The Other Brother is the Father

“Whose child are you carrying?” Jackson asked angrily. His face was visibly flushed, the veins in his neck clearly defined. He threw the test papers in Grace's face. In three years of marriage, he had never felt this disgusted with his wife.

“Did you know?” Grace responded nervously. She smiled sweetly, as she was waiting for the right time to tell Jackson about her pregnancy. However, who would have thought that her husband would know first?

“It's true what Claire said all along: you were cheating on me behind my back. All this time I didn't believe her words because I thought that you loved me. After seeing these test results, I realized that I've been fooled by your deception all along.” Jackson looked very angry. He gave Grace a sharp look. If his gaze had been a knife, Grace would have been cut by it.

Grace frowned in confusion. She had no idea what Jackson was talking about. She didn't understand why Jackson had suddenly accused her of having an affair. Everyone knew how much Grace loved Jackson. Ten years of love alone, even three years of marriage, she had fought hard to make her husband fall in love with her. In fact, Jackson was never interested in her no matter how hard she tried.

“What are you talking about?” Grace asked in confusion.

Jackson rose from his seat. He scattered several photos that showed Grace visiting the gynecologist with Shane. In the photo they looked so close and intimate. To the uninitiated, they would have guessed that Grace and Shane were a married couple.

“Where did you get that picture?” Grace picked them up and looked at them one by one.

“It doesn't matter where I got them. You're more rotten than I thought.” Jackson said with emphasis. He looked at Grace as if she were a lowly woman.

“You've got it all wrong, Jack. Shane and I have been friends since we were kids; you know we're like sibling. He took me to the gynecologist because I almost passed out at work.” Grace tried to explain, but Jackson wasn't listening.

“I've suspected from the start that you just want Malcoln's family fortune. Lately, Grandma has been asking us to have a child soon, offering us money and assets. I didn't think you would do such a dirty thing just to get the money she promised. If it weren't for her, I would never have agreed to marry you.” Jackson said harshly, leaving without wanting to listen to an explanation.

Grace stayed where she was. She stared at the photos with teary eyes. She had no idea that Jackson had been spying on her. She understood that Jackson could not accept their marriage even though they had been living together as husband and wife for three years. However, she didn't understand why he had to pay people just to find fault with her.

Jackson even knew that Shane and Grace were like family. Grace had lived in Shane's house since childhood and was considered a child by their family. Because Grace's parents died in an accident. It was impossible for them to have an illicit relationship. If they loved each other, they should have gotten married.

Grace was never short of money. The Brown family treated her very well; she was spoiled with luxuries since she was a child. Jackson's accusation that she was only after money is baseless. In comparison, the Brown family's wealth is clearly far above Malcolm's.

Grace felt that Jackson just wanted to find an excuse so that they could separate. This is because Jackson's first love had just returned from abroad three months ago. It seems that Jackson wants a divorce so that he can live with the woman who became his first love.

***

Grace looked up at the clock on the living room wall; it was twelve o'clock at night. It was unusual for Jackson not to be home at this late hour, as he had work tomorrow. If there was overtime, Jackson always gave Grace news even through his assistant. But this time there was no news at all.

Grace was very worried, especially since Jackson seemed very angry when he left the house this morning. After their fight yesterday, Jackson didn't want to talk to her at all. They didn't even have breakfast together this morning, Jackson rushing off to work to avoid his wife.

'You're not home yet?' Grace texted.

However, there was no reply after a long wait.

“Madam, it's late. You'd better get some sleep. When he get home, I'll let you know right away.” A maid came to remind her.

However, Grace shook her head in refusal. She could not rest until her husband was home. She couldn't sleep until she was sure he was okay.

Grace searched Jackson's number again, this time pressing the call icon. There was a ringtone indicating that the call was connected.

“Jack, where are you? It's so late; I'm really worried about you.” Grace asked as soon as the call was connected.

“Jackson is with me; I hope you don't mind. He's drunk next to me; maybe we'll go to a hotel tonight since I can't drive that far to take him home.” The audible female voice replied. Behind the woman's voice was also the noise coming from the music playing. It seemed that Jackson was at the bar with his first love.

Grace's heart seemed to stop beating; her face paled. She felt sick when she heard that her husband was with another woman and was planning to spend the night in a hotel. What woman would be able to relax after hearing that?

“Where are you guys? Give me the address; I'll be there.” Grace said pleadingly; she didn't want her husband to betray her.

“I don't know; I'm too drunk to remember the address.” The woman refused to tell.

“Please tell Jackson to go home; ask him to come back by taxi.” Grace hoped for mercy.

“You know that he loves me, right? So just let him spend the night with me.” The woman said firmly, then disconnected the call.