THE ILLEGITIMATE BRIDE

Chapter 5

"What did you do to me?!"

Emily yelled at David, who stood before her with only a towel around his waist.

"Me? You were drunk." David responded while he maintained his composure.

Emily's voice quivered as she looked confused. "What do you mean I was drunk? I only had water!"

David tried to explain, "You're hallucinating, Emily. You drank and you were high. You told me to help you forget everything."

Emily, her emotions running wild, placed her hands on her head and tugged at her hair in frustration. She cried, "No... no…"

"Why are you acting like it's our first time?"

"Is that what matters now? I just lost my mom, and I just realized my step mother might have killed her. Now I'm here, naked, on your bed? Are you all trying to make me go crazy?" Emily cried out.

David continued to insist that Emily was not in her right mind. He said, "You need help, Emily. You're hallucinating."

But Emily was adamant and deeply hurt. She refused to accept his explanation. "No! You gave me just water. I tasted it. It was water and not alcohol. Did you drug me?"

"You're forgetting things Emily."

Tears streamed down Emily's face as she accused him, "You're unbelievable. You took advantage of me."

Emily hastily wrapped the bedspread around her body as she got dressed. She left David's apartment confused, hurt, and deeply saddened.

It seemed as though everyone around her was trying to push her to the brink of insanity. She hailed a taxi and headed to Nicholas Thornton's mansion.

As she arrived, she rushed to the room, turned on the shower, and spent hours under its flow.

Emerging from the shower, she wrapped a towel around her waist and sat on the edge of the bed, thinking of what to do next.

Muttering to herself, she wondered aloud, "What would I do?"

With a sigh, she began dressing quickly and packed the few clothes she had brought with her to Nicholas Thornton's mansion. After packing her bag, she made her way downstairs.

However, as she descended the stairs, she accidentally bumped into Nicholas himself. Startled, she tried to evade his gaze.

He inquired, "Going somewhere?"

Emily's voice trembled as she replied, "I'm leaving."

Nicholas, unfazed by her response, pressed for clarification, "Leaving where?"

"My mom is dead, and that's why I agreed to marry you. I can't do this anymore." Emily stated.

Nicholas, however, had other plans. He insisted, "I'm sorry you lost your mom, but we're married, and you're not leaving."

Emily pleaded with him, "I wasn't even your intended bride. You were meant to marry the legitimate daughter, not me—the daughter of a maid. Please, let me go."

Nicholas insisted, "We're married, and you're not going anywhere."

Emily continued to plead with tears in her eyes. "Please, Nicholas, let me go."

But then, Nicholas Thornton surprised her with his response, "I don't care whether you're an illegitimate daughter or not. I care about you."

His words touched Emily deeply, and for the first time in a long while, she felt truly loved.

These were the most comforting words she had heard all day.

She stood there, gazing at Nicholas Thornton, as he extended his arms toward her and said, "Come... Your mom wouldn't want to see you this way."

Tears streamed down Emily's face as she stepped into his warm arms.

Emily found comfort in Nicholas Thornton's arms as he assured her, "I'll take care of the funeral and everything. From now on, you're my responsibility."

Looking up at him, Emily replied, "I'd like to have a quiet funeral for her tomorrow."

The next morning, Emily and Nicholas made their way to the hospital to pick up her mother's remains and make arrangements for a modest funeral.

Upon reaching the hospital, the receptionist informed them, "everything has been paid for and taken care of."

Emily was puzzled, as she hadn't made any payments. She insisted, "There must be a mix-up. I didn't pay for anything."

The nurse attempted to clarify, "Let me check the system again." After reviewing the records, she turned to Emily and reported, "It's been cleared, ma'am, and her body will be released soon."

Emily was even more confused on how it happened without her consent.

At that moment, Thomas Monroe, accompanied by Victoria and Harper, emerged from the doctor's office.

Emily's anger flared up as she confronted them, shouting, "What are you all doing here?"

"Aren't you tired of this already? Thomas Monroe said, "We are your family, and we're all you have now, dear."

"No! Emily stated sternly. "I know my mom was murdered, and I'm going to prove it. I don't need you all. My husband is with me."

Nicholas Thornton, standing beside Emily, stepped forward and said, "Mr. Monroe, I'll handle this."

As Nicholas Thornton firmly held Emily's hands, offering her hissupport, Harper seethed with jealousy.

She couldn't bear the idea of Emily being with Nicholas, and she was determined to find a way to remove her from the picture.

In the blink of an eye, David entered the room and hurried to Emily's side. He expressed his condolences, saying, "My love... I'm so sorry about your mom's death."

Nicholas Thornton was lost, he didn't fully understand what was happening.

Emily, equally surprised, stammered, "Wh... what are you doing here?"

Harper interjected, unable to resist her jealousy, and said, "Isn't he your boyfriend?"

Emily, caught off guard by David's unexpected presence, struggled to respond. She finally said, "Please leave, David. I don't know what you've been trying to do lately, but please leave."

Harper insisted, "He has every right to be here; he is your boyfriend."

Frustrated by Harper's interference, Emily raised her voice, "Would you please shut up? Stop meddling in my business!"

Harper continued to provoke, accusing Emily, "Your business? Is that why you slept with him yesterday?"

Frustrated and overwhelmed, Emily snapped at Harper, "Would you please shut up! Stop meddling in my business!"

Harper, unwilling to relent, accused Emily, "Your business? Is that why you slept with him yesterday?"

Emily was speechless, unable to respond. Nicholas Thornton, growing increasingly confused, demanded an explanation.

Harper went on, unrelenting, "Stop lying to Nicholas. You just want his money, the same way your mom wanted to get pregnant so badly by my father so she could have a share of our fortunes.

Unable to contain her anger any longer, Emily lashed out at Harper, hitting her and pulling her hair.

However, as they fought, no one noticed that something was happening to Thomas Monroe. He was struggling to breathe.

He attempted to intervene by tapping Emily on the shoulder. But out of anger, Emily pushed his hands away forcefully.

Thomas Monroe lost his balance instantly and fell to the floor, his head colliding with the wall.

Harper yelled, "You've killed my dad!!!"