Chapter 67

Zayden

I stared into space, trying so hard to ignore the debit notification I was receiving. These women drink my money like it was some wine.

I had my legs crossed, tapping on the wooden desk at my side while waiting patiently for Lillian and Jade to be done with their shopping spree.

My thoughts wandered to recent events. I took a deep breath closing my eyes. At this point, I was beyond frustrated. I had both hands tied.

I tried to hide it, but of course, Lillian would notice. I had to lie to her that I was worried I wouldn't be a good father. Of course, It was nerve-racking knowing I'd be a dad soon, but the problem I'm in right now was worse.

The only thin thread I was holding on to was the DNA test from Sage. She still hasn't done it.

She keeps giving excuses. Now she's saying the moment we get back to New Jersey ,she'll get it done.

I'd expected Lillian to get pregnant but not this soon, not when I still haven't sorted out my issue with Sage.

I jolted out of my thoughts when Lillian's phone on the table lit up. I picked it up, just in case whatever notification she received was important.

What my eyes saw made my blood run cold. My fingers holding the device trembled.

I recognised that unknown number.

Sage!

There was an obscene video of us in HD with a text that said ' he is just using you'.

Without thinking, I got up and headed for the balcony. Thankfully we were on the third floor of the mall.

I stood over the railing and dropped the phone, watching as it landed on the concrete floor and broke into various parts.

I was breathing heavily, my chest hammering against my chest painfully.

I was just seconds away from losing my wife.

What if Lillian hadn't left the phone with me? Then, by now, she would have seen that video, and I would have met my end.

I went back to where I was initially seated and I collapsed on the chair. It dawned on me that I just destroyed Lillian's phone.

I ran my hands through my head.

Sage!

Sage!

Sage!

End her!

That voice in the back of my head was back.

She wouldn't stop. I've threatened her to get rid of the video but she's still bent on destroying my marriage.

She's going to leave me with no choice. I couldn't bring myself to tell Lillian especially since she was pregnant.

I tugged my hair. I have to shut her up. I shouldn't spill blood ,no sane human would entertain thoughts of killing someone but here I was imagining various ways to unlive her.

I'm insane.

My mind was hazy, various thoughts running through my head.

I shook my head, Lillian wouldn't want me to become that man.

The clacking of heels jolted me back to reality, and I looked up to find Lillain and Jade approaching.

I dipped my hands in my pocket to hide how sweaty and shaky they were.

Maybe I should just tell her everything and make her understand it wasn't my fault.

But then, how was I going to explain the pregnancy if I wasn't even sure it was mine?

" Hey, we're back; we can leave now." Lillian beamed.

I forced a smile and nodded.

" Can I have my phone, please?" She asked and I cleared my throat.

My mind ran over various lies I was going to tell her.

" I dropped it by accident, I'm sorry." I lied.

I've been lying a lot and it was killing me.

" Dropped it? How ?"

" I got tired of sitting, so I went out the balcony to take some air, and then I dropped it by accident." I lied through my teeth.

She stared at me and then sighed." I'm now phoneless."

" I'll get you a new one, I promise."

She shrugged. Thankfully, she didn't seem bothered. I got her a new phone right there and then.

" I saw Sage, by the way. Did you know that she was in Paris?" Lillian asked as I drove us back to my villa.

My fingers tensed around the steering wheel." Sage? Are you sure she's the one you saw? "

God, I hate that I'm lying!

She nodded." Yep, she said she sent some stuff to my phone. Too bad I won't get to see whatever stunt she was trying to pull."

I almost choked on my saliva.

" Just ignore her, she's just jealous," I added.

Lillian squinted her brows." Speaking of which, you haven't told me the story behind you two."

I glanced through the rearview mirror." We'll need some privacy for that." I said referring to Jade.

Jade snarled, baring her teeth at me.

Lillian nodded and soon we got to the villa. I secretly hoped she would forget, I honestly don't want Sage to occupy my thoughts right now.

Knowing Lillian, she didn't forget, and the moment we retired to bed, I had no choice but to tell her our back story.

" There's nothing much actually."

Lillian snuggled against me." It doesn't matter, I want to know whatever story you have to tell."

"Apart from the fact that I had known her since my teenage years, there's nothing," I replied.

" You used to be in love with her, right?" Lillian asked.

I sighed, pinching the space between my brows." Well, not exactly."

" Then what exactly!"

I sighed." She was the first female I had as a friend when my dad finally let me have a life."

Her eyes narrowed." So you did like her."

I stared at her, I could sense jealousy from the way she squinted her brows." Well, Yeah, I was into her at that time because, well, she was always coming over. She was very clingy and she made me forget where I came from. It was a bit comforting."

Lillian scoffed." And what about now? Do you still like her?"

