DIFFERENT DESIRE

CHAPTER FIVE: UNEXPECTED DAWN

They woke up to the sharp honk! honk! of a car outside their gate. The noise jolted Ethan from sleep. He gently pulled his arm away from under Emily and sat up, rubbing his eyes.

“Who’s that?” Emily murmured sleepily.

Ethan walked to the window, pulled the curtains slightly, and his eyes widened.

“Oh no… it’s my mom,” he breathed.

Emily sat up immediately, fully awake now. “Your mom?”

He grabbed his phone from the nightstand and his heart sank.

“Damn… she called me five times. I didn’t even know she was coming.”

He turned to Emily and held her shoulders gently.

“Emily… can you go downstairs and attend to her? I just need to freshen up quickly, and I’ll be down in a minute.”

Emily nodded quickly and jumped out of bed. She changed out of her nightwear into a simple but neat lingerie dress and hurried out of the room.

By the time she got downstairs, the bell had already rung twice ding-dong… ding-dong sharp and impatient.Emily rushed to the door and opened it just as Ethan’s mother raised her hand to press the bell again.

Mrs. Carter looked her up and down immediately, her expression already sour.

“So you heard the bell twice and still took forever to come down?” she snapped.

Her eyes dragged over Emily’s body.

“You’re not even pregnant yet, and you’re already this lousy and lazy.”

Emily swallowed her hurt and whispered, “I’m sorry, ma. Good morning.”

Mrs. Carter walked in without responding to the greeting.

“Where is Ethan?” she demanded.

“He… went to freshen up,” Emily replied softly.

Mrs. Carter scoffed. “Of course. I come here this early and you’re both still sleeping.”

Emily forced a small smile. “Ma, what can I get for you?”

“Nothing “she shot back instantly.

“I came to see my son.”

Emily’s heart squeezed, but she kept her head low.

“Yes, ma.”

Mrs. Carter sat on the couch stiffly, arms folded, eyes full of disapproval waiting for Ethan.

Soon, Ethan appeared, descending the staircase while adjusting his shirt and holding his tie. “Good morning, Mom,” he greeted warmly, reaching out to hug her.

“Oh, my boy,” she said, her eyes lighting up slightly. “Look how sweet you’re looking.”

He smiled and added softly, “Emily has been feeding me real well.”

His mother glanced at Emily but said nothing, her gaze sharp and dismissive.

Ethan reached for his wife’s shoulder gently. “So, Mom… what’s the sudden visit?” he asked.

Mrs. Carter folded her arms, her voice firm. “I was passing through the countryside and thought I’d stop by… see if there’s any change. I’m already getting old, and I don’t know when you two are going to produce. Tired of waiting. At least fill up this empty house.”Emily’s chest tightened as her mother’s words landed.She turned to Emily, eyes narrowing. “Oh, don’t you want a child? Go do something about it.”

Ethan immediately stepped closer, voice calm but firm. “Mom, please… don’t talk to her like that.”

Mrs. Carter only smiled faintly. “I said what I said. Not lying. I think she knows the truth more than she’s letting on,” she added pointedly.

Ethan exhaled slowly and gave Emily a gentle look. Ignore her… she just keeps yapping, his eyes seemed to say. Emily lowered her gaze, trying to keep the tears at bay.

Mrs. Carter finally stood, and Emily asked softly, “Do you… not want anything else, Ma?”

“Nothing,” she replied curtly. Without another word, she left the house, Ethan following behind to escort her to her car.

At the car, she turned to him with a sly look. “Remember, Ethan… this year only. If not, I might have to bring in another wife.”

Ethan shook his head with a soft chuckle, though his eyes were firm. “Mom, that’s not possible. It’s fine. Don’t worry.”

She smiled faintly, climbed into her car, and drove off.

Ethan turned back toward the house. Inside, Emily was already seated, tears slipping down her cheeks. He knelt beside her, gently cupping her face in his hands.

“Hey… it’s okay,” he whispered. “Don’t let her words hurt you. We’re fine. We’ll have a child, Emily. I promise you… we’ll definitely have one.”Emily sniffled, leaning into his embrace, letting herself breathe and cry in his arms. “I… I just feel so pressured,” she admitted softly.

“I know, baby,” Ethan said, rubbing her back gently. “But it’s going to be alright. We’ll take our time. We have each other, and that’s what matters.”She held onto him tighter, her tears slowly subsiding. For a moment, the harsh morning faded, leaving only the quiet comfort of their love.Finally, he stood, kissing her forehead tenderly. “Go get ready for the day, love. I have to head to work now.”Emily nodded, a small, bittersweet smile forming on her lips. She watched him leave, holding onto the warmth of his reassurance.

Later that morning, across the city, Brian sat in his sleek, glass walled office, idly flipping a crisp business card between his fingers. The polished surfaces reflected the sunlight streaming in, a quiet reminder of the power and wealth he commanded. His thoughts drifted briefly to strategy and expansion as he examined the card, placing it carefully on the table.A familiar voice interrupted his focus

. “Morning, Brian!” Tyler, his longtime friend and business partner, strode into the office, casually tossing his jacket onto the chair.

“Hey, Tyler. Busy day,” Brian replied, smiling.

Tyler’s eyes fell on the business card. “Oh, now you’re into books, huh? Since when did you start reading all these fancy titles?”

Brian chuckled, shaking his head. “Relax, Tyler. It’s just a normal business card. Honestly, you wouldn’t even understand if I explained it.”

They both laughed, their easy camaraderie stretching across years of friendship and shared ventures.

Brian leaned back in his chair, looking out at the skyline. “You know, the company’s grown faster than I ever imagined. What started as a small family venture has turned into something massive a legacy for the next generation.”

Tyler smirked. “Generational wealth, huh? So remind me again..what exactly are we doing now, Mr. Billionaire?”

Brian’s smile widened. “Diversified portfolio real estate, international textile trade, tech investments, renewable energy, a few boutique finance firms globally. My grandfather started with textiles, my father expanded into real estate and energy, and now it’s my turn. I oversee operations, guide expansion, and make sure the legacy continues.”

Tyler nodded. “Billionaire material, all the way. You’ve done well.”Brian smirked again, flipping the business card idly. “We’ve been smart and lucky. That’s what keeps us moving forward.”They poured themselves drinks, laughing and reminiscing about office antics and old memories. After some time, Tyler glanced at his watch. “Alright, partner, I’ll leave you to your empire building.”

Brian watched him leave, standing by the desk, the business card still in his hand, flinging it lightly up and down. He let himself smile, thinking about strategies, expansions, and the endless possibilities of a world built on legacy and wealth.