Chapter 2

With a heavy heart, Mavis left the hospital without saying another word. Being blessed by a child could have been the best thing she could ever receive, however, her heart sank as the image of her husband crossed her mind. She was simply worried about how he would react if he heard about the baby. On her way home, she was debating if she should inform him of her pregnancy or if she should keep it to herself as of the moment. Holding the cold wedding ring on her finger, Mavis could only let out a heavy sigh as she came to a temporary decision. 

Upon reaching the mansion, which she thought was unnecessarily too spacious for her and her husband to live in because it made her feel lonelier, she received a rather unexpected call from her adoptive mother, Mrs. Charter. 

“Mom,” she said upon answering, “is there-”

Even before she could finish what she had to say, Mrs. Charter cut her off with her usual sharp tone of voice.

“Where are you right now?” she asked.

“I am at home.”

“What are your plans tomorrow?”

This made Mavis knit her eyebrows because it was so unlikely of her mother to suddenly ask her of the things she would do. She was simply used to them ignoring her almost every time that she found it odd for them to even call her.

“I… uhm… I will be here at the mansion to prepare for our anniversary.”

At the other end of the line, a devil’s smile was formed on the lips of Mrs. Charter.

“Good. Be a good and obedient wife. Make sure that this time, Grayson won’t be disappointed.”

Without even waiting for Mavis to say anything else, the call ended, which gave her even more assurance that her mother was up to something. She wanted to ask her several questions, but she knew too well that if she speaks more than necessary and when not spoken to, she feared that they might just abandon her again.

When she entered the master’s bedroom, the first thing that caught her attention was the small calendar on the table just near the bed. The 24th was encircled with a red pen, reminding her of the upcoming celebration of the 5th year of her marriage. 

“I should just focus on arranging this event,” she muttered to herself with the hope that she would come to temporarily forget about her illness and simply enjoy her usual life. 

She spent the whole afternoon laying out the plans for their anniversary that she ended up not noticing how the time ticked by. She only snapped out from her concentration when her phone rang. Seeing the caller, a smile was drawn on her face.

Upon answering, she said, “Jackson! Have you arrived in the city already?”

“Wow… I did not expect to be greeted with such enthusiasm. And to answer your question… yes, I just actually arrived in my apartment.” Jackson, a model and Mavis’ close friend, paused for a while because he immediately knew that around this time of the year, Mavis would be busy doing something. “Are you going to prepare another party for your husband?”

Mavis could very well distinguish the hint of disappointment in Jackson’s voice but she simply chose to ignore it.

“Well… it’s our anniversary so I am going to prepare for it since he is busy with work.”

“Mavis, you know that work is just an excuse for him. Maybe it is time that you accept the fact that no matter what you do, you will never be able to win his heart.”

Mavis could only clench her fist and bite her lower lip because Jackson’s words were nothing but the truth. It was the truth that she still could not bring herself to believe in.

Jackson sighed. “I am sorry for being too harsh on you, Mave. If you ever need help, I am just one call away.”

“I know and thank you for the offer.”

After that phone call, Mavis headed to the bathroom to wash up and get changed. Just after she finished, she went downstairs and found Grayson in the dining room. She sat on the chair just across from him and the two started eating without saying another word. Mavis badly wanted to speak but she just could not find the right timing.

“I was told that you went to the hospital today. Are you not feeling well?” he finally asked, though he never spared her a single glance.

Mavis shook her head. “I just went to have myself checked to make sure that I am in good shape.”

Grayson simply nodded and another deafening silence followed after that short conversation. After a while, Mavis noticed that her husband was already close to finishing his dinner and if she missed her timing to ask him that one question, she might not just be able to ask him in the future.

She tightened her hold on her fork to gather some courage before lifting her gaze on him.

“I… I was just thinking…” She gulped and grew even more anxious when she met his cold stare. “W-What do you think about having a child now? I mean… we are already on our fifth year of marriage and I think I am ready to be a mo-”

“No.” His voice was so piercingly cold that it made Mavis feel like she was shot right on the chest with an arrow made of ice.

“W-Why?”

“You are not ready to be a mother, Mavis. And for the nth time, I do not want to become a father. I have so many things to do right now and having a child will only add up to more responsibilities. Besides…”

“Besides… what?”

Grayson put down his glass of wine and directly stared at Mavis.

“Nothing. Just finish your food.” He stood from his seat and walked away from the dining hall. But before he totally left Mavis alone, he stopped. “And do not bring this topic back in our future conversation. My answer will always be the same and nothing in this world will change it.”

