by Laiza Millan
Emma was relieved. After the news that her son was healthy, she immediately put herself to rest, wanting to leave the house as soon as possible.
She watched her baby boy with a grin. He kept closing and opening his eyes, yawning, and humming sweet sounds. She couldn't help but giggle and kiss his soft cheeks.
Aidan.
So, that was what Drake wanted to name him?
Reluctantly, she agreed.
She was only okay with it because she liked that name too. Not because Drake Rogers was the father and that he should have the right to name him. Hell no, not because of that. No matter what his ego thought.
"How's he doing?"
Emma looked up and smiled as Alona entered their room, balancing a platter of food with her left hand, as she closed the door behind her.
"He just woke up." Emma pulled the blanket down to reveal Aidan's sleepy gaze and sighed, "He'll probably go back to sleep again any minute." She covered him warmly again and nodded towards the platter, "What's that you have there?"
Alona shrugged, placing the tray on the table next to the bed. "I brought you breakfast. Nancy wanted the maids to serve it to you but Drake told us it might make you feel awkward. Oh, and Nancy brought some more clothes for Aidan too."
Huh, Drake Rogers thinking about her comfort? The hell?
Emma frowned. "What?"
"Well, I mean, he didn't exactly tell us in a nice way, of course." Alona rolled her eyes. "There was lots of name-calling, and saying things like how you shouldn't have a say because -"
"Because I don't here, I know," Emma finished for her, wrapping Aidan with a new blanket as she gathered him in her arms. Drake was too predictable; she knew exactly what he said in that conversation.
Alona bit her bottom lip, looking ashamed. "I'm so sorry, Emma. I admit I used to see you as someone who is beneath us. I mean, I know you're going into law, but for me, that's just another fancy word for 'the help'. I really don't think that way anymore. Not since you helped the Rogers and -"
"I got it, thanks," Emma said, cutting her off again.
She didn't mean to sound cold but it was just too early to deal with that conversation right now. Where was Jason, Tom, or even Jenna? They promised her that they would be here today.
The atmosphere in the room was beginning to suffocate Emma.
She could feel Alona's eyes gazing at her baby and her. Who wouldn't look at him? He was only hours old and already he was getting more attention than she had done in her lifetime.
"He looks just like Drake," Alona murmured, sitting down on the edge of the bed. She lifted her hand to softly caress Aidan's head. "You're very lucky, Emma. I know you'll be a great mother."
Emma raised her eyebrows in surprise before smiling. "Um, thank you. Really, Alona, that means a lot."
Another awkward silence.
Honestly, can she leave already? It's really strange staying in this room, Drake's freaking room, with his fiancé.
"I better let Nancy know you're both awake," Alona said, clearing her throat to break the silence. She gave Emma a quick smile before leaving the room.
Oh, thank goodness.
Once Emma heard the door click close, she couldn't help but let out a relieved sigh. Finally, she was alone. She looked down at Aidan and saw him staring up at her.
Emma grinned. "Good morning, baby."
Aidan blinked and squinted his eyes. He lifted both of his hands to clench and unclench his fists as his eyes darted from the ceiling to Emma. He made a small soft cry before yawning and closing his eyes again.
Emma laughed. "Oh no, don't tell me you're sleepy again?"
Again, Aidan opened his mouth and let out another baby sound. He reopened his tiny blue eyes and stared at his mother again.
He scrunched up his face before reaching his hands up towards her and letting them fall, smacking his face by accident.
Emma laughed, taking his hand. "What are you doing, you silly boy?"
She could have sworn Aidan was giving her the infamous Rogers glare before he started crying again.
"What's wrong, darling? Are you hungry?" Emma asked, adjusting his blanket.
Thankfully, whilst she was pregnant, she was smart enough to read about all that she could about breastfeeding. She sat up straighter and pulled down the top of her pajamas to expose one breast. After adjusting herself, she carefully grabbed another soft blanket and laid it on top of her to cover herself and Aidan.
