Chapter 4 Miscarriage !

~ Isabella ~

....

"Who would have thought that a saint Mary like you would get pregnant before marriage?" Emily snickered as she made her way into my room, if I could call it that.

It could as well be called a storage unit, locked in the fartherest part of the mansion.

"And would you like to tell me how that got to do with you?" I wasn't stupid enough to believe that all that happened was purely coincidental and Emily had nothing to do with it.

"Smart, as expected." She began pacing in front of me. "Turns out, the number of hours you spent studying your godforsaken course didn't go to waste."

"Don't you dare... I'm a graduate!" I say, hoping to turn her expression grim, and it did. But she wasted no time in coming up with a comeback.

"A graduate who wouldn't be attending her own graduation ceremony." Her words hit home, as she hoped they would. Call it my trickiest luck, but the marriage was fixed on my graduation day. Not like I could attend it if it were fixed before or after anyway.

Junie had tried talking me into letting her attend my wedding. So we could both miss the graduation ceremony. But I wouldn't bend.

Partly because she deserved to wear her graduation gown and walk down the aisle to receive the degree she'd labored long and hard for. But also because I didn't want her within Mom's line of sight.

Though I was sure Beatrice wouldn't go back on her word. But I couldn't be too careful.

"At least I am getting married into a powerful family, and you are not!"

"Oh... you think you are?" She smirked. "It's high time you snapped out of your fantasy and embraced the reality that Emmerson Winters will never love nor accept you as his wife!"

"And yes, you really don't have to worry about me..." She flaunted her diamond-ringed finger in front of me. "Zach proposed, and not only will I be becoming Mrs. Rogers in three months, but I will also be the only heir to Mom's empire."

"And you? You will have nothing to show but a love-less marriage of convenience." She snickered, leaving me alone to my misery.

....

I've imagined my wedding day in so many ways, but none of them involved me having to wear a pink wedding dress and walk down the aisle alone. And most importantly... have to say "I do." To what? A stranger?

I had found it weird when I was asked to go first and almost feared I'd be dumped right at the altar.

But that didn't happen, as Emmerson's silent mutter of 'I do' saved the day.

The priest, who probably knew this was arranged, saved us the embarrassment of mentioning the bride should be kissed. He simply declared us man and wife, and Emmerson walked out right after.

Not like I had been expecting him to stay and pretend any of this was planned anyway.

....

The master bedroom felt like a royal king's room, and I couldn't help but marvel at its decor as I was led in.

Surprisingly, the maids that had been assigned to me by Rebecca Winters, his grandma, had been quite nice.

Though Rebecca was obviously not nice and made sure to remind me of the sole reason why I was here. Which, well... was to provide an heir for the family. What I found interesting was how unspecific they were about the gender of the heir.

Or maybe they weren't really as archaic as I was deeming them to be.

I sat on the bed, with my veil covering my face, whilst I waited for the said groom.

To me, it all felt unnecessary since I was already carrying a child... but the maids insisted that some traditions had to be followed and I was no exception.

Had I been expecting Emmerson to be gentle with me when he came in? No.

But what I hadn't expected was how rough and harsh he'd be.

And by the time he finally left me alone... I couldn't hold back the tears I'd been holding ever since my life turned upside down.

I always thought I had my life all figured out before now. Graduate uni, get married to Zach, apply for a master's, then a PhD before we start planning to be parents.

It wasn't just a plan I had in my head, but rather something that had been premeditated and frequently visited by Zach and me.

But well... as it turns out, it was all in my head.

....

I'd just finished a retching session when my hair was suddenly yanked from behind, and before I could react... my face was being struck twice in succession.

My skin stung and I suddenly felt more nauseous than it previously did.

But before I could give in to the tiredness that followed, Sally's harsh voice followed.

Who would have thought that the very first encounter I would have with her would be in the bathroom where she'd abused me, a pregnant woman?

"You slut! How dare you come into our lives and try to ruin it?" She grabbed my now fragile body and shook me violently.

I saw stars as I tried to keep myself from falling.

Though it's been barely a month since I found out I was pregnant... The pregnancy had not only taken a toll on my mental health but mostly on my physical health.

My energy levels were dangerously low and ninety-nine percent out of the time. I felt like a complete mess.

"I didn't–" Even though I knew my words wouldn't matter at this point. I still tried to defend myself. Though I was cut off before I could continue even further.

"Listen well, and listen good, Slut. I plan to make your already hellish life full of darkness and pain." I winced as her long nails dug into my skin. This should be illegal in every way. But who was to decide that anyways?

"If you know what's good for you... you'll pack your bags and disappear from my sight before I can even catch you." That was impossible. There was no way I could escape Gabriel's tight security, and she knew that.

"Just the thought that Emmerson had laid a finger on you... makes me want to disfigure your face." And she did; at least she tried when she pushed me to the floor with such force... that I felt like I'd have a concussion, but I ended up with more than that when I passed out.

But just before then... I felt a sticky liquid gush out of my body and for a moment there... I prayed that I'd miscarry. That way, my pain would cease.