demanding that I terminate our pregnancy. I'm not sure if I'll be able to pull it off. Baby… Pregnant. Nobody will ever know that it belongs to me. "What exactly are you referring to?" ”

"Oh, Emily," the man said. You're very gorgeous. Quit your blubbering. Hearing you sob is more than I can bear. I truly apologize, but you simply cannot hold it against me that I love you. That is the reason why I did it. You adore me, too, don't you? If that happens, you have no choice except to get rid of the baby and keep the news to yourself. I'll take care of the bill. I really don't want to be without you. ”

If Noel is unable to come to terms with what has occurred, how can I expect my father to do so? He will despise me. Be disappointed. Because of Mom, he's already in a broken state. I utter the words "I love you too" in a low voice. "But..." I don't know if I'm up to the challenge. Do you want to murder my child? Should you kill our baby?

"How far are you?"

"Seven weeks…"

"It's okay. It's too soon to call it a baby. Emily, you are capable of achieving this. Do it in our stead. ”

It hurts in my stomach. Simply put, all I want to do is go to sleep. I desperately need for this to be some type of dream.

The next thing he says is, "I'm not mad that you knew." "When a person loves another so much, they will occasionally tell lies. That is the reason why I did it in the beginning. We can keep on faking like we have been. Keep being cheerful. Only twenty-three years old here. It's not like it's the end of the world or anything. ”

Twenty-three, twenty-three, twenty-three. Repeat that three times. My stomach is turning again, and I feel like I'm about to throw up. I feel a wave of dizziness wash over me. "Noel? ”

"Red, you are going to have to have faith in me. Things are going to work out. You're my gorgeous. Red, you are very lovely. Don't take away from my ability to do that. We won't be in any danger... After all, it's not a baby just yet. ”

Every single one of his words pierces me all at once in the same way. I'm not sure which aspect to zero in on. I just can't make myself choose one. Love and deception go hand in hand, and he claims that the part of us that is contained within me is an illusion. He wants me to dispose of it in some way.

My physical self takes over, and I find myself desperately trying to get away from him.

Noel moves closer to me, but I can't seem to pull myself away from him any longer. "Emily, don't act as if you were unaware of the situation. How could you possibly say no? I participated in your game so that you would feel better about yourself, yet you are aware of who I am. You were aware of my age the whole time.

It will be common knowledge among everyone else. They will realize that you intended to catch me in a trap. Or otherwise, they will believe that you have lied about your age. You desired a much more mature man because you were a mess after your mother passed away. It takes place on a regular basis. " He gives a shrug.

"You'd go tell them that I lied, would you?

" He has told me that he loves me, but now he is going to tell them that I have been dishonest about my age...

When Noel tells me to "Get rid of it and I won't have to," I am immediately aware of how little I know about him. This realization knocks the wind out of me. " He gets right to the point. " Because it is so chilly, I don't know whether I want to continue crying or I want to hurt him. I can't believe I let myself get involved with him.

"I despise you!"

" I yell. They are the least mature words in the world, yet they are all that I have at the moment. "I despise you, Noel! " " I am stumbling toward the door when he grabs my arm and pulls me back. I'm experiencing a sharp discomfort in my stomach. My eyes moisten. My ears are throbbing and seem to have an echo to them.