Chapter 5. Move On

Pepper POV

A lump suddenly formed in my throat as I stared at Victor’s eyes. 

It seemed to me that it had been too long since I had seen him this close. 

“What are you doing here?” He asked, eyes narrowing into thin slits. 

“I am meeting someone,” I said dismissively. 

Victor’s jaw tightened. “Are you trying to make me jealous?” He asked crudely before tailing it with a sarcastic laugh. 

The sound squeezed my gut. 

Of course, even if I paraded men in front of Victor. He wouldn’t be jealous. 

Jealousy is sacred to people who love each other and fear the loss of the other. 

Victor would never feel that emotion with me. 

Then, his laughter died down, and his expression became dangerous. 

“I may not be jealous, but I don’t want to be a cuckold husband either. So, consider this as a warning.” Victor said before his eyes turned back to the restaurant. 

When I followed his line of vision, I saw that our orders had arrived.

I wanted to explain, but Victor was already turning his body away. 

Not a second longer, I saw Maggie appearing out of nowhere with her child, Colter. 

Talk about timing, I smirked secretly. 

“Victor, Colter had been looking all over the place for you.” 

Victor instantly forgot about me and focused all his attention on the crying child.

“Hey. Why are you crying?” 

“I thought you left,” Colter said. 

Victor comforted the child and hugged him to his chest. “Of course not. I am here.” He assured Colter.

Maggie took advantage of Victor’s preoccupation with Colter to throw me a haughty glare. 

In reflex, my hands clenched into fists. I bared my teeth and pierced Maggie with a death glare. 

I may have looked horrific because Maggie looked stunned and scared all of a sudden. 

She clutched Victor’s arm to catch his attention. 

Victor did not say anything. He only looked at Maggie inquiringly. 

Thinking she would complain about me to Victor, I immediately schooled my facial features into neutral. When Victor’s gaze landed on me, nothing was amiss. 

I raised a brow when our eyes connected, and he swiftly dismissed me by turning around with the child in his arms.

“Let’s go.” He said, and I assume that was meant for Maggie, who pivoted quickly on her heels to follow my husband and her child.

But not before leaving me with a sarcastic smirk, making me feel humiliated in the end. 

“An heiress shouldn’t let anyone treat her like trash, especially her husband.” Said a man from behind me. 

My back stiffened,  recognizing the voice of Samuel Burke. 

“Don’t judge me when you only see a part of the picture, not the whole of it.” I hissed, and he laughed. 

“I don’t have to see the whole picture to know the truth. You don’t look happy.” 

Irritation caused my features to harden. “Stop this nonsense right now. I don’t want to hear about it.” 

“You don’t want to hear about the truth? Wake up, Pepper Ferguson. You don’t have to endure your husband’s infidelity right under your nose. You have a choice. To move out and live the life that was meant for you.” 

Indecision marred my features. 

Leave Victor?

“But I love him.” 

Samuel Burke snorted. “Does he love you back? Is the feeling mutual? Why do you have to force yourself on someone who did not want you?”

Ignoring Samuel Burke, I huffed angrily away. When I reached a curb, I flagged a passing taxi cab. 

At home, I confined myself to the bedroom Victor and I used to share.

It was midnight when I was rudely awakened. 

“What?” I asked, disoriented, and still feeling the haze of sleep in my eyes.

In my blurry vision, I saw Victor’s figure looming over me.

He cupped my chin, and his head descended toward me to capture my lips in a searing kiss.

It was hot and sexy, burning my lips where it touched.

Like an arid land, parched for rain, I took the kiss and responded with whatever I got.

It was the first time in months that our lips touched like this. I had almost forgotten how his lips tasted, but it was enough for my body to burn instantaneously in desire. 

Like a tinder, my body flamed in excitement at his kiss. 

I pulled away. My eyes wanted to embed in my brain the sight of his facial features in the muted glow of the room’s night lamp.

I sighed while I let my eyes feast on the magnificent sight of him. 

Then, I leaned close to lick his lips.

Victor’s response was instantaneous. His eyes smoldered in desire. 

I opened my mouth and kissed him back. 

Our breaths mingled, hot and heavy. 

“Open your mouth,” Victor demanded.

When I did, Victor’s tongue darted inside and explored the hot cavern of my mouth with the tip. 

It was enough to send a tingling excitement all over my body. 

The air became thick with our desire, and Victor’s actions became impatient. It was like he could not wait to take me. 

He tore at my dress and poised his body above me. 

“I hope this is okay.” I didn’t think much about what he said until I realized he was waiting for my go-signal. 

“What?” I asked.

“I could hurt the baby.” He said. 

It was then that it dawned on me that I had not told him about the failed implantation. 

A shadow covered my features and instantly, I turned away. 

“There was no baby.” 

Hearing my words, Victor’s body uncoiled from me like a spring. His face was furious. 

“What are you talking about?” He asked, clearly confused. 

I shook my head to gather my thoughts, my heart beating wildly in my chest like horses were galloping in there. 

“I am sorry, Victor. The embryos failed to implant. I am not pregnant.” 

His features began to harden, and fear began to crawl up my skin at the expression on his face. 

“And when are you planning to tell me that?” He asked, piercing me with an accusing glare. 

I shook my head and took a deep breath before responding. The pain brought by our failed attempt at IVF pregnancy still lingers in my heart. 

“I wanted to tell you, but you were always busy,” I told him bitterly.

“Don’t push the blame on me. You know you can always call me if I am busy.” He bit out angrily. 

And with that, he pulled away from me and the bed and marched out of the room in angry strides, banging the door on his way out. 

Looking at the closed door, I was already on my wits’ end. I don’t know what to do anymore. 

Appointment or not, willing or unwilling, Victor and I needed that talk so we could both move on with our lives.