Chapter 179 The Scheming Boy
As dusk fell, Ava and Alexander found their way back to the sanctuary of their home. Having indulged in a meal away from the confines of their abode, they were afforded the luxury of simply freshening up before surrendering to the beckoning call of sleep.
Upon escorting Alexander to his quarters, Ava reached for her bag, prepared to retreat to her own. Alexander, however, intercepted her departure, his hand securing a gentle hold on her wrist. "Where do you plan on going?" he queried.
"I'm retiring to my room. You should rest," she suggested, her tone laced with a subtle insistence.
"Ava, this is 'your' room," he reminded her, his voice a soft echo in the quiet room.
Ava's gaze drifted to his hand, a stark contrast against her slender wrist. "But we've been maintaining separate quarters," she pointed out, her mind drifting back to the night before she had covertly borrowed the family register from her grandmother. That night, she had shared her space with Alexander, under the impression it would be their last.
Yet, as fate would have it, one delay after another kept them tethered together.
"Aren't we suspending the divorce proceedings? There's no need for us to sleep separately. Come back to bed," he implored, his sincerity resonating in his words.
Ava's heart hammered against her ribcage, her courage mustered to gently withdraw her hand. "It's not a wise decision... we're merely on hold, remember? You should sleep," she advised, her words firm despite the tremor in her voice.
Despite her insistence, she made a move to exit, leaving Alexander to his solitude. He watched her retreating silhouette, a sigh escaping his lips.
Suddenly, he staggered backward, his hand clutching his forehead as a low moan slipped past his lips. Ava, alarmed, rushed back to his side. "Alex, what's the matter?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.
Feeling her support, he leaned into her, his voice barely a whisper. "I'm fine. Just go rest, I can manage."
Despite his reassurances, he gently pushed her away and stumbled towards the bed, his tall frame tilting precariously. "Alex," Ava called out, catching him from behind and guiding him to sit on the bed.
He seemed incapable of maintaining his balance, his head finding solace on her shoulder, his breaths coming out in short, ragged gasps. "You... go on, I'll just lie down for a bit," he insisted, his voice a mix of stubbornness and vulnerability.
His words urged her to leave, but his body leaned heavily against her, his hand instinctively clutching the hem of her dress. It was as if his mouth and body belonged to two different entities—one an adult, the other a child.
Witnessing his condition, Ava found herself unable to abandon him. What if something were to happen to him during the night? "The doctor advised you to rest these days, try to sleep early," she reminded him.
She was aware of the trials Alexander had recently endured—a car accident, stomach ailments, and now a head injury. She wondered if this was some form of divine punishment. If so, it must be enough. He hadn't committed any act so heinous to warrant such suffering.
"Aren't you going to the next room to sleep?" His eyes met hers, a picture of desolation.
"I'm not going anywhere. I'll stay with you," Ava conceded, the thought of sleeping separately unbearable.
A faint smirk played on Alexander's lips, his hand gently clasping hers, his thumb tenderly stroking the back of her hand. "What about tomorrow night? Will you sleep next door then?"
"I..." Ava's words trailed off as Alexander tightened his grip on her hand, his anxiety seemingly heightened.
A man of power, now resembling a scheming boy.
Given that she no longer sought a divorce from this man, Ava desired their relationship to be devoid of animosity, especially with their unborn child on the horizon. She contemplated the right moment to share the news with him, hoping to alleviate the tension between them.
She couldn't transition from sleeping separately to abruptly announcing her pregnancy.
The ideal moment would be when she was nestled in his arms and whisper softly, "Honey, I'm pregnant."
