The Billionaire's Triplet: Resurrection Of The Scorned Wife

001

Brianna Pounds

I should’ve known better than to leave the house without checking the weather. The storm roared around me, followed by the crack of thunder.

Closing my eyes immediately, I prayed fervently that it wouldn't draw a map to my glass and strike me. I hated lightning so much, and being stuck here in a storm with the sound of rain and thunder terrified me. I could have let Cally drive me, or better still, had him run the errand for me, but I couldn't. I just couldn't.

This pregnancy was my life, and I’d vowed the news wasn't getting the light of day until at least I was sure I’d be due in no time. This news was everything to me, and I was sorry, but not even Nicodemo would hear it.

It wasn't an easy secret to keep. Nicodemo, smart as he is, had started noticing little changes, like how I was constantly tired and gaining weight. I’d hidden more times than not to get my cravings satisfied, just like this moment that had left me stuck here in the storm. The morning sickness I suppressed so much was exhausting, and the pregnancy nose was giving me away, but I was going to lie my way out of it anyway. Like, "I’ve always had a big nose, you just haven't noticed, Nico."

My conscience had judged me countless times for keeping the news from him. Heck, I loved Nico, but I no longer trusted a single soul at this point.

Five years. Five years had been a repeat of one gruesome incident after the next. Every time I got pregnant, someone tried to kill me.

I’d been pregnant even before Nico and I tied the knot. Our baby could’ve been five by now if someone hadn't spiked my wedding cake with abortion pills. If only I’d known, I wouldn't have eaten a thing on that day, but the baby was craving the sweetness. To be honest, it’d been so much that even up until this moment, I couldn't tell which cake cost me my baby or who had handed it to me.

Another thunderclap snapped me from the bitter memory back to the present. There had been more attempts to end my life than I could remember, but it shouldn't matter anymore. I was pregnant again. Pregnant now.

The rain had cleared a bit. I stilled my drumbeat heart, put on the wipers to clear the fog, and gripped the wheel so hard I could feel my pulse, heaving in the cool air.

I drove so carefully that it took me longer than necessary to get home. Nico saw my driving skills as an abomination to the eye of a good driver. He’d forbidden me to drive him because of how slow I went, but tonight, you couldn't really blame me. It was stormy and I had to take care.

I pulled into the mansion's curb, and Cally ran out into the rain, taking the keys to park the car in the lot as I practically ran to the front door. Dusting my hair and clothes, even though I was only covered in droplets, I dropped my shoes at the corner and my coat after, striding up the stairs next.

Nico wasn't home when I left, and I hadn't even made an attempt to spot his car. I doubted he was home. He probably was stuck too, wherever he currently was, but that thought died in my mind instantly as I heard his laughter. That laughter had driven me crazy in love and still did, only my breath died in my throat as another voice followed in the cackle. It was a woman's.

Before I could ponder who that could be, my legs were taking heavy steps, stretching more than I usually did toward our bedroom.

I cracked the door wide open, and the movements of Nico and whoever was inside were swift. It looked like she’d just gotten off him, and Nico was now readjusting his posture, while the blonde turned away to stop me from seeing who she was.

But those legs were impossible not to recognize. They were the same ones that had troubled me, and I’d expressed my worries about this same girl to Nico. He always shrugged it off with a laugh, saying I worried too much and that I shouldn't be worried about Kariana. I think that was her name.

He said it was just work and she wasn't even his type. I’d believed him, but seeing this situation right here, heck, I wanted to believe his words weren't a lie.

Not wanting to come off like I was judging the situation without proof, I cleared my throat and tried to speak. "Nicodemo, what's going on here?" My voice came out impossibly low, and the storm outside could have easily swallowed it.

"Tell me it's not what I'm thinking." I stared into his eyes, but he avoided my gaze and looked at the blonde.

"Nicodemo, who is she, and what was that position? What was she doing on top of you, in our matrimonial bed?"

Nico cleared his throat and began buttoning up his shirt, which I hadn't even realized was unbuttoned, being so caught off guard. "She wasn't on top of me, Brianna. We were discussing business." He frowned, his voice sounding annoyed to my ears.

"Business dressed like this?" I shot Kariana a glare. She was still turned away, unmoving. "Like a slut." I took in her short purple dress, rolled up impossibly high. She scratched her nape, oozing nerves. "And your shirt unbuttoned, and..." A hurtful laugh coated my throat at the realization that even his belt was undone.

"Wow, Nico. Really, wow," my voice cracked.

"Brianna, please don't start," he dismissed.

That irritated me, fueling my anger. "Don't start? Seriously, Nico? I just caught you in our bed with some slut and all you could say is don't start?" My voice rose to a high pitch.

"Oh, stop it," he rose to his feet. "Don't pretend like it's news to you. Brianna, come on. Yes, Kariana and I have been seeing each other right under your nose, longer than you can believe. I love her, and I love you too, so that's that. I'm sorry." He ended his sentimental speech with a sigh.

I choked back a cry, suppressing it immediately. "Are you hearing yourself right now, Nicodemo? You love her, and you love me? Nico, I'm your wife. We've been married for years, Nico!" I shouted, tears clouding my eyes.

