Chapter 8: Chapter 8

Chapter 8 Family “Are you the father?” A nurse asked the man who had brought the woman with a very large round belly into the emergency room.

“Yes-”

“No! He’s not the father! He’s my friend!” The very pregnant lady managed to clarify that matter even though she was in intense pain.

A flash of hurt flickered through the man’s eyes but the pregnant woman was none the wiser.

The nurse felt awkward. “Um who’s going to sign the form-”

“I will. Please give it to me.”

“Where’s the father? This form should be filled in by the father.”

The woman snapped at the nurse. “I am the MOTHER and FATHER!”

The irritable pregnant woman was none other than Tessa Hilton and her ‘friend’ was Harry Winston.

Tessa was very big now. She had carried her child to full term but she didn’t know the gender because she was afraid of going for an ultrasound. Her stomach was bigger than normal. She thought there was something wrong with the baby so she decided to find out after giving birth.

The nurse gave her the form and she filled it in, albeit with difficulty. Tessa then glanced at Harry and gulped,” I don’t want to burden you with this.”

The truth was, she didn’t intend to keep getting Harry’s help. It would mean that the things she owed him would keep piling up.

Besides, the information she was writing was what would be added to the birth certificate.

Harry’s gaze softened as he stared at her. He had combed his hair into a manly bun and he was in a powder blue shirt with navy pants. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. He looked every bit the man of every woman’s dream.

“Don’t worry about that. I’m your friend, if I can help, why not? But since you’re not comfortable, it’s fine,” he said.

A wave of pain rushed through Tessa and she let out a scream. “I think the baby is coming!”

Elena was undergoing treatment so she couldn’t be here for her daughter. However, seeing that Harry would be waiting outside, Tessa felt warmth creep into her heart. She had been suspicious of him but he turned out to be a very good friend.

Whilst in the labout room, Tessa felt like she was going to die. Her mother had prepared her and told her about the pain but she didn’t expect it to feel like she was teetering between life and death.

“Ok, Miss Hilton. You’re fully dilated. You can start to push!”

The doctor didn’t know how relieved Tessa felt to hear those words. She had been in active labour for seven hours, feeling like she was being split into two but there was no sign of dilation.

1/6 “Argh!” She groaned, pushing for the last time. A baby’s shriek echoed in the room and Tessa suddenly sighed in relief.

Pushing that one out tore her.

“Congratulations. Baby boy number one, born at 11:00 pm.” The doctor placed the baby on Tessa’s chest but her mind reeled when his words sank in.

“Baby number one?”

Before she could understand what was going on, a soul-tearing pain ripped through her and she cried out.

“Ok, this one is impatient. Push- oh, she’s out! Baby girl number two, born at 11:05 pm.”

Tessa was stunned. She gave birth to twins! It was shocking. Nevertheless, she loved her babies. She gazed down at them lovingly as they lay on her chest, grabbing each other’s tiny hands.

“The last one. Oh. This one’s a shy one. Ok, Push...” The doctor’s voice was calm as he instructed her once more.

Tessa’s eyes widened in shock but the pressure on her core made her give a big push just as she felt another baby come out.

She was sure these three tore her pretty badly.

“Congratulations. Baby girl number three, born at 11:10.”

Tessa’s eyes were filled with love as she held her three bundles of joy to her chest. She might have gone through a lot of pain to give birth to them but it was all worth it. They were so beautiful.

‘My treasures.’

She lowered her head and gave each of her babies’ little heads a kiss before saying, “You three and your grandma are my only family now.”

At the same time, Aaron groaned in his sleep. His hands stretched out as if he was reaching for someone.

“Tessa! Tessa!”

He called out desperately, his brows furrowing. He was having a dream and in that dream. Tessa was heavily pregnant. She was in great pain and was crying out loudly. Aaron’s heart broke while watching her give birth to his child. This was why he ended up stretching out his hand to her, hoping his touch could stop her pain.

But as he reached for her, she suddenly began to fade and then he held empty air. His heart jumped to his throat when she suddenly disappeared into thin air.

Panic crept into him and he called out to her. “Tessa! Tessa, where are you?!”

