2. Pregnant For Him

Caesar Anderson was a man of undeniable charm and magnetism. With his striking looks, sharp intellect, and successful management of the family business as CEO, he seemed to have it all. Grace was convinced that marrying such a man was a stroke of luck. Despite the lack of love in their marriage, she held onto the hope that one day she would be cherished by Caesar just as she had cherished him.

"My son...you've become thinner than the last time," Caesar's mother said cunningly and made him sit down. Meredith was known for her possessiveness over her son. Mainly because Caesar was her only son and heir to everything.

"Mom, what do you expect huh... our brother isn't happy," This time it was his little sister who spoke, casting Grace's unpleasant glance. All hopes were soon reduced to ashes. As they gathered around the dinner table, Caesar's family, with their sharp tongues and cunning ways, made their presence felt. From his manipulative mother to his two conniving sisters, each seemed to hold a deep resentment towards Grace, viewing her as an unworthy addition to their prestigious family.

"Grace, as my son's wife...your duty is to make sure he's well taken care of...my son works hard," Meredith retorted. His mother was always quick to belittle those she deemed beneath her. She knew the Anderson family were a prestigious family. Wealthy and well-known.

"Mother I..." she started, but she was interrupted by Caesar's sisters.

"Maybe brother just needs a child...but oh well...there's no one to give us that," Caesar's sisters, equally malicious, jeered at Grace for her failure to bear a child for their beloved brother. Of course, they never missed a chance to scoff at her every move, fueling her growing sense of isolation and despair.

"I take care of my husband ..." Grace started, but Caesar's mother gave her a sour look id the relentless attacks, Grace longea ner husband's defense and support. But to her disappointment, Caesar remained silent, his Stoic silence casting a painful shadow over their marriage. With each insult, Grace's sense of loneliness magnified, eroding her self-worth and leaving her heartbroken.

"I made your favorite dish... I'm sure you haven't had anything good to eat in a while," as they began having dinner, Grace ate with a heavy heart. She thought she could tell the family about the new addition to the family. However, it was clear none of them liked her. From time to time, she stole secret glances at Caesar. He seemed to be enjoying his meal. Did this mean he wasn't going to change his mind.

With tears lingering in her eyes, Grace forced herself to eat. It was time she realized that the love she had craved from Caesar might forever remain an unattainable dream. The man she had once idolized, the man she had believed would rescue her from a life of insignificance, had become an accomplice in her emotional torment.

As dinner concluded, it was already late. Caesar and Grace returned to their home. After a warm shower. Grace settled in the sitting area. Grace sat on the couch, engrossed in her book, her mind drifting into the world of fiction. The sound of a file slamming onto the table jolted her back to reality. She looked up to find Caesar standing before her, his gaze cold and distant.

"Divorce papers... Sign them... Let's end this marriage, Grace," Caesar demanded, his tone icy and unwavering. Grace's heart skipped a beat as she slowly rose to her feet. She wanted to speak, to understand why he didn't tell her about the other woman.

"Caesar... Can we talk about this? Why do you want to end our marriage?" she asked, her voice shaking with anxiety and confusion. But her words seemed to fall on deaf ears.

"There's nothing to talk about...this marriage was fake... I love Sophia...she's back and I want her as my wife as soon as possible," the man said sternly and aver s gaze from her.

Grace swallowed hard and walked to him. "W-What if... What if I was pregnant? Would you still want me to leave?" Grace managed to stammer, her voice barely audible. She hoped that this revelation might change his mind, and make him reconsider the dissolution of their union.

But his callous response shattered her hopes.

"Nothing would change... If it happened, then abort the child," he declared, his voice devoid of any empathy. Grace felt her world crumble around her as she stumbled backwards, her hands instinctively clutching her stomach. How could this be the man she had married, the man she had once believed loved her?

"Here is a blank check...fill any amount you want...it's compensation for wasting your time on me...and for filling in for Sophia," he handed her a blank check. Grace stared at his hand, then his face. She couldn't form words to express her disappointment and hurt.

"Money?" Was it all about money? What of the nights they spend together? She was only a substitute.

Tears welled up in Grace's eyes as she struggled to comprehend the cruelty in Caesar's words. Every cherished memory The man standing before her was a stranger, a heartless individual tearing apart the very fabric of their relationship.

She watched as Caesar left the room. The room was in utter silence, only the cold wind seeping through the window. She glanced at the file and walked to the bed.

As morning approached, Grace was woken up by her buzzing phone. Stretching her hand, she reached for it underneath the pillow.

"Who is it," she answered without seeing the caller and slowly dragged herself up into a sitting position.

"Hello?" She said with narrowed eyes when there was no answer. Rubbing her eyes, she glanced at the phone and it was an unknown number.

"It's Sophia..." a delicate low voice was heard from the other side. Grace's heart thumped with rage as she tossed the sheets away and got out of bed.

"You dare to call...after..."

"Oh please, calm down... I didn't call to hear some pointless lecture," Sophia cut her off. By the sound of her voice. Grace knew how proud the woman was. The guts to even call her.

"What do you want... Caesar is my husband..."

"I'm pregnant for him..." the words came from Sophia, shocking Grace. She thought she heard wrong, but Sophia repeated the words, shattering her heart even more.

"I'm expecting Caesar's child...it's best if you leave us alone."