Chapter 35
Nicole never forgets last night’s events when she revealed her pregnancy to Alex and Aurora’s family.
Of all people, only Savana seemed supportive and trusting. Alex even questioned, seeming to doubt the situation he was facing.
“Are you really pregnant?”
Shortly after Aurora was picked up by the driver, Alex approached Nicole. After a moment of silence, he finally asked the question.
“Do you think I’m joking? This isn’t a joke, Alex!”
Alex’s eyes briefly closed followed by a soft sigh. Instead of happiness, his head only felt more dizzy hearing about Nicole’s pregnancy.
“Since when?”
It was Nicole’s turn to sigh. Slowly, she gave an explanation.
“Do you remember our last date in Singapore? Since we got back from there, I haven’t had my period.”
“But, haven’t you always been taking birth control?”
“Yeah, but that time I intentionally didn’t take it.”
Nicole responded casually, as if the pregnancy had been planned. “Besides, if you forgot, ever since Aurora didn’t want to be touched, you never wanted to use protection, right? So, whose fault is it?”
Alex sighed. He felt conflicted.
“But, this isn’t the right way to do it, Nicole.”
“Are you blaming me? Wasn’t it just the other day that you said you’d love me more if I were pregnant? Plus, you heard Savana’s story earlier. She’ll approve and even marry us both, as long as we can give the Wildblood family offspring.”
“Oh my God!” Alex grumbled in frustration. He didn’t know how to react now. “You’re insane, Nicole!”
“Why am I insane?”
“From the beginning, we agreed that this relationship was just for fun.”
Even though he was pressured to have children soon and his marriage to Aurora still hadn’t produced any, Alex never once thought of having a child with another woman. That’s why, when he found out Nicole was pregnant with his child, Alex was bewildered.
“But, I did all this because I truly love you, Alex,” Nicole continued angrily. “I’ve been exhausted all this time just being a shadow.” Nicole poured out all her emotions. She expressed her suppressed desire. “I want to be a legitimate wife recognized like Aurora. Besides, I’ve succeeded in giving you offspring. Aren’t you happy? That means I’m superior to Aurora.”
Nicole vowed this time she had to win Alex over Aurora. Whatever it takes, she’ll do it to shift her cousin’s position.
Nicole is sick of it. Since childhood, Aurora has always been lucky. Even her cousin who is constantly praised in the extended family. Born to wealthy parents. Intelligent, affluent, attending prestigious schools, having a handsome partner, and even getting whatever she wants easily.
In contrast, Nicole’s life is extremely simple. Her father’s company went bankrupt. Moreover, he had to lose his life due to stress and a heart attack.
Nicole’s life is aimless. Instead of going to college or enjoying a luxurious life, since high school, she has had to work hard to help her mother meet the needs of her younger siblings. Nicole is sick of it. Nicole is tired of living in poverty.
That’s why because she didn’t want to continue to be demeaned and wanted to have Alex entirely, Nicole accepted Aurora’s challenge to have her pregnancy checked at the hospital. This morning, she purposely visited Savana Wildblood to join in. Even forcing Alex to accompany her.
“So, which doctor will examine my pregnancy?”
In the lobby of Santa Monica Hospital, Nicole, who has already arrived, now faces Aurora directly. She smiles arrogantly. There’s no trace of worry like last night.
Meanwhile, Aurora, who was accompanied by Rayyen and Asher at that time, only laughed mockingly. Folding her hands in front of her chest, she turned around and asked Nicole, Savana, and Alex to follow her to one of the obstetrician’s offices.
“Doctor Ezra, excuse me. Can I and the others come in?”
From the many obstetricians at Santa Monica Hospital, Aurora deliberately chose Ezra to examine Nicole’s pregnancy. There were many considerations that led her to choose him. Moreover, Ezra was the one who had previously examined and checked Alex’s fertility.
That’s why, last night, after talking with Rayyen, Aurora also contacted Ezra. Asking for help and ensuring his presence at the hospital tomorrow.
“Ez, are you practicing tomorrow, right?”
“Yeah. If I don’t practice, how can I get money? What’s up?”
“Tomorrow, my cousin wants to check her pregnancy with you.”
“Okay,” Ezra replied on the other end. “So, is there any other problem?”
“There is,” Aurora replied. “The problem is, my cousin claims to be pregnant with Alex’s child.”
“What?!”
Ezra sounded clearly surprised. He even immediately refuted Aurora’s earlier statement. “Your cousin is pregnant with Alex’s child?”
“The story is long, Ez.”
“Okay, if the story is long. The problem is, Alex can’t have children. I myself checked and ensured that Alex’s chances of having offspring are very low.”
“There she is!” Aurora exclaimed hurriedly. “That’s why I asked for your help to check tomorrow whether my cousin is really pregnant.”
“If the ultrasound results show that she’s indeed pregnant, then what?”
Aurora laughed. She responded to Ezra’s question. “You know what that means, right?”
Seeing a guest, Ezra immediately rose from his seat. Politely, he invited all his guests to enter the examination room.
“Yes, please come in. So, who’s going to be examined?”
Nicole stepped forward immediately. She glanced at Aurora, then threw a smile at Ezra.
“I’m the one to be examined, Doc.”
“In that case, please lie down on the patient bed.”
Nicole hurriedly climbed up and lay down on the patient bed. It was evident that everyone in the room was watching. They were waiting for the results of Ezra’s examination.
Of all the people in the room, Asher appeared to be the most puzzled. He was certainly wondering why Nicole was there and for what purpose she was having her pregnancy checked. While Aurora hadn’t given him any explanation yet.
