Marry My Billionaire Second Husband - Chapter 286

Chapter 286: My Mother
“Stop talking nonsense,” Emmeline demanded as she crossed her arms. She glared at Aiden haughtily. “I know you don’t want to be here, but do you find bullying a sick patient entertaining? Maybe you should be in the hospital bed instead of me. You need your mind checked.”

Aiden shuddered at Emmeline’s words. He didn’t want to hear the word ‘bed’ in conjunction with her ever again― getting into bed with her was what made this whole mess to begin with!

Luckily, he expected Emmeline to be bamboozled. He simply decided to take out the blood test report for Emmeline to read. If she had any sense and did not lose her literacy along with the fetus, she would understand the implications.

Emmeline took the document suspiciously and read it.

“You’re the father of the fetus, of course. I could have told you that since I was also right there when it happened…” She grumbled to herself, but her voice trailed off as she continued to read on.

Her hand began to tremble, and the papers fell limply on her blanket.

“Aiden, what’s the meaning of this? Was the sample contaminated?” Emmeline asked, her voice shaking with unease. “Or did you make up some dodgy fake report to scare me to get back at me― I’m telling you right now, this isn’t funny.”

“Do you see me laughing?” Aiden retorted hotly. “And why would I come up with a fake test report to scare you, especially one that makes me your half-sibling?”

“Of course you would! You have to be!” Emmeline declared, grabbing the papers and flinging it back at Aiden. “This has to be a lie! The test is rigged! The blood you gave was contaminated! I demand a retest! I’m not your half-sister! This is… simply impossible!” Her voice had reached incredible decibels at the end.

If not for the good soundproofing qualities of the hospital room, everyone on the same floor would have found out about this newest scandal.

“Trust me, it is entirely true. That’s why Annalise Hawthorne is hospitalized; she saw the test results,” Aiden said tiredly.

Emmeline’s face was now paler than the paper used to print out the test report. “So… you’re saying my mother had an affair? And gave birth to you?” Emmeline frowned as she tried to connect the dots.

Aiden could only let out a wretched laugh. In Emmeline’s mind, there was no possibility that Annalise Hawthorne wasn’t her biological mother.

“Not even close,” Aiden said. “My mother, Catherine Laine, is also your mother. We just have different fathers. Hello, half-sister. It’s not a pleasure to meet you.”

“Bullshit… This is bullshit…” Emmeline said faintly, collapsing against the soft hospital pillows in sheer shock.

Her entire worldview had been shifted. Her godmother was her mother? How could this be?

“Our mother had an affair with Benjamin Hawthorne. Apparently, they go a long way back. So long that Catherine apparently could have a baby with him and swap out Annalise’s own child for you.”

Emmeline clutched at her face, nearly hurling at the realization that she slept with her half-brother. She fought to not think about such a disgusting act, and instead, focusing on her mother.

“I want to see my mother,” Emmeline declared, trying to haul herself up from the bed. Her legs were shaky, and she dug her fingernails into Aiden’s arm when he grabbed her arm to stop her from falling.

“She got shot, so I don’t think she’s conscious yet―”

“I’m not talking about Catherine! I’m talking about Annalise Hawthorne, my real mother!”

“I just told you that Catherine is your biological mother―”

“So?” Emmeline gnashed her teeth with outrage. “Annalise was the one that raised me! I don’t care about this stupid blood test result! Bring me to see her now!”

“Do you think she wants to see you though?” Aiden shot back. “She just found out the daughter she so lovingly raised turned out to be from her best friend who was canoodling with her husband behind her back for decades. You’re the living proof of their infidelity. Do you think Annalise Hawthorne has such a big heart?”

Emmeline stood there, struck dumb with sudden crippling fear as she registered Aiden’s words. Her mother might not want her anymore.

Throughout every disaster that happened to her — losing Matteo’s affection, losing her grandfather’s favor, her entire fortune — she was never truly alone because her mother always had her back.

But now, it seemed like the bedrock of her existence was crumbling before her eyes.

“No… that cannot be,” Emmeline finally said, her voice wavering. “I need to see her. I don’t believe she can give me up just like this! We’ve been mother and daughter for years!”

“It’s your funeral,” Aiden said harshly, but in the end, he still offered her a helping hand.

The two of them made their way to Annalise Hawthorne’s ward, which was depressingly empty of gifts and free of visitors despite her status. Annalise was lying quietly on a bed, hooked up to machines with an oxygen mask on her face. Her eyes blinked, but they didn’t seem like they registered their presence.

“Mom? Mom? How are you feeling?” Emmeline asked immediately, dashing to her bedside to clutch her hand.

Annalise’s pupils contracted, and immediately the beeps from the machine increased in frequency. Emmeline’s presence was stressing her out. Annalise was weakened, but she tugged her hand away from Emmeline decisively, leaving Emmeline stunned and hurt.

Aiden’s words replayed in her head.

“Mom? You’re still my mom, right?” Emmeline asked, desperation coloring her voice. “You’ll always be my mother!”

She knelt down and made another attempt to hold her mother’s hand, but Annalise twisted her hand away again. This time, there was no mistaking it.

Annalise mouthed a few words underneath the oxygen mask.

“What is it?” Emmeline asked. “Do you want me to call a doctor? No, Mom, what are you doing?” Emmeline grew panicked as her mother reached for the oxygen mask and pulled it away from her face. “Don’t take off the mask―”

“Get. Out.”