Chapter 6

ALEXANDER BLACKWOOD

My eyes followed her out of the door, and a low breath escaped my lips.

I leaned back against my chair, my mind slowly drifting off to the past.

I’ve always had it rough.

My childhood— it was like a war zone.

I had grown up in a house where my father was a tyrant. He was domineering, overbearing and had ruled with an iron fist— those were the kind words for the monster that he was.

My mom couldn’t stand the torture and left when I was just 6 year old. She left the states and never looked back.

No goodbye hug, no letters, no explanation, no phone calls— just vanished into a thin air.

After she left, the worst happened to me. My Dad turned into something else. His behavior towards me turned even more fiery.

He was always angry, and always looking for someone to take it out on.

Physical punishment was his love language, and I was his favorite target.

They say, you learned to give out love the way you’re loved. However, I learned to fear love, to associate it with pain and abandonment.

That’s why marriage, kids… and all of that— will always be a joke to him.

A cruel, twisted joke.

And my mom, I used to wonder if she’d ever thought of me. If she’d ever looked back and regretted her decision for leaving me behind.

But she had left me for good, without looking back.

The memories still stung, like a salt in an open wound.

I missed her! God, I hate to admit this but I really do missed her, but I hated her too. I hated her for leaving me behind, with him!

A heavy breath escaped my lips again before pushing myself up from the chair. Sliding my hands into my pockets, I turned toward the window.

I stared out at the cars passing, the city spread out before me, and the tiny dot of people passing by.

The view was familiar, yet distant as I was too distracted from the turmoil inside of me.

I closed my eyes, my jaw clenched before opening them again.

There’s no way I’m ever going to love any woman on this earth!

VICTORIA HENSHAW

“What happened, Vicky? You sounded freaked out on the phone,” Gwen asked, concern etched on her face.

I let out a heavy sigh before collapsing onto the couch opposite her in the living room.

I spilled it all out in one sentence. “The guy I had a night stand with turned out to be my boss.”

Gwen’s eyes widened in shock, almost popping out of its socket. “Wait, what?! He’s the owner of Blackwood Empire?”

I nodded, locking gaze with her.

“Wait, wait, wait. Are you saying…. the hot guy is Alexander Blackwood?!” She screamed.

I nodded again, a soft sigh escaping my lips before leaning back against the couch.

Gwen’s expression instantly turned serious as she got up and walked up to me, sitting right next to me. “So, what do you intend doing now? Are you going to tell him about….?”

She trailed off, glancing at my stomach, her voice slowly dropping to a whisper.

I shook my head vigorously. “No, no, no, Gwen. I can’t. I won’t. I’m never going to say a word about this to him.”

At that, Gwen frowned. “But why, Vicky? Shouldn’t he know? I mean, it’s his child and-“

I cut her off before she could finish. “It’s all over the internet, Gwen. I did my findings and he’s a total playboy. He has no idea of how to be responsible. And to top it off, this man is now my boss. I can’t risk my job. He’s offered to pay a good money, I can’t afford losing that.”

“But still-“ she protested.

I pulled out my phone from my bag and showed her the articles I had found online earlier.

Gwen’s eyes scanned the headlines carefully— ‘PLAYBOY BILLIONAIRE WITH SUPERMODEL SCANDAL’, ‘WILL THE HOTTEST BACHELOR IN NEW YORK CITY EVER SETTLE DOWN?’ ‘POPULAR PLAYBOY ALEXANDER BLACKWOOD FOUND AT THE HOTEL WITH AN ACTRESS’.

As soon as she was done reading everything, her expression turned empathetic. “I think I understand what you mean. But, are you really going to be fine with this?”

I nodded, a small smile spreading across my face. “For my child, I will do anything. I just need to keep this under wraps for now.”

NEXT MORNING

I was in the living room, playing with the kids as Gwen had left for work, when the doorbell rang.

I got up to answer it, believing it was the delivery guy.

I had ordered a food from the famous restaurant and expected to receive it any moment from now on.

I opened the door, and my heart skipped a beat as my gaze landed on the figure standing in front of me.

I was shocked, confused.

And slowly, it all transformed into anger.

I tried to shut the door at his face, but he was too quick, his hand shooting out to grab the doorframe.

“Running off again like you did weeks ago?” He asked, a smirk curling onto his lips as he pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Like he owned the place.

His eyes took in the surrounding, his voice demeaning as he said, “So, this is where you’ve been hiding all these while? A place like this?”

