"There you are. I've been searching for you; this was my final resort to find you." Clara said when she met Henry at the back door leading to the garden. "Why, what's up?" Henry asked, going inside with her. "Ellen is leaving. It's late, and she says she's tired." Clara explained as they got back to the party. "Where is she?" Clara asked Abby and Kelly when she got to them. "She's gone, it's almost 10PM. We were looking for you Henry, and your phone wasn't reachable too." Abby explained. "I was talking to my family. Dad called my mom and sister. Has it been long since she left?" Henry explained and asked. "Just a while ago. I'm sure she will call you. I just hope she doesn't get in trouble for going home late." Kelly answered. "Who's getting in trouble?" A voice asked behind them. "Naa! Finally, thought you wouldn't make it." Clara exclaimed and hugged Stephanie with a smile. The girls hugged her as well. "You just missed Elle. She left a short while ago." Abby said as she hugged her. Stephanie's presence did not intrigue Henry as much as her companion did. "I never thought I'd see you at my party." Henry commented with a smile. "Well, someone had to make sure you behave around her, so don't get too excited." Chris snarled. "Chris, don't fight with him please, it's his birthday. Happy birthday jerk, sorry I'm late. Mom and dad wouldn't let me leave, unless he came with me, and he was being an ass about it." Stephanie said, calling a cease fire from her brother, and hugged Henry. "Glad he relented, this party was dead without you anyway." Henry teased and Chris narrowed his eyes at him in warning. "Wow, did someone record that? I'm going to report him to his girlfriend." Stephanie said and they laughed. "Who is so unfortunate to date you this time?" Chris asked with mockery. "Wouldn't you like to know." Henry answered sarcastically, realizing Chris didn't know he was dating Ellen, which was for the better. "Whatever, as long as it's not my sister or anyone dear to me." Chris said, leaving for a drink. "Your brother has no idea I'm with Eleanora, does he?" Henry asked with a smirk. "You think you'd still be dating her if he did? Maybe I should tell him." Steph answered with a sneer, placing her finger on her chin at her last words. "Come dance with me. I couldn't dance with my girl, but you'll do just fine." Henry said, flirtatiously. "Aren't you going to call Elle?" Abby asked with disbelief. Henry literally forgot Ellen, the moment Steph arrived. "I will, after one dance. She must still be on the road now, and I don't want to disturb her. I'll be back, let's go." Henry answered, pulling Steph before anyone could say anything else, Chris looking at them closely, while Clara sighed and shook her head with a smile. "May I have this dance?" Eric asked behind her, making her blush with a nod.
***
"I'm telling you Aaron, that was not our daughter. Besides, she told you before going to that place. I'm just worried it's 10pm and she's not back, don't add to my worry please." Elena defended. "Maybe Aaron knows what he's talking about. Frankly, Ben and I have seen her with that boy before. He dropped her off the day we came here. And she has been going out a lot as well. I thought she was a focused lady, now she is such an extrovert. I guess having a driver at your disposal has its perks." Jessica chimed in, annoying Elena. "What's your point please? Are you saying my daughter is not focused because she has friends for the first time in her life? Or that she is rotten because she has money now? What's your point?" Elena roared like a lioness, whose cub had been attacked by a predator. "Baby calm down please." Aaron tried to smoothen things, but that only made it worse. "Calm down? Are you serious right now? I know the girl I raised okay; she's not the type of girl you are making her out to be. She just went out with her friends after getting permission from us. I admit it's late, but my daughter isn't bad. You all have no idea what she sacrificed all these years, so if she's having fun now, please, don't point bad fingers at her. Ellen is anything, but distracted." Elena fumed. "Mom, dad, is everything okay?" Ellen's voice sounded and all eyes went to her. "Where were you? Do you know what the time is? Were you at Kempinski with Henry Yawson?" Aaron badgered her with questions, making Ellen's heart drop at the last one. 'Oh God, did dad see us?' Ellen thought as she swallowed, thinking of what to say. "Ama, why didn't you call or text that you'll be late? We were worried about you; your line couldn't be reached either. Did you go for the spa day you wanted?" Elena asked her daughter in a calmer manner. "Um, I was with my friends please. I'm sorry I didn't call or text. I fell asleep at Clara's place, and yes, I went for the spa day please. I'm sorry I worried you; it won't happen again." Ellen explained with an innocent face that almost got her off the hook till her father asked "What's your relationship with Henry Yawson? I saw you and him at the hotel, I thought I was wrong, but this is the exact dress the girl was wearing." Aaron asked with a calm, yet menacing tone, making Ellen gulp. She had to think of something fast. "How sure are you, that she's the one you saw? Did you see her face clearly? Why didn't you talk to her?" Elena defended, throwing Ellen a curve ball. "I was at the place with my friends, dad, you can ask them. I even wanted to say hi to you, but you were still in the meeting. This dress is not the only one in stores, anyone could be wearing this too. Henry and I did a quiz together, and he's friends with Stephanie and Clara, so we talk. We're all just friends, dad, why will you think otherwise? I'm not that kind of girl." Ellen said in tears. The pitiful performance she just put on could win an award. "I didn't mean to accuse you of anything, but I don't want you near that boy. You have no idea how he can hurt you, just ask Stephanie. Besides, you are too young to be in that kind of relationship." Aaron defended, apologizing and warning simultaneously indirect. "Are you really sure you are telling the truth? You look like you've been caught in an act, and your body language is not convincing me." Jessica said, flaring up Elena again. "If my daughter says there's nothing between, she and that boy, I believe her. Whoever has a problem should keep it to themselves. What do you know about my daughter anyway? Ellen does not tell lies, she's a good girl and I raised her right. I won't stand for you all to point fingers at her." Elena defended in anger, making her feel dizzy. Ellen's tears were now real, as guilt washed over her, after hearing her mother defend her that way. She would be so disappointed if she knew what she does in secret. "Sit down please. I can't have you collapse again. You are right, we shouldn't think that way about our daughter, I'm sorry." Aaron urged her to sit when she almost fell, apologizing on behalf of himself, and his parents. "I can't believe you are talking to me like that because I raised concerns about my granddaughter." Jessica started but her husband shut her up this time. "That's enough, let's go to bed. Ellen dear, go and rest as well. We don't want to cause your mother high blood pressure; it won't be good for her or the baby. Go on dear, just be careful okay, don't cry anymore." Ben said, consoling his granddaughter and ordering his wife to bed. He was a man of few words, but sometimes he had to speak up as the eldest of the family. They would be returning to Germany in two weeks' time, and he didn't want to leave with strained relationship between them and their daughter-in-law once again. "I'm sorry mom, dad. I won't go out again till school reopens, if that will give you both peace of mind, goodnight please." Ellen said amidst sobs and ran upstairs before anyone could say anything, as she was feeling too guilty. Everyone left the husband-and-wife downstairs, as the old people also retired to their room. "Leave me alone." Elena commanded, getting up, but fell with a sharp pain in her head. She felt extremely dizzy, good thing Aaron caught her on time. "Babe please, don't be stubborn. Let me carry you at least." Aaron pleaded. "Stubborn, really? Just because I don't want you to hold me, I'm stubborn? Do I look like a goat Aaron? Because it's them we use that word for." Elena said annoyed. "That's not what I meant…" Aaron began, but the woman in his arms broke free to leave, only to fall by the stairs and have her husband rushing to her side. She had collapsed. "What is it with these women and pregnancy hormones? Geez, it's her first pregnancy all over again, getting annoyed at the slightest thing." Aaron said with a smile, as he carried her unconscious body to their room, remembering when she was pregnant with Ellen.