Chapter 4: A Baby?
1405 Words
I knew I was Arthur's wife, the lady of this mansion. But watching Bianca act so calm and collected in front of me, I felt like I couldn't stay in this house for another second.
My gaze drifted to the side, and with what I thought was a calm tone, I said, "I'm going to tidy up the room," and turned to head upstairs.
As I retreated, I could feel Bianca's eyes on me, a hint of mockery playing on her lips. I knew my hasty exit probably looked like I was escaping, but I couldn't bring myself to care.
Back in my room, I felt a pang of sadness but quickly convinced myself it wasn't worth being upset. I was just a stand-in, something I'd known all along. The reality of my situation hit me hard, and I couldn't even bring myself to enjoy breakfast. Instead, I lay back in bed, letting myself drift into a deep sleep.
Voices downstairs woke me up. Checking the time, I saw it was already 11 am. Laughter occasionally drifted up, and I opened the door to hear it more clearly.
"Ms. Brooks, your figure and style are amazing! You look good in anything! I don't even know which one to recommend. You can pull off any style."
I watched the scene downstairs, feeling my face turn pallid. Bianca was wearing an off-shoulder white wedding dress, her hair elegantly tied up, standing tall and graceful. In my mind, I couldn't help but picture Bianca and Arthur together in wedding attire. Ironically, I found the imagined couple quite fitting.
Unconsciously, my nails dug into my palms. I couldn't help but think that this was the difference between being the real wife and just a substitute. When I married Arthur, we did nothing more than the paperwork at the city hall. There was no beautiful dress, no celebration, just cold formality.
Then Bianca spotted me, her face brightening into a smile. "Is the room cleaned up? Come down, I think you have a good eye. Help me decide which one looks better on me."
My heart sank, and I descended the stairs with heavy steps. Each step felt like I was walking towards my own humiliation.
"Ms. Brooks, it's your own wedding. Make the decision yourself. After all, it only happens once in a lifetime," I said, my tone cold and biting.
Listening to my cold tone, I saw Bianca's eyes flash with a hint of darkness. Just then, Lin entered, respectfully saying, "Ms. Brooks, your chicken soup."
Bianca's face lit up with a delighted smile as she walked over and took the deep plate. She lifted the lid and took a sniff, the rich aroma wafting instantly into the air. My stomach churned violently, and I covered my mouth and nose, rushing out of the living room.
I could hear Bianca's surprised voice behind me, quickly following, asking, "What's wrong? Are you pregnant?"
My heartbeat seized for a second. I silently squeezed my fist, hiding the tension in my eyes. I looked up at Bianca with what I hoped was a bright smile. "Yes, I'm pregnant, and it's Arthur's!"
I figured the more I concealed, the more suspicion I'd attract. It was better to admit it. This way, Bianca wouldn't believe it.
Bianca's face stiffened abruptly, and then she squinted at me for a moment before letting out a crisp laugh. "You can't fool me. I was just being kind to check on you. But don't worry, I won't get mad."
With that, she turned and went to change her clothes. I breathed a sigh of relief quietly. Thankfully, I hadn't been found out, but I worried Arthur would blame me if he found out about this exchange.
Bianca, now out of the wedding dress, still wore an elegant smile on her face. She turned to me and said, "Grace, come here."
"What can I do for you, Ms. Brooks?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
"I'm going to bring Arthur some food. The clothes in my suitcase got dirty during the move, so could you wash them for me? Oh, and be sure to hand wash them. Otherwise, they'll be ruined."
She patted my shoulder with a smile, saying, "Thanks," and walked away in her high heels. That gentle smile of Bianca's made it hard for anyone to dislike her, which somehow made me dislike her even more.
I took a deep breath. I had done laundry before, so washing clothes wasn't particularly difficult for me. It wasn't until later that I discovered Bianca had three whole suitcases of clothes.
Staring at the mountain of clothes in front of me, I desperately tried to convince myself it was just four months. Endure it, and I will be free. But looking at the pile, four months suddenly seemed like an eternity.
As I worked, sweating and exhausted, the butler approached and said, "Ms. Edochie, you won't finish washing all these clothes even if you work until dark. Let me help you."
"Lin, it's okay. You go about your business," I replied, trying to hide my fatigue.
Bianca had specifically asked me to do the washing. If Arthur found out Lin helped, he might direct his anger at Lin, and I couldn't bear the thought of causing trouble for the kind butler.
Having done various chores growing up, this wasn't particularly challenging for me. I wiped the sweat from my forehead and continued working, my hands raw from the soap and water.
After two full hours of washing, I was parched and about to stand up to get some water when suddenly everything went black. All I heard was Lin nervously calling out, "Ms. Edochie!" before I lost consciousness.
When I woke up again, the scent of disinfectant lingered in the air. My vision gradually focused, and I saw a tall figure standing by the bed. Realizing I was in a hospital, I sat up abruptly. Arthur was right beside me, making me anxious. I didn't know when he had come in, and now I was worried if he already knew about my pregnancy.
Carefully, I asked, "When did you get here?"
Arthur stared at me with a cold expression, unsettling me even more. I felt like a small animal trapped under the gaze of a predator.
Just then, my attending doctor walked in, a woman with glasses who glanced at Arthur before turning her attention to me. "You're awake. Don't worry. There's nothing serious. Just a fainting spell from low blood sugar and anemia. With your health, it's better to avoid such strenuous activities."
Arthur, standing nearby, suddenly spoke in a chilly tone, "Just anemia and low blood sugar? Does she have any other issues? She hasn't been eating well lately."
My heart raced, but I heard the doctor saying to him, "Poor appetite could be due to excessive stomach acid. I'll prescribe some relevant medication for her."
Arthur's gaze shifted to me, the icy stare seemingly mocking me for playing the victim again. I, who had been worried about being exposed, finally felt relieved.
"Since you're fine, I'll go. Don't play tricks with me again," he said with that indifferent remark before leaving.
I looked at the female doctor gratefully. "Thank you! Thank you for not revealing my pregnancy."
The doctor replied calmly. "No need to thank me. It's our responsibility to protect patient's privacy. I remember you asked me to keep it confidential last time."
I thanked her again. "Thank you."
"Besides, that gentleman didn't say he was your family. He only claimed to be your friend."
My heart sank, feeling a sourness in my mouth. Even in the hospital, he didn't want to admit our relationship. I forced a self-deprecating smile, thinking it might be good that he didn't say he was my husband. If he had, the doctor would probably have told him the truth, and then the baby in my belly would have been at risk.
The doctor, observing my pale face, felt sympathy and advised, "With a baby on the way, don't engage in heavy work. If your appetite is poor, try eating smaller meals more frequently…"
Suddenly, the door opened, and I looked towards it in fear, finding Arthur standing there. His cold voice cut through the room.
"What did you say? A baby?"
I froze, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might burst out of my chest.
- Writer