“I’ll excuse myself to examine her, then.”
Ezra asked for permission. After applying a little gel to Nicole’s stomach’s surface, he directed the transducer to several points to determine the presence of a fetus in Nicole’s abdomen.
Everyone seemed tense watching the plasma screen displaying Nicole’s uterus condition. Seconds later, Ezra provided an explanation.
“Here, we can all see that there’s a fetal sac inside the patient’s abdomen.” The man then enlarged the image on the plasma screen. Then he focused on the small, round-shaped sac with what appeared to be a bean inside. “Based on the ultrasound examination results, I can confirm that the fetus is currently seven weeks old.”
Nicole smiled widely from her lying position. After the examination, she quickly sat up, then glanced immediately at Aurora while smiling.
“See, I’m really pregnant, right? You were the one who didn’t believe that I’m carrying Alex’s child.”
It wasn’t Aurora, but Asher who reacted. Without much talk, let alone permission, he stepped forward and immediately grabbed then gripped the collar of Alex’s shirt. Pushing hard, until the man leaned against the room’s wall.
“Did you impregnate Nicole?”
“I-I can explain all this, Ash.”
Asher still stared sharply. Anger had taken over him.
“I’m asking again! Did you impregnate Nicole?”
Alex couldn’t deny it. Whether he liked it or not, he bowed his head and nodded.
“Y-yes.”
“You bastard!!!”
Knowing his younger brother would react even more, Aurora quickly pulled Asher back. Asking her brother to let go of his grip on Alex’s shirt collar, then moved to accompany him. If not like this, Aurora was sure Alex could be beaten up badly.
“Ash… please don’t act rashly.”
Fortunately, Asher obeyed. He released Alex and pushed his body until it slammed against the room’s wall. Then, before truly walking away, Asher didn’t forget to give a warning to his brother-in-law. “Our business isn’t finished yet.”
Mediating the dispute, Savana stepped forward. She approached Nicole, who was sitting on the patient bed, then after that threw a disdainful look at Aurora.
“You’ve heard the doctor’s explanation that Nicole is indeed pregnant. So, what else is there to doubt?”
Aurora shook her head. Her expression still showed disbelief. Knowing that Nicole accepted her challenge to come to the hospital, Aurora believed that something was wrong and maybe her cousin was planning something. That’s why, carefully, Aurora tried to read the situation.
“No. I’m sure the baby in Nicole’s stomach is not Alex’s.”
Nicole burst into loud laughter. She mocked Aurora with her gaze.
“Oh my God, Aurora, are you that frustrated when you found out I’m pregnant with Alex’s child? Why do you seem so unwilling?”
“But, it could be another man’s child.”
Rayyen, who clearly knew Alex’s situation, spoke up. He tried to defend Aurora so she wouldn’t be cornered.
“So, are you accusing me of sleeping with a man other than Alex?”
Rayyen shrugged. Seeing Nicole’s behavior, which was so free, it wasn’t impossible that her cousin slept with another man as well.
“Only you and God know, Nicole. Your cousin’s husband dared to sleep with you. What about others?”
Nicole rolled her eyes impatiently. She tried not to be provoked by Rayyen’s accusations.
“Just so you know, from the beginning until now, I’ve only slept with Alex. Maybe at the beginning, I wasn’t pregnant because Alex used protection. But, for the past few months, he hasn’t used protection anymore. Blame Aurora too, right? Who refuses to satisfy her husband.”
“It’s not about using protection or whether one wants to satisfy or not,” Rayyen replied angrily. “The problem is, Alex is —-”
“Ray!” Aurora interrupted. She stared at her cousin while shaking her head. “Let’s not continue.”
“But, Aurora —”
“Let me handle it.” Aurora then turned to look at Nicole again and spoke. “However it is, I don’t believe the baby in your stomach is Alex’s.”
“What do you want, Aurora?”
Savana, growing increasingly frustrated with Aurora’s denial of the doctor’s examination results, protested vehemently.Exclusive content from NôvelDrama.Org.
“Aurora wants Nicole to prove that the baby in her belly is indeed Alex’s.”
“Well then, why not just do a DNA test after it’s born? What’s so hard about that?”
Savana offered a solution. She felt a DNA test was the only way to prove whether the baby Nicole was carrying was truly Alex’s flesh and blood.
“And if it’s proven that the baby in my belly is Alex’s, what will you do?”
Aurora laughed, giving Nicole a disdainful look as she replied.
“If it’s proven that you’re carrying Alex’s baby, I’ll give half of my wealth to that child. But if it turns out that the baby in your belly isn’t Alex’s, you’ll see the consequences yourself.”
“Alright. Let’s just see how it turns out.”
Nicole wasn’t intimidated at all. She accepted Aurora’s challenge again to prove who the father of the baby she was carrying was.
Convinced that there was nothing else to be questioned, Alex decided to take his mother home. However, before they could leave, Savana stirred up trouble.
“Oh, I almost forgot, Mama. While waiting for the divorce process to finish, Mama wants Nicole to live with Alex. Besides, after you officially divorce, they’re going to get married anyway.”
“What do you mean, Mama?”
Aurora’s brow furrowed reflexively. She had to confirm Savana’s request again.
“You should know, a pregnant woman shouldn’t be far from her partner. So, starting today, Mama wants Nicole to live with Alex in your house.”
“What?”
“Yes,” Savana nodded emphatically. “You heard me right, Aurora. If you don’t like it or don’t agree, then you can be the one to leave the house.”
Aurora felt like cursing. What sin had she committed to deserve such a crazy mother-in-law like Savana?