Two Secret, One Marriage

Dr. Carter's expression softened as she looked at Sera. “Mrs. Cole, I have some good news for you. You're pregnant.” For a moment, Sera simply stared at her, as though the words had reached her ears but her mind had not yet caught up with them. “Pregnant?” she repeated quietly. Dr. Carter nodded with a small smile. “Yes. You're still in the early stages, but the tests are clear.”

 Sera lowered her gaze to her hands, her fingers slowly tightening around one another. She remained silent for several seconds before finally asking, “Are you sure?” “I'm sure,” Dr. Carter replied gently. “And from what you've told me about your recent symptoms, the nausea and fatigue are most likely related to the pregnancy.”

Sera's lips parted slightly, but no words came. The news should have been simple, even joyful, yet she sat there unable to find the right expression for what she had just heard. 

Dr. Carter noticed her silence and leaned forward slightly. “I know this may be a lot to take in, but you need to start taking care of yourself properly. You've mentioned barely eating, not sleeping well, and dealing with a great deal of emotional stress. Those things can take a toll on your body, especially during the early stages of pregnancy.” 

Sera nodded slowly. “So I need to change all of that?” “You need to try,” Dr. Carter said. “Eat properly, get enough rest, stay hydrated, and avoid putting unnecessary strain on yourself. Stress alone doesn't mean something will go wrong, but prolonged stress, exhaustion, and poor nutrition can make the pregnancy harder on your body. You shouldn't ignore your health because you're going through a difficult time.”

Dr. Carter wrote a few things on a sheet of paper before handing it to her. “I'll also prescribe the supplements you need at this stage, including prenatal vitamins. Take them as directed, keep your appointments, and come back immediately if you experience severe pain, heavy bleeding, fainting, or anything that feels unusual.” 

Sera accepted the paper with both hands and glanced down at it. “Thank you, Doctor.” Dr. Carter gave her another reassuring smile. “You're welcome. And Mrs. Cole, whatever is happening in your personal life, don't forget that your body needs care right now. You're not only looking after yourself anymore.”

Sera slowly nodded, her hand resting over her stomach as she stood from the chair. She thanked the doctor once more before leaving the consultation room, carrying the test results and prescription with her.

 Outside the hospital, the noise of Manhattan continued as usual, cars moving through the streets and people rushing toward their destinations, completely unaware that Sera's life had just changed. 

She stood on the pavement for a moment, staring down at the papers in her hand before quietly folding them and placing them inside her handbag. Then she stepped into a waiting cab and headed home.

The cab continued through the streets for several minutes before Sera finally lifted her head. She had spent enough time going nowhere, watching the city pass by while trying to decide what to do. 

Eventually, she exhaled and said, “You can take me home now.” The driver nodded and turned toward the direction she had given him earlier. Sera leaned back against the seat, only to realize something she had completely forgotten. She had left the mansion that morning without telling anyone where she was going. No one knew she had gone to the hospital, and she had no explanation prepared for why she had disappeared without a word.

 She glanced down at her handbag, then out the window again. Several possible excuses crossed her mind, but none seemed convincing enough. By the time the cab reached the mansion, she still had no idea what she was going to say.

The cab stopped outside the main gate, and Sera paid the fare through the car's electronic payment system before stepping out. She thanked the driver and watched the cab disappear down the road before turning toward the mansion. 

The large gates opened, allowing her to walk through the security entrance and along the long driveway toward the main building. She moved slowly, her handbag held close against her side, her mind still occupied by the news she had been carrying all morning. When she reached the front door, she hesitated for only a second before opening it and stepping inside.

The sight that greeted her made her stop.

Adrian was seated on one of the couches with a file open in his hands, his attention fixed on the documents in front of him. From the reports and phone calls Sera had occasionally overheard during the past few weeks, it was clear that CIG Holdings had been going through a difficult period. 

Adrian and his executive team had been working constantly to keep the company moving forward, and even from the distance she maintained from his business, Sera had noticed how often he returned home with files and spent long hours reviewing them. She did not know the details of what was happening inside CIG Holdings, but it was obvious that Adrian was under pressure.

 Across from him, Celine sat comfortably with one leg crossed over the other, a glass of wine resting casually in her hand. The moment Sera entered, Celine's eyes moved toward her, and the relaxed expression on her face slowly turned into a faint smile.

Adrian looked up from the file. His eyes settled on Sera, then briefly moved to the clock on the wall. “Where have you been?” His voice was flat.

 Sera tightened her fingers around the strap of her handbag. “I went out for a while.” Celine took a slow sip of her wine before setting the glass down. “Without telling anyone?” she asked lightly. Sera looked at her. “I didn't think I needed to explain every place I went.” Adrian closed the file with a sharp movement. “You disappeared from the house all morning, Sera. Don't start acting as though that's normal.” “I wasn't trying to cause any problem,” she replied quietly. “I just needed to go somewhere.” Celine gave a small laugh. “You always have a reason, don't you?”

Sera said nothing. She had barely stepped into the room, yet somehow she was already being made to feel as though she had done something wrong. 