“At least, it’s better off than that cage you called a house!” I retorted, my eyes blazing with fury. “What the hell do you want, Christian?”

“You,” he responded, almost immediately. “I want you to come back home with me. I will never agree to a divorce, Victoria. You know this already.”

I nodded, folding my arms across my chest. “So what do you want to do?”

“Just come back home with me… to where you rightfully belong,” he said, his voice dripping with entitlement.

“Listen, Victoria, I realized I’ve made a mistake letting you go. I’m willing to take you back.“

“Why?” I asked, my tone flat.

His brows furrowed in confusion. “What?”

“You must have a reason for wanting me to come back home with you. What’s the one thing you’re so desperate for?”

He took a step closer, a soft sigh escaping his lips. “My company… My company is about to go public, and we can’t afford to lose this chance, Victoria. Even if we’re getting a divorce, it shouldn’t be now.”

“We?” I repeated, a bitter chuckle escaping my lips. “You’re forgetting something, Christian. It’s no longer ‘WE’, it’s now ‘YOU’!” I spat, my voice spiteful as I poked a finger into his chest.

“Listen very attentively, Christian. Your company going public has nothing to do with me. I wouldn’t touch you even with a ten foot pole, let alone stay married to you. Read my lips, it’s over between us!”

His anger sudden became palpable as his jaw clenched. “I’m not going to accept that nonsense! Divorce? Never!” He stated, his voice firm.

“And you think I care if you accept it or not?” I hissed, my cold voice matching his.

He took a step closer, and surprisingly, his expression suddenly softened. “Victoria, how about we opt in for an open marriage?”

“I mean, It’s very common these days among the social elites too,” he suggested, his eyes glinting with hope.

I clenched my fist tightly, my blood boiling over as he continued.

“Let’s have Katherine move in with us, she’s been separated from her son for so long. You should pity her and give them a chance to have a mother and son reunion. Aaron really needs his mother now, don’t be so heartless, okay?”

I met his gaze and a cold laugh escaped my lips.

“You expect me to accept this silly offer of yours?” I asked, my voice rising in an unbelievable tone.

He shrugged, like it’s nothing. “Why not? I mean, you won’t have to worry about anything. I will continue to take care of your daily expenses too,”

“You don’t have to worry about anything. I will give you a life of luxury. I will give you everything that you want. So don’t be emotional about this and just agree to it, okay?”

A cold laughed escaped my lips, my whole body slowly boiling over. “You…. Chris Santiago…. Is sick! You disgust me. The divorce papers will be sent to you soon, and you’d better sign it,”

“Now, get out of my house! Out!” I spat, shoving him away roughly.

He grasped my wrist instead, his grip firm as he pulled me closer to his chest, his eyes fixed intently on mine.

“Why are you being difficult, Victoria? How could you forget so fast about everything we’ve shared?”

“Have you forgotten how loving and caring we were towards each other? How I protected you so many times from getting hurt? How… I would walk in the rain just to get you an umbrella so you wouldn’t get wet? Have you forgotten all of that?”

I scoffed, staring at him unbelievable.

As he continued to speak, I could feel a wave of nausea washing over me.

I feel disgusted.

“And when you became my wife, you used to be so good. You would wake up very early at 4 AM and prepared my breakfast every morning. You used to care for me so much. You would do anything for my sake,”

“How could you change just because of one mistake that I make? It can easily be forgotten if you decide not to be so petty and stop throwing tantrums,”

“Don’t be stubborn and just come back home with me, and continue with your duty. I will forget about everything.”

Every word that came out of his mouth brought back memories I would rather forget than remember.

With all the strength in me, I pushed him away, raised my hand and slapped him hard across the face.

“You… disgust …me! Get out!!!” I yelled, glaring at him.

His eyes flashed with anger as he stepped closer. “I can’t leave, Victoria. Aaron misses you…. a lot.”

At the mention of him, a pang hit my chest, my heart beating with guilt.

For three years, I had raised him as my own. I had loved and cared for him so much. But then, the lies, deceit and how Chris had used me for those given years had crushed everything!

“Well, he has his own mother now,” I said, my voice cold and detached. “He should start bonding with her as you claimed. Now, leave. Else I’m going to report you for trespassing,” I threatened.

Just then, my stomach started swirling, and I knew I had to get him out of here, fast.

The nauseous increased, and Chris raised a brow at me, his eyes narrowing. “Victoria, are you pregnant?” He asked, his voice low and suspicious.

A wave of panic instantly washed over me as I met his gaze.