Chapter 5

Aubrey held onto my arm, and my whole body tensed. “You are lucky that I am carrying your child.” She again brought up her pregnancy.

I already had a whole lecture about taking care of the baby from the doctor, and I didn’t want to hear a single thing.

“When are you going to divorce Hazel and end your current marriage? This child needs a proper father identity. You know what I mean?” Aubrey was fixed on this thing.

I was somewhat distracted. The warmth of Aubrey’s arm was irritating me. I felt no compassion for her.

Whenever she touched me, I felt nothing but disgust. Years ago, when Aubrey used to touch me, my heart would threaten to jump out of my chest, but feelings had changed, and it wasn’t like before.

She knows I am a married man and it is not appropriate.

But I didn’t say much because she had spent a difficult time in Germany and wanted some stability.

I had my mind on Hazel. She looked different. And, even brought up the idea to leave me. How could she leave me? This is not how a marriage works.

But it was different this time. Aubrey presence had her uncomfortable. And, I had seen her eyes devoid of the usual affection she has for me.

I am used to her trying to be my peace. But with Aubrey in the house, everything was changed.

I pushed Aubrey’s hand away. I had promised myself that I wouldn’t fall for any woman ever again. I tried to remember the night when I went to help Aubrey in the hotel room.

But somehow I woke up in the morning with Aubrey lying naked next to me.

I tried to recall what actually happened that night but couldn’t think of anything.

I was waiting to get my life back to normal with Hazel once Aubrey left our home.

I know I am not a great husband when it comes to cherishing this marriage with words and actions. But Hazel and I have a perfect home going on. I walk into a peaceful home every day so I can go back to run a multibillion-dollar company.

But how can I ignore Aubrey now since the doctor said that she is pregnant?

Aubrey insisted that I am the only man she has been with. And I had to suppress every other thought.

I was worried how Hazel would react after learning tht I slept with Aubrey. Will she walk away? But then I shook my head. I couldn’t let her walk away. She is my lawful wife and I want the things same between us.

“Why aren’t you saying anything? Say something. This is about our child’s future.” Aubrey pressed further.

“I will have to talk to my grandmother about it, and she is currently in a nursing home. I will wait for her to return.”

I am not divorcing, Hazel. I don’t love Hazel. I know that, too. I hoped it could work, but I never really felt in love with her. But our marriage was thriving. It centres around my priorities. Only a fool would throw it away.

Aubrey couldn’t sit still. Her gaze fell onto the gift bag in the backseat. Before she could pick it up, I pushed the gift bag further.

“Is this for Hazel? Did you buy this for Hazel?” Aubrey asked with a grin.

“Yes, Hazel is my wife. And she wanted the same doll I gave you, so I had bought a spare one.” I said with my eyes on the road.

“So, did you give me the spare one? Or are you going to give your first wife the spare one?” Aubrey chuckled.

“I didn’t think of that.” I lied. I gave the spare one to Aubrey.

I accidentally ordered two. It was my anniversary gift.

“Do you have feelings for Hazel?” Aubrey asked,

“No, oh…I don’t.” I denied too quickly and firmly, as if cutting it off only because I could never think of it.

But now I had to think about it. I tried to explain myself to make a firm choice. This marriage was a mistake from the beginning.

Hazel was only my mother and grandmother’s favourite. She liked me since childhood, and it was one-sided. She drugged me, schemed this one-night stand, and shamelessly begged my grandmother to force me to marry her.

Hazel already knows that this marriage would end someday. And she is already transferring a huge sum of money from the supplementary card many times. I could not tell this to my grandmother because it would hurt her.

But I also can’t ignore the fact that Hazel has taken good care of me during our marriage and sex is great too.

I only went to bed with her when I wanted to, and I know I am an ass in a way, but that does not change that Hazel is nothing but a gold digger who used me to get into a wealthy family.

I got a call from my hospital, but I ignored it.

By the time I reached my mansion, it was already dinner time.

I had the gift box in my hand, and Aubrey went to freshen up. Because she clearly didn’t want to see me giving Hazel a gift.

I expected to see Hazel by the door just like the old times. But she wasn’t there.

The dinner table was set, but I could tell from the look of it that Hazel did not set the table.

It’s been three long years, and I haven’t missed one dinner at home. Whenever I came home, Hazel had already prepared the dinner and was waiting for me by the door.

Even though I rarely acknowledged her efforts, she would still prepare the meals for me because she knew about my stomach problems.

Hazel treated the dinner as a ritual, and it was what kept our marriage together.

I looked around and sat down in my chair. Expecting Hazel to just appear any moment, I asked my butler, 

“Did Hazel prepare this meal?”

“No, Sir. She did not.”

It was obvious. It didn’t look like her prepared meal too.

Before I could ask anything, Aubrey placed a hand on my shoulder and beamed, “Shall we go out to eat something spicy? I am craving spicy food, and Hazel makes everything so bland. This way, we can celebrate our good news?”

I held her hand to remove it from my shoulder, but the ring on her finger caught my attention. “Where did you find this ring?”

I held Aubrey’s hand so tight that she winced in pain. “Ahhh...what is wrong with you?”

“Where the hell did you find it, Aubrey? How can you wear it?” This wasn’t funny. I quickly removed the ring from her finger.

It was the only thing I bought for Hazel since we were married, and she never took it out of her finger.

“I found it at the corner table.” Aubrey had tears in her eyes. But I couldn’t care.

I stood up and looked around that table. I saw a paper on the floor. My heart was beating fast now.

Hazel could not leave me. She could not divorce me. But it was her writing, and I could not believe the words she left for me.

She only did this to get on my nerves. I knew that Hazel would never divorce me. She was only mad that I gave our master bedroom to Aubrey.

In reality, the master bedroom has no significant importance to me. It is just a place to sleep. I was always going back and forth between hotels and company. I occasionally slept in that bedroom with Hazel. I was always in my study room working.

But that room meant something for Hazel for sure. Perhaps I should explain the situation to her. A thought crossed my mind.

But why should I do it when she wants to play childish tactics?

My mind was conflicted. But then I saw a few drops of blood on the floor close to the table.

My thoughts began to race. It was the same place where Hazel hit herself. Was she hurt?

At the same time, my phone ringed. It was the hospital again.

I answered, “Yes, are the reports in?” I knew it was about Aubrey’s blood work.

“Mr Ricci, your wife left the hospital on her own. She is already at risk of having a miscarriage. Bring her here.” The doctor said on the other side.

My eyes widened. “What miscarriage?”

“When your wife arrived, she was bleeding. She said that she fell. She needs to stay in the hospital and rest here so we can observe her.”

The phone slipped from my hand. I felt speechless.

I could recall her disappointed gaze. Hazel had mentioned her pregnancy. The way she touched her belly, she was scared for our child.

That explained the painful expression on her face when I did not believe her.

I completely lost my calm and yelled, “How could you not see Hazel leaving this house? Why didn’t you all inform me?”

I quickly grabbed the phone and dialled Hazel. But her phone was switched off.

I got frustrated. I could not leave Hazel and my child to die. And why would she leave the hospital?

But where could she go? Her whole world revolved around me.

I called my assistant and gave the order, “Find my wife. I want to know where she is. Right now. I want her back. Do you hear me? I want my wife back. Find her soon, like right now.”