Chapter 5

The hospital's sterile air felt suffocating as Cecilia and I walked down the corridor toward the exit. My mind was still spinning from the doctor's word. Pregnant. I was pregnant with Nicholas child.

I hadn't even begin to process what that meant for me, for my future, when a voice sharp and commanding, sliced through the air.

“Iris”

I froze.

Cecilia stiffened beside me as we turned to the voice. Mrs Robinson.

Nicholas mother stood at the end of the hallway her piercing gaze locked onto me Ike a predator that had just found his prey. Even in her well designer dress and beautiful styled hair, there was something cold and calculating about the way she looked at me.

My stomach twisted, she must have seen us coming from the doctor's office.

She approached us with slow deliberate steps stopping just inches away. Her eyes flickered to my stomach, then back to my face.

“You're pregnant,” she said. It wasn't a question, it was a confirmation statement, a claim.

I swallowed, my body tensing. “That's none of your business.”

Her lips curled into a knowing smile. “ Oh, but it is. That baby belongs to the Robinson family.” She shouted at me.

Cecilia stepped forward protectively. “With all due respect, Mrs Robinson, Iris doesn't belong to you”

Mrs Robinson ignored her, focusing only on me. “ You have to come back home, iris. You're carrying my grandchild. Whether you like it or not, you are still Nicholas's wife”.

A surge of anger flared inside me, I lifted my chin. “ No. I'm done with Nicholas. I'm done with your family.”

Her smile faltered. “You think you have a choice in this?” Her voice dropped to a whisper, laced with quiet warning “you are only married to the Robinson to give us a heir and nothing more, your parents already have your grant. You and your family are nothing without the Robinson name. And that child? It will be raised where it belongs. In our family”

My shoulder dropped “I won't let you control me anymore.”

Her eyes darkened. “We’ll see about that.”

She turned on her heels and walked away, her heels clicking against the pristine floors.

I exhaled shakily, my heart hammering. Cecilia grabbed my hand “we need to be careful, Iris.”

I nodded, but deep down, I already knew. This wasn't over.

******

A weeks later.

I had been so naive.

I thought I could ignore Mrs Robinson. I thought if I stayed with Cecilia, Mrs Robinson would eventually give up.

But I understimated how far she was willing to go.

That night, I wake up to loud banging on the door. Cecilia rushed to answer it, but before she could react, they barge in.

Men in black suit, Mrs Robinson men.

And behind them, standing with a satisfied smirk was her.

“I told you,” she said smoothly. “You're have what belong to me and you will be giving it back”

I stumbled back, my heart pounding. You can't do this.

She tilted her head , feigning innocence. “Can't I ?”

Then before I could react, the men grabbed me.

Cecilia screamed, trying to fight then of, but they were too strong. I kicked and thrashed, but their grip was unyielding.

“No!” I shouted. “Let me go!”

Mrs Robinson simply watched as they dragged me out of the house.

And just like that, I was taken back to the place I swore I'd never returned to.

The moment I was thrown into the guest room the door locked behind me, I know this wasn't just about the baby anymore.

Mrs Robinson wanted to break me.

She made sure I had no access to my phone, no contact with the outside world, my Neal barely enough, and the stress of it all made my nausea unbearable.

I was a prisoner.

A prisoner in my own marriage.

And the worst part.

Nicholas still hadn't come here.

I was completely alone held by Mrs Robinson men.

************

I sat silently in the grand Robinson mansion next to me where two men on black suit standing at my back holding me as hostage.

Across from me , Nicholas and his mother conversed as if I wasn't even in the room, like I was nothing more than a transaction being discussed between a seller and a buyer.

Mrs Robinson sipped her tea with an air of satisfaction. “Now that Nicholas is here, let's get straight to the point” she placed her cup down gently.

“She is pregnant” Mrs Robinson pointed at me “with your child, Nicholas. “She will stay here until she give birth. We cannot allow our heir to be raised outside the family.”

Nicholas leaned back in his chair, his sharp eyes flickering toward me for first time since he arrived. His face was unreadable. “ You expect me to keep her here against her will?”

Mrs Robinson scoffed. “ Nicholas, you don't have a choice. This is your responsibility. You need to secure the Robinson bloodline?”

I felt irritated. They were talking about me like I was just a vessel.

Nicholas exhaled sharply, rubbing his hand in his temple. “I understand that, mother. But keeping her here like a prisoner isn't the answer.”

Mrs Robinson gaze hardened “then what do you suggest?”

Nicholas was quiet for a moment before he finally stood up. “I'll take her home myself.”

Mrs Robinson raised a brow “Home? To your home ?”

“Yes.” His tone was firm, leaving no room for argument. “She's still my wife, and she's carrying my child. I'll be the one to decide what happens with my family.”

I stared at him, shocked. Was this…. concern?

Mrs Robinson pursed her lips in disapproval but didn't protest further. Instead, she waved her hand toward the man who had been keeping me hostage.

The men immediately stepped back.

I swallowed, still too warm to believe that Nicholas was suddenly on my side. But for now, I had no choice but to follow him.

**************

The ride home was to Nichols mansions was silent .

Nicholas didn't say much and I don't bother to ask why he suddenly cared. I wasn't foolish enough to believe he actually did.

When we arrived at Nicholas House, the place I once called home, I felt uneasy weight settle in my chest. I didn't belong here anymore.

And I wasn't the only who thought so.

The moment we stepped inside, Clara was waiting.

Her face twisted in rage the second she saw me.

“What the hell is she doing here?”

Nicholas sighed, clearly exhausted. “Clara, not now.” Clara marched forward, her heels clicking angrily against the marble floors.

“Yes, now! You went to get her? You brought her back here after everything?”

Nicholas's jaw clenched “ she is pregnant, Clara.”

“So?” Clara snapped. She should have stayed gone!, why are you bringing back someone who doesn't belong here anymore?

Nicholas exhaled, pinching the bridge of his nose. “She's carrying my child. That makes her my responsibility.”

Clara eyes darkened, and for a brief moment, she glanced at my stomach.

And that's was when I saw it.

The realization. The calculation. The jealousy.

She wasn't just mad about me being back.

She was realizing that, I, her own cousin was suddenly her competition. Because no matter what Nicholas felt for her, no matter how much she wanted him to be hers, I was carrying something she never could.

The Robinson heir .

And that changed everything.

As I stood there, the weight of Clara's jealousy settling in, I knew I needed to escape the tension-filled room. I turned to leave, but Cecilia's voice stopped me.

"Iris, where are you going?" she asked, her tone laced with a mix of curiosity and warning.

I didn't respond, already knowing what she wanted me to do. She expected me to head to the guest's room, to quietly accept my new status as a temporary guest in the Robinson mansion. But I had other plans.

Deliberately, I made my way to the matrimonial room, the one I had shared with Nicholas before our world came crashing down. Cecilia's eyes widened in anger as she realized my intentions.

What are you doing, Iris?" she spat, her voice low and menacing.

I ignored her, pushing open the door to the room that held so many memories, both good and bad. Cecilia stormed after me, her hand raised as if to slap me.

But I was ready for her. I caught her wrist, my grip firm. "Don't," I warned, my eyes locked on hers.

Nicholas appeared out of nowhere, his voice calm but firm. "Cecilia, that's enough."

He stepped between us, his eyes on me. "Iris, you'll be staying in the guest's room from now on. Pack your bags."

I felt a sting from his words, but I knew I had no choice. I nodded, my eyes never leaving his.

As I turned to leave, Cecilia's voice followed me. "The line has just been drawn."