She lifted the blanket so she could see Aidan searching for milk and winced when she felt his mouth latching onto her. After a few minutes of her trying to adjust, Emma recovered from the painful discomfort and smiled. Alona was right, she was lucky.
Even though the beginning was hell, the outcome was beautiful.
"What are you doing?" a voice interrupted out of nowhere with a bored tone from the doorway.
Emma jerked in surprise, causing Aidan to let go.
He cried again, searching for the source with his mouth, although his eyes remained closed. Emma adjusted the blanket again to cover her modesty and watched as Aidan kept struggling.
Noticing his trouble, she supported her breast so he could have an easy reach. After a few moments, he finally latched on.
Embarrassed at being caught at such an intimate moment, she looked up and glared at the intruder. "What do you want now, Rogers?"
Drake raised an eyebrow as he stepped inside the room, closing the door. "What are you doing?"
"What does it look like I'm doing?" Emma snapped. "I'm breastfeeding."
"Why? Mother can have the maid buy some formula or something. Not by -'' His face crumpled into a dramatic and disgusted expression, ''- sucking from your tits."
Wow.
This disgusting asshole.
"Seriously, what do you want?" Emma asked, keeping her voice soft so Aidan didn't get frightened.
She really doesn't want to bother explaining to him the importance of breastfeeding your child after giving birth. It's his own fault for being so ignorant.
"Mother got this for you." He tossed a gift-wrapped box towards her. He hoped he didn't throw it hard, hoping it didn't hit the baby.
Not that he cared.... Much.
However, he let out a relieved sigh when Emma caught it with her hand.
Emma's eyes lit up with childish excitement she opened the present.
Great, a gift from Nancy! Just because she despises Drake Rogers, doesn't mean she hates his mother. Nancy had been very good to her so far.
She gave up trying to neatly open the gift, and just went ahead to rip off the gift wrappers. They're just gift wraps, anyway. It's the inside that's exciting! Once all the papers were gone, Emma smiled.
She pulled out a new soft baby blanket and a teddy bear.
The whole time, she didn't notice the way Drake was watching for her expressions, nor did she realize he was sitting at the edge of the bed.
"Mother bought the blanket. The teddy though, it's safe for infants. You don't have to worry about him trying to bite it or anything. It's specifically made for babies," Drake said, watching as Emma stared at the teddy.
He cleared his throat before continuing. "The teddy was mine, actually. But mother thought your son might like it."
Without thinking, Emma fully grinned at him. "Thank you."
He didn't like this unfamiliar feeling he was experiencing. It's weird. He broke the eye contact with Emma and stared at the floor instead, his gaze immediately landing on a random crack.
What is this he's feeling whenever he saw Emma and Aidan?
It was too warm for his liking. So he shrugged, and tried to appear indifferent. Really, it was just a teddy bear.
Well... his old teddy bear.
But still.
"I didn't give it to you, Collins,'' Drake drawled, making sure to keep his voice harsh, "Mother did."
So they're back to square one, is that it?
Emma blinked before nodding. "Right," She said, as she is finishing brea
stfeeding Aidan. "Well, thank your mother for me when you see her, please."
"Whatever," Drake shrugged, getting up from the bed and trying to appear nonchalant while crossing his arms.
"Is that all you came here for?" She asked, letting Aidan hold onto the teddy bear as she unwrapped him from the blanket, replacing it with the new, softer one.
"Can't a father see his own child?" Drake asked, a sly smirk forming on his face.
Emma stiffened.
What the hell?
His own child?
Was he seriously talking about Aidan? She shook her head slowly.
How dare he? The anger rushed through her veins so quickly that Emma had to close her eyes for a second to take a deep breath.
"Excuse me?" she hissed, her voice low as she reopened her eyes to shoot a glare at the man. "How dare you even - you wanted nothing to do with him! How dare you call yourself his father?"
"Easy," Drake said casually. "Don't forget, Collins, if it wasn't for me, you wouldn't even have a child."
Emma wanted to punch his dumb face, but knows he's not worth it. The only boy in her life that matters right now is Aidan.