Aaron blinked as he sat up from the bed, his heart thumping rapidly. Beads of sweat had coated his forehead and he was breathing heavily.

“It was just a dream.’ He sighed as it dawned on him.

He could still feel the pain in his chest from the strange dream he just had. It was so vivid that he thought 2/6 Tessa was really giving birth to his child.

His heart clenched and he grabbed his phone, calling his assistant.

“Any news? Has she been found?” He asked anxiously.

Enock who had just been woken up from his sleep grumbled. “No, Sir. There’s no news yet.”

Aaron frowned. There was a knot in his stomach and he couldn’t go back to sleep anymore.

“Find out what the hell is going on. Tell them to up their game and find Tessa! I’ll pay anything. Give them millions if you have to.

Do they want land? I have plenty. Tell them to put more resources into the search! I have to find her!”

Aaron rested his back against the headboard and went through his phone. He checked his gallery and realised he didn’t have any pictures of Tessa that he could look at. He had nothing to remind him of her.

Was he going to lose her just like this?

Five years later....

“Hello, Tessa Hilton speaking.”

Tessa was engrossed in her work in the office when her phone suddenly rang. She was about to ignore it but when she saw that it was her children’s school Principal calling, she hastily picked up thinking something might have happened to them.

The angry voice of the principal reached her ears.

“Miss Hilton, how do you teach your children? Your son has just beaten up his friend!”

Hearing that, Tessa pushed her chair back with a screech as she got to her feet, worry creeping into her.

“W-what? Is he ok?”

Her stomach was in a knot as she grabbed her car keys and walked out of her office.

“Luckily the boy only had a nosebleed but his parents are here and are demanding to see you!”

“I’m talking about my son! Is he alright? What happened? Reagan is an obedient child. He wouldn’t start a fight with anyone,”

Tessa anxiously said as she hastily made her way downstairs, her heels making clicking sounds on the steps.

“Miss Hilton. What you should be worried about is facing the wrath of the Jones. We will be expecting you.”

Anger brewed within Tessa when she heard the principal’s words.

‘It’s clear that he’s being biased because the Jones seem to be of a higher status. Anyway, I won’t let anyone bully my children.’

Tessa’s stomach was twisting with nerves as she rushed to the parking lot. She had to quickly get to her children’s school to make sure her son is ok.

However, before she could reach her car, she bumped into a wall.

3/6 Pain shot through her nose and she rubbed it a little.

“Ouch.”

A low chuckle made her glance up at the “wall” she had bumped into.

It was a handsome man with short black hair that was styled neatly. His eyes were smiling as he looked down at her.

“Watch where you’re going, Miss Hilton. You might get into an accident,” the man said.

He was none other than Harry Winston. Tessa’s kind friend and helper. Or so she thought.

Harry was in a jovial mood but when he saw her worried expression, his brows knitted. “Is something the matter?”

Tessa grabbed his arm without thinking. “Reagan got into a fight. I need to get to his school, now.”

Harry glanced at the soft hand grabbing his arm and emotions stirred within him.

He took the opportunity to wrap one arm around Tessa’s shoulders and began to lead her to his car.

“I’ll take you. My car is faster.”

Tessa was so out of it that she didn’t shake off the hand that was holding her close and rubbing her arm comfortingly.

Harry helped her into the front seat of his sleek black sedan and immediately drove in the direction of the school.

When they arrived, Harry was about to unbuckle his seatbelt when Tessa stopped him.

“I’ll go in myself. Thank you for the ride.”

“Are you sure? You need someone there in case they give you trouble=”

“I can handle it on my own,” she responded and got out of the car quickly before he could say more.

It was because Harry had done her a lot of favors that she didn’t want to depend on him anymore. If she didn’t start her own company by first freelancing her architectural services online, she would still be living off him.

Tessa went straight to the principal’s office and knocked. When she heard a response, she grabbed the latch and pushed the door open.

The moment she stepped in, an adorable girl with raven hair like her mother’s rushed towards Tessa.

“Mommy!”

Tessa lowered herself and caught her four-year-old daughter when she threw herself at her.

Lifting her up, she placed two kisses on her cute cheeks.

“Willa, Mommy missed you so much!” Tessa said, placing Willa on the side of her hip before her eyes trailed to find Reagan and Nia.

