Family stands with family.
Adeline.
"Come to the hospital, now!" I had just gotten back to my and my fiancée's shared house when my phone vibrated, and I stood still, a little dazed after getting a call from my mother, for the first time in about six years. My first instinct was not to jubilate, instead, dread grated on my nerves.
Yes. We lived in the same state, same neighbourhood. We met during Thanksgiving and at mandatory family dinners and events, and yet, in all those, I only ever received messages and summons on her behalf through her assistant. I was surprised to know that she even had my contacts. Why? Because I was her least favourite daughter. Simple.
"Victoria is pregnant!" The next part came as a shrill sound, successfully yanking me back to reality.
That explained it all then. Victoria, the golden child, was pregnant, with a golden grandchild, of course, that changed everything, the protocols.
"Don't keep us waiting." And with that, the call was disconnected. A sad smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I stared at the blank screen. I was her daughter, too. But there was no hi, no how are you, or such, just a string of commands about some good news that had nothing to do with me.
It had been happening for years, ever since I was young, to be precise. I should have gotten used to it, right? Yet, her lack of concern, even the basic, stung more than I cared to show.
Nonetheless, my feelings didn't matter. Like always, I was required to play my part for peace, like I had been doing for years, and currently, going to the hospital was a priority, not the cheesecake that I had just bought to celebrate myself, by myself.
The drive to the hospital was long and nerve-wracking. Today was supposed to be the best day of my life. I finally quit my job after saving enough, and I was ready to open my own studio. Since my fiancé was out of town for business, I had planned to celebrate alone.
But with Victoria's pregnancy, my plans were slightly disrupted. It shouldn't have been a bigger issue since they never liked it whenever I overstayed my visits, not like I wanted to, anyway, but for odd reasons, my stomach was in tight knots of anxiety through the entire drive.
I knew my destination. The hospital was owned by my family. Well, the Hales family, since they never treated me like I was a part of them, anyway, and before long, my heart was literally drumming in my chest as I stood outside the family wing.
"Get it together, Adeline!" I muttered under my breath, and after taking several deep breaths, I finally pushed the door open.
After years of doing it, a practised smile appeared on my lips the moment I entered, ready to string together the congratulatory speech I had prepared on my way there.
"Congratulations, Vict..." I started, but I didn't get to finish. The words died in my throat the moment I saw the couple seated on the recliner bed.
Victoria sat weakly, draped in a white silk dress, and next to her sat Henry Lawson, my fiancé, the man who was supposed to be out of the city on a business trip, the absolute love of my f**cking life!
He.. he had his right hand placed delicately on her flat belly, and a smile, foreign and insulting, tugged at the corners of his lips.
In an instant, my blood went cold, and my heart stilled, as I struggled to interpret the picture before me.
It almost felt like something unreal.. And yet, after rubbing my eyes once, twice, in case I was seeing things, I was still rewarded by the same insulting image.
"He.. Henry?" A nervous laugh escaped from my lips as I stuttered his name, and I hated how small my voice was.
"Adeline, you came! That was fast!" I was snapped out of it by my Mom's voice. There was no real excitement there. Just cold and biting sarcasm.
It was then that I peeled my gaze from the two, and I saw my parents. Their faces were glowing with warmth, looking nothing short of excited grandparents-to-be.
"What are you doing here, Henry?" I didn't waste more time on my parents, though. My eyes went back to Henry and Victoria, and by sheer luck, my voice came out smooth.
"And why are you...?" I tried asking, and yet I didn't dare to voice my clear thoughts.
'Why are you holding Victoria's belly?' I wanted to ask, but, words failed me. It felt like it would become real if I said it out loud.
"What's wrong with that? Henry is the father of Victoria's child."My father spoke, casually, coldly, his voice devoid of any emotion, like it was the right thing to say.
One second I was standing, and in the next, my legs could barely support my weight.
A deep and searing pain gripped my chest, and I staggered back until my back collided with the cold hospital wall.
Everything around me went silent, except for my buzzing head, which was reeling with the earlier words.
'Henry is the father of Victoria's child.'
I repeated the line, again and again, only to shake my head the next second, disbelief clouding my eyes as I turned to face Henry.
I waited for him to deny it. To shake his head, even. But he didn't.
He only stared at me, his eyes filled with guilt, his face apologetic. That was the only confirmation I needed, no?
"How could you, Henry?" My voice trembled, tears already clouding my eyes.
The world could turn its back against me, and I wouldn't care. My parents already had, after all. But Henry?
"I am sorry, Adeline. Victoria is already pregnant with my child. I have to take responsibility." He whispered, softly, soothingly, as if the words were supposed to wash away all the hurt, the pain.
"You... You.." I stared at him, tried to speak, only to be rendered mute the next second.
"Enough, Adeline! Stop the waterworks! Today is a happy occasion. Don't make it about you." My father's warning voice cut in, like a slap of reality.
" You still work at that lowly firm, right? " My mom asked, her nose crunched up in pure disdain.
I gave her a nod, still in pain, still unfocused, trying to process everything.
" Aren't you an event planner? "
" I want you to plan Henry and Victoria's wedding." She added, her tone cold and final, and a gasp escaped from my lips.
"They are expecting. They have to marry as soon as possible. We can't afford a scandal. " Her face glowed.
" It will be your chance to show support, too. " She explained, no, ordered.
"Family stands with family, and you can finally be useful for once in your life."
