Torn between two Fates

Chapter 4

Kara POV

The door opens and Tobias, my bodyguard, peeks into the office. “Someone is here to see you.”

As secretary of agriculture and food supplies, I'm entitled to a bodyguard, personal security and a car, and an office space from where I work.

Savannah walks in and I tell her to sit. It's strange seeing her in my office considering how offensive she has been for the past few days. Always calling me a gold digger and that I snatched the secretary position from her. That was when I learnt that Adrian had intended the position for her but his plans were thwarted.

“I'm here for the interview!”

Interview?

Oh yes. Savannah applied for the position of HR about a week ago after losing her job. The interview was supposed to be held two days ago but I felt unwell and had to go see the doctor. So, I scheduled it for this morning, hoping things would go well.

I smile at her in return, trying my best to be courteous even though there are so many unanswered questions going back and forth.

Why did Adrian tell her to apply? Is karma actually at work? I also heard that the King is no longer on good terms with the prince. Somehow, I wonder if I'm the cause.

I pull myself back to reality for the task at hand.

“Shall we?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I shoot her a glare. Nobody ever called me that. I'm a young, free, but married woman. Not an old lady.

“Kara, just Kara.”

“As you wish.”

“Why do you wish to become a HR?” I slump back to the seat in a boss-like manner.

“I'm smart, I have a good work ethic and with my previous work experience with your husband, I believe I'm the best fit for the job,” she explains.

My muscles tightens for having brought my husband. Nevertheless, I maintain composure.

After a few questions, I find the interview to be meaningless. It's a ploy to test my competence. Or better still, make a mockery out of my position. Don't forget that Adrian wanted her for my position.

After much contemplation, I push myself forward, and staring at her, I say in a low tone, “Let's not play games, Savannah. You don't need this job. Why don't you tell Adrian to come up with better tricks.”

He eyes go wild. “What!”

“Yes, you heard me,” I maintain a smile but angry that they want to play dumb with me.

Her eyes widen in shock as her mouth pops open. She never saw that coming. Totally what she deserves but It doesn't stop there.

“I'm m,” she stutteres.

“Now, get the f**k out of my office before I ask the guard to throw you out,” I say a little bit above a whisper.

If anyone had told me that I could hurt a fly, I would have denied it. But I just kicked a lady out of my office.

I'm soon left alone in the office. I resume the many tasks at hand, and at noon, I ask Sonia, my PA, to bring me lunch since I'm too busy to leave my desk. I haven't had breakfast since I have no appetite for anything. It has been like this ever since I visited the doctor who told me I'm completely fine. But somehow, I still feel something isn't right, and I confirm it when my stomach begins to rumble halfway through my creamed potatoes and sauce lunch.

Shit.

I wouldn't want to ruin the deck and paperwork I have painstakingly worked on, so I dash to the restroom and all I have eaten come roaring out my mouth.

What the hell is going on? I can't seem to Keep anything down in my stomach. Then the realization hit me that I might be…

Hell no.

I double check the calendar and I realise it's been two weeks. Two weeks since the s*x happened and I might be pregnant. But I'm not sure yet. I hibernate my computer, pick some important files then I ask Tobias to drop me off at home. My mind goes straight to the pregnancy strip I collected from the hospital and after a few minutes in the bathroom, my heart goes out as two blue lines stare back at me.

What the hell have I gotten myself into?

I slide down to the tiled floor with my back against the wall. I can't believe this is happening. I have not accepted the second offer as he is soon to die, and I'm already pregnant for him?

But how could this be?

The next few days stretch on and I'm always lost in thoughts. Three years in marriage and I couldn't get pregnant for my husband. But here I am, carrying a child for another man. And how I could get pregnant in such a short window remained a mystery.

I can't describe the situation even as I sit in the lonely silence of my office, totally oblivious of my surroundings. I couldn't talk to Sonia despite her insistence. Although I'm a free woman, how can I tell her that I'm carrying the king's child. But then, a thought comes to me. Scary and dangerous, but it's the only way out, and I'm hoping the moon goddess will show mercy.

After much consideration, and releasing it is the only option, I find my way home and I see Adrian in such a melancholic state. The king has been hard on him ever since he found out that Adrian was doing a pretty bad job managing the pack’s functions.

My footsteps register my presence, and I see him wearing a pity face. He turns away and continues gazing at the window, the sun rays streaming to his face.

“Do you think this is karma?” he says but doesn't turn.

I don't know what to say, and I don't understand why he thinks it's karma. I set down my beg in the lingering silence. His eyes are still glued on the window.

“Adrian, I think—”

“Forgive me, Kara. He turns and finds his feet. His face, a pitiful sorrow. “I want you to forgive me.”

What! Does he think I'm the reason for his problems? No way. I'm only his wife. Not his mother.

“Adrian…” the words hang in my mouth.

“Just say it Kara. Say you forgive me. Say it, and I swear I will love you like I never did. Consider Savannah gone.”

He holds my two arms and for the first time, I see a remorseful man before me. Somehow, he is now the man I married three years ago. Adrian Lockwood, the man I walked down the aisle with. The man whom I told: in sickness and in health till death do us part. However, things are not the same anymore.

“Say it, Kara. Please,” he drags the last word with great emphasis.

“I can't, Adrian.”

“What! Why? Don't tell me you can't forgive me for being foolish. I only slept with her a few times.”

“But I can't, Adrian,” my eyes fall to the ground and a tear rolls down my cheek. I can't even look him in the eyes as he is making me feel guilty.

“Don't do this Kara, I love you, I always have, and always—”

“ I want Renixion,” the tears now stream down my cheeks as I look him in the eyes.

***Moments later***

“Don't do this, Kara. I know you still love me. You wouldn't want us to go confess our sins before some tired old men, would you?”

I don't want to, and God forbid I ever have to reveal my secret before some tired old men. However, a transfer of mate bond is the only option.

Adrian rakes his hair on several occasions, confused that this is happening. He knows our marriage has been rough but he never imagined it would get to this stage. A stage of reassigning a mate bond.

Seconds later, he sighs. “ Fine. If that's what you want, good. So long as it makes you happy, I'm cool with it.”

He sounds like a different man, far different from the Adrian I knew when Savannah arrived. Is this karma working against him?

“Quick question, if I'm to grant your wish, confess my sins before the council, I at least deserve to know this suitable partner of yours. Don't you think?”

My face falls to the ground at the question I can never answer. How can I tell him that I'm carrying his father's child? I scan my head for the best possible lie and I find one that is plausible. Believable. But before I can say it, my stomach begins to rumble and in a few seconds, all the food I ate comes roaring out my mouth, right before Adrian.

Adrian paces back and forth the space as I pour everything out, holding his head and looking more confused.

“f**k,” he curses as I cleared my mouth of the remaining debris. Then he inhales and exhales deeply with the realization that his wife might be pregnant.

“Now I have my answer…you f*****g w***e!”

He dashes towards me, bearing a fist. I jerk backwards and ready in anticipation of the pain. But the pain does not come.

“Touch her, and your hand will never touch anything again,” a voice threatens.

Father-in-law, Darius, registers, and his fingers around Adrian's neck. The prince is actually choking and I fear he might die in the next seconds.