Taking a few deep breaths, she sighed. "Screw you, Rogers. Get the hell out of my room."
But of course, Drake wouldn't have it.
"Ah, but technically, this is still my room." Drake grinned maliciously, nodding around them. "So, I think it is I that should tell you - as you so kindly put it - to get the hell out."
"You're a jerk," Emma whispered, noticing Aidan was falling asleep again.
"I've been told," Drake smirked, making his self comfortable on the edge of the bed again.
This bitch. Doesn't he know when to quit?
Well fine then.
If he doesn't want to leave her alone, then she'll just ignore him. She doesn't want to waste her time trying to argue him. Right now, her main focus is on Aidan.
She covered her breast and pulled the blanket away from them. She pushed herself back until her backside hit the wall and placed her son beside her. She took another soft blanket and re did the wrap around Aidan, making sure none of the cold touched him.
"Why are you doing that? Isn't two layers of blankets enough for him?" Drake asked, his lips curling into a sneer. "Why do you have to make things so difficult?"
Emma continued to ignore him and his ignorant questions.
Sighing, she bent down to kiss Aidan's forehead before murmuring, "I love you, darling," in a soothing voice.
She could hear the other guy in the room irritated sigh.
Why was he still here?
.
.
.
Emma woke up, feeling much better than before. Finally, today is the day she can finally leave, right? The doctor said once she's strong enough, she can go.
Well, she's feeling stronger and better, so can she go now or what?
"Rise and shine." A voice said, knocking on the door.
Emma groaned inwardly. Ugh, what the hell does he want now?
"Are ignoring me, Emma Collins?" Drake snapped, entering the bedroom with an annoyed expression.
How dare she ignore him? Here he was, giving her his room, his best healer, and his hospitality, and this is how she repays him?
"What do you want, Rogers?" Emma grumbled, getting up slowly to not disturb the sleeping infant. It took a few tries, but finally, he's asleep.
"What's his name?" Drake asked, his eyes resting at the baby. Goodness, he's so tiny.
"That's none of your business," Emma mumbled, walking to the mirror and grimaced at the sight of her exhaustion and messed up hair.
"So, you're just going to fix your appearance, but you won't even let our family maid take care of the baby by buying a baby formula?" Drake asked accusingly, raising an eyebrow as he watched her.
He could hear her letting out a heavy sigh.
"Goodness, you don't get it, do you?" She asked furiously, turning around to face him. "I want to do things by my own hand when it comes to Aidan. A child needs his mother's -"
"Aidan?" Drake interrupted.
Emma blinked. "What?"
He rolled his eyes. Honestly, they call this girl smart? "You named him Aidan?"
She could feel the heat blooming around her face. Shit, did she say that out loud? Damn it. "Yes, so what?"
Drake grinned widely, causing Emma to frown in surprise. Goodness, she had never seen him grin like that before. He almost looked boyish. Maybe even handsome?
Wait, what the fuck?
No.
He was still a rotten asshole.
"I'm glad you took my suggestion into consideration," he said, placing his hands on the back of his head before lying down on the bed. His eyes were still glued to hers.
"I didn't," she snapped, glaring at him. "I picked it because I liked that name too."
"Mmm, I'm sure," he smirked, turning to his side so he was fully facing at her.
Emma continued to glare back and she crossed her arms. She hated the way he was looking at her, but she refused to show how much it was affecting her.
His piercing gaze dropped from her eyes to her lips. He noticed the way she was nervously biting her bottom lip and inwardly groaned. Despite her annoying self, he wasn't blind.
She was an attractive woman.
His gaze lingered on her lips until it moved downwards, and he made an appreciative sound in his throat.
Emma flushed.
Pervert. She knew what he was trying to do, and it was working. It was making her uncomfortable. "What are you staring at, Rogers?"
"You." His smirk widened. Clearly he was enjoying her discomfort. "Care for another fuck, Emma Collins?"
