Chapter 2 The Aftermath

"Lily, are you sure you're okay? I can go with you if you want. "

That was the voice of her older brother Devon. He was now inside her bedroom watching her get ready. Lily was going clubbing with some friends.

"I'm fine, Devon. I will only go crazy if I stay home," the girl replied. Her older brother sighed.

A month after her abduction, Devon asked her to stay with him as she recover from her ordeal. Although hesitant, the woman decided to agree. She immediately contacted her real estate agent and have her home listed for rent in the meantime.

"Maybe you can just let this slide in the meantime. I'm afraid-"

"Please, Devon? Can you trust me on this? I'm tired of limiting myself to the four corners of this house. I want to get my old life back."

Devon raised his hand as a sign of surrender. He didn't speak anymore and just watched her do her thing. Even though he knew her friends, he was still not comfortable leaving her alone. Her brother Devon had been paranoid since she was abducted. He was still uncomfortable every time his sister disappeared from his sight.

Lily looked at Devon lovingly. He was her only family. Their parents both died of cancer and were left to fend for their own ever since.

It had been more than a month since that nightmare happened. Their lives changed forever after that.

His older brother became more protective and overbearing. She let him be, even though she was uncomfortable at times. Maybe that was his way to move on. He blamed himself for what had happened to her.

She can vividly remember that night like it was just yesterday. It was remembering a terrifying dream over and over again. Fortunately, the police rescued them before they were killed by that psychopath. The girl remembered how her older brother wailed when he arrived at the police station after finding out what had happened to her.

He was never the same after that.

According to the investigation, that man was a serial-psycho pervert. He was a frustrated film director who never made it in the industry. It was obvious knowing how twisted his views were about art.

He kidnapped beautiful women to make the female lead of his vile films. It was said that he had a particular taste in women who are tall, white, and have long hair; things that Lily had. Thank God they survived. But unfortunately, the psycho pervert escaped, and to this day, he was still on the run from the authorities.

Lily took out her favorite purse from the dresser. She excitedly glanced at herself in the mirror. This was the first time she would socialize after the incident. She first made sure she was okay before she decided to see her friends.

His older brother Devon was still silent. He was looking at the floor and deep in his thoughts. Lily couldn't help but hug him. He, in return, stroked her hair.

"Don't worry. I can handle myself. But if it would make you feel better, you can pick me up after three hours. "

Devon's face lit up. "Really? Promise? "

"Promise!" Lily uttered while raising her right hand. "Now let me just-"

Suddenly, her sight rotated causing her to hold on to Devon for support. She felt like she was riding on a roller coaster. She felt like something was digging into her stomach. Then, the hot and sour liquid rose from her tummy. Before she could spread it on the floor, she immediately ran to the bathroom.

Bleggggggghhh !!!

Her nausea continued. The feeling was worse than traveling into the sea. Her brother Devon followed her to the bathroom and caressed her back for comfort.

When she got up, she gargled to wash the acid out of her mouth. She came out of the bathroom and sat on the side of her bed while Devon was assisting her. She was still shaking but she felt better already.

Soon, a pungent smell surrounded the room. As if on queue, the door sprang out Jane bulk.

"Oh my god, Jane! What kind of perfume are you wearing? It smells like flowers of the dead!"

Devon and Jane looked at each other meaningfully. Lily saw her older brother swallow hard while Jane covered her mouth. They both stared at her full of concern. She hated them for staring at her like that. She felt something was very wrong and she was scared to find out what. Her heart began to thud.

"What?" Lily asked nervously.

"Tell me, Lily," Devon said. "When was the last time you had your period?"

*********

The wailing heard from the Smith household was hard to imagine. Devon's cry of despair was echoing through the four corners of their home. Jane, on the other hand, was consoling him. Judging by the way he bawled, it was like he was losing his mind.

Lily could no longer cry. She was exhausted. She thought she could just forget what had happened that night. She thought she could easily move on with her life. But she was wrong. Because now, she had proof of its lasting effect on her.

At first, Lily and Devon were both in denial. After a few positive pregnancy tests, they decided to pay a visit to the hospital to make sure. The slightest hope they had was gone when the doctor uttered three words that eventually changed their lives forever.

"Congratulations, you're pregnant!"

Lily held on to her chest due to shortness of breath. She didn't see this coming. No one did. Only in the film did she see a similar scenario. It was difficult to comprehend when such a thing happened in real life. Especially, when it happened to you.

"I'm sorry, Lily," uttered Devon. He was now kneeling in front of his sister, begging. "I didn't protect you as I promised Mom and Dad. I was a failure as a brother. I'm useless! Useless! Useless! " Devon hit himself one after another. Lily felt even more sorry for her older brother's condition. S

Lily didn't waste any more time. She held her brother in a tight embrace. "It's okay, Devon. It is not your fault so stop blaming yourself. We can get through this as a family, right? "

She tried to put positivity and enthusiasm into her words. His brother's suffering was too much for her to bear. She was afraid he will lose his sanity.

Her brother needed her to be brave. She needed to stand up for herself.

Jane also approached and hugged her man. They have nothing to lean on but each other. They could do nothing. Lily's fate was sealed. Even if they repeatedly ask why God chose their family to be in this situation, they still wouldn't know the answer. It already happened. Lily could never return to her previous life.

This was her truth now, to bear a child that she didn't choose to have.

********

"Positive, Lord Hamilton. The woman is pregnant. "

The old man flinched after hearing his secretary. "A-are you sure about that, Ginny?" Hesitation filled his words.

"Yes, my Lord. I have already talked to our staff who are monitoring the girl's family. The doctor who looked at her confirmed it. "

The gentleman was not surprised by what he heard. They were the Hamiltons after all. Even the confidential agreement between doctors and patients was one of the things they could break. They certainly knew how to work things out, even the most impossible.

Lord Arthur Hamilton was the patriarch of the prestigious family of Hamiltons. At 60, he still looked strong and vigorous. His body wasn't muscular but he still looked younger than his age. From a distance, you would think he was a part of the royal family because of his form and demeanor. The truth is, he was since he came from a line of marquesses and marchionesses.

The Hamiltons were known to the business industry. They owned the largest Land Developing Company in Europe. Adding to this was the chain of fancy restaurants, luxury hotels, and cruise ships. They were also part of a royal family in Alberta which gave them portions of lands and estates to the small kingdom.

A billionaire clan indeed!

But unfortunately, they couldn't get the best of both worlds. Although they were rich in worldly wealth, heaven looked down on their bloodline.

The clan was not producing children in the latter years. Lord Hamilton and his grandson Sebastian were the last on their line. No matter how much they manipulate science, women in their clan gave birth to only one baby per generation. The youngest was Sebastian, his heir. He no longer had his parents. They both lost their lives in an accident.

At the age of thirty-five, they thought Sebastian would stop their blood flow. Unfortunately, he became barren due to the damage he suffered in his manhood after being abducted by an unknown man. Lord Hamilton's world almost collapsed after that.

But heaven worked a miracle. Who would have thought that the grief of that event would bring hope to their dying clan? The baby that the woman was carrying could be considered the greatest miracle showered upon their family!

Finally! The royal family of Hamilton already had an heir!

"Ginny, cancel all my appointments in the next 30 days. I have something important to take care of, " he ordered his secretary.

"Right away, my lord." The woman bowed her head and say goodbye. A frugal smile returned to the old man's face afterward.

He stood up and peeked out the window. He could see the view of his whole estate from his room. Staring outside, he whispered in the air,

"Wait for me, my little Hamilton. Pops is coming to get you."