Chapter 46 You Don't Want Chelsea?
Aurelia shook her head, feeling a pang of sadness. She had missed out on a father's love herself.
Norman had an affair with another woman and then had one more child, Chelsea. After Chelsea and her mother moved in, Aurelia felt like she was an outsider.
How could she let her child go through the same thing?
The thought alone suffocated her.
Aurelia knew all too well that having such a terrible father was worse than not having one at all.
Amber's words about Chelsea's situation resonated with Aurelia.
According to Chelsea's recent pregnancy test, she was not even three months pregnant. Weren't they afraid of any accidents?
"Amber, I have a question. What are the risks if someone has frequent sexual activity within the first three months of pregnancy?"
Amber's expression turned serious, and she responded.
"Exercise restraint, if you please!"
Aurelia found it difficult to articulate. "Not I, but... Chelsea."
Amber comprehended the situation. "It depends on individual circumstances. Medically, it's not recommended because there are indeed risks. Creating a life is not easy. No parent wants anything to happen to their child."
Amber warned Aurelia to be patient for the next three months.
Aurelia felt embarrassed. She wasn't that desperate, and she was already trying to avoid Nathaniel.
That evening, Aurelia went to a yoga studio. Zack had arranged for her to become a premium member.
Aurelia joined a prenatal class and found the experience quite enjoyable. The serene environment, the gentle music, and the meditation all made her feel comfortable and relaxed.
Since signing the divorce agreement with Nathaniel, she had been on edge and needed this kind of relaxation.
It was the first time she felt that Nathaniel had done something right.
Aurelia knew Nathaniel well enough. He wouldn't be bored enough to check on her yoga classes, so her secret should be safe.
After leaving the yoga studio, Aurelia drove straight home.
Nathaniel's Bentley was parked in the yard.
Aurelia remembered what he had said in the morning, and her mood instantly became complicated.
Aurelia parked the car and sat there for a while.
The sky was dark, without a single star, much like her marriage with Nathaniel, devoid of any light.
After a while, she got out of the car, just like those men who chose to sit in their cars and smoke after work because they didn't want to go home.
She was now afraid of this home.
Aurelia tiptoed into the house. When she didn't see Nathaniel in the living room, she immediately felt relieved.
The door to the study was slightly ajar, and a faint light seeped through the crack. Aurelia could faintly hear Nathaniel tapping on the keyboard. As she passed by the study, she quickly made her way back to the guest room where she had been sleeping for the past few days.
The room had been tidied up, and a new set of bedding had been put on the bed.
It was so clean that there wasn't even a single pillow.
She suddenly felt that something was off and opened the closet. As expected, it was empty.
Aurelia clenched her fist, leaving faint imprints on her palm from her nails.
All her things had been moved back to the main bedroom.
On the master bed lay a beautifully wrapped gift box. Aurelia didn't need to open it before realizing that it contained a designer handbag.
It was Nathaniel's habit to give her a handbag after their intimate moments. Sometimes, if he forgot, he would buy an expensive one as compensation.
Aurelia went to the walk-in closet to pack up the clothes she had been wearing recently, preparing to return to the guest room. She gathered a pile of clothes and turned around to see Nathaniel leaning against the wall, dressed in casual home attire, watching her.
Nathaniel looked at her as if he had caught a thief stealing.
"I don't give you permission to move out," he said softly.
The threat hidden in his short sentence made Aurelia take a step back involuntarily. His words were not a negotiation but a command.
The atmosphere became tense for a few seconds.
"Don't you want to open the bag I gave you?"
Aurelia glanced at the walk-in closet, which was filled with bags—more than one would find in a store. Sometimes, she even wondered if Nathaniel could sell these bags and live a luxurious life if he ever went bankrupt.
"You don't need to buy them anymore. I won't carry them anyway," she replied.
Nathaniel raised an eyebrow. Zack suggested this method. He thought all girls liked handbags.
Apparently, she didn't.
"Aurelia, come here," he said, his tone softening as he looked at the woman he had frightened. He could still coax her as long as she didn't mention divorce.
Aurelia asked cautiously, "What do you want?"
What happened in the morning must never happen again.
Aurelia stood still. Nathaniel walked over quickly and pulled her into his arms.
"Aurelia, sleep with me, like before," he said.
Aurelia knew he was referring to the time before Chelsea returned.
The house had witnessed all their lovemaking, including but not limited to the one in the bathroom, by the window, and in the walk-in closet... Whenever they did it, he belonged to her alone physically.
"Nathaniel, don't you want Chelsea anymore?"
Nathaniel gently stroked her hair that had fallen on her shoulder.
"When do I say I wanted her?"
Aurelia's heart skipped a beat.
It felt as if Nathaniel was explaining himself to her, giving her the illusion that he had fallen in love with her.
"I will handle her. You don't need to worry about it. She won't affect us," Nathaniel said.
His words stirred something in Aurelia.
It is unclear which defensive line was breached. Aurelia thought about her two babies in her belly. She wanted to make one last effort for this family, to try to get along with him, and to give the children a healthy home.
Aurelia knew how much the lack of a father's love could affect a child’s growth.
She couldn't help but want to tell him, 'We have babies, twins, and they are healthy.'
But Aurelia held back when she thought about the child in Chelsea's belly.
Nathaniel let go of her and put the clothes she had just taken out back into the closet, one by one.
"Aurelia, please don't mention divorce again," he said softly in her ear.
Aurelia's heart was filled with mixed emotions. He was so proud, yet he could say such words, showing that he had made a significant decision.
She loved this man so much that it was hard to let go.
After three years of being together, Nathaniel had become a part of her life.
Her feelings for him were so intense that she almost could not let go at all.
Now, Nathaniel put away his dignity to coax her. She wobbled about whether she should give up divorcing him.
Aurelia could never accept Chelsea. "Nathaniel, you’d better think twice before saying such things. It makes me think you've fallen in love with me," Aurelia said.
Nathaniel sneered. "Adults shouldn't talk about love all the time. Compatibility is important, and everything else is secondary."
Aurelia's heart turned cold.
In other words, he believed that their relationship was purely transactional.
All the previous words were irrelevant to love. In terms of being heartless, no one could compare to Nathaniel.
"You should let me go. Chelsea is more suitable for you," Aurelia said.
Nathaniel narrowed his eyes. "You care about her a lot?"
How could he ask such a question?
"Who would want to share their man with another woman?" Aurelia was deeply concerned.
Nathaniel was particularly clingy today, like a large dog that had been kept at home for a long time, not letting go of Aurelia.
"Aurelia, that was an accident. I drank too much that day... I will find a way to solve the problem."
Aurelia felt that he was acting a bit out of character today. His style of speaking was completely different from usual, and he patiently explained as if he were coaxing her.
This was a treatment she hadn't experienced in the past three years.
Aurelia felt that his words were too good to be true. Having been hurt before, she constantly reminded herself that this could be a sweet lie.
Aurelia thought, ‘Yesterday, he spent a passionate night with Chelsea, but now he can easily turn to me for affection. Isn't Chelsea tired of this?’
At this moment, there were two conflicting voices in Aurelia's mind. One urged her to make another effort for the children, while the other told her to leave the scumbag overnight.
Aurelia thought her determination to leave him was already firm, but his words made her waver.
"Aurelia, do you go to the yoga class?"
Nathaniel changed the subject. Aurelia nodded, not saying anything else. "How is the teacher? Professional enough?"
A loud buzz echoed in Aurelia's mind. "You know the teacher from the yoga class?"
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
