Chapter 576 Nicole is Pregnant 1
Jacob took the bag with an expressionless nod and led Serafina into the elevator.
Behind them, employees of the Windsor Group hotel whispered among themselves.
"I thought it was that actress."
"Who wouldn't think so?"
"Not a chance! Mr. Windsor's still a newlywed—men are all the same, still riding the honeymoon phase for now, but who knows what'll happen later."
Fortunately, these inappropriate remarks never reached Jacob and Serafina's ears.
In the presidential suite's private elevator, the bag of condoms slipped to the floor. Serafina found herself pressed against the elevator wall, her towering newlywed husband looming over her, casting her in shadow. She only needed to lift her chin to brush against his jaw.
Jacob gazed down at her, his deep eyes dark as midnight pools, carrying an unmistakable masculine hunger that made her want to turn away. But Jacob wouldn't allow it—his fingers caught her chin just as something warm and demanding claimed her lips.
His heated, purely masculine scent enveloped her completely. Her slender frame was pulled tight against him, her body moving enticingly with the rhythm of his embrace as the deep kiss left her breathless and trembling.
Since their wedding, they had maintained a careful distance. This was their first public kiss, and Jacob couldn't help but cradle Serafina's face, deepening their connection as their bodies swayed together in the confined space, their silhouettes intertwining beneath the soft lighting.
When they reached the top floor, the elevator doors slid open. Jacob swiped his keycard to the suite.
The presidential suite sprawled before them, vast and unlit, but Jacob knew every corner from his frequent stays. He carried Serafina through the darkness to the master bedroom, and when he reached for the light switch, her voice broke through the silence: "Don't turn on the lights."
Normally, Jacob would have respected her wishes. But Floyd's earlier provocation still stung, and after a moment's hesitation, he flicked the switch anyway.
Harsh light flooded the room, making them both squint.
Jacob traced his fingers along Serafina's delicate cheek, his voice a low, sensual murmur: "Do you think we're together solely for procreation?"
Shame washed over Serafina. She closed her eyes softly and countered, "Aren't we?"
Jacob's gaze locked onto hers, and rather than answer with words, he showed her the truth through his actions.
In the depths of the night, Serafina's slender back gleamed softly in the lamplight as Jacob held her from behind, his voice tender with satisfaction, "Come on, let's get cleaned up. Room service should arrive soon."
"I'm not hungry," Serafina murmured.
Jacob's mood was impossibly good, and he even took the time to explain, "I ordered chilled watermelon—it's refreshing and perfect for the appetite. You can't usually get it this time of year, but I remembered Isadora mentioning you loved it."
When a man showed even the smallest consideration, a woman's heart inevitably stirred.
Ripples of emotion crossed Serafina's features as she looked at Jacob, her expression softening with unmistakable affection—something Jacob immediately caught.
Serafina liked him!
For a man like Jacob, this was undeniably welcome news. It meant he wouldn't need to invest excessive energy in their marriage since Serafina's heart belonged to him. He needn't worry about infidelity or questions of paternity.
Occasionally, he could spare some time to indulge her. Once she bore him two legitimate heirs, he could redirect his full attention back to work. By then, Serafina would be approaching thirty—mature and realistic, free from girlish fantasies—and their marriage would be solidly established.
Jacob found the arrangement perfectly satisfactory.
Having discovered their ideal dynamic, the following weeks passed harmoniously. Their intimate life flourished with remarkable compatibility, and Jacob was meticulous about contraception, creating the illusion of a loving couple rather than a business arrangement or mutual convenience.
Through those nights filled with whispered pleas, Jacob molded Serafina into a true woman. In his arms, she became tenderness incarnate, night after night.
Before they knew it, New Year's approached.
On December 31st, Jacob brought Serafina to the Windsor Mansion for the holiday. That afternoon, while Serafina accompanied Sarah to review the kitchen preparations, Sarah shared the family's New Year traditions in gentle tones.
As the eldest son, Jacob would inherit the family legacy, and as his wife, Serafina would help shoulder that responsibility. Serafina listened with patient attention, her respectful demeanor suggesting to Sarah that the couple's relationship had indeed improved, bringing her considerable relief.
For years, Jacob's feelings for Nicole had been her constant worry. Nicole, of course, was cherished by Theron beyond measure. Sarah's only concern had been that Jacob might be too callous, driving Serafina away with his indifference. Seeing them interact so naturally now brought Sarah some comfort.
As the women talked, a servant appeared at the doorway: "Mrs. Windsor, Mrs. Voss and Mr. Voss have returned."
Sarah's face lit up with joy. She led Serafina to greet them, and despite some lingering awkwardness from past events, Theron's presence helped maintain a sense of normalcy.
That evening, bitter cold gripped the outside world. A black Rolls-Royce pulled up to the mansion's entrance, and Theron emerged wearing a black down jacket, opening the rear door to help Nicole out.
Nicole was bundled in a thick, long coat with a soft scarf wrapped around her neck, resembling a small penguin. More telling still, Theron kept his arm protectively around her shoulders, treating her like precious cargo.
Sarah, experienced in these matters, immediately recognized the signs of pregnancy. "Don't worry about the luggage—let's get inside before you catch cold," she said, her voice catching with emotion.
The last words carried a tremor of tears. Sarah remembered Nicole as a little girl, and now she was about to become a mother herself. The bittersweet realization brought tears to her eyes—joy and melancholy intertwined.
Nicole nodded politely to Serafina in greeting, and the group moved inside.
The mansion's interior was warm as spring, and Nicole shed her down coat with a gentle smile. "I keep telling Theron not to fuss—the baby's still tiny, barely over a month along."
"The first month is the most precious," Theron said, his hand moving protectively to her stomach, his mature, handsome features radiating masculine tenderness.
From the second-floor staircase, Jacob stood in silent observation. His deep eyes fixed on Nicole's abdomen, where Theron's child was already growing. From this moment forward, she would be Theron's wife, the mother of Theron's children.
No one understood a child better than its mother.
Sarah sensed that Jacob hadn't completely moved on and feared he might say something inappropriate, but Jacob surprised everyone with his measured response: "That's wonderful. In eight months, I'll be an uncle."
Serafina stood on the first floor, watching Jacob. These past weeks had given her hope that he might care for her, at least a little.
But seeing him with Nicole now, she realized there was no room for anyone else in his gaze.
Love and its absence were unmistakably clear.
Serafina forced her lips into a smile, the effort barely concealing her breaking heart.
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