Leah Hayden sat in the garden all by herself. The garden was small but something perfect for a couple. There are two gardens in the mansion but this one is usually where Leah stays, when she wants to be alone.
The garden had a canopy tree in the middle. The leaves and branches of the tree created a shadow. The floor was Covered with green carpet grass.
Few tables and chairs were placed in a circular motion. A wall of flowers was used as the demarcation between the garden and the outer plantation.
A small wooden gate was used as the entrance and exit from the garden. The cool breeze from the garden was capable of making someone dozed off within a few minutes after being seated.
That was where Leah sat, looking out, waiting to hear the news that Pamela had been found. Even the police hadn't been able to provide a positive response in two days.
She had stopped sobbing. She was waiting for a miracle, a different story from the ones she's been hearing for days. A glass of juice was placed on the table before her.
But she doesn't have an interest in it. She left it there until after an hour, a servant will bring another type of juice. But none of the drinks and juice they brought to her interests her at all. She just doesn't have interest in it.
Her hair was flying in the cool air. Leah looked a little older and her mind seemed to be in a distant place that she didn't see her husband and son walking through the wooden gate.
Louis saw his mother and blamed himself for everything. Her face seemed wrinkled and her hands were thin and wrinkled as well.
He was the reason why his mother had been reduced to this. It was all his fault. If he hadn't driven his car that night, there probably won't be an accident.
Then he wouldn't be in a coma and there wouldn't be an arranged marriage and then Pamela. But when he discovered what fate had in store for him, he should have just taken it that way.
But his actions had driven his mother to this point. She had been broken-hearted and wouldn't talk to anyone except a few syllables of words.
There had been a thorough search for Pamela but she was not found. The police department told him that there were no traces of her and that the search had been rigorous and they didn't find her.
But assuring Louis, the police officer told him that they were going to put all their hands on deck and keep searching everywhere for her.
His father had been by his side, as they went around, searching for her. But now, they needed to assure her that Pamela would be fine and return to her.
"My love,"Ellis called. Leah didn't hear him and Louis called "mum" Leah didn't hear still until Ellis went to her and tapped her by the shoulder?
That was when Leah responded to the reflex actions. She jerked up quickly and almost fell off.
"Has Pamela been found?" Leah asked and the two men avoided her gaze. She knew what the response would be.
She started sobbing all over again. Four Foetus flushed out by their Father. But now, what about the poor woman who had been subjected to pain and meanness.
"Nothing has been found. Her family doesn't know her whereabouts either. No one seemed to know where she went, not where she could be found" Ellis reported.
Leah sniffled and held Ellis hand tightly "Four unborn babies gone and their mother disappeared? I wished Louis never recovered.
If I knew that my own son would subject me to so much pain, I would never have agreed to place him on life support. What have I done to myself…" Leah choked on her words as she started sobbing aloud.
Louis Hayden froze at his mother's words. If he wasn't placed on life support, he definitely would have passed away. And now, his mother wished that he died.
Ellis placed his hand on Leah's shoulder "Don't say anything again. You feel hurt the more you try to think about all that has happened.
Louis disappointed us. I have never seen where a man could conveniently force a woman to abort his unborn babies. Four unborn babies wasted. His sins can never be wiped out" Ellis declared and glared at his son in fury.
Louis bowed his head. He perceived that his dad was glaring at him. He had committed a great sin, but his father rehearsing it to his ear that the sin cannot be wiped out sends a cold chill down his spine.
"Get out. I don't want to see your face except on invitation" Leah ordered. She glared at him with reddened eyes. She hates him for what he had done to Pamela.
All his life, Louis has never seen his mother sick with hatred before. But he could feel the heat of her hatred and pain towards him.
He wanted to plead, to tell her he was sorry for hurting but his father's voice came next "I regret raising you with so much love. And I thank you for paying us this way even if you know we don't deserve this from you. Now, leave!" Ellis ordered.
Louis Hayden didn't say anything else. Now was not the best time to talk. He turned around and went away.
