Chapter 14 : Drama Rama

**Cat POV The more I tried to ignore Luke, the more he tried to interact with me. I just wanted to get out of there. Now that everyone was worried about Fiona being pregnant, the drama had nothing to do with me. "Luke, I'm tired. I just want to go lie down," I said with a sigh. He came up behind me and put his arm around my shoulders. He kept touching me. It was comforting, but also strange. The weirder part was that I wasn't moving away or pushing him back. Maybe it was because I was so lightheaded. Had I really lost that much blood? "I can get a room made up for you here," he said. "I'm not staying here. That's why you lent me the guest house in the first place," I reminded him. My eyes were tired. They stung a little, and I could have fallen asleep right there standing up. My mind hadn't really processed everything that had happened. I wanted to be alone to think things over. I wanted to curl up with myself, cry, and snuggle up in a big comforter with a carton of chocolate ice cream. "You can't go back to the guest house, not tonight," he said gently. "But why?" I groaned. "The living room window is busted open. If you sleep there, you'll catch pneumonia, or hurt yourself more," he said. Bowing my head, I closed my eyes and wished this nightmare would end. "You can stay here. I'll have the window fixed in the morning," Luke offered. "Here? Where everyone is screaming and shouting?" I asked. Luke chuckled. "They'll stop soon. Besides, I want my doctor to come look at your arm. You'll probably need stitches." "I'm fine," I muttered. I pulled away from him. "Come on, Cat. I've got plenty of room here. I'll get you set up in a room upstairs for the night," he offered. "This is too awkward, especially with your whole family here," I said, shaking my head. Luke shrugged. "Please. Let me look after you, just for tonight?" My heart pitter-patted in my chest, and my breath whooshed from my lungs. Luke gave me a deep, soulful look. He was pleading with me now, but in a very different way than Aaron. "O-okay," I said, my voice feeling sticky in my throat. Luke smirked and nodded. "Come on." He put his arm around me again, and we went into the living room. Luke's father was pacing back and forth, his nostrils flaring heavily. He paused to glare at us and then kept pacing. His mother was sitting on the couch. She followed her husband with her eyes, shaking her head over and over again. Tears streaked her cheeks, and she sniffled now and then. "Don't think I've forgotten about you and whatever… this is," Mr. Carter boomed, motioning to me and Luke. I swallowed hard and shrank away from him. "Right now, I need to deal with your sister. She's shamed this family. Her actions are unforgivable," he went on. "Dad, this is the twenty-first century. Fiona is an adult," Luke pointed out. "She's an adulterer!" Mr. Carter snapped. My stomach twisted, and I chewed on the inside of my cheek. I shouldn't have said anything. I should have just let them all work this out as a family. "And I'm going to kill that mongrel that turned her into an adulterer!" he spat. "Where is Fiona?" Luke asked. "She's still outside," Mrs. Carter said, sniffling and burying her face in her hands. "My little girl, shamed and violated." "I doubt she feels violated," I muttered under my breath. Luke must have heard me because the corner of his mouth quirked up. "If the two of you are going to yell and scream about her, shouldn't she be here to listen?" Luke asked. "I would have dragged her in here, but your mother objected," Mr. Carter said, scoffing. The front door opened, and Fiona walked in with Aaron. Mr. Carter roared and tried to launch himself across the room at Aaron. Aaron paled and backed away. Fiona was quick, stepping between them. "Daddy, stop!" she cried, holding her arms out protectively. "He's not welcome in this house!" Mr. Carter snapped. "This is my house," Luke pointed out calmly. He stepped away from me, glaring at his dad. "You don't have the authority to kick someone out." I stared at Aaron, wondering what he'd come up with this time. How had he explained himself to Fiona? She was jumping to his rescue. Had he told her he'd come here to try and fix things with me, to beg for forgiveness? Had he told her he didn't want the baby? I doubted it, based on the gushy, lovey-dovey look she gave Aaron. "You can't hurt him. Aaron is the father of my baby," Fiona said. "That's exactly why I am going to tear him to shreds! He had no right to mess around with you while he was engaged. No right to get you pregnant!" Mr. Carter boomed. My head pounded with his voice. I put my fingers on my temples and gently rubbed them. I had to get out of this house! "I wanted this. I wanted to get pregnant. Besides, Aaron and I are getting married," Fiona announced. "He's making an honest woman out of me." My eyes nearly popped out of my head. I think my heart stopped beating, and my lungs felt like they were