Chapter 18: Hurt and Betrayal

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A/N: sorry for this late upload, thank you for waiting.

Happy reading! ;)
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A ray of hope came one day for Ellie, when she cleaned up her house, including Ethan's things and found a business card, where the address of their family's business was written. She decided not to come to her work the next day, good thing her boss let her, knowing her current situation.

So packed with few clothes and courage to look for him - something she got after she talked with her mother, she travelled and went to Millbrook. Upon arriving there, she went inside a little restaurant and used the restroom, for her bladder is about to explode. It is expected as what the OB-Gyne told her, she will urinate frequently as her babies grows inside her.

She ordered the cheapest she can afford and took a table. She decided to eat first before she will ask for the directions of Nathan & Sons - Ethan's family's business. She was about to stand up after finishing her food when two women entering the cafe caught her attention. They were deeply engrossed in whatever they are talking about and sat at the table beside where she is sitting. She heard the blonde one told the other one:

"I can't really believe that they are geting through it. I know I am not close with anyone of them but him marrying her?!" The statement was seconded by the other one.

She told herself not to mind them when a name got her full attention and made her heart beat erratically.

"But you know Ethan, he is an honorable man, and their family is honorable, so it is not really impossible for the wedding not to happen. She is pregnant after all, look how big and bulging her stomach is with their child..."

She didn't heard the rest of it for she willed herself to stand up and walk like nothing is amiss. She knows that there is a possibility that they are talking about another person named Ethan, but the way her heart beats and her intuition says otherwise, that the person the women are talking about and the reason why she went here is one and the same.

She went out of the place and walked aimlessly, still thinking about what she heard. Her attention was caught when a car stopped in front of a hardware store, several feet away from her and a good looking young man with a blue eyes came out of it. She stopped on her track, remembering a blue-eyed man that she is currently searching. Her musings was ceased when a young lady went out of the store wearing a bridesmaid dress and seems to be dragging her feet. The young man stood up and met her halfway, they seem to be arguing then the lady stubbornly went inside the car, and the young man, while shaking his head went into the driver side before driving off.

Like something snapped, her mind became clearer. She flagged down a taxi and instructed the driver to follow the car. They stopped in front of a church, she went out of the vehicle after paying. She mingled with everyone so as not to attract any attention. She knows its futile for she is wearing a faded jeans and shirt, that she received so many stares coming from the people. She then went inside the church and sat at the corner on the last pew, praying to the Almighty for her gut feeling not to be true. The start of a song made her head swiveled to the entrance door and what she saw made her catch her breath. There standing by the door is the man she loved, wearing a tuxedo, as handsome as ever, though his cerulean blue eyes lacks the shine she is used to, like a candle, whose light had been put out. When Ethan walks toward the front, she felt her heart slowly breaking into million pieces.

She wanted to go to him but her will weakened when she saw the bride walking down the aisle, whose stomach is bulging with pride. She pictured herself in the bride's shoes, how will she feel if someone stopped the ceremony claiming she is carrying the groom's child as well? Imagine the scandal it will make - the thought made her cringe, she doesn't want to be the reason to dishonor anyone. And if Ethan doesn't want to marry the woman, he will not agree for this to happen. If he really do love her as what he frequently said, he should be with her, with them, not standing by the altar waiting to be wed.

She willed her tears not to fall, though her broken heart is urging her to. She stood and quietly left the church when the priest pronounced them husband and wife. She doesn't know how she managed to stay there until that specific time, was she a masochist? Or maybe she is hoping that Ethan will say no and stop the ceremony by himself. Or maybe she needed to hear and see for herself that he will never be theirs, that he will never come back.

She walked without direction, her mind filled with so many questions. Was Ethan's feelings really true from the start? Or was it because she was convenient at that time or maybe a challenge he wanted to win over? Was she that naive that she trusted him? Is the bride his girlfriend even before they met? Is she the third party? Those questions plagued her mind until she came upon a park where a woman approached her and helped her sit on a nearby bench.

"Are you okay?" The woman asked her. She didn't understand at first why she is asking, but when she touched her face, that's the time she noticed she's been crying. Like a dam that burst, she let herself cry, crying the pain she felt from the betrayal, she cried until nothing is left, until all that can be heard was hiccups and sniffs.

After her bouts of crying, she was shocked when she found herself into the woman's arms.

"I am sorry for crying like that and thank you." She said, still sniffing.

"It's okay, sometimes, we need to let our tears fall to cleanse our hearts, and sometimes, it is easier to tell a stranger your problem." The woman said meaningfully then offered her hand for an introduction.

"I'm Melissa by the way and you can call me Mel."

She accepted her hand and introduced herself as well.

"My name is Ellie. Glad to meet you."

"Care to tell me what happened." Mel said with eyes full of understanding, and just like that, she poured her problems to her, unaware that it started their friendship that lasted for years.

After their chat, they decided to leave the town together. Maybe it was due to exhaustion, too much pain and worry about tomorrow, because when she made a few steps from the bench, it suddenly went dark and she fainted.

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She woke up in a hospital room with Melissa sleeping on a chair beside her bed and she stirred awake when she got up.

"Are you okay? You made me worried." She got confused at Melissa's concern voice, so she asked.

"Where am I? What happened?"

"You fainted. How are you feeling?"

The realization that she fainted, made her anxious.

"I am fine, but how are my babies? Are they alright?"

Melissa smiled at her. "Yes, they are fine. You failed to mention that you are carrying twins."

Ellie chuckled at her friend's accusatory voice. She bit her lip and suddenly thought of how she will pay the bill.

"Can I go home?"

"Oh shoot, I'll call the doctor." Melissa said and hurriedly left.

Left alone, she had a time to talk to herself on her mind, though the pain in her heart did not let up, she knows she got things to do, so her heartache should be set aside - like she always does.

First, she needs to find a stable job. Her work at the cafe will not be enough for the three of them with the addition of her mother.

Next, she needed to leave, away from here, away from Ethan. She have to go somewhere, where their paths will not cross. Some may call her a coward, or that she is running away from her problem, well, she doesn't care. All she cares about now are her babies growing inside her tummy.

Her musings was cut by Melissa and the doctor entering. She was given clear instructions to take care of herself which automatically means - taking care of the twins as well. Prescription was given and bills were paid before the hospital staff let them leave.

"Thank you Mel, for paying the bills. I promise I will pay you soon, just give me your contact number or your account, so that I can send you the payment as soon as I can." She stated when they were outside.

"What do you mean you will pay and contact me?" Mel said, aghast. At her bewildered look, Mel supplied the answer on her unsaid question.

"I am coming with you. I will stay with you and live with you. I needed a place to stay, and a friend. Can you be my friend?"

Her statement made her teary-eyed. Loss for words, all she did was nod, something which Melissa answered with a squeal of delight and hugged her tightly. She hugged her tight in return and thought with renewed determination.

She promised herself not to shed another tear, the outburst she did at the park, in front of Melissa will be the last, and she will not ask nor look for Ethan or his family in order to ask for a support. With Mel's and her mother's help, she knows they can make it - she can and will make it.

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