Willa was the last born and the shortest among the three. She looked like a three-year-old although she was four.

“Miss Hilton. I’m glad you’ve come on time.” The principal said but Tessa’s eyes were fixated on her son.

Reagan was seated on a bench in the office and his head was lowered. He had a vein popping out of his forehead and his tiny fists were clenched at his sides like an adult.

Nia on the other hand was seated calmly while she occasionally glared at the kid that her brother had allegedly beaten.

Tessa approached her children, ignoring the burning eyes of the people she assumed were the Jones.

She placed Willa down and got down on her haunches before looking at her son.

“Sweetie, what happened? Tell Mommy the truth. I’ll protect you,” she inquired softly.

Reagan raised his little head. His eyes were red as he pointed at the Jones’ son.

“Amos started it. Mommy. He called me a ba st ard just because I asked to play his new Nintendo game. He said I don’t have games because I don’t have a daddy!”

Tessa’s heart sank to her stomach when she heard her son’s words.

She heard a condescending click of a tongue behind her.

“No wonder the kids are barbaric. What would you expect from fatherless children?”

Anger flickered through Tessa’s eyes and she whipped around to face Amos’ parents.

“How can you say such a thing in front of children?! Your son insulted my son and I’m aware mine was wrong to hit your son. However, I still demand an apology. You openly insulted my son so I demand an open apology.”

Mrs Jones’ glared at the smartly dressed woman who dared to talk back at her. Tessa was in a white branded suit and she was nicely slim with curves. She noticed how Mr Jones was practically drooling as he stared at her. That’s why she said those words earlier.

“How dare this vixen demand an apology when she was seducing my husband?”

Feeling irritated that her looks paled in comparison to Tessa, she gave the principal a dirty look which he understood immediately.

He glanced at Tessa and swallowed empty air before saying, “Miss Hilton, your son broke the rules and so I shall have your children expelled from my school.”

Tessa’s heart sank. Clearly, they had already discussed the ending of this meeting and since she knew they were too proud to render an apology, she gathered up her children.

“Fair enough. I wouldn’t want to keep them in this school either. Let’s go babies.”

The Jones and the principal were left bereft of words. They expected her to beg and ask for forgiveness.

Arriving at their apartment, Tessa stood in front of her children and stared at them sternly.

“Why did you fight for a game, Reagan? Don’t I buy you all the games you want?”

Reagan pouted. “The one he had looked better than mine, Mommy. I just wanted to take a look.”

5/6 Chapter B Family Tessa sighed and got down on her haunches. She then glanced at her three children, saying seriously. “Be content with what you have, my babies. The same game you think is not good, there’s a child somewhere wishing they had it. I’ve always promised to buy you what you want if I can afford it, have I not?”

The three little ones shared looks before nodding their little heads.

“I’m sorry, Mommy.” Reagan said adorably and Tessa’s heart softened.

How could she stay mad at her precious child?

“It’s ok. Don’t fight with anyone next time, ok?”

Reagan nodded and then he glanced at his mother before trailing his gaze to his grandmother, Elena who was seated on the couch.

“They’ve been living the five of them but he’s never seen their daddy. Their uncle Harry who was leaning against the wall didn’t count since he was mommy’s friend.

He frowned and looked at her. “Mommy, why don’t we have a daddy? Everyone at school has a daddy.”

Tessa was stunned by his question. Her thoughts drifted to the man who resembled two of her children and she remembered his harsh words.

‘I don’t want any unwanted surprises.”

She pinched the bridge of her nose and felt a headache coming in.

‘Was I wrong to keep Aaron out of his children’s life? But... would he have accepted them?’

She shook her head and looked into her babies’ cute eyes before confirming, “you do have a daddy. He’s just far away in Ashford City. He’s been busy with work.”

She felt bad for lying to them but she didn’t know what to say. They’ve never asked about their father until now.

The three little one’s eyes sparkled at this and that’s when Tessa realised they longed for fatherly love. She thought what she was doing was enough but it wasn’t.

They swarmed up on her excitedly, almost knocking her to the floor.

“When can we see him, Mommy?”

Natie Author Thank you for reading.