"Come off it, babe. I love you, you know that. Just that..." his voice halted when he neared and tried to touch me.

Taking a step back like his touch was filth, I warned, "Don't you dare touch me."

"Brianna, you're raising your voice. I'm just being honest. I can't keep up anymore. You're my girl, but I can't stay away from her. I love her." He looked at Kariana, his eyes softening as if letting this out was all he'd ever wanted. He confirmed my assumptions. "I'm glad I'm telling you this now. Please don't let this ruin what we have. We can open this marriage. I keep Kariana and you. I have you both, and I promise everything will be perfect, Brianna. I love you, I can't deny that fact."

My mouth hung open. I couldn't think straight; I couldn't understand. "What are you saying, Nico? I asked you about this girl, and you told me never to worry, that she wasn't your type, and all that nonsense. What are you saying to me right now? Nico, think, please!" I cried.

Kariana cleared her throat to remind us she was still in the room. Looking at her, I could tell she'd mustered courage, as if Nico’s confession had suddenly given her bravery. She no longer looked like the naive girl I'd always thought she was.

Now it all dawned on me, making me realize how stupid and trusting I'd been.

Nico didn't say anything more. He sat at the edge of the bed, looking at me with melting eyes. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to happen this way, I just..."

"Shut up, Nico. Shut it! What are you saying? How do you want my parents to feel about this?"

"That's the whole point!" He suddenly snapped, like he'd been under a shell the whole time. "That's the fucking point, Brianna! Your parents this, what will your parents think that? How about you stop worrying about what anyone thinks and give me a damn child! I'm tired, Brianna. I need to hear a baby's cry, not the constant cock and bull stories of yours that you lost the baby. I'm sure they're all lies." He baffled me. "Kariana here could give us everything we've ever wanted. The baby, the happiness. Brianna, with Kariana, we could be happy forever." He softened his voice at the last part.

"Nico," I said lowly, more to myself. "I can't believe you just said that to me. I can't believe all this while someone has been trying to kill me and all that ran through your head was that I was faking it?" I emphasized the last word in an angry shout. "And sleeping with this slut?" I lunged for Kariana, but Nico stepped in swiftly. Before I could land a blow on her, he shoved me like a piece of trash, throwing me to the ground. "Don't touch her again, Brianna!"

I watched him with a bewildered glare. "Nico, did you just...?"

"Just shut up!" he snapped. "Kariana is pregnant, carrying my child. Do you want to kill my baby like you killed yours? Don't you ever think of laying your hands on her."

"Pregnant?" was all I could muster. "Kariana is pregnant for you?" I pointed to her.

In an annoying, triumphant tone, she cleared her throat. "Six weeks in."

"What?" My voice cracked. "You got this slut pregnant?" I rushed at him, acting without thinking.

Nico caught my wrist and yanked it down. "Stop this nonsense. She's doing you a favor. You should be grateful."

It happened like a theater scene right before my eyes. Kariana turned to Nico with a voice so tender it roiled my insides. She begged, "Babe, she's making a lot of noise and the baby doesn't like it. She's causing me a headache. Could you throw her out, please?"

Nico’s eyes melted as he looked at her. Tightening his arm around her tenderly, he turned to me with eyes he'd never looked at me with before. "You heard her. You're causing her a headache. Could you leave, please?"

My throat could only let out a disbelieving laugh.

Kariana switched her voice even more. "No. Not just leave. Throw her out, please."

"Right," Nico muttered. "She's useless anyway." He unlocked his arm from Kariana. I couldn't believe he'd listen to this bitch.

From the way he approached me, I knew I had to save my marriage. I had the antidote to save my fucking marriage.

"Brianna," Nico called as he reached the door, holding it wide open. "Kindly leave so I won't have to exert force."

That same hurtful laugh slipped out of me. "Are you really going to listen to her?"

It happened so fast I barely registered it. I was busy searching Nico’s eyes for that love, our love, when his bitch pushed me so hard I was out the door, slamming my face onto the cold floor.

I rose up quickly before he could shut the door. "Nico, you can't do this to me because of her! I'm carrying your child, too!"

Even my own pulse halted at the news, leaving a deafening silence. They both glared at me like I was some crazy, lying bitch, but I wasn't.

“I'm pregnant!” I declared.

"Really?" Nico said smoothly, as if he'd suddenly found some remorse, before he laughed, killing my hope. "Is that your brave attempt to brainwash me? Brianna, I'm not stupid. Try another joke."

As he was about to shut the door in my face, I rushed out, "No, no! I swear, I'm really pregnant. I can prove it, just... let me," I finished lowly.

Nico seemed to be weighing his decision, while Kariana was looking down at my legs. I watched her mouth whisper, "She really is pregnant, Nico."

Nico followed Kariana’s eyes, and I did too, only to see the droplets of blood dripping from my legs onto the white floor.

"She really is pregnant, Kariana," Nico whispered back.

Their surprised eyes surprised even me, and goosebumps covered my body instantly, as if my body knew what my mind couldn't quite place.

"Brianna is pregnant again, Nico," Kariana said.

Why were they so shocked and surprised? It wasn't like I was barren to begin with.