HIDDEN VOWS

Chapter 16

Though Emery's gaze was fixated on the flats she had managed to slip on, she could feel her Aunt's scorching glare.

“You thought you were pregnant so you eloped to have a hushed wedding?” Diana reworded her explanation from minutes ago, uttering each word in that statement with as much disdain as possible.

Furious wasn't the word to describe her. She was beyond disappointed in Emery for dragging the Delado's name through the mud, by associating herself with a man like Miles Dekker.

“We didn't do it, okay? We didn't get married.” Emery repeated. “And I'm not pregnant.” She stated as a matter of fact.

Diana's glare only intensified. “Is that supposed to make me feel better?” She rubbed her temple as she lowered herself onto the couch opposite Emery.

A moral lecture was definitely on the way. Natalia, on the other hand, tried not to bat in and busied herself in the kitchen with some cookies Diana had brought along.

The thought of marrying Miles for the sake of a fake pregnancy made her stomach roll in waves and though it was his plan, the retired nurse would have detected the lie if she had agreed to Miles's idea so she had come clean.

Though it was not enough to extricate her from her current predicament.

“How could you even think of doing something like this?” Diana lashed out again.

Emery cowered at her Aunt's stern tone. “What would you have me do?” She slapped herself mentally after those words slipped out of her lips.

“For starters, you could have closed your legs.”

Emery's face heated up at her Aunt's plain words when a conjured image of her and Miles tangled in sheets came to mind. But she quickly brushed the sinful thoughts aside as fast as it came and gave the angry woman before her, her undivided attention.

“Aunt I-” Diana interrupted her again, making Emery groan inward like a dying warhorse.

“And you don't marry someone just because you're expecting their child! You marry for the sake of love, companionship and to honor the Lord! Marriage is a sacred bond, Emery and your parents taught you better than this.” Diana lashed out before rubbing the salt in Emery's wound. “If only William and Jae were here.”

Emery's heart slammed against her chest at the painful reminder of her late parents. Of course, her Aunt would guilt trip her to make her see reason—in Diana's own way. It may have worked before but not today.

Emery declared her next lie before she could stop herself. “I love Miles and me marrying him has nothing to do with carrying his child. We both wanted this.”

Phew. Miles would've been proud of her if he could see her performance. Emery almost laughed at her own silly thought but regarding Diana's increasing glare, she thought better of it.

“You love him?” Diana mimicked. “How long have you even known this man? Talk about falling in love with him or sharing his bed!”

Emery flinched. “Aunt-”

“Or maybe you're in love with his money and fame since that's all you young ladies of this century-”

That was the last straw. “That's enough, Aunt.” One could hear a pin drop after Emery snapped back.

“Believe it or not, I'm not a child. I know what I want... and this is it.” Emery affirmed.

Diana's wide eyes and gaped mouth told of her astonishment. Emery had always been the dotting little niece so experiencing such an outburst from her did shock the woman to the core.