Chapter 43

My eyes flew open as I sneezed hard, my body felt weak and broken, my throat was dry as well. "What's going on here? Why are you all crying?" I said as I sat up, they were all stunned staring at me.

"Betta, you're awake?" Edde uttered in awe.

"Yes of course, were you really crying?" I chuckled softly with my very low voice as my mom and Melanie hugged me like their lives depended on me.

"We all thought you were dead, you have been lying lifelessly for twenty four hours" Ray Muttered with his eyes red.

"I must have taken a long nap, Doc, didn't you tell them you gave me a sleeping shot?" I said turning to the Doctor who had mixed expressions on her face, she was definitely relieved to see me awake.

"She didn't, She lied that you just slept off… Such a bitch!" Melanie cussed as I nudged her and playfully glared at her.

"I was scared of going to jail ma'am, please lie down so that I can check your temperature"

"There is no high temperature, my bestie is fine now just go!" Melanie yelled making the doctor cringe as she left in embarrassment.

"Betta, Don't ever do this to me again, I thought I lost both you and the baby at the same time!" Edde uttered as he sat next to me with tears rolling down his cheeks.

"You really should cry more often Edde" I said jokingly as I nudged his arms making him fake a frown at me.

"I never thought I'd see Edde's weak side, I guess I know his weak point now" Mr Reluc said and shaked his head in surprise.

"Please you guys should give us some moments alone" Edde requested with a cracked husky voice as they left the room leaving me and Edde together.

"Can you just stop crying? You're making me uncomfortable" I uttered and sighed as he suddenly hugged me warmly with genuine care.

"I miss you Betta, I just can't imagine losing you and our baby. I was literally planning to murder myself too" he said as my mouth fell open in shock.

"You didn't think that far Edde! Don't ever do that no matter what please" I said, cuddling his head, he pulled away from my arms as he stared into my eyes, the atmosphere around us was basically awkward and before I could say E his lips met with mine.

He has never kissed me so well before, this time he kissed me like he genuinely missed me like he was hungry for the taste of my lips, our tongues intertwined together Making me moan softly as his fingers ran through my hair and my hands ran through his muscular back under his Polo.

I was craving his touch so badly but he wasn't touching me like he really wanted to make love to me, I was getting fed up with the starvation. "Edde, please let's do it, just this once before I give birth" I moaned to his lips as he pulled away from me.

"Elizabeth, you can't take it, you're heavily pregnant and you know how rough I am with sex. Please understand, I want you as much as you want me but I don't want to hurt you" he uttered calmly as I sighed, pulling him closer with his Polo as he hissed frustratedly.

"I want it that way! Just touch me please. How can we kiss so intensely and yet you didn't try to touch me, I feel like a wood… Gosh!" I sighed and stood from the bed. "I know you still cheat and that's why you don't know how it feels to be sex starved!" I yelled as he bit his lip.

"Trust me I haven't had sex in months, and with Sadie? I only slept with her twice and that was when we fought" he muttered as I scoffed.

"Papi I'm not a fool, just leave me to myself else you will end up getting raped".

"I can't make the mistake of leaving you behind, feel free to rape me" he said and lay down as I scornfully glared at him.

"Whore" I cussed underneath my breath.

"Call me all you want" he replied, I just felt like skinning him.

A quick knock came on the door as I turned to Edde. "Go get it".

"But you're standing, just do it!'.

"I can't walk" I muttered and took a seat as he sighed, walked over to the door and pulled it open, it was Melanie.

"Mel? What's up?" I could see that she was tensed up.

"Did you guys see the trending topics on Twitter? It's about you both and the marriage contract" she uttered as I turned to Edde who looked back shocked at me.

"Contract!? What's the headline?" He asked anxiously.

"it says, HERE ARE SOME PROVES THAT EDDE AND THE COMMONERS MARRIAGE IS FAKE, They uploaded some pictures"

"Oh my goodness! Edde, what are we gonna do now?" I Panicked as he tapped my shoulders softly.

"Is this news trending everywhere?"

"No, just on Twitter for now. Possibly before twenty four hours, we need to act fast". Edde sighed.

"There is nothing we can do, Sadie is behind this. She must have bribed my lawyer" Edde said, running his fingers through his hair in frustration.

"Your lawyer isn't faithful! Now he got us fucked up!" I uttered as my eyes smudged in tears, now I'm back to the eyes and ears of the public. Something I tried avoiding for months now.

"I thought Sadie was arrested and was to be sentenced?".

"Her director bailed her out, Sadie will stop at nothing to ruin me… Fuck!"

"Edde, just pay the person that tweeted this to bring it down I'm begging you, I can't face public embarrassment, they already see me as a desperate hoe" I panicked as Edde hissed.

"It doesn't work that way Elizabeth, Paying them will only bring more bad news that will ruin my reputation. Even if I have to pay, how many bloggers do you think I will pay? The news will continue passing on, just pretend it's not happening and face the moment, I really don't want to see this affecting you" he said and pulled me closer as I nodded.

Days passed and it was finally time to go to the hospital and expect labour. I was feeling nervous and knowing that childbirth is a painful experience I couldn't stop thinking and panicking in my mind.

My mom had already packed a few things she thought I would need, Edde got lots of my favourite snacks, Mel sat cuddling around me, Ray just stood by the wall watching me worriedly. Mr Reluc was in the sitting room as usual.

"Mel, I'm scared" I mumbled as she squeezed me into her arms.

"You will be fine Etta do not worry, you really have to be strong for us all. You've got Edde with you at the hospital, you should be happy that he volunteered to stay with you" She said as I nodded. "Can you just breathe in and breathe out?" Melanie said, demonstrating as I followed her.

"Edde, the snacks are enough now, let's get going already" I uttered and grabbed my little bag.

"Hand the bag over to me" Edde said as I smiled at him and handed the bag. "Be strong Betta, please" he said and pecked my head softly.

"I hate pain".

"You're a very strong young girl, so I have strong faith in you. I changed your doctor to a more dedicated worker. The other lady seemed like a murderer".

"I will really prefer a male doctor, they are more gentle to the females"

"Hmm…" Edde simply nodded

My stuff was packed up at the back of the seat and the journey started. The closer we got to the hospital the more goosebumps filled my skin.

I have never slept in a hospital before but now I have to, even if it's a private ward it's still a hospital with a horrible smell.

I will be sleeping alone because Edde gotta get a hotel room.

I couldn't stop imagining how these few days will go.

"You can sleep at the hotel with me though, every morning you get back to the hospital… How about that?" Edde suggested as I smiled and turned to him.

"I would really love to, but I'm scared of things getting tough. Labor can start anytime you know?" I said as he nodded and focused on the driveway.

We got to the hospital and Edde parked, my door was opened by him and I came down. As I walked towards the hospital door I felt pains in every step I took, the pain was triggering as it transferred to my belly, it was suddenly so unbearable so I stopped.

"Edde, I can't Walk again" I said in a faint voice as my eyes were blurring off and I was losing my balance.

"Not again! Elizabeth! Where are the nurses here!" I could hear Edde's fading voice as he carried me in a bridal style and ran into the hospital.

Everywhere blacked out totally…