Amy nervously tapped a foot on the floor. All the appetite for the food was completely gone. What would she tell them? And why was this woman up and about when she should be home resting? And why did Nora spill the beans when she agreed not to?
Zach had on an amused expression. She was too nervous to see how dark his eyes grew in that very moment. His wife, did she really not know what she had just done? But this was not the time. He held her shoulders and let her face him.
"It's going to be okay", he assured her. Amy looked at him with a horrified expression. He rubbed her arms in a soothing manner. "Calm down, everything is going to be okay. Trust me."
She was about to respond when they heard a knock. How are they here already? Amy wanted to dig a hole and hide. One if his bodyguards walked in.
"Sir, Madam, you have visitors", he said politely.
Zach looked at Amy whose expression was not so good. He was silently asking if she was ready. She wanted to shake her head no but ended up nodding. Even her Jody was not cooperating. Zach nodded at the man who soon exited.
The door was pushed open and in came Nora pushing Stella on a wheelchair while Adrianne came in after them. Amy and Zach stood up at the same time with him standing right behind her and holding her waist to support her.
"What are you doing here when you should be at home resting?" Amy said worriedly.
"Uh-huh! So that means you can hide your sickness and", she looked over Amy's shoulder. "Your husband from me. When did you become so secretive?"
Amy looked down feeling ashamed when Stella's tone turned cold. She felt like a child being scolded by their mother.
"I'm sorry", she whispered.
Zach was not pleased by this sight. If anything, he knew Stella to be Amy's friend and nothing more. He was not pleased by the way the older woman was treating his wife. His brows were furrowed in displeasure.
"Excuse me", he said eaatrning the attention of the three women. With his usual authoritative tone but with clear annoyance, he spoke, "I understand you're her friend and was worried, but I will not condone you speaking to her in that manner."
Stella let out a dry laugh, "Don't worry, you'll get your turn. Let me deal with her first."
Adrianne and Nora's mouths fell into Os. They could not believe their mother had spoken to a man who sounded so scary just now. How is this woman fearless? And wasn't she excited to see them? What's with the turn of events?
Stella turned to look at Amy. "Look at me, Emily. Look at me, dear."
She did so on the second request. Stella's heart broke when she saw Amy's guilty and worried expression. She let out a sigh. "You shouldn't have hidden your hospitalization from me."
"I know. Actually-"
"I'm not done. You shouldn't have done that. It upset me more than the news of your being in the hospital. I know my movements are limited, but I thought you would at least-"
"Mrs. Thornton-"
"I'm not married, I never was, I lied about having a husband and him being away on a mission, Emily Stanford is not my real name, and this man is the father of my baby!" She blurted out cutting off Zach and gaining everyone's attention though shocked.
She had her eyes closed and hands balled into as she bursted out. The response she got was silence. She slowly opened her eyes and was greeted by two shocked expressions and an impassive one. But she would not stop, she didn't want Zach to lie on her behalf. This was what made her say all this. She sighed feeling fatigued from all the lies she had kept.
Amy heard a gasp and guessed that must have been Adrianne instead it was.... Nora when she opened her eyes. Zach was still holding her, and the three women all had impassive expressions on them. She looked back down, not comfortable with the sight before her.
"You lied?" Nora started in disbelief. "You freaking lied to my mom! After everything she's done for you! I thought you guys were friends, close to family too! She was even... Ugh!"
She groaned in annoyance when Stella gave her a look silently telling her not to speak carelessly.
Zach was about to speak when he felt a soft hand squeeze his. As much as he hated it, he understood the message Amy was conveying. So he stayed still.
At least Nora was expressing her anger. Amy looked at the other two women. This was the first time she couldn't read or understand what they were feeling since they were practically open books to her.
Would this be the end of a wonderful friendship? She couldn't stand the thought of Stella or any of them not being in her life.
They really had grown on her. If she had never admitted to herself, they had become family.
She didn't want to lie to them nor could she tell them the truth for their safety. Most importantly, she didn't want to make Zach lie. That's why she decided to go in with a half truth. But now, she didn't know what they thought of her.
Her heart ached at the thought and silent tears trickled down her cheeks. She suddenly felt familiar soft and warm hands take hers. She looked over to see Stella right before her in her wheelchair. Her expression had softened.
"Mom?" Nora's mouth fell open at this scene.
"Well, we knew", she said while looking at Amy.
"Huh?" Amy looked up in confusion.
"What?" Nora looked between Adrianne and Stella who had the same expression. "What do you mean by that?"
"About everything she just said, we knew all along", Adrianne clarified.
Nora now had an understanding. Knowing her mother, she would not have kept her mouth shut knowing someone lied to her. But knowing that it was Amy, she either cares about her too much to mind the lie or she knew all along. It turns out it was both. But what is this? Adrianne too?
"What?" Amy's eyes widened in shock.
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