Emily stared at her friend, Gu Yanxi with her mouth half open. To her alone, Gu Yanxi told the full details of her disappearance.
“I'm speechless. I don't even know what to say,” she whispered, utterly dumbfounded at the recent news.
“Let's talk about something else, I don't want to recall that. It's disheartening. I can't even…” Gu Yanxi started but the tears beclouded her words. Emily pulled her into her embrace.
“Don't cry, you should not cry over people like her, they are not to be trusted. Let's all happy that you came out alive. Now, you will be very wary of her. Wipe your tears, dearest.” Gu Yanxi wiped her tears and sat up.
“Tell me about yourself. How have you been all these while?”
“Nothing really, it's been a busy…” Emily started but Gu Yanxi interrupted.
“Your ring. Where's it?”
“What?”
“Emily? Did you lose your wedding ring?”
Emily looked at her hands, bare of the expensive diamond ring. She didn't know how to explain to her friend that she has divorced Noah.
“Say something, Emy. Where's the ring?”
Emily shook her head in negative.
“What? Say something. What's no? No for what?”
“We are no longer together. I've divorced him.”
“Divorced? How? I mean, you guys have always been happy. Did something happen?”
Emily proceeded to narrate everything to her friend.
“Do you really believe that my brother will cheat on you?” Gu Yanxi asked after hearing the story.
“I didn't want to believe it too. But the evidence was glaring. I've already told you everything, I will be a fool not to see these signs. She's even pregnant for him.”
“Is it that bad? I'm sorry about that, okay. What about Liam? How is he coping?”
“I haven't told him, I can't tell him until he's old enough. His father made him believe he's away on a business trip and it's best that way.”
“It's fine. Let's talk about something else, and forget about bad and sad tales.”
Grace sighed at her lack of progress. What she couldn't understand was why no hospital or doctors agreed to terminate her pregnancy regardless of the amount she paid. She had gone to Noah once again to tell him that she would not have the child before marriage but Noah's response surprised her.
“Fine. I know that child isn't mine but I'll give you a benefit of doubt. I'll take responsibility, take care of you until you put to bed. If after a DNA, the child happens to be mine, I'll get married to you in six months.”
But this wasn't what she wanted. She wanted him to marry her before conducting a DNA. According to her, the baby was his and a DNA wasn't even necessary but Noah would hear no such thing. He even hired a woman to look after her properly. When she saw that Noah was determined not to marry her until the paternity of the child is determined, she decided to terminate the pregnancy. She had tried so many hospitals and doctors but their answers were always the same. It wasn't illegal to have an abortion and hers was still in the safe period. So why were they all against the abortion? What she did not know was that this was Noah's doing. He wanted to prove to his wife that he did not father any other child aside Liam.
Noah now lived alone in his big house just like before. He went to work and returned to the boring house. Sometimes, he slept in the hotel, and other times, he slept in his house. He was unhappy but he kept drowning and immersing himself in work just to forget about Emily. His secretary, James, had a hard time putting up with him. Noah worked late at night, often times he worked till midnight and his poor secretary had to stay up with him in the office. He knew something was wrong but he couldn't tell as Noah kept his life very private.
Noah frowned and looked at the door as the knock came again. He wanted to ask the person to leave but before he could say a word, the door opened, revealing Jones's face. He walked in and shut the door but that was after raising a bag he was carrying.
“I got you something. Something cool and refreshing.”
“How are you Lawyer Jones?” he asked.
“We should be talking about you, Noah. You don't look alright, Noah. You don't show up for business meetings except internal meetings within the company. You don't go out and when your presence is needed, you send delegates. Look at your eyes, you haven't been sleeping well. When do you get off work?”
“Emm Jones you…”
“Answer the damn question. When do you get off work? I'm sure your employees and assistants will be forced to put up with this.”
“Fine. I stay till two in the morning. I try to make sure it doesn't exceed two.”
In response to what he said, Jones stood up and went to get the wine glass and wine opener. He took out a bottle of strong wine from the package he came with and uncorked it. He filled a glass and passed it to Noah.
“Drink. Shut down your laptop, take a break. I rushed down here as soon as I was done with everything I had to do. I don't want to see you down. I'm the one offering you this wine. You will feel really good after this. Trust me.”
Noah obeyed like a child in kindergarten. He took the wine glass, shut down his laptop and drank the wine Jones offered him. When his glass was empty, Jones made to pour him another but he stopped him.
“I don't need it. Wine isn't what I need. I lost my family and the woman I love and this is all you have to do?” he asked.
“Yes, Harper. I came here after specifically selecting these bottles of wine from Kel wines. Just take them, feel free to get drunk and ease your mind. It will help you feel better and afterwards, we can talk about it. I know you too well. Having a conversation with you, when you are like this is one of the worst things to do.”
Noah didn't say anything else. He received the glass from Jones and drank the contents.
“How about I call your secretary and let him leave work early today? I'm here now and we are leaving here when I decide,” Jones said. Noah didn't speak but Jones knew that was a silent approval.
Mr James was very happy to receive the news as he had been working at a break neck speed for the past weeks. Having given instructions to the secretary, Jones sat down and drank wine with Noah. He filled his glass dutifully and watched him drink away his sorrows.