I turned to face her, my lips curling into a smile." Why do I sense jealousy?"

She rolled her eyes." Do you still like her? Yes or no?"

I chuckled, obviously; she's jealous." I don't, someone else stole my heart."

A faint blush appeared on her rosy cheeks." So that time you...ehmmm... slept with her. Was it mutual or was there something more?"

I grazed my hands on the small of her back." I slept with her because she was seductive, and she was the first girl I laid my eyes on after so many years, so yes, my hormones were hyperactive."

Lillain's expression changed and she sat up." Are you saying you don't find me seductive? Am I not attractive enough?

I chuckled" Come on. That was years ago. You're the most beautiful woman I know, and yes, you're sexy."

She attempted to get off the bed but I grasped her wrist." Lillian, come on. I was barely eighteen at that time."

Her eyes blazed." Barley eighteen! Why is it so hard for men to keep their virginity, but the moment a woman loses hers, she becomes a whore!" She yelled.

I huffed out a breath." Look, it's in the past. I swear I didn't touch any woman till I met you."

She creased her brows, staring at me like she was about to snap my neck.

" How many times did you two do it." She asked.

I scoffed." Let's drop the topic. I love you, not Sage. She's out of the picture."

She forced her hands out of my grip." Don't make me repeat myself."

I sighed. I heard pregnant women tend to lose their sense of reasoning and overreact sometimes because of their hormones. That was the only reason Lillian was acting like this.

I bite down on my lower lips." I didn't count."

She had her back to me and I could see how her muscles were tensed." So it was more than once."

I got up from the bed and crouched down to her level in front of her." Look, we didn't even date for a week so whatever thing we had ended years ago. I was only interested in her body then because, well, I still couldn't control my hormones but now it's different. You are the only woman I know."

I cupped her face and sealed her lips with mine." I'm married to you and if there's a second life, I'd still marry you."

Finally, a smile crept on her face and then she loosened up.

" I'm not angry, though; I just wanted to put on a show." She shrugged and went under the covers.

I joined her in bed and we both retired for the night.

In the next few hours, we were back in New Jersey. It took a few more days for us to settle in and then Lillian said she wanted to reveal the news of her pregnancy to my father. She thought maybe she'd feel more accepted if my father knew he was expecting a grandchild, but I knew better.

I managed to delay for a while because I needed to sort out the issue with Sage.

I was in my office waiting patiently for Oliver. Roughly thirty minutes later, he walked in.

A sigh escaped his lips as he collapsed on the chair across from me.

" You're lucky I'm the only one she told about the pregnancy," Oliver spoke. " The results will be out today."

I clenched my fists." And you're sure she didn't sabotage it or something."

He frowned." I was there throughout the process, so no, she did not."

I leaned back on my chair." Fuck!" I cursed.

" You have more things to worry about than if my sister is carrying your child or not." He suddenly spoke.

My blood boiled." Have you forgotten that I'm married! If the results turn out positive I'm going to lose lillan. What's worse than that?"

"My only advice is to tell Lillian the truth yourself before she finds out one way or the other. It would be more disastrous if she finds out from another source." Oliver added.

My stomach lurched, and I slammed my hands on the desk in anger. Oliver was the only one I could confide in so I told him everything that happened. He believed me because he knew his sister was capable of drugging someone.

"Lillian.....she's... she's pregnant. We found out in Paris." I managed to voice out.

The office turned silent with Oliver staring at me with a blank expression on his face.

" You're in deep shit, bro."

I groaned tugging on my hair as I paced the office.

" Let's just hope the results turn out negative." He added.

" And if it doesn't?" I stared at him, sweat rolling down my face.

" If it doesn't, you'll have a bigger problem." He said getting up from his chair. " If the child is yours, we both know Sage is going to let the whole world know about it. And our fathers will be choosing her over Lillian."

I suddenly felt like I couldn't breathe. My only hope was to hope the result turned out negative or else I was done for.

We waited a few hours, and finally, Sansa, the receptionist who replaced Helena, walked in with a brown envelope in her hand.

My chest hammered loudly in my ears. I've never felt this tense in my entire life. Oliver thanked her and took the envelope.

" If you can't, I can help you check it." He shrugged.

I only nodded, unable to find words. I clenched and unclenched my fists, my breaths heaving each second.

" If I blink once, it's negative; if I blink twice, it's positive." He phrased.

I rubbed my palms together while nodding.

Slowly, he opened the brown envelope and brought out a white paper. I watched as his eyes ran over the paper, I held my breath. My whole body was s as stiff and cold as ice.

Slowly he lifted his eyes from the paper to look at me.

My fingers were trembling waiting for the blink.

He blinked once, and my heart squeezed; I sucked in a breath, waiting to see if there'll be a second blink.