Mavis already expected his answer to be that way since those were the things she got from him ever since she brought up wanting a baby. However, even though she wanted to convince herself that she got used to it, she could still feel her heart being wrenched. Touching her belly, she could only quietly apologize to her baby because of its father’s rejection.

That night, the couple may have slept in one bed, yet they acted like strangers forced to share that spacious room. Neither of them spoke a single word and simply exchanged quick glances that seemed to speak a lot but they chose to not say anything at all. The very next morning when Mavis woke up, she was all alone in that room once more. 

Burying the event that happened the other night at the back of her mind, she gathered her remaining enthusiasm back and started to make the proper calls and people she needed to set-up the party for their anniversary. Just as always, she lost track of time while working only to be disrupted when an unexpected guest showed up.

“Wow, you truly seem to be going all out for your wedding anniversary,” the newcomer commented while looking around.

Even with her back turned on her, Mavis could already tell who it was just by her voice. She gulped and slowly turned on her heels while wishing so bad that the person she had in mind was not the person who actually came.

But upon seeing her, her body tensed.

“V-Venice… you’re home!” 

Despite trying to sound more happy and excited in seeing her sister after almost five years of being apart, it was still obvious that her voice trembled. She wanted to go and hug her but her feet seemed to have rooted themselves into the ground.

“Oh, come on, Mavis.” Venice rolled her eyes. “There is no need to pretend that you are happy to see me. It is not like we are trying to hide from everyone that we do not get along.”

Mavis chose not to comment on that statement because it would simply lead to nothing but trouble. 

“I am happy to see that you have recovered well from your injuries. Would you like to have some tea first?” 

Venice accepted the offer, not because she wanted to hang out with her adoptive and annoying sister, but for the sole reason that she had come to give her an important heads-up. 

As Mavis poured some tea for her sister in the garden, Venice could not help but look around the mansion with a contented smile plastered on her face. 

“I like this place,” she commented.

“You can always come for a visit. I don’t mind.”

Venice chuckled at Mavis’ words while shaking her head. She looked at her as if she just said the most ridiculous thing that could ever happen.

“I won’t be visiting,” she stated. “The next time I step foot in this mansion, I will be the wife of Grayson.”

Mavis did not know how to respond to that. She had no idea if her sister was simply joking or if she was actually being serious. Either way, the situation made her feel uneasy and uncomfortable. However, her silence and surprised look simply amused Venice even more than she imagined.

“Oh, gods. Didn’t Grayson tell you?”

“Tell me what?”

Venice leaned closer to her while still wearing her smile.

“That he is going to divorce you.” She laughed. “Well, it is not really surprising, Mavis. I mean… I am supposed to be the one he was to marry five years ago if only I did not get into that accident and fell into a coma for four years. And I know that you are very much aware that between us two… I am the one he truly loves.”

After that sudden visit, Mavis was barely able to focus on her work. She was thrown into disarray of anxiousness, fear, and panic that she ended up dismissing the workers earlier than she originally planned. As the day came to an end, she felt on edge while waiting for Grayson to return home. 

She was scared. 

“What if he won’t come home anymore? What if he truly leaves me? What if he chooses Venice over me now that she has returned?” Those questions endlessly circled in her mind in a loop she could not run away from.

After hours of waiting, Mavis heard the car stop by the entrance. She rushed towards the window and got showered with so much relief upon seeing Grayson stepping out from his car. Somehow, some of the burden was lifted off of her so she waited for him patiently in the living room. 

“It’s already late. Why are you not yet asleep?” Grayson asked upon seeing her.

“I could not sleep so I decided to wait for you. So… how’s work?” she asked. 

Grayson knew something was up with her so instead of answering her question, he questioned her back.

“Do you want to tell me something? If yes, then tell me now before I get too busy.”

Mavis fidgeted on her seat as she tried to gather and organize her thoughts. However, even before she could think about the first thing she wanted to say and utter a single word, her husband let out a sigh.

“If you have nothing to say, then I have something to tell you.”

As if she could read his thoughts, Mavis’ mind immediately went blank upon looking into his eyes. She hated how they looked. She despised the look of pity and decisiveness in his pair of eyes because they simply confirmed her fear.

Grayson took out some documents from his work case and slid it on the table to let Mavis look at them.

“Let’s get a divorce, Mavis.”

With tears filling her eyes, she responded, “But I am pregnant, Grayson. I am weeks pregnant with your child… our child.”