2
1179 Words
Emma's POV
Less than one hour later.
I stood outside the big iron gates of Sterling Estate, waiting. The cold February air went right through my coat, but I felt numb anyway.
The Sterling family had rules. Unless someone was dying, husbands and wives had to attend all important family events. Looking good was everything to them.
A shiny black car pulled up. James, Alex’s assistant, got out and opened the back door.
“Mrs. Sterling,” he said politely. “Please get in.”
The back seat was big and warm. Alex sat straight up, looking at his tablet. The light from the screen made shadows on his face. I remembered seeing old photos of him looking at Charlotte with soft, loving eyes.
He never looked at me like that.
I got in and sat across from him.
As soon as we got there, Alex was taken away to the study by his father for “important business,” leaving me alone in the big entrance hall with its fancy columns and old family paintings.
“Well, well. Look who finally showed up.”
I turned and saw Victoria, Alex’s sister, walking over with my mother-in-law, Margaret Sterling. Margaret was wearing her usual pearls and a mean look.
“Margaret.” I nodded politely.
“Where’s Alexander?” Margaret’s voice was ice-cold. She barely looked at me, searching behind me instead.
“He’s in the study with your husband.”
Margaret looked a little happier hearing this, but she still clearly didn’t like me. “At least someone in this family knows what’s important. Coming this late to a family dinner... I wonder what your parents taught you. So rude.”
“That’s right,” Victoria said with a fake sweet voice. “Someone with real class would never keep everyone waiting. Speaking of class, did you know Charlotte’s back in town? Alex picked her up from the airport yesterday. They look so perfect together....successful, classy, from the right kind of family.”
"But Mom, she didn't have parents. Ugh, what a pitiful fatherless child... who doesn't know your origins." Victoria laughed mockingly at me without feeling.
Her words hurt, just like she wanted them to.
Everyone knew Alex had loved Charlotte since college.
Everyone also knew I was just the backup when she dissapeared before wedding day.
“What are you standing around for?” Margaret snapped at me. “The guests need drinks and food. Make yourself useful.”
I followed them to the dining room without saying anything. This was my job in the Sterling family—invisible until they needed something, put up with but never really wanted.
The dining room was set with the family’s best dishes and glasses. The important guests hadn’t come yet—just family for now.
Margaret, Victoria and her husband sat down at one end of the long table while I stood nearby, ready to help serve.
Margaret looked at her phone and smiled. “Look at this photo from yesterday’s charity lunch. Charlotte looks so beautiful.”
“Doesn’t she just glow?” Victoria leaned over to look. “You know what they say about that kind of glow. Alex always said he wanted kids with someone who could give them the right background.” She looked at me with mean eyes.
“After all, two years married and still nothing. Some women just can’t have babies, I guess.”
Margaret’s smile turned nasty. “A woman like her could never give the Sterling family a proper heir. Even if she got pregnant, I wouldn’t accept it.”
The room spun. All the blood left my face as pictures flashed in my mind, hospital room, the sad doctor, the baby I lost just hours ago. My hand moved to my sore stomach unconsciously.
But, voices came from the hallway snapped me back into reality.
The dinner guests were here.
I tried to stand up straight to greet them, but when I looked up, Alex was staring at me with cold, angry eyes. Something was different tonight, he looked even more distant than usual.
He walked past me without saying anything, greeting the important guests with the charm he saved for people who mattered.
During dinner, everyone talked about business and money. I sat at the far end of the table, almost invisible among all the powerful people.
“Emma,” Mr. Sterling Sr. Suddenly called out. “You’re sitting too far away. Come sit next to Alexander.”
The whole table went quiet. The guests looked uncomfortable as if they knew about the family problems.
“Dad, that’s really not needed—“ Alex started.
“No way.” The old man’s voice was firm. “You’re married. You should sit together, especially in front of our guests.”
Everyone was looking at me as I got up and moved to the empty chair next to Alex. It was clear, Mr. Sterling Sr. Still supported our marriage, even if nobody else did.
“That’s better,” the old man said happily. “Emma’s been looking too thin lately. Alexander, make sure she eats.”
Alex’s jaw got tight, but he put some fish on my plate anyway.
I stared at the food. Everything looked fancy and expensive, but it tasted like nothing. The pain in my stomach was back and getting worse.
After dinner, everyone went to the living room for coffee and drinks. I stayed in the dining room, trying to feel better.
The stomach pain was getting really bad. I pressed my hand against my side, breathing slowly.
“Are you coming or not?”
Alex’s voice scared me. He stood in the doorway, looking annoyed.
“I’m sorry, I was just—“
“The Hendersons want to know about our expansion plans. As my wife, you should at least pretend to care about the family business.”
I followed him to the living room, where groups of guests stood around with drinks. Everyone was talking about business and rich people gossip.
Twenty minutes later, I went to find a bathroom because the pain was getting really bad.
In the small bathroom, I put cold water on my face and looked in the mirror. I looked like a ghost—white, empty-eyed, barely there.
When I came back, most of the guests were getting ready to leave. I said polite goodbyes and thanked Margaret for dinner, though she barely responded.
“We should go,” Alex said, already putting on his coat.
The ride back to our apartment was quiet. Alex looked out his window at the city lights while I pressed my face against the cool glass, watching Millbrook go by.
Alex’s phone rang, breaking the silence.
Alex looked at who was calling, and his whole attitude changed. His angry face suddenly got soft.
“Charlotte?” His voice was gentle in a way I hadn’t heard in months. “What’s wrong?”
Through the phone, I could hear her voice, shaky and crying.
“Alex... there’s blood. I’m scared. The baby...”
- Writer