collapsing, unable to take in air. Luke blinked several times, staring straight at his sister. On the couch, Mrs. Carter let out a long, heavy sigh and started fanning herself with her hand. "Wh-what?" I gasped. "And when did this happen?" Luke snapped, glaring at Fiona and Aaron. "Just outside," Fiona said. "Aaron said he'll go get me the biggest, most beautiful ring tomorrow." She held out her left hand and wiggled her fingers. I glanced down at my left hand. There was still a tan line from the engagement ring Aaron had gotten me. It had been a matter of hours since I'd taken it off, and now he was giving one to someone else? My mind raced with thoughts; my heart hammered in my chest. I felt faint. Stepping sideways, I grabbed the wall and leaned against it. This was not the turn I'd expected! "Oh, thank the Lord!" Mrs. Carter cried. She jumped up and ran over to Fiona, hugging her and kissing her cheeks. "You're doing the right thing dear, for the baby." She put her hand on Fiona's belly. My own stomach soured, and I wrapped my arms around myself. "I know, Mom. I knew this is what you'd want," Fiona gushed. "And now we can remove the shame from the family. This will all work out," Mrs. Carter assured, hugging her daughter again. "You vile miscreant!" Mr. Carter shouted. He lunged at Aaron again, fist raised. Aaron cringed against the wall. I almost felt sorry for him. Then I remembered that less than an hour ago, I'd been cringing against a wall before him. "Daddy, don't!" Fiona wailed. She grabbed Mr. Carter's arm and hung off of it, stopping him from throwing the punch. "Fiona, don't get in the middle of this," Mr. Carter warned. "Please, don't hurt him. I love him, Daddy, I love him," she cried. Tears sprang to her eyes. "You…" Mr. Carter trailed off. He stared menacingly at Aaron. Fiona ran into Aaron's arms and hugged him. She kissed his neck and nuzzled her nose against him. Aaron smiled smugly and looped an arm around Fiona's waist. "That's right. We're in love, and now the whole world will know it," he said. "No, I'm not letting the two of you get married. I forbid it!" Mr. Carter insisted. "Shut up," Mrs. Carter snapped, flicking her wrist at her husband. "Aaron is doing the noble, honorable thing. I think he deserves some credit for that!" Mr. Carter snarled and rolled his eyes. Yes, he was very wonderful. He cheated on me, lied, got another girl pregnant, begged me to take him back, broke a window, and now proposed to his mistress. He was a perfect gentleman. "Cat?" Luke asked. I looked up. When had he walked back over to me? "Are you okay?" he asked. "I'm tired," I reiterated, again. I needed to lie down. I felt dizzy and weak. Maybe from the bloodloss, or Aaron and Fiona's unexpected announcement. "Do you love my daughter?" Mr. Carter asked. I looked around Luke. Aaron flicked his eyes to me. For a moment, our gazes met. His smug smile remained unwavering on his lips. "I do," he said. He kissed the top of Fiona's head. She beamed and snuggled up closer to him. "See. We will be the perfect, happy family." A lump formed in my throat, and my stomach churned. I felt like I was going to be sick. "I'll take you upstairs," Luke offered. He slipped an arm around me and helped me off of the wall. My legs trembled. My entire body trembled! I thought I'd collapse on the floor in a jumble of shaky bones if Luke hadn't been holding me up. "Wait right there, the two of you!" Mr. Carter snapped just as Luke and I had made it to the living room door. Luke groaned and closed his eyes. "Dad, Cat isn't well. She lost a lot of blood. I need to get a doctor here to look at her," Luke said, immediately taking control of the situation. I liked how he always did that. "I told you, I hadn't forgotten about the two of you. Now, tell me what is going on, and what's your connection with my daughter's fiance," Mr. Carter insisted. When I heard the word "fiance," I cringed. It was too soon to think about Aaron being engaged to someone else. "This isn't the time," Luke said firmly. His father crossed the living room, hand on his hips, eyes flashing. He was a bully. I could see that now. "Make it the time!" he hissed, getting right in Luke's face. I saw that Luke glared right back. He stood his ground against his father. My heart swelled a little. It was almost sweet, how Luke was standing up to his dad for me. "Catherine, what is your connection to Aaron?" Mr. Carter asked. I didn't answer. Looking across the room, I met Aaron's eyes again. What was I supposed to say? The truth? Aaron would deny it. Luke's parents had no reason to believe anything I said. He lifted his chin and nose, refusing to look at me. My heart sank completely. He was going to hang me out to dry. Mr. Carter followed my gaze back to Aaron. Shaking his head, he glared at Aaron, eyes fierce and focused. "Well, Aaron, what were you doing here? Why were you alone with Catherine? Is something going on between the two of you?"