A pack of chips was thrown at him and he caught it. On looking up, he saw his friend, Frank.
“Man! You always know the right thing to bring,” Noah said and opened the chips and began snacking on them.
“Sure. I knew you would need that.”
“It's been like forever. It's good to see you,” Noah stood up and shook hands with his friend.
“What I like more is that you look so bright now. No longer the dull and sad young man of some months ago. I'm glad you have recovered,” Frank intoned.
“I don't want to keep regretting. I only hope to find the answers soon. Once again, thanks for the chips. I so much needed it cos this work is a whole lot.”
“Let's hang out later today, will you be free?”
“Err…” Noah started but his friend interrupted.
“Yes, you will. Clear your schedule. It's been a long time since we saw each other. Almost eight months, I deserve a better treatment. You are coming, right?”
Noah laughed and threw up his hands in a mock surrender.
As he promised, Noah arranged his schedule and told his son that he would be taking him out that day. Liam could be said to be the happiest boy on earth that day. It's been many months since he spent quality time with his father.
Noah drove his car homewards, nodding his head to the rythm of the music blaring from the car stereo. His phone rang, disrupting the cool music. He looked at the caller ID and saw it was his son. Poor boy, he was so eager to see his father. Noah answered the call and said,
“Hey little man.”
“Daddy! Help me. Mummy has fainted!” he cried over the phone.
“Fainted? Is she sick?” Noah asked in confusion. But Liam cried all the more,
“Hurry daddy! I don't want mummy to die.”
“Hang on, I'll be there soon.”
Noah stepped on his accelerator pedal and sped up. He was in his house in no time. He drove in and jumped out of the car. He saw Emily on the floor, her breath was very faint. She was pregnant and her water had broken. He carried her in his arms and rushed out of the house. Liam followed and they rushed Emily to the hospital.
The hospital was owned by Noah so Emily was attended to immediately. A lot of thoughts were going on in Noah's head at that time. If Emily was due to give birth at this time, does it mean that the pregnancy was his? Did she keep it from him? The doctors did their best as Noah instructed. Fortunately, both mother and child were saved. It was a beautiful baby girl. She looked every inch like Noah. She had jet black hair which fell perfectly across her forehead and her eyes were very similar to Noah's which were more beautiful than a woman's.
When Emily opened her eyes, she saw Noah seated by her bedside. Shortly before she passed out, she heard him rush into the house and carry her. He saved her life.
“My baby, how's my baby,” she asked.
“She's fine. It's a baby girl.”
A nurse came in and took the baby from the crib to her. Emily could see the striking resemblance between the baby and her father. Noah watched Emily as she breastfed the baby.
“Thank you for bringing me to the hospital,” she said softly.
“You weren't going to tell me, were you?”
In response to his question, Emily opened her mouth and closed it, unsure of what to say.
“You should have told me. I really would have loved to be part of the child's life before she's brought into the world. I wasn't there for Liam, now, the same has happened. I know we are no longer together, but it's still my child. I love you and will not want you to go through this alone,” Noah explained.
“Oh my goodness! Where's the baby?” Gu Yanxi's voice rang out as she entered the ward.
“Ohh. She's so cute. Congratulations to the latest mum!” Gu Yanxi exclaimed again. Emily smiled at her.
“Thank you.” It was only then that Gu Yanxi noticed that Noah was seated there.
“Hi brother. You are here already.” Noah spent a little more time with them before he left. After that, he ordered nearly everything he felt she would needed and had them delivered to her in the hospital. He called everyday to ask how they were doing. To ease her burden, Noah took Liam to live with him for the meantime. Three days later, the nanny whom he hired for Grace called to tell him that Grace was in labour and had been rushed to the hospital. She was delivered of a baby boy and Noah requested for a DNA test. Noah was very confident that he wasn't the father and when the result was released, he was right. He wasn't the father. Grace claimed there was a mix up somewhere and said that the hospital devices were faulty or they did it in Noah's favour.
“What do you mean by that? Do you want a repeat of the rest?” Noah asked.
To clear her doubts, Noah agreed to conduct the tests again. Noah booked an appointment with a very popular medical doctor known for his expertise in medicine and had him conduct the DNA tests. This time, his sister, Gu Yanxi went with him. When the result was out, it was still the same old story. Noah wasn't the father. Gu Yanxi charged at her in anger.
“You homewrecker! You wanted to use this pregnancy to tie my brother down, is that it? Speak up you disgusting fool!”
“No, I…”
“No for what exactly? You made my friend divorce her husband. You better open up now and speak or I'll have you locked up you slimy bastard!”
“Fine. I know how to deal with people like you. You are guilty of slander and libel and you know that. You defamed him, saying he slept with you and even showed his wife pictures. Again, you drugged him and took those unwholesome pictures. You better admit your offence now I'm being polite or I'll call the police.” Gu Yanxi snapped and took out her phone.
Gu Yanxi took it upon herself to deal with Grace because she was annoyed when she heard what Grace did to her brother and his wife, her friend. She had always loved Emily and Noah's marriage and it offended her when they got divorced for a flimsy reason. Grace finally admitted to it and confessed her crime. She did it all just to be with Noah. She had always believed she was the sole person who had the right to bear Mrs Harper.
The next time Gu Yanxi went to visit Emily, she played the recorded conversation between her and Grace for Emily to hear. Emily was disappointed in herself for leaving her husband without proper confirmation. She cried her hearts out, she had lost a sweet soul and a happy marriage because of unverified details. Everyday for the months she spent without Noah, she wished nothing of that sort happened. Even when she was at the hospital, her heart melted to see that he still cared for her despite the fact that they were no longer together. She wished she could turn back the hands of the clock but it was already too late.
Noah was seated in the garden in his house one day when he was informed of a visitor. He was surprised to see his ex wife, Emily. When he confirmed he wasn't the father of Grace's child, he wanted to go back to Emily but he didn't want to bother her. He felt she had moved on since it's been eight months already.
“I'm sorry, Noah. I'm sorry I didn't believe you. Please, forgive me,” she pleaded with tears at the corner of her eyes.
“You should have know that I will never cheat on you. You hurt me.”
“I'm sorry. I came to apologize. I was a fool and I know better now. She set you up and I was foolish to believe her instead of you. I know you don't want to see me. Just accept my apology. I'll be on my way,” she said and turned to leave.
“No! Don't go. I still love you, Emily.”
“You are not mad at me?”
“I was never. I love, sweetheart.”
“I love you too,” she hugged him and they locked their lips in a passionate kiss.
“I've waited for this moment for a long time.”
“I'm sorry Noah. Please, forgive me.”
“Let's get married again,” Noah said.
“Really? Yes! I love you Noah!” Emily exclaimed and kissed him passionately.
- END -