Emma gasped and felt the impulse to grab a nearby cloth and threw it at him. Drake caught it with lightning-fast reflexes.
"Careful now," Drake snickered, "I wouldn't do that if I were you."
"You're a jerk," Emma repeated. "A complete and utter -"
"Ah, like I said, I've been told that loads of times," Drake interrupted, getting up walking towards her.
"You're a bastard then." Emma snapped, side stepping him.
Drake shrugged, blocking her escape with a small smirk. "Now, you're just being unoriginal. But hey, you know what, Collins?"
Emma took a step back. It was pretty much useless since her back hit the mirror, trapping her. She could just punch him, but then again that would wake up Aidan. She doesn't want to disturb his slumber just because the jerk in front of her decides to play games.
Sighing impatiently, she said, "I don't know and nor do I care."
"That baby you got there? Aidan?" Drake asked softly, although there was a mischievous glint in his eye. He nodded towards Aidan, but kept his gaze on her. "I may be a jerk, but he is, technically, the bastard."
Emma slapped him. Before she could say anything else, the door flew open.
.
.
.
Nancy and Alona rushed into the room, their eyes wide at the scene before them. Alona quickly went to Emma's side as Nancy started towards Drake.
"Drake Rogers, how dare you?" Nancy scolded. She looked over at Aidan and quickly lowered her voice. She glared back at Drake. "How dare you call your own son that word when that boy has you as his -"
''Mother, that's enough," Drake interrupted impatiently, rubbing his stinging cheek. He sighed, stepping away from Emma to face his mother. "I wasn't joking when I told Alona and Ian that I don't want that thing -"
"That's no surprise." Emma interrupted under her breath.
Really, she wasn't surprised but... come on. She hated to admit it, but she thought that he would have felt at least something for Aidan! She was almost willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
After all he'd done for them? He gave them his own bedroom, and, for goodness's sake, he even named him!
"Yes, still!" Drake snapped, disturbing her thoughts. "What do you expect -"
"Look at him, Rogers," Emma interjecte
d, ignoring Alona's silent protests and walking towards him.
What a liar. She just knows that he feels something. Whether he's willing to admit it is the question.
But no matter what, in the end, Aidan is still hers.
"Look at Aidan and tell me you don't feel anything at all. Tell me that you don't care even a little for your own son."
Drake looked at the sleeping infant with what seemed like disinterest for a second before turning back to her. A few seconds of hesitation, his voice was hard and sure. "I do not want him or even you, Collins. Like I said before, I never want to see you and him again."
Emma glared. As if she wants him! But that's not the point!
Yes, she was mad at him to the point that she didn't want him to see her giving birth, but if he was willing to try and - dare she think it, change - then she would let him see Aidan, even for only a little while... because as a father, he does have the right.
It would have been the least she could do after his family showed a little bit of kindness.
With the look on his face and the way his lips curled into a snarl as he glared at her, challenging her to talk back, it's clear he still doesn't care. Not one bit.
"Rogers -"
"Fuck, Collins!" Drake shouted angrily suddenly, ignoring his mother's sounds of outrage. "Did you think I was joking? That I would change my mind?"
Emma felt the familiar uncomfortable tug in her chest.
But thank goodness Aidan didn't wake up.
Looking back at Drake, she shrugged. She didn't want to give him the satisfaction of seeing her hurt or mad. He's seen enough and he's just not worth it.
"All right," she said, her tired voice betraying her defiance, "if that's what you want."
It's his choice, his lost.
"Thank you!" Drake rejoiced, "Finally! Yes, that is what I want, Emma. I don't need you or that child to mess with my reputation -"
"I said I got it," Emma interrupted coolly. She walked around him until she reached Aidan. Gently, she gathered the peaceful looking infant in her arms.
It's a wonder how the baby can still sleep soundly. No doubt he'll be a heavy sleeper in the future.
She paused and looked back at Drake, "When - when I leave, this will be permanent."
Drake raised an eyebrow before opening the door for her. "I'm waiting, but you keep opening that mouth of yours."