Adrian stood, his expression becoming increasingly irritated as he looked at her. “If you need to leave, at least have the decency to tell someone. This isn't some hotel where you can come and go whenever you please.” Sera lowered her eyes. “I'm sorry.” 

Celine leaned back against the couch, watching her. “Adrian, don't bother. She probably has more important things to do than tell us where she's going.” Adrian's jaw tightened. “That's enough, Celine.” He turned back to Sera. “And don't expect me to sit here worrying about you. Whatever you do with your time is your business.”

Sera swallowed, her hand instinctively moving closer to her stomach before she quickly lowered it again. The words she had almost told him in the cab remained trapped behind her lips. 

She looked at Adrian for a moment, but his attention had already returned to the file. “I'll make sure it doesn't happen again,” she said softly. Adrian gave her a cold glance. “Good. Because lately, everything about you has become exhausting.” He picked up the file again, then stopped as though another thought had occurred to him. “And if you're going to keep coming back into this house looking like that, at least don't expect everyone to pretend nothing is wrong.” Sera's face tightened, but she remained silent.

 Adrian shook his head, clearly irritated by the silence, and walked past her toward the staircase. “I have enough problems with CIG without coming home to more.”

He disappeared upstairs, leaving Sera standing in the middle of the room. Celine remained on the couch, her wine glass between her fingers, watching Sera in silence for several seconds before a faint smile returned to her face. Sera did not respond. She simply stood there, one hand resting lightly against the strap of her handbag while the other remained close to her stomach, guarding a secret that no one in the mansion knew existed.

Upstairs, Celine remained in Adrian's room, but the fact that she was sleeping beside him was no longer enough to satisfy her. Sera was still Adrian's wife, and that single fact continued to stand between Celine and the place she wanted completely.

 She had returned expecting everything to fall back into place, yet Sera was still in the house, still carrying Adrian's name, and still occupying a position Celine could not simply erase. She had no intention of leaving things that way.

Later that afternoon, Celine went downstairs and found Sera in the kitchen. Sera had gone there to get something from the refrigerator, but the moment she noticed Celine entering behind her, she quietly closed the door and turned around. 

“What do you want?” she asked. Celine smiled. “Nothing. I just came to remind you that this house is changing.” Sera picked up the glass she had placed on the counter. “I don't want to argue with you.” “Of course you don't,” Celine replied. “You never did. You'd rather stand there pretending to be innocent while everyone else pays for what you did to me.” Sera's expression tightened. “I've heard enough of that. I didn't cause your accident.” 

Celine's smile disappeared. “And yet you're still standing here as Adrian's wife.”

Sera turned to leave, but Celine stepped in front of her. “Do you really think Adrian will keep you?” she asked. “He doesn't love you, Sera. He never has.” Sera tried to move past her. “Move.” Celine refused. “You should have left the moment I came back.” 

When Sera attempted to walk around her again, Celine suddenly grabbed her arm. “Let go of me,” Sera warned, pulling back. Celine tightened her grip. “Or what?” Her voice rose as she pushed Sera backward. Sera reacted instinctively, shoving her away to free herself. Celine stumbled, struck the edge of the counter, and cried out as she fell against it.

The noise brought Adrian rushing downstairs. Celine was already on the floor, one hand pressed against her side as tears streamed down her face. “Adrian!” she cried.

 He immediately moved toward her. Sera stood several feet away, visibly shaken. “She grabbed me first,” she said quickly. “I was only trying to get away from her.” Adrian barely looked at her. “What did you do?” His voice was filled with anger. “I didn't do anything to hurt her. She attacked me first.” 

Celine reached for Adrian's hand. “Don't blame her,” she whispered through her tears. “I shouldn't have confronted her.” Adrian's expression hardened as he helped Celine up. “We're going to the hospital.” He turned to Sera, his eyes cold. “Stay here.”

Sera watched them leave, unable to explain anything further before the front door closed behind them. She remained in the kitchen for a moment, her breathing unsteady, before slowly placing a hand over her stomach. 

The secret she had discovered that morning felt heavier than ever. She had wanted to tell Adrian. She had almost convinced herself that perhaps knowing about his child would change something between them.

 But after what had just happened, the thought disappeared beneath everything else. She had no idea what would happen next.

At the hospital, Celine was examined while Adrian waited nearby. After several tests, the doctor returned with a calmer expression. “She's doing fine,” he said. “The injury isn't serious, and there doesn't appear to be any major damage. She'll need to rest and avoid unnecessary strain for a while.” Adrian nodded, the tension in his face easing slightly. “Can I see her?” “In a moment,” the doctor replied, then glanced down at the file in his hand. “There's something else, though.”

Adrian looked at him. “What is it?” The doctor gave him a small smile. “Congratulations. Your wife is pregnant.” 

Adrian froze.

For a moment, the corridor seemed completely silent.

“She's what?” he asked. The doctor looked at him with certainty. “Pregnant. She's in the early stages, but the results are clear.”

And just like that, everything was about to change.