55| CONSEQUENCES

The blinding rays of the early morning sunlight poured into the room without restriction, causing Frema to squint as she stretched and yawned simultaneously. She had fallen asleep on Riley's bed, which was not a surprise. Riley was not on the bed when she woke up, so she got off it and began to look for her.

"Riley?" She called when she got close to the kitchen.

"I'm here." Riley shouted back from the kitchen and Frema walked into it, leaning against a counter once she was inside. "Did you dream of me? Sweet dreams, I mean." Riley questioned, putting a frozen container into the microwave. Frema picked up one of the chocolate tarts she had made and stuffed it in her mouth before replying,

"No sweet dreams. Fortunately for me, no bad ones either."

Riley glared at her for talking with her mouth full of food, but Frema only laughed at her expression. Barely a minute later, Riley was rushing to the sink. She threw up immediately she got there and just as she was about to turn back, she felt another one coming up again and stayed back, throwing up again. Frema walked briskly to stand behind her, rubbing her back.

"Are you sick? You should go have some rest, I'll take it from here." Frema told her, taking the whisker in her hands away.

"Yeah, not just sick. I think I'm pregnant, I mean, Arsen and I have been trying for a second. I bought the pregnancy test thingy yesterday, haven't used it yet." She replied, smiling sheepishly. Frema returned the smile fully.

"Oh my God, go test yourself now. Go!" She all but yelled and Riley hurried off to do as she said.

Ana walked into the kitchen minutes later, after she had just returned from the grocery store. She took over the cooking and Frema half-ran to Riley's room, unbearably impatient.

"Tested yet?" She asked as soon as she closed the door. But Riley just sat on the bed, unsmiling. She showed off the four tests, they were negative. Frema frowned now.

"I don't understand. But you've been throwing up?" She asked, sitting on the bed with her. Riley breathed a sigh.

"I have. I guess it's not happening yet. Shouldn't have gotten so excited." She replied, forcing a smile. But just then, she jerked up again and ran to the washroom, throwing up just water, this time. Frema ran to her, rubbing her back while her heart slammed in her chest. Riley rinsed her mouth and managed to walk to the bed where Frema made her lie down.

"I don't know what's going on, but I've never felt so empty in my life." Riley recounted, chuckling softly after. Frema ran her hand through her hair.

"Riles, you need to visit the hospital." Frema advised. Riley huffed.

"Ugh, you know I hate that shit." She protested and Frema hissed.

"Yeah, but you really have to go, you're not okay." Frema pressed and Riley sighed, closing her eyes.

"Fine, whatever. I'll go to the hospital, but only if you come with me. Your brother is mad at me." Riley alleged, causing Frema to frown.

"What? That's true, I haven't seen him since yesterday. You said he was coming in late, that's why he wasn't at Halsey's birthday party." Frema said and Riley shrugged weakly.

"Didn't want to spoil the mood. I know you're about to ask the details, so I'll just tell you. He had a suspicion about my boss and I, which I'd always declined, but well, some days ago, he caught us.. kissing, haha. To be fair, Dave kissed me. I never kissed back, it came as a surprise, but maybe it was all my fault. All those overtime shifts, those parties I escorted him to, those extra shit... I'm a fucking married woman, I should not have agreed to those shit. But I did and now, I just have to deal with it." Riley explained but Frema had nothing to say after the revelation. She only rubbed her friend's scalp in silence.

"I'm sorry." Riley said at last and just as Frema opened her mouth to speak, she heard her soft snoring which indicated she was asleep. Frema pressed a chaste kiss to her forehead before covering her up with the duvet and walking out of the room. She had to call Arsen. His wife was sick, they could settle their differences later.

__________________

Hours later, Arsen hadn't arrived home yet. Riley had woken up and they all sat in front of the TV, including the kids, watching a kids' show.

