Chapter 14 Chains Of Secrets

• Edith's POV:
• I stormed out of the hall, my whole body trembling due to fury. Mom and dad followed closely behind but their faces were twisted in disappointment.
• "Edith... What is the meaning of this?" Mom asked irritatedly. "Do you have any idea how embarrassing this is?"
• But I was too far gone in my anger to care about their disappointment. I whirled around and faced them.
• "How dare you arrange my marriage without even asking me?" I snapped, my voice shaking with disbelief. "Who told you to interfere in my life?"
• Mom left surprised, watching my outburst. And dad, he hesitated, exchanging a nervous glance with her before looking back at me.
• "It's... complicated, Edith. I've never wanted this for you. We're really helpless. Believe me," he spoke in an unsteady voice.
• "Believe you?" I scoffed, crossing my arms. "You told me about a surprise and now I find out you're selling me off to a man I barely knew. Is it the price I have to pay to be your daughter?"
• Tears stung my eyes while my dad looked down, guilt creeping into his expression.
• "Zayden... He blackmailed us," he admitted, sighing heavily.
• The words hit me like a punch to the gut. My eyes widened wondering whether he recorded some kind of video that night of our sleeping together.
• "Bla...Blackmailed?" I echoed in shock, my throat felt dry. "With what?"
• "He knows things, Edith... Things about our family, about you..." My dad shifted uncomfortably, avoiding my gaze.
• "What does he exactly know, dad?" I pressed, my voice growing frantic.
• After a long pause, my dad finally muttered, "He has information about what happened during your school days. The time you happened to be at a party with some minors carrying drugs. You could have been suspended, maybe even expelled. But I paid your principal to keep it quiet about you while other students were expelled."
• I felt the blood drain from my face. The Long-buried memory resurfaced, overwhelmed with my past fear and shame. "That motherfucker...", I murmured under my breath.
• "There are other things too... About me... and your mom which will destroy all our images in this city including you," dad added, his voice strained.
• "What are these?" I asked in disbelief, realizing my parents had deep secrets I was completely unaware.
• My dad shook his head. "I can't, Edith... Those are things we'd rather take to our graves.
• My shock turned into boiling anger. I couldn't believe that they were keeping secrets from me and now they were forcing me into a marriage to save this so-called family.
• "So you expect me to marry a man like him just to save our reputation?" I asked, smiling bitterly.
• "Come on, Edith. It's not forever," mom said hastily. "The marriage will only last a year. After that, you will divorce him while inheriting a portion of his wealth in the process."
• I stared at my mom in disbelief, the words hanging in the air like a slap.
• "So you not only want me to marry him to clean up your mess but also for money?"
• Mom gave a soft sigh, brushing a hand over her perfectly styled hair. "Sweetheart, It's about securing your future. Don't misunderstand us."
• My mind reeled as it was horrifying that my own mom was treating my marriage as a transaction. I glanced at my dad whose silence was supporting the bluffing of my mom.
• "You guys can't be serious," I muttered, taking a step back. "Is that all I am to you? A bargaining chip?"
• "You're overreacting, Edith..." Mom said with a calm expression as usual, failing to understand my feelings.
• The next second, she stepped closer and pointed directly at my ring finger. "Care to explain where your purity ring is, sweetheart?"
• My heart dropped and my mouth went dry. I didn't have any explanation. I had mistakenly left that ring in Zayden's penthouse as I was in a hurry to escape after that night.
• "Can't remember?" Mom pressed. "Forgot it somewhere?"
• "I might have left it...," I started to make an excuse, but Mom cut me off.
• "Zayden had it, Edith... It was... surprising," She said with a small, teasing smile.
• Heat rushed to my face and my nails dug into my palms. How dare he? How dare he expose such an intimate secret to my parents?
• I had never felt so humiliated, so betrayed.
• My mom's smirked only deepened as she observed me.
• "You've already crossed a line, Edith. You've also made your choices," she said, her voice light but sharp. "This marriage is more fitting than you want to admit."
• I shook my head, my eyes darkened with fury. "I'm not going to be a plaything of yours and marry such a bastard just because I made one mistake."
• Mom didn't falter, her calm expression made me even more furious. I turned to my dad and his downcast eyes told me everything.
• "Dad... Cancel this marriage," I demanded.
• Without waiting for a response, I spun on my heel, walking away from there as I didn't care about the hotel opening conference anymore.
• My dad's voice echoed behind me, calling my name but I never looked back because I was done.
• I was undoubtedly furious with my parents but the rage I felt toward Zayden... it was on a whole different level.
• 'He must've planned it from the start' I thought as I pieced everything together.
• That night, he didn't approach me coincidentally; rather , it was his entry point to trap me into his twisted world. He knew exactly what he was doing, taking advantage of my vulnerability. And now, I was carrying his child, tied to him in a way that made my stomach churn.
• As I stormed through the hotel's grand entrance, I realized that the hatred I once felt for my ex-boyfriend and best friend, was nothing in comparison to the loathing I felt for Zayden now. I had thought I could never despise anyone more than them, but now, Zayden proved me wrong.
• ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
• Two days later, I sat in the hospital waiting room, feeling weak from lack of sleep and eating. I only managed to eat a few peaches as the thought of anything else made me feel nauseous.
• As I waited for my appointment, I noticed several couples around me, all smiling and holding hands, as they waited for their own pregnancy checkups. My heart fluttered at the sight of them but I couldn't picture me and Zayden in that scenario. I was certain that a man like him would never accept this child.
• 'It doesn't matter,' I tried convincing myself. 'If I'm really pregnant, I'll just... get rid of it.'
• But first, I needed the confirmation.
• "Edith Sinclair." Finally, my name was called. I stood up and followed the nurse into the doctor's office.
• Sitting across from the doctor, I felt my pulse quicken.
• The doctor glanced at the report and smiled, flipping through the pages, before looking at me.
• "Congratulations! Miss Sinclair," she said gently. "You're pregnant."
• I nodded, trying to keep calm. I already knew it but hearing the confirmation still felt heavy.
• "Your uterus is a little weak but there is nothing to worry about. I'd like you to come back for a checkup in two weeks," the doctor continued.
• I shifted in my seat, failing to speak the word 'abortion' as if it was stuck in my throat.
• The doctor noticed my hesitation, "Is everything okay, Miss Sinclair?"
• Taking a deep breath, I finally said, "I... I want to talk about having an abortion."
• The doctor nodded in understanding as her expression softened.
• "It's entirely up to you, Miss Sinclair. If you decide to go for an abortion, I can schedule you for a procedure in four days."
• "Yeah... Sure." I said, but those words felt heavier than anything I had felt before, even though it was my choice.
• As I stepped out of the doctor's office, I couldn't shake off the heavy feeling regarding the abortion. I tried to convince myself that everything would return to normal after getting rid of the child. But the emptiness lingered.
• Reaching my car, I sank into the driver's seat, ready to drive back to my flower shop. Suddenly my phone rang, startling me. An unknown number flashed on the screen.
• I hesitated for a moment, then decided to answer, thinking it might be important.
• "Hello?" I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "Who's this?"
• There was no response which made me feel irritated and was about to hang up.
• "Edith?" The voice broke through, deep and familiar. My heart skipped a bit, catching me off guard.
• "Za...Zayden?" I replied, disbelief creeping in.
• "Miss me, my little bird?" He asked, a hint of amusement in his tone.