CHAPTER.TWO
1080 Words
GREY ROSES
ROSELYN’S POV
I opened my eyes slightly, only to be greeted by the harsh white light that filled the room. I blinked hard, my eyes heavy and wet. My memory seemed hazy. Slowly, I moved my gaze around, trying to figure out where I was. Then it hit me in the chest like a bolt of lightning.
William,
The wedding,
Those pictures!
I jolted up in a frenzy, only to be held back by a familiar pair of hands.
"Calm down Rose, you're safe now," the voice said softly. It was Tracy.
I turned my head slightly in her direction, supporting it with both hands, as a sharp pain made me wince.
Tracy looked a shadow of herself - Red, puffy eyes, mascara smeared, and her hair packed in a messy bun.
" Where… Where are we?...” I muttered weakly, my voice slightly above a whisper.
“ We’re at St. Luke’s clinic,” she said, her voice as soft as before.
“ You scared me, Rose. It’s been eight whole hours. Thank goodness I was able to get you here in time after you collapsed.”
The memories from the wedding came rushing in. Vivid pictures of how my entire life crumbled into shambles right before my eyes, flooded my mind. My eyes burned as tear drops welled up in them, I blinked fast to hold back the tears, but that only made them roll down my face twice as fast, wetting the hospital pillow.
“Everyone saw, didn't they?”
Tracy hesitated, before finally nodding in affirmation, her eyes laced with emotions.
“It's all over the media,” she said, avoiding my gaze and looking down at the smartphone in her hands.
“Let me see…”
“What?!
Hell no rose, you shouldn’t be seeing any of that crap.”
“But I want to…” I said.
Mustering up my strength, I pulled the phone out of her hands and began scrolling through news and gossip blogs.
The headline read “Wedding day scandal - billionaire groom, William Mchammond cut ties with estranged bride after a shocking reveal of her steamy affair…”
Hastily, I scrolled further to see the comments.
“It’s always the rich kids who fall for such charity cases. Serves her right.”
“Those clips were extra steamy man! I bet he got her screaming his name.”
“Serves her right for crossing a Hammond.”
“s**t…” I croaked.
“That’s enough Rose,” Tracy said, greedily snatching the phone from my hands.
“That wasn't me in those pictures, Tracy,” I said, heaving off a weak sigh.
“Of course I know that rose,” Tracy said, taking my hand, and lacing it tightly in hers.
“You’re my sister, and I know what you're capable of, but how do we make everyone else believe that?
The resemblance is very striking .”
I closed my eyes uncomfortably, wishing this was all a dream, but the weight in my chest was all too real to ignore.
“The man at the back of the church…” I gasped.
“What man?” Tracy asked perplexed.
“ There was a man at the back of the church Tracy.
I couldn't see him clearly because of how he was dressed.”
“He wore a neck-high jacket with a black hat, and he had a somewhat satisfied demeanor, with a smirk on his face.
I caught sight of him just before everything went black.”
“Maybe he was one of Williams' guests…” Tracy suggested.
“I doubt it, Tracy.
There was something unusual about that guy. I could swear that I’ve seen those stormy eyes before,... But where?”
I contemplated my thoughts for a second before blurting out. “I think someone is trying to frame me, and…” The ward door creaked open, interrupting my speech.
“Ah! Miss Colbert, it’s good to see you’re awake.” The doctor said, smiling enthusiastically as he walked towards me, casually dragging his feet.
Turning to face Tracy, he continued, “We ran some blood tests, ma’am. Everything seems fine with her, and there’s exciting news too.”
“Miss Colbert is about 4 weeks pregnant,” he announced, smiling. Awe-stricken, Tracy and I steal glances at each other.
“That may have triggered the collapse.” He continued.
“It’s not uncommon to experience dizziness in the first trimester, but we may need to keep her in for a few more hours to further observe how well she responds.
Please get some rest, Miss Colbert, I'll be back to check on you later,” the doctor said, walking out.
“You’re pregnant?!
How? ” Tracy asked, trying to contain her awe in a whisper, her eyes scrutinizing me, rigorously.
“ I don't know Tracy, we were always careful…” Then it hit me. “The night of the engagement…” I muttered.
“The one time we let our guard down…” I said, sighing lightly.
“So what are you going to do about this rose?
With all that's going on, there’s no way William would believe the child’s his.”
The door creaked open again. “I came as fast as I could,” the voice said. It was Ian, my childhood friend.
“The nurse at the front desk said someone had left this for you, so I took the liberty to bring it up myself,” Ian said, attempting to hand me a bouquet of earl gray roses with a note attached to it.
Thank goodness you’re here Ian” Tracy said, taking the flowers from him. “Why did you take so long?” She asked, placing the flowers on the table beside her.
“How are you?” Ian asked, gently touching my face.
My eyes had begun tearing up again. Ian wiped my face affectionately, pulling me gently into his arms.
“You’re going to be fine, you’ve got us here with you. I'd never leave your side,” he consoled, patting me gently on the back, as Tracy joined in the group hug.
“Who did you say those came from?” I asked, taking out the note from the bouquet and unfolding it.
“I don't know, the nurse at the reception just handed it over.”
“Roses are red, violets are blue. One wrong move, and I'll make your baby suffer.”
- Writer