He got into his car and gnashed his teeth. What has he done? Only now did he know the gravity of his errors. Why did he force her into having the abortion?
Divorcing her was wrong, but leaving her destitute and aborting that pregnancy was the worst, the meanest thing any man can do to a woman.
To have known that she was simply acting on his mother's instructions, he despised himself for taking rash decisions. He will have a tough time in the future.
Many weeks passed but no one heard anything about Pamela Grayson. The Hayden's had accepted their feet. Many believed that something horrible might have happened to Pamela.
Leah Hayden had no option than to believe that Pamela's Chapter had ceased to exist with them. She might be alive and gone into seclusion or perhaps something terrible might have happened to her.
But she waved the thoughts off. She won't dare to think of suicide. Her Heart would fail if she let such an unhealthy thought lingered too long in her heart.
She had tried to return to her normal life. She picked the pieces of her life together and lived on. Maybe someday Louis would find a woman of his choice and be married to her.
He might have kids with her but she would never forget Pamela. That girl won her heart. She didn't know she'd fallen in love with her and didn't want her to leave her side.
Louis, unable to shake off the guilt that now builds a castle in his heart, decided to do something that might help him get some relief.
He went to the cemetery and made four empty tombs. On each he planted flowers. He had lost his peace of mind since that moment when Pamela went into the theatre for the abortion.
He thought she had a set of twins. But didn't expect they were four, growing in her belly. He had done the unthinkable by turning a deaf ear to her pleas.
She even reminded him that the unborn babies were his as well. She told him they had his blood and his flesh. But he wasn't interested in her words, but only focused on the cruel act he was about to execute.
He sobbed like a child. He perfectly understood why his parents went for artificial insemination to get a child, a grandchild that has their bloodline.
They could easily have gotten it done by any random woman, but chooses to marry the woman in his name first, then the real reason would follow.
Why couldn't he think properly before acting or refusing the union as soon as he opened his eyes. He wouldn't even see things from their own point of view.
And now, his parents have distant themselves from him. His mother was the one who seemed to bear the brunt of his stupidity.
Few months later
Louis Hayden was returning from the office when his phone chirped. He looked at the caller's ID and was dazed when he saw his mother was the one calling.
It's been months, he hadn't gone to see her. He was not allowed to get to the Hayden's Mansion but his father came to check on him a few times.
But his mother hadn't forgiven him yet. But his father had told him several times that his mom loves him more than anything else in this life.
She had already loved those unborn babies just like she loved him. And then the reality dawned on her, that she would never get a chance to see them.
It really hurts her as much as she felt scared and afraid of losing him when that accident happened. His father had told him that soon, his mother will come around again and will find a place in her heart to forgive and let go.
Happily, Louis answered his phone. His mother said he could come to the Hayden Mansion, she needed to show him something.
Louis ordered his chauffeur to make a U-turn and head to his parents place. Louis couldn't express how excited he was feeling at the time.
He was going to see his mother. He remembered back then, when he usually feels excited like this. Whenever his mother went out and left him behind with the servants and his nanny, he would be this excited when he heard the honking of her car.
He was feeling the same way now. Now going to see his mother, he felt like that little son of hers again.
When the chauffeur drove through the large gate into the vast compound, Louis ordered him to stop in front of the door before taking the car to the garage for proper parking.
Louis alighted and pushed the door open. He was greeted by the sight of his mother, seated elegantly and obviously waiting for his arrival.
"Mum" Louis chimed, going over to hug his mother but the latter raised her hand, stopping his actions Midway.
Louis was speechless. Mum had called him to come over, why is she giving him a cold shoulder again? He thought the past had flowed away with the tide.
"Come with me" Leah Hayden instructed and stood up. Louis nodded and followed her from behind. He was surprised when his mother took him back to his room, the one he owned when he was a kid and still owns it whenever he comes around.
It's been a few years since he last used the room. He hadn't even pushed it open to peep in the last two years before the accident.
But following his mother in, he guessed she was going to show him something in there. When his mother opened the door, she let him in first, and then she followed.