CHAPTER FOUR

"You can't be serious!" Taylor scoffed, gritting his teeth at the sight of Emily. She looked completely resplendent in her wedding dress, but he didn't have time to play the smitten groom because of this annoying redhead.

"But I am." Hailey quickly unzipped her bag and pulled out a paper. 

"We can't do this here." Taylor instinctively rose to his feet and dragged her roughly outside, leaving Emily and the saleswoman wondering.

Emily could sense that something was wrong, but she couldn't follow him. She wouldn't pry. Just then, her phone buzzed. 

"May!" She cried out in relief.

"I forgive you, and I am ready to do whatever it takes to dissuade you from going ahead with this wedding." May's voice was soft yet tough.

"You know I have to do this." Emily ran her eyes around, then spotted a camera attached to the ceiling. She quickly stepped outside in her wedding dress.

"Is this what you really want?" May felt pained that her good friend was ending up with a man whose arrogance could build a castle.

"Yes." Emily pleaded. She couldn't imagine walking down the aisle without the presence of her friend.

"Alright then. I'll do what I can. I hope you don't regret this." 

"I won't. Thanks so much. But one more thing!" Emily bit her lip.

"What is that? Am I  no longer your maid of honor?" May scoffed.

"Not that…I am yet to tell my mom that I'm getting married tomorrow!" 

Emily was still talking when Taylor returned looking flushed and bothered.

"Pay for the dress. I'll meet you later." He handed her one of his credit cards.

"What? Why? What's happening?" Emily reluctantly took the card.

"You don't get to ask questions!" He replied gruffly then walked away with the curvy redhead.

Emily shifted uncomfortably as she watched the Ferrari drive away in a screech of tires, yet she was standing in the middle of a cold street all alone in a wedding dress.

  ***

"You're going to walk into that clinic, and get rid of it!" Taylor pulled up in front of an abortion clinic. 

"You're kidding right?" Hailey's green eyes sparkled wickedly.

"What we had was passionate and sweet, but it all ends there. I can't have someone like you in my life, or carrying my child!" Taylor scowled. He had to handle this or she would tarnish his image. 

"So I'm only good for the sheets and not to carry your child?" The woman scoffed.

"Wrong timing Hailey. I am this close to getting what I want." Taylor sighed.

"Okay…how much do you need to get rid of it and out of my life forever? Do you want cars? Gold? Money? What?" He was desperate to make her disappear.

Already, he had presented the prestigious Rosella Martins to his family. Emily had nailed her role, and they loved her. 

"I want nothing of that sort. I want to keep this baby and I want you to be the father."

Before Taylor could utter another word, she quickly stepped down from the car and slammed the door.

"By the way, our conversation was recorded. I don't trust men like you."

"Damn!" He slammed the steering wheel angrily. 

If his family realized that someone was pregnant for him, their moralistic selves wouldn't want to attend the wedding. And his father would disinherit him!

"I have to do something fast!" Taylor's blood rushed as he fired the engine.

But there was something that bothered him. If Hailey had found out about her pregnancy all these while, why was she just showing up? 

He didn't have time to ponder on that thought as he drove through the gates of the Hawthorn mansion.

"Are you blind?" A pale skinned raven haired man scowled. Anthony had always wondered why his half brother, Taylor was so reckless in his ways.

"Apologize! You almost hit me!" Anthony had narrowly escaped the bonnet of Taylor's car.

"Oh well, you should've stayed out of my way!" Taylor angrily replied. His mind was clouded with thoughts. He had to get rid of Hailey before the wedding! He had to come up with an arrangement or he would lose it all to his half brother.

"I'm not the cause of your frustration and irresponsibility!" Anthony snapped at him.

"What did you say to me?" Taylor gritted his teeth. He had never liked the child from his father's first marriage. Anthony was a nosy and annoying man. Somehow, he got along with the rest of Taylor's siblings.

"You heard me. You don't deserve to run our company." Anthony smiled deviously.

Then walked closer to the younger Hawthorn.

"And you are?" Taylor scoffed, knowing Anthony didn't have a quarter of his wealth of experience.

"I could be when everyone finds out just how reckless that you have been lately." Anthony leaned close and patted Taylor's shoulder.

"What are you talking about?" Taylor shifted uncomfortably, hoping that Hailey hadn't said a word to anyone.

"Your consistency in irresponsibility and dishonesty!" Anthony was still talking when Taylor began to curl his fingers. The urge to punch this idiot in the face was so strong, but he remembered the inheritance. 

"You will never run the company. I assure you of this." Taylor quietly walked away. He had to find a way to pacify Hailey. He would work something out, at least something to keep her in the shadows until after the wedding.

Unknown to him, a pair of cruel and obsidian eyes were still watching him. Anthony Hawthorn despised Taylor with everything in him. Quickly, Anthony pulled out his phone and texted the spy.

What did he say about it?-Anthony

  ***

Mrs. Quentin had joined the girls on the porch. She had always admired the friendship between Emily and May; it was truly beautiful, pure and sweet. But on this day, the woman wasn't ecstatic about their union.

"Are you joking?" The woman scoffed after May had broken the news to her.

"Mom I am sorry. But I need your support." Emily cut in.

"Support? For something that has never been done? I haven't even met with him! Yet you're getting married tomorrow?" The woman felt hurt and betrayed. 

"How could you keep this away from me, and for so long?" She continued.

"Mom! I want to do this. It's important that I do this." Emily felt frustrated. If only the woman knew that her marriage to Taylor would improve her own health and other standards.

"Is it for the money? I didn't teach you to be like this Ems!" 

"No! It's not for it!" Emily fired back.

"Then for love? For what?" 

"You know what? I'll just do this with or without your support. But you're my mother; you're supposed to get me when others don't." Emily's voice broke and she began to cry.

"How do I do that when you didn't even give me a chance?" The woman was sad to see Emily cry.

"Then support me. I am giving you this chance. Take it mother!" Emily searched her mother's pretty blue eyes for just one answer.

And she found it.