Chapter 3

I didn't remember how we started, but I could still remember how good his hard thrust felt. I thought I had gotten my man back. 

Sweet nothings rolled in and out of my ear and I could not stop telling him how much I missed him.

But the morning after that, Drake was not in my bed. And when I walked into the kitchen, the sight of Drake and Bianca making out was what greeted me the next morning. I wanted to throw up at that instance, but instead I ran.

Bianca's mocking laughter followed me, but all I could hear and see was how Drake had held her ass firmly while he f*cked her mouth with his tongue.

It hadn't gotten to an hour after the scene when Bianca badges into my room with a sly smile.

“Oh…poor baby,” she cooked innocently, but I could see the mischievous amusement dancing behind her eyes.

“Go away, Bianca,” I choked out amidst my tears.

“No, no, don't do that. I know you're hurt, but that's not enough to push me away. It's all your fault, you know,” she chuckled softly.

“What?” I asked, my eyes widening slightly.

“Oh yes. You're so delusional you think spending one night with Drake will make him get attached to you again. He used you, darling,” she said, her voice laced with an amusing bitterness.

“Wh_what? How do you even know that?” My heart slammed painfully against my rib thinking about the possible scenarios of what this was all about. What was Drake thinking when he came to my room?

“You see…I was the one who sent him there. Your husband was so all over me…he wanted me badly, he began to cry. But I couldn't. I just couldn't get turned on by him. He was like a man child and I didn't sign up for such. All I want is to have his heir and get most of his fortune. And I would do anything for it. But yesterday night, I just couldn't bring myself to make love with him. So I sent him to you,” she narrated.

Her words shocked me. Bianca wasn't in love with Drake as I had thought. All she wanted was his money.

“But why? You_you have everything, Bianca. Our parents left everything in your name. What more do you want?”

“Everything, Avery! I want everything. I want what you have Avery. Because I'm the one who deserves it.”

“What? I don't have anything! You took everything from me, Bianca. You practically stole my life. The love of my life…all because of your selfishness,” I said, stopping to catch my breath. “How_ how could you even deceive Drake like that. You know__ he loves you,” I said the last part very lowly, because it was hard to admit, but I knew it was true. Bianca was the one who owned Drake now. Drake didn't love me.

“Is that what you think? God! You're so blind to see it, aren't you? Drake doesn't love__” she began to say but then the door to my room opened.

“Is something going on?” Drake's voice came out hoarse. He looked at me, his expression unreadable. I wanted to run to him and beg. For just a little bit of his love. Something. But I couldn't. I had much more respect than that.

And then he turned to Bianca, his eyes now much softer, a happy glint behind it. He walked towards her and gave her a quick kiss on her lips, his arms wrapped around her waist, lovingly.

And then, like I was invisible, they walked out without a second glance at me.

Three weeks later, I became pregnant for the fourth time.

And then the checkup came. 

I sat in the sterile, cold room for hours. My hand twined and untwined, but I couldn't get the anxiety out of my bones. I knew it was going to be another girl again. Another child that would disappoint Drake.

But would I keep this one? Would I go through the trouble of carrying the child for months just to lose it at the sixth month? 

No, I couldn't go through that trouble again. It would kill me.

And that was why I came to a different doctor this time. I couldn't risk Drake knowing anything about this pregnancy until I was ready.

I would get rid of the child before Drake even knew I was about to have one.

The doctor finally came in.

“Congratulations, Mrs Kingsley,” she started but I decided to tune her out because I knew the next words that were about to come out of her . “... boy..” 

My ears jerked up at the sound of the word “boy”

I lifted my head, my eyes almost bulging out of my head.

“Sorry, what did you say?”

“I understand your concern__” the doctor tried to say, but I quickly stopped her.

“No_no…it's not that. What did you say I'm having?” I quickly asked. She looked at me weirdly before answering.

“A boy, Mrs Kingsley.”

“Oh my God!”

A boy.

The words knocked the breath from my lungs.

I broke down in tears, covering my mouth as sob after sob tore out of me.

“This time…” I whispered, clutching my belly. “This time, he’ll love me again. I’ll make sure I don’t lose this child. I’ll protect you. No one will take you from me.”

*****

I had been walking toward Drake’s study, one hand absently rubbing my belly.

This time would be different, I told myself. This time, when I told him we were having a boy, he would smile at me again. Maybe he’d even hold me the way he used to.

But then I heard his voice through the door.

“—she’ll never give me a son,” Drake was saying, his tone sharp as broken glass. “I made sure of it, Simon. Each time she got pregnant, I made sure she lost it before it got far enough. I can’t waste years hoping. Bianca is finally giving me the heir I deserve.”

My blood ran cold.

He did this?

All those nights I screamed in pain, clutched my bleeding stomach, sobbing as they rushed me to the hospital — he had caused them?

My knees nearly gave way, but I forced myself to turn, to run — anywhere but here.