The doorbell rang then, and Ana rushed to the door, pulling it open. Frema's parents entered, causing Frema to straighten up. They looked past her and walked to their grandchildren, spoiling them with several kisses and then, gifts.

"Happy birthday, beautiful." Kayden told the little girl, ruffling her blonde hair. Halsey smiled widely.

"Happy belated birthday, Hallie baby. So sorry we missed it. How was your party?" Heather cooed. Halsey did a small curtsy in her princess gown and then her turquoise orbs searched the space behind them.

"My party was really fun, thank you. Where's daddy?" She asked, her eyes still scanning the room.

"Oh, he didn't come with us." Heather replied, not suspecting that Arsen wasn't also around for the girl's birthday. Halsey's shoulders dropped but she still turned to play with her cousin.

Riley threw up in her handy bucket again. The entire meal she had eaten when she woke up was gone. Her face was pale at this point.

"Riles? Are you okay?" Heather asked, going to sit beside her.

"I'm fine, mom. I just can't keep stuff in my stomach any longer than a minute." She laughed after her reply, but it caused Frema to roll her eyes. It was typical of Riley to turn serious things into a joke, just to divert attention. Only one person could never buy it and that was her.

"Are you sure? Have you seen a doctor?" Kayden asked this time, still standing. Riley shook her head no.

"I promise it's not that serious. I'll probably see one later, though." She said, smiling weakly. Heather didn't seem to buy it.

"Where's Arsen?" She asked in concern.

"He's at work." Riley rushed before Frema could answer. Frema bit her lip to stop her from saying something about the whole issue. After all, her parents had decided to start a malice with her.

"Okay, I'll just call him—" Heather took out her phone to back up her statement but Riley stopped her.

"He's in a meeting. Don't bother about him, he'll be back soon." She interrupted and Heather looked lost for sometime, before she gave up and stuffed her phone back in her pocket.

The children soon left the living room to play outside and Kayden started immediately,

"Arsen visited Eron."

Frema turned to him, her face a mixture of surprise and anger.

"What? Why?" She asked sharply.

"To do the right thing. Tell him to stay away from you." He explained. Frema rose up to her feet right away.

"Dad.. he can't do that!" She complained.

"Well, he did. And guess what your lover said?" He asked her. She didn't reply, waiting.

"He bluntly said he'd never hand the properties back. To your brother's face. You want to marry such a selfish man." He accused.

"He has his reasons." Frema defended, feeling stupid as she said it but standing her ground nonetheless.

"What stupid reasons justify this rubbish behavior, Fremantle? What has come over you?" Kayden barked in annoyance.

"Love, dad. I love him and I want to be happy for once in my life." Frema stressed.

"Oh, heavens..." Heather mumbled, running a hand over her face.

"Riley. Advise your friend, so she can come out of this spell. She's losing it." Kayden begged. Riley pretended to throw up again, but stopped when she realized she was only stalling as everyone was waiting for her to speak. She sighed.

"Dad, mom. I... I think it's her life and we shouldn't have a say in sensitive stuff like this. She loves him and if you deny her this, you might be denying her happiness for the rest of her life. He's not getting married to the family, but her, remember? I think she's grown enough to make her own decisions." Riley spoke. Kayden and Heather were silent at this, not expecting Riley to turn against them so quickly. Kayden got over the surprise quicker.

"Well, we've lost you to him, too. Who's next?" Kayden asked dramatically. Frema sighed.

"Dad, please, stop this—"

"I'm not your dad anymore, remember? So don't start that nonsense with me." Kayden barked at her and she stopped talking at once, still standing in the same spot.

Riley threw up again.

"I'm fine." She insisted when they all stared at her.

"If you marry him, we're done with you, and even your children. Everything about you is dead to us." Kayden informed her and Heather interjected,

"Babe, not the children—"

"Quiet, Heather." He shut her up and then started towards the door. Heather followed suit until they both exited the room.

Riley throwing up again was the only noise that followed after.