Free Web NovelChapter 71: Chapter 71
Hera’s mouth tasted bitter. She spat and wiped her lips with the back of her hand.
"It’s probably something she ate," Penelope said. "There’s no need for that face."
Iris sighed heavily. "Probably, but just to be safe, we’ll have to take every precaution."
Hera turned towards them with a grimace, "Safe from what?"
Iris sat up straight and looked at her. "Have you and Niko been together?"
"We see each other every day, Iris," Hera said as she raised an eyebrow. "Of course, we’ve been together."
"I don’t think you understand my question." Iris cleared her throat. "Have you lain in bed with this man? Have you had intimate relations with him?"
A deafening silence filled the room as the girls looked at Hera. Hera’s eyes darted about the room, looking everywhere but at Iris and Penelope.
"Please tell me you didn’t do anything of that nature?" Iris pleaded. She grabbed Hera’s arm tightly and held her face so she could look at her. "Did you do it, Hera?"
"I did," she whispered back. "I did," she tore herself away from her grasp. "What’s the big deal? We love each other. We want to spend our lives together."
"And did he tell you this, or are you assuming that that is the case simply because he has had you?" Penelope asked, her voice icy cold. "I couldn’t believe you were so stupid," she muttered. "You made up a whole fairytale in your head and thought the reality was going to go your way? I’ll tell you now, you’re in for a rude awakening."
Iris sat back down on the bed. "There’s no use arguing over this. We’ll have to call a physician first. I need to make sure my suspicions are correct."
"If it makes you feel any better," Hera said, "We can go and see a physician. But please, do not drag Niko into any of this. He’s only just recovered."
"I’m sure if you’re actually with child, no one will mind. Not even Nikos." Iris said flatly.
"With... Child?" Hera stuttered.
"Yes, with child."
Hera’s legs grew weak beneath her, and she sat down on the floor. "How could I possibly be with child. It can’t be." Hera shook her head in disbelief.
"I hope for all our sakes that that isn’t the issue." Iris turned towards Penelope, "Is there someone you trust? Who can do this privately for us? "
Penelope nodded, "I know someone ... We’ll leave around sundown. We wouldn’t want any unwanted attention."
"That’s a great idea." Iris claps her hand in fake delight.
They visited and were on their way back to the palace.
Hera wrapped her arms around herself. There were so many thoughts running through her mind.
"What will you do now?" Penelope was the first to speak. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
"What do you mean by what should she do now? She’s going to tell Niko, of course. She’s going to drop out of the competition, and he’s going to marry her."
Penelope chuckled. "Don’t get too ahead of yourself now, Iris. If you did all of this, I can guarantee Niko will, in fact, run away."
"Please," Hera’s voice was small, "let me think."
The girls kept quiet.
"I’ll tell you something very important, Hera," Penelope spoke up again, much more gently. "This might not seem like the best idea, but if you decide that you do not want this child, we would not hold it against you. But you must make that decision quickly, or else, it’ll be a lot more risky for you."
Penelope remained silent.
They finally reached the palace, and Hera stalks up to her room without looking back at the girls and locks the door behind her when she enters.
For two days, she hasn’t opened her room or talked to anyone except for the servants who brought up her food.
Iris had had enough of Hera’s sulking. She hadn’t been able to sleep or think properly for a day because she was worried about her. She wouldn’t let her continue on the way she’d chosen.
"Hera!" Iris called, "It’s me, open up."
There was no answer.
"I’ll keep knocking on the door until you let me in, and if you refuse, I’ll scream until someone comes and asks me what the matter is, then I’ll tell them you’re dying."
The door creaked open. Iris smiled and walked in. She’d closed the windows, and the room was pitch black.
"For heaven’s sake, Hera, when do you plan to stop your sulking?" Iris’ voice grew loud. "I might have said some hurtful things that aren’t true, and I’m sorry. But you have to face this head-on. You can’t just hide away in your room forever."
"I keep thinking of Astrid and my parents and what they would think of me when they find out about this." Hera croaked. "They’ll be so disappointed to learn what I’ve become."
Iris opened up the windows and went to sit beside her. "They might be disappointed. But it is your life. Which means you make all the decisions and bear all the consequences. This is hardly the time to worry about what they would think.
You need to do what is right for yourself and this child you’re carrying. If you wish to keep this baby, tell Niko immediately. If he is as wonderful as you say he is, then the two of you will figure all of this out. However, if you do not wish to keep it, you must tell me as soon as possible, and we will help you."
Hera sat up, looked intently at her, then said, "I want to keep it." Her tone was filled with certainty. "And I’m sure that Niko will be happy about this."
"You’ve always been him in a light I will never understand, and I hope that you’re right." Iris sighed. "We must send for him immediately."
"Now?"
"Yes, now." Iris stood up and looked at her one last time. "I hope you receive all the happiness you deserve, Hera. You’re a good person, no matter how annoying you can be."
Hera smiled weakly. "Thank you."
