My Billionaire Husband's Regret

CHAPTER 3

I hurried to the bathroom, rushing through my bath and putting on the most available dress before finding my way back to the sitting room.

The thick silence which enveloped the house alongside the empty dining seats made me realize Alfie had left, leaving me to my fate. Frustration settled on me as I stood with arms akimbo, thinking of potential solutions to my problem. My phone beeped for the third time, making me realize I had 15 minutes left. I dashed out of the house, wiping my tears with the back of my palm.

******

"Congratulations, Mrs, you are three weeks pregnant," the doctor smiled on his seat as he handed the result slip to me.

My heart skipped a beat. I felt a cold shiver run through my spine, followed by a mixed feeling of happiness and sadness. "Thank you, doctor," I faked a smile.

"Remember to rest well and take your drugs regularly," I heard the doctor say faintly as I turned the knob, trying to conceal my emotions.

The journey from the hospital back home seemed faster than usual. The answer was well within the bounds of reality -the pregnancy.

As I drew closer to the mansion, I heard a familiar voice. It was my mother-in-law's voice. My eyes widened in terror and my skin turned pale. I could feel my lips quiver as I stood by the door, holding the knob for seconds, confused and perplexed. Ever since I got married to Alfie, his mother had never been kind to me because of my childlessness. Meanwhile, Alfie doesn't want me to get pregnant.

I had gotten used to being Alfie's second choice. Someone he comes to only to satisfy his s****l urge, and for his mother, she never tried to conceal her hatred towards me.

"Where have you been, Amelia? You have refused to take my calls?" Alfie barked, immediately I stepped in. His fist clenched and his eyes bloodshot, but I was ready to stand my ground this time and be courageous.

I trembled under his voice. My hands shook in reaction to the terror I felt. The sight of my mother-in-law escalated my fear. But I was ready to be courageous and not give in to his threats. "I do not owe you an explanation about my whereabouts, mister. Oh! Maybe I do, but not anymore," I retorted, surprised by my own level of courage.

"Keep quiet! You must be a fool to think you could just come in and go out of my son's house at will," my mother-in-law yelled.

I felt the pain of a thousand blows on my chest as my world clashed against two other people's. My courage flew away right before my own eyes. My eyes drooped, and my shoulders slumped. I fought back the tears that threatened to force its way out of my eyes as memories of my sick father came running to my mind. "But I never forced him to marry me. All I did was solicit for assistance which he did because of his lustful desires on me," I retorted.

I remembered how I had decided to marry Alfie in exchange for financial assistance in order to save my father who was at the verge of death, since that was the only condition he gave before helping me.

My life had been devoid of love right from childhood. I had always looked forward to marriage, hoping to get love and attention in it, but I was wrong. Even in my marriage, I was nothing but a useless second choice. I had hoped Alfie and I would later fall in love but it was mere illusion.

I stood there with my head bowed in shame. I opened my mouth but my tongue was too heavy to say a word. I gazed at Alfie who was now fumbling with his phone, unbothered by his mother's harsh words. The weight of my unshed tears pressed me down.

He quickly sent a disdainful look towards me, such that it seemed to remind me that his mother must not get to know about our contract marriage. "Keep quiet and go get your belongings out of the bedroom, brat," he fired.

Although bittered, I wasn't moved by his words. There was no essence of staying in the room since he never gave me attention and only had s*x with me for pleasure and not intimacy, not even considering my s****l satisfaction.

"You shouldn't have a problem with that, do you? You chose to be barren so give room for the one who is fruitful," his mother added. I wasn't surprised, she was desperate to have a grandchild. Reason why Alfie had me agree to the contract: to lessen her pressure on him.

'I am not barren. I'm three weeks pregnant,' I almost said but I stopped. 'They don't deserve to know,' I concluded to myself as I trudged away with my knees weak, and threatening to collapse.

"This is too much for me. Why do I have to go through all these?" I soliloquised, pondering on all I had been through.

Several thoughts ran through my mind as I gathered my belongings out of the bedroom. My hands visited my eyes regularly as I fought back tears continuously. I was tired of crying. That was what I had done all my life yet I never got out of my problems. Maybe it wouldn't have been so worse If I hadn't lost my mother. But then, it was beyond my control, I sobbed, my life appeared like a problem-attracting magnet.

But almost immediately, the news of the pregnancy sailed to my mind again. My heart flooded with joy and I felt butterflies in my belly. I suddenly felt hopeful again, and my face curved into a smile. Maybe with time, I could get Alfie's mother to love me if she gets to know about the pregnancy.

My happiness barely lasted enough when my phone rang, a sudden rush of coldness swept over me. It was the hospital number.

"Come to the hospital right away, your father is… "

The phone fell. My mouth opened agape and the world around me stood still. Without waiting any longer, I barged out of the mansion, saying nothing to my husband and mother-in-law, as the sound of my footsteps accompanied me.