CHAPTER FOUR
1161 Words
Ella's POV
The next day, morning dew poured and clouded down outside. Elijah woke up to the sound of raindrops hitting the windows.
He dressed up and went downstairs to the dining table to get a cup of coffee that would help him feel better. Just then he saw Mrs Smith sitting on the dining and sipping some tea.
"Elijah, I want to speak with you". He sat down in the dining room with her inquisitive to find out what she wanted to discuss with him and what was on her mind. His mom took a sip of her tea before starting the conversation.
"Your step-brother will not rest until he takes the company from you. Once he comes back, he will make sure he fights for the company. He might be calm now, but trust me his plotting something. He's ruthless, Elijah, and with Clara's family connections, we could secure our future. Her father is a well-respected lawyer and their business ties would give us an advantage. I think marrying Clara would be a strategic move."
Elijah shook his head, anticipating where this conversation was headed. "Mom, I've told you before".
"I know, I know," she interrupted, "but think about the benefits. It's not just about Clara, it's about securing our family's legacy. And besides, she's from a good family. You two would make a perfect pair."
Elijah took a deep breath, preparing to reply to his mom. "Mom, I've made my choice. Ella is pregnant with my child. Nothing will make me leave Ella for Clara".
Mrs Smith's expression changed from determined to surprised, her eyes widening in shock.
"Pregnant?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. His mom was shocked. " I am talking about the family business, and you're telling me someone who isn't Clara is pregnant with you".
Just then, I walked into the room, trying to break the tension with a warm smile.
"Good morning Mom," I said, greeting Elijah's mom. I then turned to Elijah and gave him a gentle peck on the cheek.
"Good morning darling," I whispered, holding his hand tightly to show our love and commitment.
Elijah's mom watched the exchange with growing anger. She walked out of the room angrily and her face red.
"This discussion isn't over, Elijah," she warned. I'll make sure your so-called fiancé knows her place. She's a daughter of a nobody and I won't let her stand in the way of my plans".
Elijah's mom had been planning this marriage between Elijah and Clara for years, and she wasn't going to let anyone ruin it now. She had promised Clara's family that the marriage would happen, and she would do everything in her power to make it a reality.
The news of Ella's pregnancy only made her more determined to see her plans through. His mom stepped out of the house the tension between Elijah and his mom was clear.
Elijah turned to me and asked, "How was your night?" I replied, "It was fine." He then told me to have breakfast and get ready because he had to go to work soon. He planned to drop me off at the hospital for my maternity care and I appreciated his thoughtfulness.
We were ready and we both got into the car. The silence between us was tense. To be honest, I wasn't expecting Elijah to talk much considering our situation. We didn't know much about each other's personal lives and our relationship was built on a foundation of misunderstandings and lies.
But despite all that, I had started to feel a connection with him, maybe because of the care and concern he showed me. I decided to break the silence, knowing that Elijah was worried and stressed about his mom's reaction.
"Hey, is everything okay?" I asked, trying to sound casual. I didn't want him to think I was nosy, but I wanted to show him that I cared. When I looked at him, I could see the tension in his body and I knew he was carrying a heavy burden because of me. I wanted to ease his worries, even if just for a moment.
"You seem really stressed," I said, my voice soft. "Is it about your mom?".
He replied, "It's fine. "I just told my mom about your pregnancy." I was stunned by his response.
"Why did you do that?" I asked, my voice laced with surprise. "Doesn't your mom hate me now?"
Elijah shrugged, his expression nonchalant. "I don't care, what's important is that I want to live my life my way."
I looked at him, to know he was serious. "But what about your mom's reaction?" I asked, concern lasted on my face.
Elijah's response was, "I've made up my mind, and I'm not going to let my mom's disapproval dictate my decisions."
I took a deep breath and decided to take a chance, at least to do something for him to see if his family drama could seize a bit.
"Why don't we make this marriage real?" I suggested, my voice barely above a whisper. Being engaged is just a formality. Let's make it look real."
Elijah raised an eyebrow, his expression questioning. "What do you mean?" he asked, his eyes locked on mine. I took his hand in mine, feeling a surge of determination.
"I mean, let's get married for real," I said, my voice firm. I don't mind. Let's make this marriage work.
Elijah looked at me surprised. "Do you really want to do this?" he asked, his voice filled with wonder. "Are you willing to go this far just for me?"
I nodded, my heart racing with excitement. "Yes, I'm willing to marry you just to convince your mom and to also prove to your brother that you got married before him."
Elijah's face filled with relief, and he smiled. "Okay, let's do it," he said, his voice filled with determination.
As we arrived at the hospital, Elijah's presence drew attention. As a well-known CEO, everyone seemed to know him and they greeted us with respect. The doctors and nurses couldn't help but glance at me, wondering who I was and what my relationship was to Elijah.
Some of them might have assumed I was his wife, given the way he cared for me. The doctor registered us and began explaining everything we needed to know about pregnancy. Elijah listened attentively, asking questions and showing genuine interest in the information being shared.
After the consultation, Elijah called his driver and arranged for someone to pick me up and drop me back home while he headed to the office. We parted ways. I gave him a warm smile and wished him a nice day at work.
He smiled back and said, "See you when I get back. "We'll continue the discussion we had in the car." I felt a sense of comfort and anticipation knowing that we would be discussing our
Future plans and possibilities soon.
- Writer
