"Wife, why did you go to the hospital? Are you feeling unwell?"
The concern on his face was almost palpable, his eyes wide with worry. It was as though the world had come to a halt, and all that mattered was me.
I pushed his hand away, merely brushing it off and saying I was visiting a friend.
He exhaled deeply, his tension easing as the fear melted from his expression, replaced by the same familiar tenderness.
It felt like nothing had changed.
But as I looked at him, a chill crept up my spine, spreading from my feet to my head. How could he turn on this charm so easily?
Just hours ago, he had been in the arms of another woman, yet here he was, holding me as if he had never wavered.
Words eluded me, and I found myself silently following his lead.
Saul seemed determined to make up for the tension between us, going out of his way to win me back.
He reserved a table at the finest restaurant and bought me gifts that were as extravagant as they were expensive.
But no matter how much he tried, I couldn’t bring myself to smile, not even faintly.
How many women had he done this for?
How many times had that woman, the one who kept sending me emails, been the one after me?
Just as the thought crossed my mind, the phone rang, pulling me from the depth of my thoughts.
Saul glanced at it impatiently before hanging up, his mood visibly shifting.
"Is it work?" I asked softly, offering him a chance to take the call.
He hesitated for a split second, then picked it up. "It’s my assistant. Probably needs something from the company. I’ll be back in two minutes, wife."
I already knew who was calling. Zelda Finnegan.
It had to be her.
But I didn’t say a word.
As Saul stepped away, absorbed in the phone call, I found myself watching him, lost in the past.
I could almost hear the old Saul again, the one I once knew, the one who had once begged for my forgiveness.
"Beatrix, don’t be sad, it’s my fault, my mistake."
"Please don’t ignore me, Beatrix," he had pleaded, his voice raw with desperation.
He grabbed my sleeve, repeating his apologies as his eyes filled with tears.
Even before I could cry, he was already shedding his own.
"Beatrix, you can hit me or scold me, but please don’t ignore me. I’m scared."
The phone rang again, snapping me back to the present.
I glanced at it, and once again, that familiar email flashed before my eyes.
This time, it wasn’t words of apology. It was a test result.
She was pregnant.
Four months along.
I quickly glanced over at Saul, who was still deep in conversation.
He must have known by now.
Saul’s voice was strained, his agitation creeping through, and I could barely make out his words.
“Get rid of it, and then come find me.”
His eyes met mine, and he quickly forced a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes.
Just as I absorbed the weight of his words, another message from Zelda Finnegan popped up on my phone.
[Mrs. Gatlin, how’s it going? Did you see clearly?]
[I’m pregnant with President Gatlin’s child. He said he’ll divorce you soon and marry me.]
[You know, President Gatlin has long since grown tired of you. He said you’re too rigid and boring, no longer satisfying him. How can you still hold the position of Mrs. Gatlin?”]
A bitter laugh escaped me.
As Saul walked back in, he raised an eyebrow at me, his curiosity piqued.
“What’s so funny?”
I quickly turned off my phone, offering only a vague response.
“Just watching a funny video.”
Throughout dinner, neither of us spoke much, our thoughts tangled in a web of their own.
When the meal ended, Saul drove me back.
He casually mentioned that his assistant had called earlier with matters that needed his attention.
I knew exactly what it was; he was off to handle Zelda’s little ‘problem.’
Once he left, Zelda didn’t waste any time.
The messages started flooding in, each one more taunting than the last.
[Beatrix, has President Gatlin finally left you?]
